Italian

In literature and film, history and politics, business and the arts, Italy has long been among the most important and influential countries in Europe.

A degree in BA Modern Languages studying Italian will allow you to learn more about this country by studying its language in the context of its fascinating culture and history, and will allow you to study or work in Italy. Modern Languages at Reading attracts students of many different nationalities, ages and educational backgrounds. They are mostly drawn by our focused and intensive approach to language learning and the opportunity to study an exciting range of optional culture topics with experts from different disciplines, including literature, film and linguistics, within a friendly, professional environment. The 2022 National Student Survey results are out and 90% of students with the Department of Languages and Cultures agreed that our staff are good at explaining things.

We provide accelerated learning in Italian, meaning that you can start from beginner's or intermediate level if you have not studied Italian A level. Regardless of which level you join the course, you can expect to become confident and highly skilled in written and spoken Italian by the final year.

Our staff are active in research, and 100% of our modern language and linguistic research is deemed of international standing (Research Excellence Framework 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Modern Languages and Linguistics). 

You can study Italian as one of the options in our BA Modern Languages programme: either on its own, in combination with another language, or with another subject, such as Economics, English, History, International Relations or Business.

In each year you will study an Italian language module (starting from beginners, intermediate or advanced level in the first year, and achieving near-native fluency in the final year). Alongside the language module, you will take a number of cultural modules. Examples of current modules include:

• Making Italians: A Journey in the History and Culture of Modern Italy
• The Genius of Italy: Italian Medieval and Renaissance Culture (in translation)
• Italian Cinema
• Fictions of Italy: Themes and Genres
• "Crisis, Change, Opportunity: Italy from 1968 to the Present"
• History of the Italian Language
• Italian Language for Management & Business

Our modules are inspired by the research expertise of our staff, who bring their in-depth knowledge of, and their passion for, Italian Studies into the classroom.

By the time you graduate, you can expect to be able to write and speak fluently in Italian – an immensely useful skill. An increasingly connected world demands language skills, and well-qualified linguists are in short supply in the UK, so there has never been a better time to study a modern language. In the Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019-20, overall, 88% of graduates from Languages and Cultures are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation*. 

*Based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2022, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20; includes all Languages and Cultures responders.