Italian Degrees - Study Italian at a Top 10 UK University*
*Complete University Guide 2025
Studying an Italian degree at the University of Exeter brings you into contact with one of the most fascinating cultures in the world. You will join a friendly and supportive environment within the Department of Languages, Cultures, and Visual Studies, which will allow you to get the most out of your time at University through our highly flexible teaching programmes, world-leading research, and an extensive network of contacts and connections in Italy.
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Top 10 for Italian in the UK
8th in the Complete University Guide 2025 & The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
Top 150 worldwide for Modern Languages
QS World University Subject Rankings 2024
Spend a year abroad on an International Placement
1st in the UK for research impact
Joint 1st for world-leading or internationally excellent research, REF 2021
Discover world-class Italian degrees at the University of Exeter
At the University of Exeter, we are passionate about Italian language and culture; our vibrant and warm learning community is driven by internationally recognised researchers and educators, offering a stimulating teaching environment across our programmes.
Our research interests will give you access to a wide range of aspects of Italian culture; you can study a broad range of topics or follow particular pathways that interest you most, such as Italian film, literature, linguistics including dialectology, or history. We offer a wide range of modules across Italian Studies, providing an insight into this nation's society and giving you the opportunity to customise your programme to suit you.
Students on one of our undergraduate courses have the option of spending their third year in an Italian-speaking country. You could be:
- Gaining valuable employment experience and practical applied learning by working abroad.
- Studying at one of our renowned partner universities such as Bologna-Forlì, Padova and Ca' Foscari Venice.
- Teaching English as part of a British Council placement (subject to availability).
At the heart of our Department is our pioneering Language Centre. Providing excellent teaching by qualified and experienced professionals, the Italian section of the Centre boasts an Accredited Examination Centre for the internationally recognised PLIDA diplomas, community-driven learning opportunities such as the Languages Café, and credit-bearing modules for those studying outside of the Department.
Four pathways to study Italian at Exeter
Undergraduate Italian degrees
Through our BA Modern Languages programme, you can choose to focus on Italian and graduate with a BA in Italian, or study Italian alongside one or two other languages (eg, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish).
Alternatively, you may choose to broaden your study with ancient and contemporary study of literature, film, and art from Italy through our BA Comparative Literatures and Modern Languages programme, with the opportunity to focus on Italian and graduate with a BA in Comparative Literatures and Italian.
You can begin Italian study from Beginners or Advanced level. You will also be able to study modules from other disciplines outside of Modern Languages such as Politics and History.
Undergraduate combined honours degrees
Study a language alongside Arabic, Art History & Visual Culture, Classical Studies, English, Film Studies, History, International Relations, Latin, Politics, Philosophy or Sociology as part of one of our Combined Honours programmes. You may choose to focus on Italian and graduate with Italian in your degree title in place of Modern Languages.
You can also study Italian with a bespoke and tailored selection of subjects and modules as part of our Flexible Combined Honours programme.
Postgraduate Italian degrees
You can study Italian through our Language Centre as part of your course on our MA Global Literatures and Cultures programme, while also exploring modules driven by our internationally recognised research such as Aliens Abroad: Science Fiction in Global Literature.
Students on our MA Translation Studies programme can focus on Italian, taking advantage of our expertise in the language to guide their studies. You can also enjoy and take part in research seminars and events through the University's Centre for Translating Cultures.
Italian PhD and research degrees
We offer sector-leading research degrees in Italian, including MPhil or PhD Italian Studies and MA by Research Modern Languages.
Researchers in the Department of Languages, Cultures, and Visual Studies are actively engaged in sector-leading projects across a broad range of research interests, including modern Italian literature, cinema, and Italian linguistics including multilingualism in immigrant communities. You can expect high-quality research supervision to develop and nurture your potential from published translators and internationally-recognised practitioners.
Why choose the University of Exeter?
We offer world-class education and research with outstanding student satisfaction, committed to working with our students to make the world greener, healthier, and fairer. With beautiful, green campuses in Devon and Cornwall, we offer a unique opportunity to study in one of the most stunning parts of the UK.
As a member of the Russell Group, we are committed to maintaining the very best internationally recognised research, and translating our research into an outstanding teaching and learning experience. Our excellence is recognised by organisations worldwide, with Exeter graduates in the UK's top 10 for most targeted by leading employers*.
* The Graduate Market in 2024 report by High Fliers Research
