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Studies & Degrees in Tamil Literature & Culture

Tamil literature and culture is the study of the Tamil language, the writing produced in it and the society that produced it. Tamil is the language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. It is also spoken in Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia and by communities in many other countries. A University of Chicago course description calls it one of only a few modern, living languages with a literary tradition reaching back over two millennia, beginning with the Sangam poems of love and war.

Students learn to read Tamil at a high level and study its literature from the classical poems to the modern novel. The research areas the University of Madras lists show the range: grammar, classical and modern literature, the history of Tamil literature, epics, the cultural history of the Tamils, general linguistics, folklore and traditional performance. Inscriptions and manuscripts are used as sources next to printed books.

Qualifications and levels

There are two main routes, and they suit different students.

  • Degrees taught for Tamil speakers, mainly in India. The University of Madras offers an M.A. in Tamil Literature & Culture and an M.A. in Tamil Studies, followed by M.Phil and Ph.D programmes. Entry to these master's degrees requires a bachelor's degree with Tamil; for Tamil Studies the page asks for a B.A. or B.Litt. with Tamil as the main branch of study. The Department of Tamil Literature also lists postgraduate diplomas in Manuscriptology & Editing, in Folkloristics & Mass Media and in Inscriptions & Cultural Studies.
  • Tamil within South Asian or Asian studies, mainly outside India. Here students start the language at university. At the University of Chicago, Tamil is one of the languages of the major in South Asian Languages and Civilizations, with First-Year and Second-Year Tamil sequences, and one of the languages of concentration for the Ph.D. At The University of Texas at Austin, the Asian Cultures and Languages major offers a specialisation in Tamil.

Length, credits and fees differ from one university to another. Ask each school for the current figures and for the recognition its qualification has in the country where you plan to use it.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists four active schools for Tamil literature and culture: two in India (the University of Madras and the University of Calcutta) and two in the United States (the University of Chicago and The University of Texas at Austin).

The University of Madras began research in Tamil in 1914 and set up a separate Tamil department in 1927. In the 1980-81 academic year it was divided into the Department of Tamil Language and the Department of Tamil Literature. The literature department aims to construct the cultural history of Tamil from literature, grammar, inscriptions and manuscripts. It organises field visits every two months to monuments, old temples and inscriptions, and monthly visits to the old libraries of Chennai.

Other Indian institutions work in the same field. The Tamil University in Thanjavur was established by the Government of Tamil Nadu on 15 September 1981 for learning and research in Tamil language, literature and culture. The University of Delhi runs a master's programme in Tamil in its Department of Indian Languages and Literary Studies. The Central Institute of Classical Tamil is an autonomous institution under India's Ministry of Education.

In India the teaching is in Tamil. In the United States the teaching is in English and Tamil is learned as a language; some Chicago literature courses use English translations, and students of Tamil can read the texts in the original. International applicants to India can use the government's Study in India portal, which starts with registration for an SII ID. After arrival they must register with the foreigners' registration office (FRRO) within 14 days.

Careers

Teaching and research are the main paths. The Madras literature department runs free coaching classes every six months for the UGC-NET, the national test taken by candidates for university teaching posts and research fellowships in India. In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that teachers at four-year colleges and universities typically need a Ph.D., and it projects employment of postsecondary teachers as a whole to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035.

Other graduates work with the language itself: in schools, publishing, translation, the media and manuscript libraries. The University of Texas at Austin says that knowledge of Asian countries and languages qualifies graduates for international positions, including journalism, the travel industry and non-profit organisations.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know Tamil before I start?

It depends on the route. The master's degrees at the University of Madras require a bachelor's degree with Tamil. At the University of Chicago and The University of Texas at Austin, Tamil can be studied as part of a broader degree, and Chicago teaches it from first-year level.

Can I study Tamil literature in English?

Partly. Some University of Chicago courses on Tamil literature read all texts in English translation and require no prior knowledge of Tamil. Advanced study and research need the original language.

Which universities teach Tamil outside India?

In the SpainExchange directory, the University of Chicago and The University of Texas at Austin, both in the United States. Check each university's current course list, because language offerings change.

What can I do with a degree in Tamil?

The usual paths are teaching, research, translation, publishing and the media. A university teaching career normally requires a doctorate.