Italian and History

Italian and history is a combination that places two rigorous disciplines in productive dialogue. Italian is one of the great cultural languages of Europe, giving access to a literary tradition that stretches from Dante and Boccaccio through to Calvino and Ferrante, as well as to the art, music, cinema, and political thought of a nation that has shaped Western civilisation in profound ways. History trains you in the critical analysis of evidence, the construction of narrative and argument across time, and the interpretation of the past in ways that illuminate the present.

At Edinburgh, this four-year degree allows you to develop substantial proficiency in Italian alongside a wide-ranging study of historical periods, places, and themes. Language study will build your reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills, while cultural modules will deepen your understanding of Italian literature, society, and history. Historical study will range across periods and geographies, developing the ability to handle primary and secondary sources, to evaluate competing interpretations, and to write clearly and persuasively about complex material.

Edinburgh itself, as a world-leading festival and capital city home to two World Heritage Sites, provides a rich cultural environment in which to study a modern language alongside history, with proximity to outstanding archive and library resources. The combination of linguistic access and historical rigour opens up research and interpretive possibilities that neither discipline offers on its own.

Graduates of Italian and history degrees are well placed for careers in cultural institutions, heritage organisations, museums, archives, and education. The combination of language skills and historical training is valued in diplomacy, international organisations, journalism, and publishing. Many graduates go on to postgraduate study in Italian studies, medieval or modern history, translation, or heritage management.

Others enter the civil service, law, or the creative industries, taking the analytical and communication skills developed through the degree into a wide variety of professional contexts.