Faculty of Modern Languages Italian/Italy in Contact. Literature, Arts, Languages, Cultures – Master

Romance studies considers Romance languages, literature and cultures. In Italian, the focus is on the Italian-speaking world (in particular Italy, Ticino). 

Important Note for International Students of Romance Studies

In your own interest, we strongly recommend that you apply by April 30th at the latest (for the winter semester) or by October 31st (for the summer semester) with all required documents so that a timely and orderly start of studies can be guaranteed.

Facts & Formalities

DegreeMaster of Arts
Type of programmeConsecutive
Start of programmeWinter and summer semester
Standard period of study4 semesters
Language(s) of instructionItalian, occasionally German or English
Fees and contributions151.05 € / Semester
Application procedureConsecutive master’s programmes with access restriction
Application deadlinesInformation about deadlines can be obtained after you have put together a degree program.
Part-time optionYes
May be studied as a minor subjectYes
International degree programYes

Course Content

This degree programme mainly focuses on those core areas of Italian literature and culture studies as well as linguistics that share a connection with transcultural contact phenomena in the field of Italian-Romance cultures. An emphasis is given to contact phenomena from a linguistic, literary or cultural background, for example in a territorial, ethnic, political or religious context.

With a separate specialisation, this degree programme integrates interdisciplinary related subjects that are of special relevance for the Italian language and the corresponding cultural area. To do so, the compulsory elective components in the programme are partially offered through cooperations. Students can choose to take European art history, history, music(ology) or Transcultural Studies. In this way, interdependencies of Italian language and cultural dynamics will be researched from an interdisciplinary perspective with related subjects.

The degree programme is research-oriented. Students will be provided with well-founded knowledge of major theories of the modern-day era, which will serve as a basis for further specific and in-depth research. The main focus is on identity theories, the constitution of subject and alterity, on transculturality and nation building as well as basic concepts to adequately describe phenomena of complex language contact situations. The subsequent target is to discuss terminologies, typologies and concepts and to interlace perspectives from an aesthetics, linguistics, social and cultural studies point of view.

Course Structure

Remarks and explanations (especially regarding the abbreviations ) can be found in the module handbook.
The Master’s degree programme Italy in contact – Literature, arts, languages and culture may also be studied as a minor subject accounting for 20 CP.
When taken as a major, the programme cannot be combined with a minor subject.

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