French and Italian

French and Italian together offer access to two of the most important literary and cultural traditions of the European continent. French is the language of Rabelais, Moliere, Voltaire, Flaubert, Proust, Camus, and a philosophical tradition that spans from Descartes to Beauvoir and Derrida. Italian gave the world Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, Machiavelli, Leopardi, and Calvino, and carries with it the heritage of Rome, the Renaissance, and the Catholic cultural tradition that shaped European civilisation for centuries.

Studied together, they reveal the connections and contrasts between two neighbouring cultures that have been in constant dialogue across their shared history.

The University of Edinburgh's four-year full-time degree develops high-level proficiency in both languages alongside deep engagement with the literary, cultural, and historical traditions they represent. Edinburgh's modern languages department has strong research strengths in both French and Italian studies, and the programme benefits from a rich intellectual environment and from the cultural life of one of Europe's most architecturally and culturally distinguished cities. You will study language skills at an advanced level in both French and Italian, engaging with grammar, idiomatic usage, translation, and conversation, alongside literature, film, history, and contemporary society in both the Francophone and Italian-speaking worlds.

The four-year structure provides the time to reach genuine depth in both languages.

Graduates in French and Italian go on to work in translation, journalism, education, publishing, international business, diplomacy, cultural organisations, the civil service, and the full range of careers where the ability to work across languages and cultures is valued. The combination is particularly suited to careers involving the European Union, international cultural institutions, and industries with strong presences in France, Italy, and their respective spheres of cultural influence. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in French or Italian studies, translation, or European cultural history.