Postgraduate study

Explore your own area of interest and expertise in Italian in a Masters by Research or PhD programme, or choose an interdisciplinary taught masters programme.

What's it like to study here?

Offered at Edinburgh since the late 16th century, Italian was formally added to the University’s curriculum in 1919. Since then, it has developed to cover most areas of Italian cultural studies from the Middle Ages to the present, including literary history and theory, comparative studies, translation, film studies, philology, philosophy, decolonial studies, digital humanities, environmental humanities, political theory, and practice-led research.

Join our community and undertake a specialised research project under the guidance of experienced and well-published supervisors. We supervise Masters by Research (MScR) and PhD students.

If you are looking for taught study, our team contribute to a number of interdisciplinary masters programmes such as Intermediality, and Comparative Literature.   

As part of our community, you will have lots of opportunities to share ideas, learning and creative work. Activities include a regular seminar series in European Languages and Cultures (with talks by staff, research students and visiting speakers), a student-led mini-series of roundtables and workshops, film screenings, and the publication of the Edinburgh Journal of Gadda Studies.

Collections and resources

The historic capital city of Edinburgh contains exceptional resources for study and research in Italian. Based in the Main University Library, the Centre for Research Collections is unique in the UK, bringing together a collection of more than 400,000 rare books, six kilometres of archives and manuscripts, and the University’s collections of art, historical musical instruments and other objects. Many of our Special Collections are digitised and available online.

From the Italian Cultural Institute to the National Library of Scotland, both of which are within a short walk of our buildings, you’ll find many places to enrich your cultural and academic interest in one of the world’s great civilisations, while enjoying the cinemas, theatres, libraries and galleries of one of its favourite festival cities.

There are fantastic medieval, Renaissance and modern collections in the National Galleries of Scotland, and most of the city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the Old Town retaining many of its medieval buildings and streets.

What can I study?

MSc by Research in Italian

A Masters by Research (MScR) programme is ideal if you have a clear idea of the independent research you wish to undertake at masters level. The programme is a good stepping stone to a PhD, but is equally of value as a stand-alone qualification.

As a Masters by Research student, you’ll be part of a wider masters community while specialising in what most interests you right from the beginning of the programme. This is how it is different to a taught Masters (MSc).

Our programme includes 40 credits of training on research skills, methods and problems, the completion of two research assignments, and the submission of a 15,000 word dissertation under the guidance of an experienced and well-published supervisor.

You'll find a full list of our areas of expertise on the University's Degree Finder.

Full-time, one year (all students) ꟾ part-time, two years (eligibility criteria apply)

Find out more on the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder

PhD in Italian

Join our community and undertake a specialised research project under the guidance of experienced and well-published supervisors. Working with colleagues elsewhere in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures, and across the wider University, we are able to support PhD theses crossing boundaries between disciplines and/or languages. You'll find a full list of our areas of expertise on the University's Degree Finder.

Full-time, three years (all students) ꟾ part-time, six years (eligibility criteria apply)

Before making a formal application to this PhD on the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder, you are strongly advised to read our guidelines on writing a PhD proposal.

Take me to the guidelines

Find out more on the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder

Taught masters (MSc) programmes

A number of our School's interdisciplinary taught masters programmes include the option to focus on Italian literature and culture, including in comparison.

Full-time, one year (all students) ꟾ part-time, two years (selected programmes only - eligibility criteria apply)

Browse a range of taught masters (MSc) programmes

Entrance requirements, fees, funding and more...

You can find out about entrance requirements, start dates, fees and scholarship opportunities for all our programmes on the University of Edinburgh’s Degree Finder. Degree Finder links straight through to EUCLID, the online system for applying to postgraduate programmes at the University. 

Applications to start a programme in September 2025 will open in October 2024.

Find out more and apply on the University of Edinburgh Degree Finder

Are you currently studying with us?

There’s lots more information for taught and postgraduate research students on our LLC Student Information Hub. You will need your student log in to access the site.

Take me to the LLC Student Information Hub

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