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Italy is a cornerstone in culture, art and history across Europe, you cannot help but be inspired to learn the language. By learning Italian, you give yourself a tool to explore this cultural richness and to open your eyes to its Roman heritage, the Renaissance, modern architecture, fashion and car design. It is spoken not only in its home country, but also by over 15 million people in Switzerland, North America and Australia.
Overview
Italian was one of the first language departments created at Kent and we are proud to offer a course of study which gives you the opportunity to learn Italian to a high standard and gain real insight into Italian culture, literature and society. The course covers topics such as the history of Italian literature, 19th and 20th-century Italian fiction, Fascism, neorealist and post-neorealist cinema, and women writers. You can study Italian at Kent whether you have an A level or GCSE in Italian, or as a beginner.
Kent is an ideal location to study Italian. The majority of the Italian teaching staff are native speakers and we regularly host Italian exchange students, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the language. This is supplemented by excellent technical facilities, including audio, video and computer-assisted language learning.
During your Year Abroad, you have the opportunity to study or work in Italy. This is a fantastic way to improve your language skills and gain an in-depth understanding of Italian culture.
Independent rankings
Italian at Kent was ranked 14th in The Times Good University Guide 2017 and 1st for research quality in The Complete University Guide 2017.
Course structure
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.
On most programmes, you study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also be able to take ‘wild’ modules from other programmes so you can customise your programme and explore other subjects that interest you.
Year abroad
Going abroad as part of your degree is an amazing experience and a chance to develop personally, academically and professionally. You experience a different culture, gain a new academic perspective, establish international contacts and enhance your employability.
All Italian BA students are required to spend a Year Abroad between Stages 2 and 3. You are expected to adhere to any academic progression requirements in Stage 2 to proceed to the Year Abroad. If the requirement is not met, you may have to postpone your Year Abroad.
The Year Abroad is assessed on a pass/fail basis and will not count towards your final degree classification. You spend the year working as an English language assistant or in approved employment, or studying at one of our partner universities. For a full list of our partner universities, please visit Go Abroad.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching is by lectures and seminars. We have extensive technical facilities, including audio, video and computer-assisted language learning.
Depending on the modules you select, assessment throughout all stages of the course varies from 100% coursework, to a combination of examination and coursework, in the ratio 50:50, 60:40, 70:30 or 80:20.
Programme aims
The programme aims to:
- provide a solid grounding in the Italian language in its use as a spoken and written medium
- develop students' critical awareness of Italian society since unification (ie since 1861)
- immerse students in Italian culture by enabling them to spend up to one year in Italy; in most cases as an Erasmus/Socrates exchange student, or as a language assistant in an Italian school, or working in one of the companies with whom we have links
- facilitate awareness of Italian literature, particularly 20th century literature
- provide teaching which is informed by current research and scholarship, that requires students to engage with aspects of work at the frontiers of knowledge
- train students in the field of translation from and into Italian. Particular stress is placed on familiarity with different linguistic registers and, with translation into English, students can expect to reach high levels of competence
- relate the study of Italian to disciplines such as politics, history, sociology, cinema and art theory through the study of appropriate texts and audiovisual material
- provide a means of access to intercultural awareness and understanding
- contribute to widening participation in higher education by offering a variety of entry routes
- provide opportunities for the development of personal, communication research and other key skills appropriate for graduate employment both in industry and in the public sector
- develop general critical, analytical and problem-solving skills which can be used in a wide range of situations.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
You gain knowledge and understanding of:
- Italian language (reading, writing, listening and speaking) including advanced skills in writing and speaking in Italian, involving the grammatical, discoursal and pragmatic conventions that govern language use and the societal factors which make language use effective; productive and receptive language skills in translation and interpreting, and familiarity with a wide range of source materials in Italian
- Italian society from early modern to the present day, including the ability to develop awareness of the similarities and dissimilarities between Italian society and culture and your own
- Italian history, including an ability to appreciate the unique aspects of Italian culture in their historical perspective at both a regional and global level
- Italian cinema and visual culture, with particular reference to the multidisciplinary nature of this area
- Italian literature, particularly 20th century, including the literary contribution it has made at a regional and global level
- gender studies with particular reference to the scope for cross-disciplinary endeavour.
Intellectual skills
You develop intellectual skills in the following areas:
- general academic study skills
- the ability to critically evaluate information
- how to synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding
- problem-solving skills
- the ability to develop and maximise communication skills for the expression and transfer of knowledge
- how to analyse and interpret a range of evidence in a critical manner
- the ability to study and reach conclusions independently
- how to formulate original opinions in a self-critical manner on the basis of sound factual knowledge and from a balanced perspective.
Subject-specific skills
You gain subject-specific skills in how to:
- communicate effectively in Italian, both orally and in writing
- demonstrate detailed knowledge and effective understanding of the various structures and registers of Italian
- translate accurately and efficiently into and from the target language
- critically analyse a variety of texts and images (journalistic, artistic, historical and literary)
- appreciate cultural diversity.
- develop and enhance reading skills in Italian
- develop skills in three related areas – reception (listening, observing and reading); production (speaking and writing) and mediation (translation and interpreting).
Transferable skills
You gain transferable skills in how to:
- communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals using a variety of information sources and methods
- identify problems and explore alternative solutions
- conduct library and bibliographical research
- use Italian language source materials
- take responsibility for personal and professional learning and development
- manage time and prioritise workloads; think and perform under pressure
- demonstrate capacity for teamwork and the ability to work creatively and flexibly in a group environment
- demonstrate leadership abilities
- use a range of information technology skills effectively, such as word processing text with footnotes, basic formatting, use of CD-ROMs, using email, searching databases and text files, navigating the internet.
Careers
Italian students who graduated from Kent in 2015 were the most successful in the UK at finding work or further study opportunities (Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education survey).
Recent graduates have gone into teaching, translating and interpreting, marketing, journalism and publishing. Many of our graduates spend time working abroad.
The ability to speak another European language is a key asset in the
global employment market, and many employers view a graduate with
overseas study experience as more employable.
Entry requirements
Home/EU students
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.
It is not possible to offer places to all students who meet this typical offer/minimum requirement.
New GCSE grades
If you’ve taken exams under the new GCSE grading system, please see our conversion table to convert your GCSE grades.
| Qualification | Typical offer/minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| A level | BBB |
| GCSE | B in a modern European language other than English |
| Access to HE Diploma | The University will not necessarily make conditional offers to all Access candidates but will continue to assess them on an individual basis. If we make you an offer, you will need to obtain/pass the overall Access to Higher Education Diploma and may also be required to obtain a proportion of the total level 3 credits and/or credits in particular subjects at merit grade or above |
| BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma (formerly BTEC National Diploma) | The University will consider applicants holding BTEC National Diploma and Extended National Diploma Qualifications (QCF; NQF; OCR) on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further advice on your individual circumstances. |
| International Baccalaureate | 34 points overall or 15 at HL, including a modern European language other than English 4 at HL or 5 at SL |
International students
The University welcomes applications from international students. Our international recruitment team can guide you on entry requirements. See our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country.
If you need to increase your level of qualification ready for undergraduate study, we offer a number of International Foundation Programmes.
Meet our staff in your country
For more advise about applying to Kent, you can meet our staff at a range of international events.
English Language Requirements
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
General entry requirements
Please also see our general entry requirements.
Fees
The 2017/18 tuition fees for this programme are:
| UK/EU | Overseas | |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time |
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
UK/EU fee paying students
The Government has announced changes to allow undergraduate tuition fees to rise in line with inflation from 2017/18.
In accordance with changes announced by the UK Government, we are increasing our 2017/18 regulated full-time tuition fees for new and returning UK/EU fee paying undergraduates from £9,000 to £9,250. The equivalent part-time fees for these courses will also rise from £4,500 to £4,625. This was subject to us satisfying the Government's Teaching Excellence Framework and the access regulator's requirements. This fee will ensure the continued provision of high-quality education.
For students continuing on this programme, fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.*
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
Fees for Year Abroad/Industry
As a guide only, UK/EU/International students on an approved year abroad for the full 2017/18 academic year pay an annual fee of £1,350 to Kent for that year. Students studying abroad for less than one academic year will pay full fees according to their fee status.
Please note that for 2017/18 entrants the University will increase the standard year in industry fee for home/EU/international students to £1,350.
General additional costs
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Funding
University funding
Kent offers generous financial support schemes to assist eligible undergraduate students during their studies. See our funding page for more details.
Government funding
You may be eligible for government finance to help pay for the costs of studying. See the Government's student finance website.
The Government has confirmed that EU students applying for university places in the 2017 to 2018 academic year will still have access to student funding support for the duration of their course.
Scholarships
General scholarships
Scholarships are available for excellence in academic performance, sport and music and are awarded on merit. For further information on the range of awards available and to make an application see our scholarships website.
The Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence
At Kent we recognise, encourage and reward excellence. We have created the Kent Scholarship for Academic Excellence. The scholarship will be awarded to any applicant who achieves a minimum of AAA over three A levels, or the equivalent qualifications (including BTEC and IB) as specified on our scholarships pages.
The scholarship is also extended to those who achieve AAB at A level (or specified equivalents) where one of the subjects is either Mathematics or a Modern Foreign Language. Please review the eligibility criteria.