Italian Language and Literature

The objective of the study is to develop and enlarge the knowledge and skills learned acquired in the Bachelor’s degree study programme of Italian languages and cultures or similar programmes. The Master's Degree focuses on enlarging the scope of Cultural knowledge, as well as critical thinking. It also acquaints and introduces the students to the main currents of research in Italian Philology and Italian Studies. In the area of Linguistics, students focus on the historical development of Italian Language and its varieties in a social-historical an social-cultural conceptual framework. In Literary criticism, students learn to use modern methodologies and critical theories in textual studies and literary analysis, applied to texts written in Italian language and its dialects.

“Dal centro al cerchio, e sì dal cerchio al centro
[Dante Alighieri, Paradiso XIV, 1] /

From rim to center, center out to rim
[Dante Alighieri, Comedy, Paradise XIV, 1]”

Practical training

Practical training is not required.

The graduate is prepared to work in those areas requiring a deep and proficient command of Italian language and a wide range of knowledge of Italian and Italian speaking culture; areas such as: specialised research action, editorial, publication, translation, advertising, marketing, etc. Typically, a graduate in Italian studies would find career opportunities in other professional positions that require skills such as independent critical thinking and full competence in Italian language at a high level.

Deadline for submitting applications: August 1 - November 30

Who the programme is intended for: The applicant must have a Bachelor's degree in Italian Literature and Linguistics (or must be about to complete the programme in Italian studies soon at the moment of the interview). Exceptions are made for students who have a Bachelor's degree in Portuguese/Spanish/Catalan/French/Latin Literature and Linguistics, or General Linguistics, or similar programmes (to be assessed case by case) including a deep education in literary and/or linguistic subjects. Knowledge of Italian language (B2 at least) is a necessary but not sufficient requirement.

Subject matter of the entrance examination: oral examination. The applicant will have a discussion in Italian about the Bachelor’s or minor thesis. Applicants are also required to submit a motivation letter, a PDF version of their Bachelor's thesis (or a near-final version of the thesis in the case of a defence in January) and a complete list of the examinations they have taken during their Bachelor's studies, together with the marks obtained in these examinations. Exception to the delivery of these documents are graduates of the Bachelor's programme in Italian Language and Literature at the Faculty of Arts, who will only take an interview. Documents for the admission procedure must be uploaded into the e-application (rubric “Documents”) by 15 December. Applicants are required to include their full name and application number on all attached documents.

Waiver of the entrance examination: The entrance examination can be waived for students who have completed a Bachelor’s degree field/programme Italian Language and Literature (single-subject or major study plan/double-subject programme) at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University within the last three years with the mark A-C. Applicants (students of the Bachelor’s programme Italian Language and Literature at the Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University, single-subject or major study plan/double-subject programme) who have not yet defended their Bachelor’s thesis and have an average of grades from individual completed courses between A and B may also apply for a waiver. The entrance examination may also be waived for applicants whose overall result of the Bachelor's State Examination in programme of Italian Language and Literature at the MU Faculty of Arts was assessed as “passed with excellent results”. Applicants can ask for a waiver for the entrance examination via the e-application form, section "Application for waiver of the entrance examination".

Website Department of Romance Languages and Literatures.

General information on the course of the admission procedure to the follow-up Master’s degree programmes at FA MU can be found here. Documents for the current admission procedure are kept in Materials for Applicants.

Criteria for evaluation

Pass/fail line of the entrance examination: 50 points (out of 100).

Minimum score and numbers of accepted applicants in past years

After completing the Master’s degree study program and after satisfying the admission requirements it is possible to continue further studies in a doctoral degree study program in Romance languages, Romance literatures, or other appropriate doctoral studies.