This degree combines history of art with the study of Italian language, art, and culture, which have had a lasting impact on Western civilisation. Italian is the fourth most studied language in the world after English, Spanish and Chinese, and is spoken worldwide by the Italian diaspora. The course offers an enriching experience with exciting intellectual challenges and a range of options that will allow you to pursue your own interests.
Both departments encourage strong synergy between research and teaching, resulting in a vibrant learning environment as staff incorporate new research into their classes.
The course will give you a grounding in the key skills needed for a history of art degree, enabling you to study a wide range of visual and material culture and to explore some themes in greater depth, while developing your research skills.
You will follow a structured language course in Italian, as well as explore Italy's rich history and culture, choosing from a range of options that focus on literature, cinema, thought, politics and visual culture. You will spend your third year abroad in Italy, extending your language skills and cultural knowledge.
Teaching is delivered through lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, and one-to-one project supervision. Assessments may include presentations, essays, commentaries, exams, collaborative projects, debates, podcasts, video essays, and dissertations.
Our course will ensure you practise a range of skills, which will make you attractive to future employers in the globalised workplace and in the sector of your choice.
Italian can be studied from beginners' level and post-A level (or equivalent). All modern languages students have access to our state-of-the-art Multimedia Centre. You can also access extracurricular activities such as talks by visiting speakers, societies, language cafes, student newspapers, and talent shows.