Program Overview

English and Italian is a degree with a strong and distinctive comparative approach. It has been specially designed for those who wish to begin or pursue a study of Italian language and culture while continuing to study the English tradition. You will explore the interactions between the two. Italian may be studied ab initio.

English and Italian is a degree with a strong comparative approach.

There is a core Italian language module in every year of study. First-year core modules will introduce you to Italian literature and culture, English literature, and comparative literatures.

In your intermediate and final years all English and Italian optional modules are open to you, spanning topics from literature and critical theory to history, politics, philosophy and film.

In your final year, you can choose to write a dissertation on comparative Italian and English literature. This course is aimed at students who wish to unite linguistic proficiency with sophisticated literary and cultural analysis.

You will normally spend your second or third year abroad, consolidating and enhancing your learning.

Study abroad
We strongly recommend that you take a year abroad as part of your modern languages degree, if you are able to. If you are unable to take a year abroad you will move to a three-year degree. You will be required to complete further language reinforcement work. You will also be encouraged to spend time abroad in other ways, during vacation times.

You will usually spend your year abroad doing one of three things:

• Working as a language assistant teaching English in a primary or secondary school
• Studying full-time at a partner university in your chosen country
• On a work placement