
- UCAS course code
- RQ31
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course description
Our BA Linguistics and Italian course will enable you to delve into the science of language - an everyday phenomenon which impacts our lives on an individual and a global scale.
You will study topics such as the ways in which children acquire their first language, differences between the speech of men and women, how the sound systems and grammars of different types of language are organised, what happens when speakers of different languages come into contact, and much else besides.
You can also achieve near-native proficiency in Italian while studying the language within its cultural and historical context. You can start as an absolute beginner and go through to an advanced level over four years.
Language study offers much more than just language fluency. You'll explore diverse aspects of the culture, society, history, politics and literature of the countries in which Italian is spoken, helping you to develop intercultural awareness and communication skills - both highly valued by employers.
You'll benefit from excellent teaching, student support and cutting-edge study facilities, as well as from the vibrancy and cultural diversity of Manchester itself, Western Europe's most multilingual city.
With placement options available at partner universities and in professional environments in Italy, a compulsory third year abroad gives our undergraduate students unforgettable and invaluable personal and professional experience.
Our course will help you to develop analytical and problem-solving skills. Often dealing with granular and complex data, your combination of humanities and scientific understanding will allow you to make connections across multiple fields of employment.
Special features

Study or work abroad
Your year abroad will offer the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of life in Italy, and further develop your language skills.
Learn from language experts
Language courses are mainly taught by native speakers, giving you a richer learning experience.
Access outstanding resources
You'll have the opportunity to access cutting-edge resources, including one of the largest holdings of linguistics texts in the UK, and to conduct research using English manuscripts held in our prestigious Special Collections.
The John Rylands Library also has one of the largest collections of early Italian printed books in the UK.
Get involved with interesting projects
Our students are encouraged to take an active role in funded teaching-enhancement projects, whose outputs benefit them individually and collectively.
For example, some of our students have developed an online atlas of dialect variation in the UK.
Teaching and learning
You will be assessed in various ways, including:
- written and oral examinations;
- presentations;
- coursework (which may include library research, linguistic fieldwork and data collection, or web-based research).
Many course units are assessed through a mixture of techniques.
In your final year, you can choose to write a dissertation.
Coursework and assessment
You will be assessed in various ways, including:
- written and oral examinations;
- presentations;
- coursework (which may include library research, linguistic fieldwork and data collection, or web-based research).
Many course units are assessed through a mixture of techniques.
In your final year, you can choose to write a dissertation.
Course content for year 1
You will study 60 credits from each discipline in your first year.
This will include a blend of compulsory modern language and linguistics units.
Separate language pathways are offered for beginners and post A-level students.
Course units for year 1
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Italian Cultural Studies | ITAL10300 | 20 | Mandatory |
Reading Italy: Medieval to Modern | ITAL10500 | 20 | Mandatory |
Italian Language 1 | ITAL51011 | 20 | Mandatory |
Italian Language 2 | ITAL51022 | 20 | Mandatory |
Italian Language 3 | ITAL51030 | 20 | Mandatory |
English Word and Sentence Structure | LELA10301 | 20 | Mandatory |
Language, Mind and Brain | LELA10201 | 20 | Optional |
The Sounds of Language | LELA10322 | 20 | Optional |
Study of Meaning | LELA10332 | 20 | Optional |
History and Varieties of English | LELA10342 | 20 | Optional |
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Course content for year 2
You will study a total of 120 credits.
You will continue your language learning, increase your reading of authentic texts and choose from a wide range of related subjects according to preference.
Your degree becomes more flexible as you progress into Year 2.
You will choose optional units within the linguistics and modern language parts of your course, while continuing to develop your language skills.
Course content for year 3
Your third year is spent studying or working abroad under approved conditions.
Course units for year 3
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Italian Language 6 | ITAL51060 | 20 | Mandatory |
Dissertation in Italian Studies | ITAL30000 | 40 | Optional |
Introduction to the History of the Book | ITAL30431 | 20 | Optional |
Travellers' Tales: Italy in the British Imagination | ITAL30582 | 20 | Optional |
Topics in Romance Linguistics | ITAL32001 | 20 | Optional |
Phonology | LELA20011 | 20 | Optional |
Analysing Grammar | LELA20022 | 20 | Optional |
Typology | LELA20031 | 20 | Optional |
Societal Multilingualism | LELA20102 | 20 | Optional |
Quantitative Methods in Language Sciences | LELA20231 | 20 | Optional |
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Course content for year 4
Course units for year 4
The course unit details given below are subject to change, and are the latest example of the curriculum available on this course of study.
Title | Code | Credit rating | Mandatory/optional |
---|---|---|---|
Italian Language 6 | ITAL51060 | 20 | Mandatory |
Dissertation in Italian Studies | ITAL30000 | 40 | Optional |
Introduction to the History of the Book | ITAL30431 | 20 | Optional |
Travellers' Tales: Italy in the British Imagination | ITAL30582 | 20 | Optional |
Topics in Romance Linguistics | ITAL32001 | 20 | Optional |
Phonology | LELA20011 | 20 | Optional |
Analysing Grammar | LELA20022 | 20 | Optional |
Typology | LELA20031 | 20 | Optional |
Societal Multilingualism | LELA20102 | 20 | Optional |
Quantitative Methods in Language Sciences | LELA20231 | 20 | Optional |
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What our students say
Whilst at Manchester I volunteered working with young people in a mentoring scheme.
Now I work with children of all ages up to 18.
The skills I gained in this post really helped me to develop my counselling skills with young people and I use these almost daily.
Shona Becker, Speech and Language Therapist, Linguistics and French BA Graduate
Find out more about Shona's experience on her profile .
Facilities

As well as making use of the wider University library network, you will have access to the University Language Centre, a modern open learning facility where you can study independently and make use of a library and audio-visual resources.
There are also language laboratories and multimedia facilities.
For your Linguistics studies, we have two laboratories where you'll have the chance to use ultrasound imaging, laryngography and eye tracking technology.
You'll also be able to use quantitative methods in the study of large language corpora.
Learn more on the Facilities pages for Linguistics and English Language and Modern Languages and Cultures .