Italian and International Relations

The joint BA Italian and International Relations degree provides you with a high-level expertise in the Italian language and enables you to add your voice to the stimulating discussion that surrounds some of the contemporary world's most pressing issues.

Join our friendly and dynamic Department of Languages and Cultures, 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.

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.

Optional modules in Italian politics, culture, history, literature and cinema enhance your learning, and provide you with an in-depth knowledge of the country. You will 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.

In international relations, you will acquire a strong grounding in the fundamental elements of the subject such as political ideas and international relations theory. You will have the opportunity to study various areas of the subject through a wide range of specialist core and optional modules which cover topical issues such as European political integration, international terrorism and the Middle East crisis. The course also delivers innovative modules in which you can take part in United Nations and Middle East simulations and get a direct insight into the political process. Most of your contact time will be spent in small teaching groups, allowing you to interact directly with staff and add your own voice to the discussion.

An integral part of the course is the opportunity for you to spend up to a year in Italy, studying at a partner institution, undertaking a work placement or working as a British Council language teaching assistant. This enables you to 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.

**Careers**

On graduating you will be able to write and speak confidently in Italian — a big advantage given the current shortage of well-qualified linguists in the UK. As such, 98% of graduates from the Department of Modern Languages and European Studies are in work or further study six months after graduating (DLHE survey, 2015-16). The experience of studying or working abroad distinguishes you from non-language graduates, providing evidence of self-reliance, adaptability and enterprise.

Additionally, 98% of our undergraduate students in the Department of Politics and International Relations are in work or further study within six months of graduation (DLHE Survey 2015-16). Our graduates have found careers in many sectors, including education, publishing, translation, EU institutions, finance, entertainment and tourism, both in the UK and abroad. Recent employers include 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.