Why study this course?
It is possible for students applying for the MA (Hons) in Italian to work or teach abroad in an Italian-speaking country between their second and third year of study. This adds an extra year to the MA (Hons) course making it a total of five years in length.
Students who spend a year abroad not only gain valuable work experience but also develop their linguistic skills, intercultural competence, and self-confidence.
UK students are usually placed in a school through the British Council’s Language Assistantship scheme. Successful applicants go on to teach English at a school, college or university in Italy. Assistants are paid a salary locally, and, after attending a basic induction course in teaching resources and methods, are typically required to teach for 12 hours per week under the supervision of local staff at the educational institution employing them.
Instead of a teaching placement, you can organise an alternative work placement with the approval of the Italian Department. For example, in previous years students have worked in art galleries, publishing houses and various businesses.
The year abroad experience is competitive and is not guaranteed. Places are granted on merit during the second year of study and do not take into account the initial UCAS application. If students are unsuccessful with their year abroad application, they will have the opportunity to join the four-year Italian MA Honours degree programme.
To find out more information, please contact the Department of Italian.
Course details
The MA (Hons) in Italian with an integrated year abroad follows the same course structure as the Italian MA (Hons) degree, with the addition of a year abroad in between the second and third years of study.
During their integrated year abroad, students are required to take the following compulsory module:
- Italian Integrated Year Abroad: language learning and cultural familiarisation through a work placement in an Italian-speaking country. Placements will be as language assistants in schools or on other assignments approved by the Department.
More information about the Italian modules currently on offer can be found in the module catalogue.
Find out more about studying Italian at St Andrews.
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Entry requirements
The entry requirements for Italian with a year abroad are the same as the Italian MA (Hons) degree.
To be eligible for Italian with a year abroad, students must gain Honours entry in all subjects that they intend on taking at Honours level. Students who do not achieve entry to Honours level in their chosen subjects must withdraw from their selected year abroad destination at that point.
Beginners in Italian are strongly encouraged to spend a year abroad in Italy. If you are a beginner in Italian and another language (through a joint degree), please consult your year abroad coordinators in both departments for options.
For degrees combining more than one subject, the subject with the higher entry requirements determines the grades you need. You will also need to meet any further subject-specific entry requirements as outlined on their pages.
Joint Honours degrees
You can also take Italian (WIYA) as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.
| Course name | UCAS code |
|---|---|
| Ancient History and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVHD |
| Arabic and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RTH6 |
| Art History and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVH3 |
| Chinese Studies and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | CW09 |
| Classical Studies and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RQJ8 |
| Classics and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RQH8 |
| Comparative Literature and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | QRG3 |
| Economics and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | LRC3 |
| English and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RQ33 |
| Film Studies and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | PR3H |
| French and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RR31 |
| Geography and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | LRR3 |
| German and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RR32 |
| International Relations and Italian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | LRF3 |
| Italian and Latin (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RQ36 |
| Italian and Management (With Integrated Year Abroad) | NRF3 |
| Italian and Mathematics (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RG31 |
| Italian and Medieval History (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVH1 |
| Italian and Modern History (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVHC |
| Italian and Persian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | R36T |
| Italian and Philosophy (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RVH5 |
| Italian and Psychology (With Integrated Year Abroad) | CR83 |
| Italian and Russian (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RR73 |
| Italian and Scottish History (With Integrated Year Abroad) | VRF3 |
| Italian and Social Anthropology (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RL36 |
| Italian and Spanish (With Integrated Year Abroad) | RR34 |
| Italian and Sustainable Development (With Integrated Year Abroad) | F883 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Ancient History and Italian | RV31 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Arabic and Italian | RT36 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Art History and Italian | RV33 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Chinese Studies and Italian | CH09 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Classical Studies and Italian | RQ38 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Classics and Italian | QR83 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Comparative Literature and Italian | QRF3 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Economics and Italian | LR13 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) English and Italian | QR33 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Film Studies and Italian | PR33 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) French and Italian | RR13 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Geography and Italian | LR73 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) German and Italian | RR23 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) International Relations and Italian | LR23 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Latin | QR63 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Management | NR23 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Mathematics | GR13 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Medieval History | RVJ1 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Modern History | RV3D |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Persian | R3T6 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Philosophy | RV35 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Psychology | RC38 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Russian | RR37 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Scottish History | VR23 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Social Anthropology | LR63 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Spanish | RR43 |
| Master of Arts (Honours) Italian and Sustainable Development | F887 |
Careers
Modern languages graduates have an extremely good record of employment after graduating, not only in all sectors that require advanced language skills but also in professional environments that demand good communication and analytical skills.
Employers value language graduates because they demonstrate excellent communication, interpersonal and intercultural skills.
Many graduates go on to:
- specialise in translation and interpreting services, in language teaching or other sector-specific careers
- join international institutions and enterprises, working in international development departments, human resources, administration, media and communication jobs
- start a career in the banking and financial sector
- join the civil service, particularly in positions within the Foreign Office
continue to study at postgraduate level
Recent Italian graduates have gone to work for companies in the UK and Italy. Some are working as teachers of modern languages in the UK, or are teaching English abroad. Others have taken further specialist training or conversion courses to prepare for careers in law or in translating and interpreting.
The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.
What to do next
Online information events
Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.
Undergraduate visiting days
We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.
Contact us
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 3662
- italianhod@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Address
- Department of Italian
Buchanan Building
Union Street
St Andrews
KY16 9PH
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