BA Philosophy and Italian (RV35)
2025 entry
Course summary
This degree combines philosophy with the study of Italian language, art, and culture, which have had a lasting impact on Western civilisation. The course provides a valuable skill set, ideally tailored to the increasingly globalised workplace.
Italian can be studied from beginners' level or post-A level (or the equivalent).
For philosophy, you will study units covering an introduction to philosophy, logic, and realism and normativity.
You will also follow a structured language course in Italian and 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. To find out more about studying abroad, visit the Centre for Study Abroad.
Both departments encourage strong synergy between research and teaching, which results in a vibrant learning environment as staff respond to new research. This course combination offers an enriching experience with exciting intellectual challenges and a range of options that will allow you to pursue your own interests.
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 sector of your choice.
As a modern languages student, you will 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.
Course structure
In your first year of philosophy, you will gain a grounding in the fundamentals of philosophy through two mandatory introductory units: one exploring issues in epistemology and metaphysics; the other concerning moral and political philosophy. You will also take a unit in critical thinking and logic.
In your second year, you will complete your foundation in philosophy with a mandatory unit on realism and normativity and conduct more detailed study in topics ranging from ethics to the philosophy of language.
In your final year, you may undertake an independent study unit on almost any topic in philosophy, writing an extended essay in consultation with a supervisor. Final-year taught units relate to the research interests of staff in areas ranging from global justice to philosophy of physics.
For Italian, you will follow a structured language course in each year. In your first year, you will also take one or more core interdisciplinary units combining topics such as Italian literature, history, thought, politics and cinema. In years two and three, you will be able to choose from a wide range of optional units relating to Italian literature, history, visual culture and politics.
Entry requirements
We accept a wide variety of qualifications and welcome applications from students of all backgrounds. Below is a guide to the typical offers for this course.
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Selection process
- Regulations and codes of conduct we abide by to create a positive environment for learning and achievement are found in the University admissions policies and procedures.
- If applying with extenuating circumstances please see our policy.
- Full information about our selection processes for Philosophy and Italian can be found in the Admissions Statement:
Admissions statement