Czech and Italian

Czech and Italian make a fascinating pairing that spans Central European and Mediterranean culture, connecting two rich literary and cultural traditions that have contributed enormously to European history, philosophy, art, and politics. Czech is the language of Bohemia and Moravia, with a distinctive literary tradition running from medieval religious writing through to the modernism of Kafka and Havel, and a political history that encompasses Habsburg rule, the First Republic, Nazi occupation, communist totalitarianism, and post-1989 democratic transformation. Italian opens access to one of the great literary traditions, from Dante and Petrarch through Renaissance humanism to Calvino and Moravia, as well as to a cultural and political history that has shaped Europe profoundly.

This four-year full-time BA at University College London is split equally between your two languages. You will develop competence in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and translation in both Czech and Italian, alongside modules in cultural topics including literature, history, film, linguistics, and politics that deepen your understanding of the societies where each language is spoken. The programme is designed to allow you to tailor your degree to your interests from a wide variety of module options.

In your third year, you will spend a year abroad divided between two countries where your languages are spoken, an experience that is central to the academic and personal development the degree offers. A typical entry tariff of 152 points applies.

Graduates from joint honours modern languages programmes develop linguistic proficiency, cultural intelligence, research skills, and the analytical ability to engage with complex texts in multiple languages. Careers in translation, interpreting, international business, diplomacy, journalism, publishing, education, cultural organisations, and European institutions are all natural destinations. Postgraduate study in Slavonic studies, Italian studies, comparative literature, or European studies is a well-trodden continuation.