International Politics and Modern Languages

International politics and modern languages with Italian at the University of Bath is a combination built on the recognition that understanding the world's political affairs in depth requires the ability to engage with it in more than one language. International politics is concerned with the relations between states and the role of international institutions, non-governmental actors, and transnational forces in shaping global affairs. It examines conflict and cooperation, foreign policy, global governance, trade, migration, security, and the norms and structures of the international system.

Italian gives you access to a major European culture, language, and political tradition, opening perspectives on European politics, history, and society that English alone cannot provide.

At Bath, you will study this degree over four years of full-time study, with the programme including a sandwich year that incorporates both a work placement and time abroad. The international politics component covers the major theories of international relations, the institutions and processes of global governance, security studies, the politics of the European Union, and specific thematic or regional areas in depth. The Italian component takes you from the language foundations through to advanced proficiency, engaging with Italian literature, culture, film, and society alongside the language itself.

Bath's strong employer connections and placement office support the sandwich year, giving you the opportunity to work in a context that reflects your combined interests, whether in international organisations, government, business, or the media.

Graduates from this programme are well prepared for careers at the intersection of international affairs and the Anglophone and Italian-speaking worlds. Diplomacy, the foreign service, international organisations, and NGOs working on European or global issues are natural destinations. Roles in European policy, international business development, and organisations operating across Italy or the broader Italian-speaking world draw on the specific language expertise.

Journalism, translation, and international communications are further options. Many graduates pursue postgraduate study in international relations, European studies, or Italian and comparative literature, and academic research in these fields is a path for those who want to develop deeper expertise.