Integrated year abroad Italian MA (Honours) 2025 entry

It is possible for students applying for the MA (Hons) in Italian to work, study or teach abroad in an Italian-speaking country between their second and third year of study. This adds an extra year to the MA (Hons) course making it a total of five years in length.

Students who spend a year abroad not only gain valuable work experience but also develop their linguistic skills, intercultural competence, and self-confidence. 

UK students are usually placed in a school through the British Council’s Language Assistantship scheme. Successful applicants go on to teach English at a school, college or university in Italy. Assistants are paid a salary locally, and, after attending a basic induction course in teaching resources and methods, are typically required to teach for 12 hours per week under the supervision of local staff at the educational institution employing them.

Instead of a teaching placement, you can organise an alternative work placement with the approval of the Italian Department. For example, in previous years students have worked in art galleries, publishing houses and various businesses. 

The year abroad experience is competitive and is not guaranteed. Places are granted on merit during the second year of study and do not take into account the initial UCAS application. If students are unsuccessful with their year abroad application, they will have the opportunity to join the four-year Italian MA Honours degree programme.

To find out more information, please contact the Department of Italian.

UCAS code
R311
Start date
September 2025
End date
September 2030
Duration
Five years full time
School
School of Modern Languages

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for Italian with a year abroad are the same as the Italian MA (Hons) degree.

To be eligible for Italian with a year abroad, students must gain Honours entry in all subjects that they intend on taking at Honours level. Students who do not achieve entry to Honours level in their chosen subjects must withdraw from their selected year abroad destination at that point.

Beginners in Italian are strongly encouraged to spend a year abroad in Italy. If you are a beginner in Italian and another language (through a joint degree), please consult your year abroad coordinators in both departments for options.

Course details

The MA (Hons) in Italian with an integrated year abroad follows the same course structure as the Italian MA (Hons) degree, with the addition of a year abroad in between the second and third years of study.

During their integrated year abroad, students are required to take the following compulsory module: 

  • Italian Integrated Year Abroad: language learning and cultural familiarisation through a work placement in an Italian-speaking country. Placements will be as language assistants in schools or on other assignments approved by the Department.

More information about the Italian modules currently on offer can be found in the module catalogue.

Find out more about studying Italian at St Andrews.

Joint Honours degrees

You can also take Italian (WIYA) as part of a joint Honours degree in which you will take core modules of your chosen subjects.

Careers

Modern languages graduates have an extremely good record of employment after graduating, not only in all sectors that require advanced language skills but also in professional environments that demand good communication and analytical skills. 

Employers value language graduates because they demonstrate excellent communication, interpersonal and intercultural skills. 

Many graduates go on to: 

  • specialise in translation and interpreting services, in language teaching or other sector-specific careers
  • join international institutions and enterprises, working in international development departments, human resources, administration, media and communication jobs
  • start a career in the banking and financial sector
  • join the civil service, particularly in positions within the Foreign Office 
    continue to study at postgraduate level

Recent Italian graduates have gone to work for companies in the UK and Italy. Some are working as teachers of modern languages in the UK, or are teaching English abroad. Others have taken further specialist training or conversion courses to prepare for careers in law or in translating and interpreting. 

The Careers Centre offers one-to-one advice to all students as well as a programme of events to assist students to build their employability skills.

What to do next

Online information events

Join us for one of our information events where you can find out about different levels of study and specific courses we run. There are also sessions available for parents and college counsellors.

Undergraduate visiting days

We encourage all students who are thinking of applying to the University to attend one of our online or in-person visiting days.

Contact us

Phone
+44 (0)1334 46 3662
Email
italianhod@st-andrews.ac.uk
Address
Department of Italian
Buchanan Building
Union Street
St Andrews
KY16 9PH

Department of Italian website

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