As an MA (Hons) student of Italian you will develop language and communication skills to a high level of proficiency. You will also have the opportunity to engage with a number of specialist topics in Italian literature, culture, history, politics and film.

Italian is available to both beginners and non-beginners. All students will explore a wide spectrum of cultural forms from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Language is taught at all levels in small groups, allowing teaching staff to pay close attention to your progress. The Department’s innovative and distinctive teaching approach includes mixed skills and integrated classes, extensive use of contemporary audio-visual materials, and regular structured contact with native speakers. Students of Italian gain comprehensive transferable skills relevant to a wide range of careers.

Course details

The MA (Hons) in Italian is a four-year course run by the School of Modern Languages. The course is available to students who are complete beginners in Italian and to students who have studied Italian to A-Level or SQA Higher or with equivalent knowledge and experience.

In the first two years, you will learn and refine your understanding of Italian language through reading, writing, listening and speaking. Those with prior knowledge in Italian will further develop their language and writing skills, and both groups will be introduced to different aspects of Italian literature, culture and history.

Alongside Italian, in the first year of your studies you will be required to study an additional two subjects. In the second year, you will usually carry on at least one of these subjects, sometimes two. Find out more about how academic years are organised.

During your third year, you have the opportunity to study at one of the University’s partner institutions in Italy (Padua, Turin, Venice or Verona). In this case, study undertaken in Italy replaces equivalent study in St Andrews. Study abroad is optional.

If you choose to stay at St Andrews for both your third and fourth years, you will take language modules focused on communication skills, and can choose from a range of specialist cultural modules from the medieval period right up to the present day. Areas of study include:

Transnational Italian studies

Italian cultural studies

Italian literature from the Middle Ages to the present day

Italy and the Environmental Humanities

Graduates in modern languages from St Andrews can expect to have not only an advanced level of competence in language skills, but a highly developed appreciation for other cultures and peoples. Other transferable skills, including analysis, synthesis and communication skills, will prepare you for a career in almost any area.

The University of St Andrews operates on a flexible modular degree system by which degrees are obtained through the accumulation of credits.

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How it's taught

Teaching

Italian is taught through a mixture of seminars and practical language classes. Seminars guide learning, stimulate thought and debate, and suggest directions for further reading and personal study. Small language tutorials allow you to actively work together with your tutors to practice language skills, present papers, and discuss texts and issues relevant to the course.

First and second-year Italian modules are delivered through seminars and language classes, typically in groups of 12 to 15 students.

At Honours level, you will attend language classes, and seminars in groups of 8 to 10 students.

When not attending seminars practical language classes, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve:

developing language skills

working on individual and group projects

undertaking research in the library

preparing coursework assignments and presentations

preparing for examinations

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Assessment

A variety of methods of assessment to test language skills and cultural analysis are used by the Department. These methods include:

limited use of formal examinations

oral presentations

writing projects

assessed coursework

Examinations are held at the end of the second semester during a dedicated exam diet with revision time provided beforehand. Examinations are either entirely in written format or comprise both written and oral components.

Tutors advise you closely on the preparation of written work and give individual assessments of your performance. The Department aims to provide feedback on assessments and coursework within three weeks.

Undergraduates at the University of St Andrews must achieve at least 7.0 on the St Andrews 20-point grade scale to pass a module. To gain access to Honours-level modules, students must achieve the relevant requisites as specified in the policy on entry to Honours and in the relevant programme requirements. To find out the classification equivalent of points, please see the common reporting scale.

You will be taught by a team of internationally recognised, skilled and research-active academics, with specialised language teachers. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of classes under the supervision of the module coordinator.

You can find contact information for all staff in the Department of Italian on the School of Modern Languages website.

The University's services and support teams can help students with additional needs resulting from disabilities, long-term medical conditions or learning disabilities, as well as many other difficulties and challenges students might face while studying.

In the first two years of your degree, you will take the required modules in Italian along with modules in at least one additional subject.

Typically, you will take one to two Italian modules per semester during your first two years, and at least two modules per semester during your third and fourth years (known as Honours).

Second-year modules are the same for all students regardless of any prior knowledge of Italian.

Course information may change. Module information and course content, teaching and assessment may change each year and after you have accepted your offer to study at the University of St Andrews. We display the most up-to-date information possible, but this could be from a previous academic year. For the latest module information, see the module catalogue.

First year

Two different types of modules are offered in first year: introductory Italian modules for beginners in Italian, and more advanced language and culture courses for those with more experience in Italian.

Students who are beginners in Italian are required to take the following compulsory modules in their first year:

Introduction to Italian Language: the course is intensive and proceeds quickly. It concentrates on grammar and usage through reading, writing, listening and speaking and introduces elements of Italian culture and history.

Italian Language (Elementary): the module builds on Module IT1001 by increasing the student’s knowledge of, and ability to use, Italian, and includes some study of Italian literature.

Students who have an SQA Higher or a GCE A-level in Italian are required to take the following compulsory modules in first year:

Italian Language Intermediate 1: the module provides a thorough and structured revision of grammar and a consolidation of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skill. It will deepen knowledge of Italian culture.

Italian Language Intermediate 2: the core module provides a thorough and structured revision of grammar and a consolidation of speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills through formal grammar classes and practical oral language classes. It develops skills in literary analysis

Second year

Second Level Italian: develops the language skills acquired in first-year Italian modules and enables students to achieve an intermediate level in reading, writing, listening and speaking in Italian. Students are introduced to the study of Italian culture across different time periods.

Second Level Italian (Advanced): offers an intermediate language course for students who have passed the first semester module. It is designed to further consolidate students’ knowledge of Italian grammar and vocabulary, refine language skills and develop communication skills. Students will continue their study of Italian culture across different time periods.

If you take Italian in your third and fourth years, in addition to the compulsory language modules you will choose from a variety of advanced options which incorporate literary, historical and cultural studies into language learning. Modules at Honours level include topics such as:

Authority and Subversion in the Renaissance Italy

Black Italians

Contemporary Cultures of Migration

Dante Alighieri

Italian Detective Fiction

Italian Ecologies

In fourth year, you have the option of undertaking a dissertation of up to either 5,000 words or 10,000 words in length, written in English, on a topic of your choice. This independent project enables you to develop key research skills which are desired by both prospective employers and by graduate schools offering postgraduate degrees.

Fees and funding

Scotland: Tuition fees are yet to be confirmed by the Scottish Government.

England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man: £10,050 (yet to be confirmed by the UK Government)

EU and overseas: £34,910

More information on tuition fees can be found on the undergraduate fees and funding page.

Accommodation fees

Find out about accommodation fees for University accommodation.

Funding and scholarships

The University of St Andrews offers a number of scholarships and support packages to undergraduate students each year.

Entry requirements

The University offers different entry requirements, depending on your background. Find out more about

Standard, Minimum and Gateway entry requirements using academic entry explained and see which entry requirements you need to look at using the entry requirements indicator.

For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject-specific entry requirements as outlined on their pages.

SQA Highers

Standard entry grades:

Minimum entry grades:

Gateway entry grades:

Applicants who have narrowly missed the minimum entry grades, but meet the University's contextual criteria, may be interested in one of the University’s Gateway programmes.

GCE A-Levels

IB points

36 (HL 6,6,5)

36 (HL 6,5,5)

General entry requirements

All applicants must have attained the following qualifications, or equivalent, in addition to the specific entry requirements for individual programmes.

SQA qualifications

SQA National 5 (B) in English and one SQA National 5 (B) from the following:

Chemistry

Computing science

Geography

Applications of Mathematics

Mathematics

Psychology.

GCSE qualifications

GCSE (5) in English language or English literature, and one GCSE (5) from the following:

Computing Science

Other qualifications

We accept a wide range of qualifications for entry on to our programmes. Please see our entry requirements for more information.

More information on how to apply via other entry routes or accreditation of prior learning and experience can be found on the University's entry requirements web page.

Do I need to have studied this subject before?

No prior knowledge of Italian is necessary to enter at Elementary level. Students with an advanced knowledge of Italian (Higher, A Level or some other experience of the language) will follow the Year 1 Intermediate module.

Alternative study options

Integrated year abroad

Students may choose to spend an additional year working or studying in Italy. Find out more about the integrated year abroad for this course.

Study abroad

Students studying Italian can apply to participate in the University-wide St Andrews Abroad programme. You may also have the opportunity to participate in the School Abroad exchange programme. For information about study abroad options, please see the study abroad site.

Working abroad

Completing a work placement abroad is a good opportunity to gain work experience in another culture or language and to enhance valuable skill sets. As part of specific degree programmes in modern languages, you may apply to undertake a work placement abroad for credit.

International applicants

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide an English language test score to evidence your English language ability.

Joint Honours degrees

You can also take Italian as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.

Course name

Ancient History and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Arabic and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Art History and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Chinese Studies and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Classical Studies and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Classics and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Comparative Literature and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Economics and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

English and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Film Studies and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

French and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Geography and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

German and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

International Relations and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian and Latin (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian and Management (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian and Mathematics (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian and Medieval History (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian and Modern History (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian and Persian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian and Philosophy (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian and Psychology (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian and Russian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian and Scottish History (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian and Social Anthropology (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian and Sustainable Development (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Arabic and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Art History and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Classical Studies and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Classics and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Comparative Literature and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) English and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) French and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Geography and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) German and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) International Relations and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Latin

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Management

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Mathematics

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Medieval History

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Modern History

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Persian

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Philosophy

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Psychology

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Russian

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Scottish History

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Social Anthropology

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Spanish

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Sustainable Development

Triple subject degree options

You can take Italian as part of a Modern Languages joint Honours degree. You would take Italian with two other modern languages or with one other modern language and one additional subject. All Italian triple degrees are also available With Integrated Year Abroad. In taking a 'triple' modern languages degree, you are required to take core modules in all of your subjects.

Arabic, Comparative Literature and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Arabic, French and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Arabic, German and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Arabic, Italian and Persian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Arabic, Italian and Russian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Arabic, Italian and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Comparative Literature, French and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Comparative Literature, German and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Comparative Literature, Italian and Russian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Comparative Literature, Italian and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)

French, German and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

French, Italian and Persian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

French, Italian and Russian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

French, Italian and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)

German, Italian and Persian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

German, Italian and Russian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

German, Italian and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian, Persian and Russian (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian, Persian and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Italian, Russian and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Master of Arts (Honours) Arabic, Comparative Literature and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Arabic, French and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Arabic, German and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Arabic, Italian and Persian

Master of Arts (Honours) Arabic, Italian and Russian

Master of Arts (Honours) Arabic, Italian and Spanish

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and Italian and Spanish

Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and Italian and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Master of Arts (Honours) Comparative Literature, French and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Comparative Literature, German and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) Comparative Literature, Italian and Russian

Master of Arts (Honours) Comparative Literature, Italian and Spanish

Master of Arts (Honours) French, German and Italian

Master of Arts (Honours) French, Italian and Persian

Master of Arts (Honours) French, Italian and Russian

Master of Arts (Honours) French, Italian and Spanish

Master of Arts (Honours) German, Italian and Persian

Master of Arts (Honours) German, Italian and Russian

Master of Arts (Honours) German, Italian and Spanish

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian, Persian and Russian

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian, Persian and Spanish

Master of Arts (Honours) Italian, Russian and Spanish

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Arabic and Italian) and Ancient History

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Arabic and Italian) and Classical Studies

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Arabic and Italian) and English

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Arabic and Italian) and International Relations

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Arabic and Italian) and Latin

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Arabic and Italian) and Management

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (French and Italian) and Ancient History

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (French and Italian) and Classical Studies

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (French and Italian) and English

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (French and Italian) and Greek

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (French and Italian) and International Relations

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (French and Italian) and Latin

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (French and Italian) and Management

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (German and Italian) and Ancient History

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (German and Italian) and English

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (German and Italian) and Greek

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (German and Italian) and International Relations

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (German and Italian) and Management

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Persian) and Ancient History

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Persian) and Classical Studies

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Persian) and English

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Persian) and Greek

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Persian) and International Relations

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Persian) and Latin

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Persian) and Management

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Russian) and Classical Studies

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Russian) and English

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Russian) and International Relations

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Russian) and Latin

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish) and Ancient History

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish) and English

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish) and Greek

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish) and International Relations

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish) and Latin

Master of Arts (Honours) Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish) and Management

Modern Languages (Arabic and Italian) and Ancient History (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Arabic and Italian) and Classical Studies (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Arabic and Italian) and English (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Arabic and Italian) and International Relations (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Arabic and Italian) and Latin (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Arabic and Italian) and Management (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (French and Italian) and Ancient History (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (French and Italian) and Classical Studies (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (French and Italian) and English (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (French and Italian) and Greek (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (French and Italian) and International Relations (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (French and Italian) and Latin (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (French and Italian) and Management (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (German and Italian) and Ancient History (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (German and Italian) and English (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (German and Italian) and Greek (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (German and Italian) and International Relations (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (German and Italian) and Management (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Persian) and Ancient History (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Persian) and Classical Studies (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Persian) and English (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Persian) and Greek (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Persian) and International Relations (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Persian) and Latin (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Persian) and Management (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Russian) and Classical Studies (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Russian) and English (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Russian) and International Relations (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Russian) and Latin (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish) and Ancient History (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish) and English (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish) and Greek (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish) and International Relations (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish) and Latin (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern Languages (Italian and Spanish) and Management (With Integrated Year Abroad)

Modern languages graduates have an extremely good record of employment after graduating, not only in all sectors that require advanced language skills but also in professional environments that demand good communication and analytical skills.

Employers value language graduates because they demonstrate excellent communication, interpersonal and intercultural skills.

Many graduates go on to:

specialise in translation and interpreting services, in language teaching or other sector-specific careers

join international institutions and enterprises, working in international development departments, human resources, administration, media and communication jobs

start a career in the banking and financial sector

join the civil service, particularly in positions within the Foreign Office

continue to study at postgraduate level

Recent Italian graduates have gone to work for companies in the UK and Italy. Some are working as teachers of modern languages in the UK, or are teaching English abroad. Others have taken further specialist training or conversion courses to prepare for careers in law or in translating and interpreting.

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.

What to do next

Online information events

Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.

Undergraduate visiting days

We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.

Contact us

+44 (0)1334 46 3662Email

italianhod@st-andrews.ac.uk Address

Department of Italian

Buchanan Building

Union Street

St Andrews

KY16 9PH

Department of Italian website

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Admission to the University of St Andrews is governed by our Admissions policy

Information about all programmes from previous years of entry can be found in the archive.

Curriculum development

As a research intensive institution, the University ensures that its teaching references the research interests of its staff, which may change from time to time. As a result, programmes are regularly reviewed with the aim of enhancing students' learning experience. Our approach to course revision is described online.

Tuition fees

The University will clarify compulsory fees and charges it requires any student to pay at the time of offer. The offer will also clarify conditions for any variation of fees. The University’s approach to fee setting is described online.

Page last updated: 27 May 2026

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