Studies & Degrees in Italian Language and Literature (in Language Schools)
Choose where you would like to study Italian Language and Literature (in Language Schools):
Italian Language and Literature (in Language Schools) Study Programs
Language schools teach Italian as a foreign language to adults who want to speak, read and write it. A course in Italian language and literature at a language school joins general language classes with Italian culture: literature, art history, music, cinema and food. It is not a university degree in Italian studies.
What students learn
The core is the general Italian course: grammar, vocabulary, listening, speaking, reading and writing. Schools organise it by the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Tiberius International in Rimini, for example, offers courses for all levels, from beginner to advanced, according to the CEFR.
Around this core, schools add options such as:
- language and culture courses, for example Italian through art and culture at Dilit International House in Rome or art history courses at Centro Machiavelli in Florence
- exam preparation for the CILS, CELI or PLIDA certificates
- Italian for business or for law
- Italian with cooking, as at ABC School in Florence
- long-term courses for students who plan to enter an Italian university
- language courses combined with a work placement, such as those Centro Machiavelli arranges in companies in Tuscany
- training courses for teachers of Italian, as at Comitato Linguistico in Perugia
Levels and certificates
A school's own certificate states the level reached and the hours attended. It is not an official language qualification. For that, students take a certification exam.
Four bodies form the CLIQ association (Certificazione Lingua Italiana di Qualità): the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, the Università per Stranieri di Siena, the Università degli Studi Roma Tre and the Società Dante Alighieri. In 2013 the association signed an agreement with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs that recognises its role. Their certificates are:
- CILS, issued by the Università per Stranieri di Siena. It covers the six CEFR levels, and exams take place in June and December in Italy and abroad.
- CELI, issued by the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, which has worked on Italian certification since 1987. It also covers six levels, with three exam sessions a year.
- PLIDA, issued by the Società Dante Alighieri. The adult programme has exams for levels A2 to C2, held in more than 300 exam centres in more than 60 countries.
- Roma Tre certification, with five exam levels.
According to ASILS, the association of schools of Italian as a second language, certificates at level B1 or B2 are required for admission to most Italian universities for international students who want to follow degree programmes taught in Italian. An A2 certificate from one of the four CLIQ bodies exempts foreign residents from the language test for the EU long-term residence permit.
Where to study it
Our directory lists 38 schools for this subject. Italy has 28 of them. The rest are in France (5), Spain (2), Germany, Portugal and the United States (one each). In Italy the schools are spread over large cities such as Rome, Milan and Florence, university towns such as Perugia and Pisa, and smaller places by the sea such as Taormina, Rimini, Alghero and Viareggio.
Many schools are also exam centres. ABC School in Florence and Tiberius International state that they are authorised by the Università per Stranieri di Siena for CILS exams. Comitato Linguistico is a CILS examination centre, and Ciao Italia in Rome is a PLIDA certification centre.
How to choose a school
- Class size. Schools publish their own maximum. ABC School gives 10 students per class and Ciao Italia 12.
- Focus. Some schools teach only Italian. Comitato Linguistico, established in 1986, offers exclusively Italian courses for foreigners. Others add art, cooking, music or work placements.
- Exam preparation. Check which certificate the school prepares for and whether the exam can be taken on site. Centro Studi Italiani, for example, offers preparation courses for both CELI and CILS.
- Accommodation. Many schools arrange housing on request. Ciao Italia offers a host family or a flat shared with other students.
- Length of stay and visa. ASILS explains that non-EU students who want to study in Italy for more than 90 days must ask for a study visa at the Italian embassy in their country, and that the enrolment certificate must be for a course of at least 20 hours a week. Procedures vary by consulate, so the competent consulate is the place to confirm the requirements.
What the course is useful for
A language course does not qualify for a profession. It prepares for other plans: studying at an Italian university or academy, working in Italy or with Italian companies, or living in the country. For university admission and residence procedures, the official certificate matters more than the course itself.
Frequently asked questions
Which Italian language certificates are officially recognised?
The certificates of the four bodies in the CLIQ association: CILS (Università per Stranieri di Siena), CELI (Università per Stranieri di Perugia), PLIDA (Società Dante Alighieri) and the certification of Roma Tre.
What level of Italian do I need for an Italian university?
According to ASILS, most Italian universities require a B1 or B2 certificate from international students for degree programmes taught in Italian. Each university sets its own rule.
Do I need a visa for an Italian course in Italy?
Non-EU students who stay longer than 90 days must apply for a study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate in their country, according to ASILS. Requirements differ between consulates.