Italian Studies
Master’s degree study programme
Programme information
Curriculum (SLO)
Introductory brochure (SLO)
Study presentation
The Master’s Degree programme in Italian Studies (2nd cycle) offers students an advanced training in literary, linguistic and cultural sciences, as well as a solid foundation in scientific, methodological, theoretical and critical approaches to language and culture.
The programme offers internal and external elective courses, designed to enrich and deepen students’ knowledge acquired during undergraduate studies, particularly in the field of culture and art history of the region in which the faculty is located.
Throughout the Master’s degree programme, students specializing in Italian Linguistics upgrade the basic knowledge acquired at the undergraduate level and develop the ability to study original topics within their own field of study. Students learn to independently recognize appropriate strategies for in-depth study and apply suitable methodologies to their selected research problem. In their independent research work, students also sharpen their critical skills in the use of basic information tools.
The master’s degree programme in Italian Studies enables students to gain comprehensive knowledge of Italian as a foreign, second or first language (for members of the Italian community in Slovenia or Croatia), Italian literature both within Italy and internationally, and intercultural communication.
One of the most important objectives of this programme is to encourage students to continue their academic study, including doctoral research (PhD).
Programme information
Title and level of qualification
Master of Italian Studies (M.A.)
8 (SQF), 7 (EQF), second level
Type and duration
2 years, 120 ECTS
- Single-discipline course
- Double-discipline course
- Single-discipline pedagogical course
- Double-discipline pedagogical course
When applying, the candidate chooses one of the courses. A candidate who chooses double-discipline course has to choose another double-discipline (non-pedagogical) course of one of the other faculty’s offered study programmes. A candidate who chooses a double-discipline pedagogical course has to choose another double-discipline pedagogical course of one of the other faculty’s offered study programmes. It is required to meet the admission requirements for both courses.
Admission requirements
Admission to the first year of study (single and double discipline course) shall be granted to the candidates who have completed:
a) a first cycle study programme in the field of Italian studies or Italian translation studies carrying 240 ECTS credit points;
b) a first cycle study programme in the field of Italian studies or Italian translation studies carrying 180 ECTS credit points, provided that a candidate has completed all the study obligations relevant for further study prior to enrolment. Study obligations carrying 60 ECTS are defined by the relevant Faculty Commission based on documentation, provided by the candidate and taking into consideration the type of studies previously completed. The candidate can fulfil the obligations within the first cycle of studies, within continuing professional development courses or any other type of formal education and/or exams. Candidates must fulfil the obligations prior to enrolment into the master’s study programme;
c) a first cycle study programme, carrying 240 ECTS credit points, in other fields of study, provided that a candidate has completed all the study obligations relevant for further study prior to enrolment. The additional courses carrying up to 60 ECTS are defined by the relevant Faculty Commission based on documentation, provided by the candidate and taking into consideration the type of studies previously completed. The candidate can fulfil the obligations within the first cycle studies, within continuing professional development courses, or any other type of formal education and/or exams. Candidates must fulfil the obligations prior to enrolment into the master’s study programme. The candidate must also be able to prove previous knowledge and competences in Italian with literature as well as intercultural communication;
d) a first cycle study programme, carrying 180 ECTS credit points, in other fields of study, provided that a candidate has completed all the study obligations relevant for further study prior to enrolment. The additional courses carrying up from 10 to 60 ECTS are defined by the relevant Faculty Commission based on documentation, provided by the candidate and taking into consideration the type of studies previously completed. The candidate can fulfil the obligations within the first cycle studies, within continuing professional development courses, or any other type of formal education and/or exams. Candidates must fulfil the obligations prior to enrolment into the master’s study programme. The candidate must also complete the additional year of the study programme prior to enrolment and thus gain 60 ECTS;
e) an academic study programme (pre-reform study programme, adopted before 11 June 2004) in the field of Italian studies (or corresponding programme of study in the field of linguistics), provided that a candidate has completed all the study obligations relevant for further study prior to enrolment. Study obligations carrying up to 60 ECTS credit points are defined by the relevant Faculty Commission based on documentation, provided by the candidate and taking into consideration the type of studies previously completed. Candidate can fulfil the study obligations within the first cycle studies, within continuing professional development courses, or any other type of formal education and/or exams. Candidate must fulfil the obligations prior to enrolment into the master’s study programme;
f) an academic study programme (pre-reform study programme, adopted before 11 June 2004) in other fields of study, provided that a candidate has completed all the study obligations relevant for further study prior to enrolment. Study obligations carrying up to 60 ECTS credit points are defined by the relevant Faculty Commission based on documentation, provided by the candidate and taking into consideration the type of studies previously completed. The candidate can fulfil the study obligations within the first cycle studies, within continuing professional development courses, or any other type of formal education and/or exams. Candidate must fulfil the obligations prior to enrolment into the master’s study programme. Candidate must also be able to prove previous knowledge and competences in Italian with literature as well as intercultural communication;
g) a comparable education abroad and have been, in the process of recognition of their qualification and in accordance with Assessment and Recognition of Education Act, legally granted the right to continue their studies in the study programme.
In case of enrolment limitation the candidates are selected according to their average grade obtained in the first cycle / undergraduate studies.
Admission to the first year of study (single and double discipline pedagogical course) shall be granted to the candidates who have completed:
a) a degree awarded within first‑cycle study programmes in Italian Studies or in Translation of the Italian Language, comprising 180 ECTS credits; or
b) a degree awarded within first‑cycle study programmes in other academic fields, comprising 180 ECTS credits, provided that the candidate completes, prior to enrolment, the study obligations essential for the continuation of studies. The required study obligations, amounting to up to 60 ECTS credits, shall be determined by the competent UP FHŠ committee on the basis of the candidate’s individual application and with due consideration of the field of prior studies. The prescribed obligations may be completed during first‑cycle studies, within further‑training programmes or other forms of formal education, or by passing examinations prior to enrolment in the master’s study programme. The candidate must also demonstrate previously acquired knowledge and competences in the Italian language and literature, intercultural communication, and the didactics of the Italian language; or
c) a degree awarded within university study programmes in Italian Studies (or comparable linguistics‑oriented study programmes) adopted before 11 June 2004, provided that the candidate completes, prior to enrolment, the study obligations essential for the continuation of studies. The required study obligations, amounting to up to 60 ECTS credits, shall be determined by the competent UP FHŠ committee on the basis of the candidate’s individual application and with due consideration of the field of prior studies. The prescribed obligations may be completed during undergraduate studies, within further‑training programmes or other forms of formal education, or by passing examinations prior to enrolment in the master’s study programme. The candidate must also demonstrate previously acquired knowledge and competences in the Italian language and literature, intercultural communication, and the didactics of the Italian language; or
d) a degree awarded within university study programmes in other academic fields adopted before 11 June 2004, provided that the candidate completes, prior to enrolment, the study obligations essential for the continuation of studies. The required study obligations, amounting to up to 60 ECTS credits, shall be determined by the competent UP FHŠ committee on the basis of the candidate’s individual application and with due consideration of the field of prior studies. The prescribed obligations may be completed during undergraduate studies, within further‑training programmes or other forms of formal education, or by passing examinations prior to enrolment in the master’s study programme. The candidate must also demonstrate previously acquired knowledge and competences in the Italian language and literature, intercultural communication, and the didactics of the Italian language; or
e) a degree awarded within a comparable study programme abroad, on the basis of which the candidate has been granted, in accordance with the law, the right to continue education in a study programme.
In case of enrolment limitation the candidates are selected according to their average grade obtained in the first cycle / undergraduate studies.
Available enrolment places
| Italian Studies | 1st Year |
| Koper | Full-time |
| Citizens of the Republic of Slovenia and citizens of the European Union Member States | 20 |
| Slovenians without Slovenian citizenship | 1 |
| Citizens of Western Balkans countries, with which the Republic of Slovenia has a bilateral agreement in the field of education (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia) | 1 |
| Citizens of other non-EU countries | 1 |
| Parallel studies | 1 |
The study programme will be delivered if at least 5 students are enrolled in the 1st year.
Competences and skills acquired
The programme is organised in the form of lectures, tutorials, seminars and practical training. Internal and external elective courses enrich and deepen the student’s knowledge, focusing on the characteristics of the border, bilingual and multicultural area in which education takes place. The study of Italian Studies equips the student with the skills that will enable him/her to work independently, with a critical attitude and lifelong learning.
Textual competences
- the ability to analyse specialised texts (tourism, business language, EU documents, legal language, scientific language) and to transfer them to new contexts and cultures,
- the ability to produce a longer professional or scientific text,
Sociolinguistic competences
- the knowledge of the specificities of the Slovene-Italian border area, the linguistic and cultural contact,
- the ability to facilitate Slovene-Italian communication,
- identification of contemporary social problems in their field of activity and, using the instruments of qualitative research methodologies, selecting the appropriate way to solve the problems
Digital competences
- use of modern technology in linguistics (working with corpora and setting up their own linguistic corpus, computer-assisted translation (CAT), machine translation (MT), electronic resources
Linguistic and meta-linguistic competences
- production in all written and spoken forms of communication,
- knowledge of linguistic concepts in the field of translation between Slovene and Italian and the related professional terminology,
- recognition of negative transfer from Slovene and the ability to find correct solutions in translation,
- anticipation of potentially problematic forms, structures and concepts and the ability to find solutions
Research competences
- selection and application of an appropriate research method to solve a scientific or professional problem,
- developing innovative solutions in the field of linguistic research, education and social policy
Intercultural dialogue competences
- using linguistic patterns to learn about one’s own culture and to compare it with a foreign/other culture,
- developing communication patterns that correspond to the context of linguistic and intercultural use,
- being able to observe one’s own/another’s own linguistic and intercultural behaviour in social interaction, while at the same time orienting the linguistic situation.
Competences in the field of literature
- knowledge of the specificities of border literature,
- knowledge of the production of minority authors in Istria,
- methodological problematisation of literature in an intercultural situation from the perspective of literary history and interpretation
Competences in the field of translation
- ability to translate specialised texts,
- understanding, identification and description of all the variables in the process of translation and the impact of translation tools on them,
- understanding of the functioning, purpose and mechanisms of translation tools and their successful application to the process of translation,
- self-evaluation of one’s own work and responsibility towards the quality of the interlingual mediation carried out.
Employment opportunities
After completing the postgraduate programme in Italian Studies, you can find a job in environments where knowledge of intercultural linguistic communication, Italian literature and Italian as a foreign, second and/or first language in your home country and the world is required.
Graduates can go on to study for a PhD in Language and Interculturalism at Level 3.
Professions and institutions in which graduates can find employment:
- Research institutions (researchers, collaborators in national and international projects)
- Educational institutions (teachers of Italian in non-formal education, specialists in counselling and organisation of educational work)
- Public media (journalists, announcers and editors, with a special focus on media operating in the bilingual and border area)
- Tourist and advertising agencies (specialists in the development and sale of tourist products, market and cultural analysis and marketing)
- Public administration and companies (diplomats, intercultural mediators, organisers, coordinators, experts in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of policies, programmes and measures)
- Publications and publishing (proofreaders, linguists)
- Translation agencies, EU institutions, companies and cultural institutions (translators, interpreters, spokespersons, assistants)
- Freelance workers in the broader field of language and linguistics