Taylor Swift-inspired course at university compares her songs to Shakespeare's poems

The Taylor Swift and Literature short course will run at Queen Mary University next June and July. Fans can opt to study one module for £2,500 or splash out on two for £4,900

Shall I compare thee to a billionaire country-pop singer from Pennsylvania?

A university course is asking students to contrast Taylor Swift lyrics with lines by the 16th century playwright William Shakespeare. London’s Queen Mary University is offering a course inspired by the star and also examines possible links to Charles Dickens.

An ad reads: “The lyrics of Taylor Swift can and should be read as literature. In doing so, we will pay close attention to formal elements such as rhyme and word choice. We will also analyse her songs with the help of key texts in critical theory and discuss the political, national and historical contexts of her work.”

The Taylor Swift and Literature short course will run for 150 hours next June and July. Dedicated fans can opt to study one module for £2,500 or splash out on two for £4,900.

The cost includes lectures, seminars and field trips but students will have to find and fund their digs. Gigs are not included. The university joins a growing list of higher education providers offering Taylor Swift-inspired courses.

Last year a Belgian university launched one of the first classes inspired by the Love Story singer. And the University of Warwick ran an interdisciplinary module on her music in 2022.