Italian and Classical Studies University of Reading

Overview

Throughout this Italian and Classical Studies BA degree from the University of Reading you can join our friendly and dynamic Department of Modern Languages and European Studies, which offers the opportunity to study in a lively, multilingual community with staff and students from all over the world. We offer a flexible and supportive approach to learning which allows you to tailor your degree to your interests, including the opportunity to learn other languages.

Key features

• Through this course you will become confident and highly skilled in written and spoken Italian. You will master the fundamental elements of the language, to the point where you will graduate with a near-native command of it. We’re proud of our small language classes, led by native speakers. Direct access to expert staff for help and feedback ensures you develop your language skills to the best of your ability.
• You will also gain a broad understanding of the most important features of the culture and history of Italy, from the Middle Ages to today. You will have the opportunity to study with leading academics on topics including Dante, Machiavelli, Michelangelo, fascism, the history of the language, the resistance, Fellini and contemporary culture.
• The classical studies element of this course enables you to explore the literature of ancient Greece and Rome. Through the study of translated texts you will consider genres and themes like poetry, tragedy and love in classical literature, and their influence on the modern world. 
• You can broaden your knowledge with optional modules in subjects including art, society, and history, and take advantage of our own unique collection of Greek and Egyptian antiquities. You can also discover Rome through our unique, award-winning digital model of the city.
• An integral part of the course is the opportunity for you to spend up to a year in Italy, studying at a partner institution through the Erasmus+ programme, undertaking a work placement or working as a British Council language teaching assistant. 
• It allows you to directly immerse yourself in the culture and greatly improve your knowledge of Italian at the same time. The core language module in the second year will prepare you for your time abroad, equipping you with the skills and knowledge required to work and live in a different culture.
• We provide accelerated learning in Italian, meaning that you can start from beginner's level if you have not studied the language before, or at intermediate level if you have only learnt it up to GCSE or AS level. Regardless of which level you join the course at, all students achieve the same standard of written and spoken Italian by the final year. Please check the entry requirements for more details on entry points.

Career opportunities:

• By the time you graduate, you will be able to write and speak fluently in Italian – an immensely useful skill to have given that there is currently a great shortage of well-qualified linguists in the UK. 
• The experience of studying or working abroad also distinguishes you from non-language graduates, providing evidence of self-reliance, adaptability and enterprise. The course also provides you with numerous transferable skills in research, analysis, presenting and group working, which will prove useful in a wide range of careers.
• Our graduates have an excellent record of gaining employment or progressing to further study. They find careers in many different sectors, including education, publishing, translation, EU institutions, finance, fashion, entertainment, the film business and tourism, both in the UK and abroad. 
• They have found employment with companies and organisations such as the Ministry of Defence, Energis Communication, BNP Paribas, the Taylorian Institution Library and Riso Scotti SRL, Christie’s, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, PGL Travel Ltd. 22% of our 2012 graduates opted to continue their studies at postgraduate level and have in recent years included PhDs at Siena, Oxford and Cambridge.