French and Italian
French and Italian is a natural pairing, combining two of Europe's great Romance languages and the civilisations that gave rise to them. French is the language of Descartes, Flaubert, and Camus, of a philosophical tradition that shaped modernity and a cultural influence that extends far beyond the borders of France itself. Italian carries the weight of Dante, Machiavelli, and Calvino, of the Renaissance that transformed European art and thought, and of a country whose design, food, and fashion cultures remain globally influential.
Studying both together develops not just linguistic range but a comparative sensibility, an ability to move between related but distinct traditions.
At the University of Manchester, this four-year full-time programme includes a sandwich year with work placement opportunities, allowing you to spend time in professional environments where French and Italian are in use. You will develop advanced proficiency in both languages, studying their grammar, phonology, and history alongside the literature, cinema, and culture of France, the Francophone world, Italy, and Italian-speaking communities. Translation features throughout, sharpening your attention to the precision and weight of words in both languages.
Manchester's School of Arts, Languages and Cultures has strong expertise in both, and the city's vibrant cultural life provides further context.
Graduates with French and Italian are attractive to international companies, cultural institutions, publishing houses, the media, the civil service, and European organisations. The EU and bodies such as UNESCO actively recruit people who can operate across European languages and cultures. Diplomacy, arts administration, journalism, translation, and language teaching are established career paths.
Many graduates also move into business roles in Italy, France, or across Francophone and Italian-speaking markets. Postgraduate study in French or Italian studies, translation, comparative literature, or European cultural policy is a natural continuation.