COURSE CURRICULUM

The Italian BA at Leeds offers a comprehensive study of the Italian language and culture across four years. In the first year, students follow core modules in Italian language, ranging from beginner (A1) to intermediate (B1) levels, depending on prior experience, alongside an introduction to Italian culture, society, and history, covering topics from the Middle Ages to contemporary times. Students also study art and literature of medieval and Renaissance Italy, modern Italian history from Fascism to the present, and optional modules on audio-visual culture, literature, intercultural competence, and politics. In the second year, language learning continues with Italian Language A or B, covering B2-level proficiency, while modules explore Dante’s Comedy, linguistic diversity in modern Italy, Italian cinema and TV, modern Italian identities, and opportunities to engage with schools or broader cultural studies. The third year includes a compulsory residence abroad in Italy, either through study, work, or assistantship, to consolidate linguistic and cultural skills. In the fourth year, students advance to C1-C2 language proficiency with Italian Language 3 and undertake a Final Year Project through a dissertation, extended translation, or digital documentary. Optional modules focus on Italian for business, feminism, material culture, crime and fantastic literature, decolonial approaches, social movements, minoritised languages, and contemporary world literature, combining linguistic mastery with cultural, historical, and social understanding.