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Italian

Welcome to the Italian Section

The Italian peninsula is one of the pivotal centres in the history of the West. From the Roman Empire to the medieval communes, from the Renaissance to Fascism, Italy has shaped the culture and politics of Europe and the wider world for over two millennia. Studying the languages and cultures of Italy offers a wonderful opportunity to engage with these traditions, as well as with the one of the most vibrant European nations of today.

We aim to teach and promote the study of the widest possible range of Italian literature, linguistics, art, cinema and cultural history, and to teach the Italian language to the highest level of spoken and written competence. We lay great stress on the connections between the study of a language and the critical understanding of its culture and history; and on the skills of close reading, whether the 'text' in question is a poem, a painting, a film, a dialect recording, or an advertisement. We work hard to shape our course to contribute to a shared degree course in modern European languages and cultures.

The Italian Section offers a unique breadth and depth of expertise, combined with a commitment to interdisciplinary engagement that make it a vibrant and dynamic place for teaching and learning the language and culture of Italy. In this close-knit community of academics and students, eight outstanding and enthusiastic academic staff guide and inspire 120 undergraduate and a vibrant community of Master, PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Italian at Ƶ has consistently been judged as one of the very best in the country, in national and international rankings and in national government Research Assessments in the UK. In the 2021 Research Exercise Framework (REF), for example, 40% of research submitted by the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages was rated as “world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour”.

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On this site, you will find extensive information about the Italian Section and the undergraduate and graduate courses which we offer. You will also find information about our staff and their research interests which cover a wide range of specialisms.

There is a link to the extensive Italian Collections at the University Library .

The Italian Section is happy to answer any questions that current or prospective staff and students may have. Please do get in touch with us! Contact details for our Section Coordinator can be found here.

Why study Italian?

Latest News

Call for papers. Translating conflict and refuge: language, displacement, and the politics of representation

15 September 2025

Call for papers Translating conflict and refuge: language, displacement, and the politics of representation Date: Friday 24 April 2026 Place: The Ƶ / part hybrid Submission deadline for abstracts: 5 December 2025 Papers are invited for this one-day conference to take place in Ƶ (UK) next April...

Croatian Author Magdalena Blažević in Conversation at Heffers Bookshop

7 September 2025

The Faculty of Modern & Medieval Languages and Linguistics is pleased to share details of an upcoming literary event hosted by independent publisher Linden Editions and Heffers Bookshop. On Thursday 11 September, Croatian author Magdalena Blažević will join Burhan Sönmez, President of International PEN and acclaimed...

Ƶ launches survey on Llanito and Gibraltar English

3 September 2025

Researchers at the Ƶ have launched a new study into Llanito, the distinctive hybrid vernacular spoken in Gibraltar, and its relationship to Gibraltar English. The project is led by Professor Brechtje Post, Professor Ioanna Sitaridou, Professor Laura Wright, and Research Assistant Amber Holt, and forms...

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