BA Politics and Italian

At Manchester, you won’t just be studying politics and Italian in theory—you’ll be living it. From your very first year, you’ll be encouraged to apply classroom knowledge to real-world contexts, gaining practical skills that employers truly value. The course combines the analysis of global political issues with the immersive experience of studying Italian language and culture. A highlight of the program is your year abroad in Italy, where you can study at a partner university or spend time in a professional placement, giving you firsthand international experience.

To support your journey, Manchester provides access to outstanding facilities, resources, and networks that help you put your skills into practice. Here’s how your learning experience is enriched:

• Year Abroad in Italy – immerse yourself in Italian culture by studying at a partner university or working in a placement year, developing fluency and intercultural skills.

• Language Laboratories & Digital Tools – use state-of-the-art language labs, online learning platforms, and multimedia resources to sharpen your Italian communication.

• Politics Research Centres – engage with institutes such as the Manchester Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence and the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI), where cutting-edge political research connects directly to your learning.

• Model UN & Student Societies – take part in debates, campaigns, and global discussions that complement your academic modules.

• Special Collections & The John Rylands Library – access one of the world’s finest university libraries, with unique historical and political archives that bring your studies to life.

• Careers Service & Internships – benefit from Manchester’s award-winning careers team, who connect students with internships, volunteering opportunities, and employers across the UK and abroad.

• Guest Lectures & Research Projects – learn directly from diplomats, policy specialists, and cultural experts through regular events and academic projects.

By the time you graduate, you’ll have not only a degree from one of the UK’s top universities but also hands-on international experience, professional networks, and cultural insights that make you stand out.

Graduates from the Politics and Italian course go on to do some really exciting things—many land jobs in politics, international organisations, journalism, publishing, marketing, or the charity sector. It’s also a strong starting point if you're thinking about law, teaching, or joining the Civil Service.

Here’s how Manchester helps you get there:

• Personal career support:
  You’ll have access to Manchester’s Careers Service during your degree and for up to two years after you graduate. They run CV drop-ins, mock interviews, networking events, and help you find internships or grad schemes that match your goals.

• Strong track record with employers:
  Manchester is one of the top 2 most targeted universities by graduate employers in the UK (High Fliers 2024). Past students from this course have gone on to work for:

  • BBC

  • The United Nations

  • Penguin Random House

  • NHS

  • The Co-op

• Real-world connections:
  The university has great links with organisations like the European Commission, Google, JP Morgan, Oxfam, and The Guardian. That means more chances for guest talks, insights, and even placement opportunities through alumni connections.

• What employers love about this degree:
  Studying both Politics and a language like Italian shows that you’re analytical, globally minded, and culturally aware—plus you’ll stand out with your year abroad experience, which is a big plus in any industry.

• Graduate pathways:
  Some students jump straight into careers in areas like:

  • Marketing & communications

  • Journalism & media

  • International relations & policy

  • Business and project management
    Others choose further training to become lawyers, teachers, or policy advisors.

Further Academic Progression:
If you’re interested in continuing your studies after your degree, you’ll have lots of great options. Many students go on to master’s programmes in Politics, International Relations, Translation, or even move into Law or Teaching via postgraduate training. This degree gives you the flexibility and foundation to specialise further—whether that’s academically or professionally