Course details
- A level requirements: BBB
- UCAS code: R300
- Study mode: Full-time
- Length: 4 years
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The Italian language carries an unparalleled cultural capital. Whilst according to UNESCO over 60% of the world’s art treasures are found in Italy, around the world the long history of Italian migration underlies food, arts, sport, fashion, tourism and heritage industries in millions of local enterprises and ventures. Italian culture is truly global and testifies to the human passion for learning and making art, beauty and history.
Italian at Liverpool has a distinctive approach to help you become highly proficient in Italian and critically understand its history and culture: one that develops the ability of students to engage confidently with Italian language, history and culture inside and outside Italy, in the Italian peninsula as well as in the context in which students live and study.
By learning about history, sociolinguistics, film and literature through the lens of Italian, our students develop a crucial set of linguistic and cultural skills to navigate the transcultural processes of the of the world in which they live.
In close association with staff’s research expertise and interests, modules explore Italian language – including translation and interpreting – linguistics, cultural history, cinema, contemporary fiction, popular culture, post-colonial and transcultural studies. Extracurricular activities include film screenings and social activities as well as an annual Italian themed public event, the Lucrezia Zaina Bequest Lecture, which brings to Liverpool inspiring contemporary figures associated with Italian culture from around the world.
The Italian subject group at Liverpool consists predominantly of tutors and language assistants with Italian as their first language. We continue to work on the expansion of both academic and business links with Italy to assist during the Year Abroad.
We’re proud to announce we’ve been awarded a Gold rating for educational excellence.
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
In year one you will study appropriate language modules as well as foundational modules which serve as a broad introduction to the literary, cultural, film, linguistic and historical modules offered in the subsequent years of the degree. You will also take a ‘Language awareness’ module in the first year which is designed to support your language learning by sensitising you to issues in language and linguistics, and a ‘Texts and context’ module which develops your research skills through a portfolio of tasks structured around a chosen text or film.
The module introduces students to issues relating to post-unification and fascist Italy and to past and current debates surrounding multilingual, multicultural and multi-ethnic Italy.
This module provides students with skills appropriate to a range of areas in Italian Studies and to assist them in developing generic study skills so that they are prepared for year two modules within the Italian curriculum. The module introduces students to issues surrounding past and current debates on changing values, conflicts and dissension within Italian society. Students will access and work on a range of historical, literary, journalistic and cinematic texts which deal with the relevant issues.
The module is an introduction to linguistics, focusing on issues in theoretical and applied linguistics which are relevant for language learners. It aims to equip students with a better awareness of and explicit knowledge about language and language learning. The meta-awareness thus gained will assist in hypothesis testing and rule formation essential to the learning of language.
This module offers students of Italian the opportunity to develop their knowledge of an Italian text or film (chosen from a short list) and their research and study skills, under the guidance of an academic supervisor. Students will produce a portfolio of work based on their chosen text and / or film, including: an academic bibliography, a comprehension exercise based on secondary literature, a commentary and an essay of 2000 words. These assessments guide students through the process of researching around a topic, and will allow them to receive feedback on each aspect of research. Students will work under the guidance of an academic supervisor, meeting them at regular intervals to agree a plan of reading, to discuss progress and to prepare their assessed work. Students will submit a plan of their essay to their supervisor for feedback before completing the assignment. The module is required for students of 75 (and 100) per cent Italian, and can be taken by students studying Italian ab initio . Together with the module ITAL210, this forms part of a research pathway designed to develop research skills in preparation for the MODL307 dissertation in final year.
This module is an introductory module in Italian language and will cover grammar basic aspects like noun gender and number, articles, the present and perfect tense, modal verbs, prepositions and direct pronouns.
The topics covered will include: personal information; family; education and university life.
This language module is intensive and aims to develop all the necessary skills to communicate confidently in spoken and written Italian within a range of topics, such as Italian culture and society, fashion and the "Made in Italy" industry, work and the business environment.
This module is mapped against A2 level in Italian according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
This intermediate language module builds on existing Italian language skills. The focus is on all four areas of language competence (grammar, written, listening and oral).
This module is mapped against B1+ level in Italian according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
This intermediate language module builds on the existing Italian language skills developed in semester one. The focus is on all areas of language competence (grammar, written, listening and oral).
This module is mapped against B2- level in Italian according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
The aim of the course is to give you grounding in analytical skills, an appreciation of the significance of film as a medium, and an ability to write about film in an accessible and well informed way for different audiences and different purposes.
Furthermore, the course will introduce you to the basic components of the audiovisual ‘language’ which film uses to communicate with its audience, and to the methods that you should use when analysing how any one film uses this language. We will look at a wide variety of films selected for their particularly innovative or influential treatment of different aspects of this ‘language’.
This module explores contemporary issues and debates through considering global relationships in the past and how they have shaped the world in which we live. In light of the tremendous impact that modern imperialism and colonialism have had in shaping our world, the module focuses, in particular, on questions relating to race, empire and their legacies.
By exploring some of the ways in which historical investigation enriches urgent contemporary debates, the module aims to introduce students to a range of new ways of approaching the past, both in terms of subject matter and of approaches to history, and to broaden students’ historical understanding of both western and non-western
history (or what scholars refer to as the ‘Global North’ and ‘Global South’) and the myriad connections between them.
In addition, therefore, to preparing students for the range of subject matter, geographical areas, and approaches that they will be able to study in the second and third years of their History degree programme, this module also aims to make them better global citizens.
This module will be compulsory for any student taking the BA in English with World Literature. It will be optional for students on English and English Literature, and for students taking Single Honours French (R120), German (R220), Italian (R300) and Hispanic Studies (RR45).
The module will introduce students to key concepts, theories, critics, and texts in the study of world literature through the lens of national literature(s) and translation, in order to provide a foundation for further study.
Students will gain awareness of basic concepts of world literature from different national literary traditions and will learn how to apply them to a range of short literary works from a range of genres both within and beyond the module.
The aim of this course is to introduce you to key theoretical and conceptual debates within Film Studies. It will develop your ability to apply these concepts to close readings of film texts and, in doing so, enhance your skills of critical analysis and independent thinking.
This module provides students with an introduction to modern continental European history. It broadens their understanding by first considering factors of a general importance in the development of modern Europe, and then looking at particular events and countries. In this way, students will be given a grasp both of broad themes in European history – such as demographics, political units, ideologies and social change – and of the specific way history unfolded in certain times and places.
This module will be compulsory for any student taking the BA in English with World Literature. It will be optional for students on English and English Literature, and for students taking Single Honours French, German, Hispanic Studies and Italian.
This module will follow on from Introduction to World Literature 1: From the National to the Global (Semester 1) by deepening students’ understanding of concepts and theories of world literature, and applying these to a range of longer literary texts across all major genres including the novel, poetry, drama, short story both originally in English and in English translation.
It will be delivered via a lecture and tutorial each week and assessed via 80% assessed summative coursework essay of 2500-3000 words and 20% creative-critical project (1000-1500 words).
Formative work will support the assessments.
During your second year, you will take language and cultural modules which have a strong emphasis on the history, literature and film of Italy, complemented by departmental modules which offer thematic approaches to cities, graphic novels and film adaptations among other subjects.
This module allows students of Italian the opportunity to develop their interests in Italian studies by undertaking project work under the guidance of an academic supervisor. In consultation with their supervisor, students will produce an Assessment Portfolio which consists of a series of materials and tasks designed to help with the completion of the module (e.g. critical bibliography, outline plan, abstract, draft section of the project). Students have the opportunity to resubmit elements of the Assessment Portfolio in order to incorporate the feedback received. The Final Extended Project and its title are agreed in consultation with the academic supervisor.
This module will expand students’ knowledge of the Italian language by looking at grammar aspects like the tenses of the past and their contrast, the use of the subjunctive, and conditional sentences. Topics covered will relate to students’ interests and may be chosen with them, typically including young people, language variety, Italian cinema and literature, music.
The module aims to build on advanced oral and written language skills and to develop more specialised competences of the kind required in the year abroad.
This module is mapped against B2 level in Italian according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
This module is intensive and aims to develop further skills acquired in ITAL256 to enable students to communicate confidently and effectively in spoken and written Italian.
This module is mapped against B2 level in Italian according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
The module builds on advanced listening, reading, oral and written skills in the target language and develops more specialised competences of the kind required in translation and interpreting tasks and in preparation for the year abroad.
This module is mapped against B2+ level in Italian according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
This module explores the most significant periods and some of the major genres / films of Italian cinema from its origin to the present.
In this module, we will get you to think critically about the city in which you live and study, and consider how multilingual Liverpool actually is.
We will think about how people who manage the space in Liverpool make it more or less multilingual, and why they might do that. We think about issues of identity, authenticity, and translation. We also go out into Liverpool to undertake fieldtrips to learn about multilingualism on the streets!
The modern city and the cinema developed together, and as they developed they referred to each other: cities have always been a prime space for film, while many urban theorists have found it useful to think of cities as cinematic spaces. The module introduces you to cinematic ways of representing the city, through the study of a number of representative films that deal with some major global metropolis.You will have the opportunity to produce your own short smartphone film of the city of Liverpool as part of a small-scale group project. This will allow you to put your ideas into practice and to reflect on the filmmaking process. No prior knowledge of practical filmmaking is required to enrol in this module but you are expected to be willing to familiarise yourself with the process of shooting and editing of a smartphone film.
This module explores the ways in which films circulate and make meaning (in sites beyond Hollywood and outside the mainstream distribution channels associated with European and US films). It responds to the ways in which we understand film today and explores theories and histories that reflect the ways in which films inform, represent and participate in cultures.
This module introduces you to aspects of life in Britain and Europe between about 1740 and 1815. This period is often seen as the beginning of the modern world, when the ideas about human nature and society that still shape our own lives came into circulation and when the global entanglements generated by trade and colonisation began to have a lasting impact on everyday life in Europe. The module is taught by tutors from French, German and English Studies, and History, as well as staff from the National Museums Liverpool. It gives you an insight into the range of materials and methods that are used in research in eighteenth-century studies. Interactive lectures, seminars and fieldwork encourage a hands-on approach to learning. You start by inventing an 18th-century character and you follow that character through various experiences typical of the period: shopping, reading, travelling, thinking about political issues of the day. Images, artefacts and contemporary texts in English and other languages are made available to support your research. The aim is for you to develop your capacity for asking questions (curiosity) as well as for answering them (research skills).
The module develops a decolonial approach to the history of Italy, Africa and the Mediterranean, focusing on trajectories of colonialism and migration to and from Italy, from the age of the empires to the present. Adopting a decolonial perspective on the history of the Italian empire, its languages and cultures, the module examines some of the cultural and geopolitical tensions that shape ideas of heritage, citizenship and belonging between Italy and Africa. Exploring the making of individual and collective memories through a variety of media and languages, the module develops a language-sensitive approach to the study of history, memory and culture in the 21 st century.
This second-year optional module will introduce students to the theory and practice of language teaching. Subject specific lectures will provide an overview of the evolution of teaching methodologies and approaches throughout history and up until the latest developments in the field, such as gamification or the flipped classroom approach. They will also guide students on applying these theories to different teaching contexts, taking into account variables such as language level, students’ profile, motivation, or the cognitive implications of second language learning. School placements and/or supervisions will provide the opportunity to apply the theory to an actual teaching context and to develop a teaching project.
You will spend one year in an Italian-speaking country as a language assistant in a school, as a student at a partner university, or on a work placement. If you combine Major Italian with a minor in another language, you will split the year abroad between an Italian-speaking country and another country.
Your fourth year brings together your interests from your second year of study, complements the activities from your Year Abroad, and includes a compulsory dissertation.
The module aims to bring the students to a level of linguistic competence that is of degree standard and that will allow them to deal with a wide range of linguistic, intercultural and professional contexts confidently and competently.
This module is mapped against C1 level in Italian according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)
The module aims to bring the students to a level of linguistic competence that is of degree standard and that will allow them to deal with a wide range of linguistic, intercultural and professional contexts confidently and competently.
This module is mapped against C1+ level in Italian according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
The module aims to develop the students’ knowledge and critical assessment of the Italian linguistic context and of the linguistic repertoires of those who live in Italy.
This module gives students the opportunity to carry out independent research in an area of interest to them. The topic should be related to one of the research specialisms of members of staff in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures. Students are expected to take the initiative in planning, researching and writing the dissertation. Supervision and guidance will be provided from a member of staff in the Department.
This module will introduce students to approaches to memory and to a body of textual, visual, material representation of terror that has become a key focus for critical analysis in recent cultural studies. It will provide a context in which students can engage in systematic comparisons between European, Latin American and East Asian experiences and representations of social and political trauma. It will also encourage students to reflect systematically on the political and ethical implications of literary, material, digital and cinematic representations of traumatic histories. You will have the opportunity to study in depth and compare examples of representation through different media and across different national and linguistic boundaries. Lectures provide background both to the main theoretical approaches, and to specific representations. In weekly seminars, you will work on the case studies covered in class, and on related materials. Assessment is on the basis of a poster and an essay.
This module explores the relationship between comics, memory and history. Some of the most engaging comics of our times represent marginalised histories of individuals and communities, and whole genres of comics today are committed to drawing attention and striving against historical and contemporary systems of oppression. Over the last decades, comics have started documenting forgotten histories, conveying testimonies and enabling forms of self representation and transcultural belonging. Yet this medium has a long and complex history of depicting race and ethnicity, reinforcing discrimination and marginalisation and popularising colonial stereotypes. This module engages with such history, and with authors who are redrawing it.
This module develops a language-sensitive approach to comics and graphic novels beyond the Anglosphere; the syllabus introduces the students to a series of linguistic and cultural contexts in which comics have been developed and translated since the 20th century.
This module aims to introduce students to the new trends in contemporary Italian cinema and to the main relevant theoretical and critical approaches in the field.
A large proportion of films are based on written texts and this module will introduce you to a range of cinematic adaptations of literary works from across Modern Languages. Using adaptation theory to inform your analysis, you will have the opportunity to study excerpts from texts and consider the issues that arise from their adaptation as films. How does cinema convey a sense of the past or modify literary works from a different time period? How does it represent the gender roles which can be a central preoccupation of literature? How does film transcend language boundaries to bring modern-language texts to new audiences? On this module you will have the opportunity to explore these areas whilst also developing skills in film analysis, journalistic writing and academic writing.
If you split your degree between Italian and another subject area, you will study an Italian language module, at beginners’ or advanced level, and a cultural module per semester, alongside two other modules in your other subject.
If you combine Italian with a non-language subject, you will spend the year abroad in a Italian speaking country as an assistant in a school, as a student at a university or on a work placement. If you combine Italian with another language, you will split the year abroad between the two countries.
You will be taught in a mixture of formal lectures, seminars and small group tutorials where a friendly environment prevails and great attention is paid to giving feedback on assessed work.
In language classes, we make every effort to ensure that we have a small number of students compared to competitor institutions, which means that academic staff are able to support students to achieve their full potential. All language modules involve continuous assessment such as oral presentations, listening tests and grammar tests as well as exams. Tuition takes place in small groups with first-language speakers playing a prominent part and includes a range of skills such as listening, writing, speaking, interpreting and translation.
Students are also expected to make regular use of our fully-refurbished Language Lounge to enhance their own study. We encourage our students to become independent learners, and support them through our dedicated library resources in the Sydney Jones Library which is open 24-hour in term time. We also make extensive use of our virtual learning environment VITAL where students can complete structured tasks outside the classroom.
Performance throughout the year is carefully monitored and used to supplement examinations. For language, such a programme of continuous assessment involves evaluating performance in a variety of written and oral exercises. Other modules have a mix of essay and exam assessment. Our aim is always to assess by methods of evaluation appropriate to the skills being developed and to allow students to gain credit for good work done during the year.
Exams take place at two points in the academic year: at the end of semester one in January and at the end of the session in May, so that the workload is evenly distributed. As regards the final degree result, for language programmes, the second year’s work counts for 20%, the work done during the year abroad (foreign exams or extended essay or portfolio) counts for another 10%, and the final year’s work counts for 70%.
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.
Teaching is delivered by the Department of Languages, Cultures and Film, who bring together experts in a wide range of disciplines. A cutting edge research programme and award-winning teaching provide great opportunities to study all aspects of language and culture within a global context.
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Languages at Liverpool – Will you become a citizen of the world?
Studying Italian goes beyond preparing students for a specific career, as the skills learned offer many possibilities. The Higher Education Statistics Agency consistently records high employment levels for language graduates, and the employability of graduates in Italian is excellent.
We are justifiably proud of our excellent record on graduate employment. Our graduates go on to careers in all sectors worldwide. These include:
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland) | |
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Full-time place, per year | £9,250 |
Year in industry fee | £1,850 |
Year abroad fee | £1,385 |
International fees | |
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Full-time place, per year | £22,400 |
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support. Learn more about paying for your studies..
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.
Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this course.
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries to provide tuition fee discounts and help with living expenses while at university.
Check out our Liverpool Bursary, worth up to £2,000 per year for eligible UK students. Or for international students, our Undergraduate Global Advancement Scholarship offers a tuition fee discount of up to £5,000 for eligible international students starting an undergraduate degree from September 2024.
Discover our full range of undergraduate scholarships and bursaries
The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.
We've set the country or region your qualifications are from as United Kingdom. Change it here
Your qualification | Requirements |
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A levels |
BBB including Italian. Applicants with the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) are eligible for a reduction in grade requirements. For this course, the offer is BBC with B in the EPQ. You may automatically qualify for reduced entry requirements through our contextual offers scheme. |
T levels |
T levels considered in a relevant subject. Applicants should contact us by completing the enquiry form on our website to discuss specific requirements in the core components and the occupational specialism. |
GCSE | 4/C in English and 4/C in Mathematics |
Subject requirements |
Requirements for 100%: Requirements for 50% with another subject outside Modern Languages and Cultures: Requirements for 50%/50% with two languages: |
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma |
Applications encouraged. We evaluate each BTEC application on its merits, entry to Advanced language with an A level or equivalent in Italian (no subject requirement for entry to Beginners’ Language). |
International Baccalaureate |
30 including 6 at higher level in relevant language (no subject requirement for entry to Beginners’ Language), with no score less than 4 |
Irish Leaving Certificate | H2, H2, H2, H3, H3, H3 (including H2 in relevant language for Advanced) |
Scottish Higher/Advanced Higher |
BBB in Advanced Highers including grade B in relevant language for entry to Advanced language; (no subject requirement for entry to Beginners’ language) combinations of Advanced Highers and Scottish Highers are welcome. |
Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced | Accepted with A Level grades BB including Italian (no subject requirement for entry to Beginners’ Language). |
Access | 30 level 3 credits at Distinction and 15 level 3 credits at Merit for entry to Beginners’ language |
International qualifications |
Many countries have a different education system to that of the UK, meaning your qualifications may not meet our entry requirements. Completing your Foundation Certificate, such as that offered by the University of Liverpool International College, means you're guaranteed a place on your chosen course. |
You'll need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language, unless you’re from a majority English speaking country.
We accept a variety of international language tests and country-specific qualifications.
International applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language can complete one of our Pre-Sessional English courses to achieve the required level.
English language qualification | Requirements |
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IELTS | 6.5 overall, with no component below 5.5 |
TOEFL iBT | 88 overall, with minimum scores of listening 17, writing 17, reading 17 and speaking 19 |
Duolingo English Test | 120 overall, with no component below 95 |
Pearson PTE Academic | 61 overall, with no component below 59 |
LanguageCert Academic | 70 overall, with no skill below 60 |
Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0500 | Grade C overall, with a minimum of grade 2 in speaking and listening. Speaking and listening must be separately endorsed on the certificate. |
Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0990 | Grade 4 overall, with Merit in speaking and listening |
Cambridge IGCSE Second Language English 0510/0511 | 0510: Grade B overall, with a minimum of grade 2 in speaking. Speaking must be separately endorsed on the certificate. 0511: Grade B overall. |
Cambridge IGCSE Second Language English 0993/0991 | 0993: Grade 6 overall, with a minimum of grade 2 in speaking. Speaking must be separately endorsed on the certificate. 0991: Grade 6 overall. |
International Baccalaureate | Grade 5 at Standard Level or grade 4 at Higher Level |
Cambridge ESOL Level 2/3 Advanced | 176 overall, with no paper below 162 |
Do you need to complete a Pre-Sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course?
The length of Pre-Sessional English course you’ll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.
Find out the length of Pre-Sessional English course you may require for this degree.
Have a question about this course or studying with us? Our dedicated enquiries team can help.
Last updated 1 March 2024 / / Programme terms and conditions