Modern Foreign Languages - A. Y. 2025/2026
Course Type Bachelor’s degree
Academic year 2025/2026
- Membership structure
- Disum
Watch the video presentation of the course!
Course Overview
The three-year Bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages (Code L-11) is open access (no capped number restrictions).
The course lasts three years full-time or 4 or 6 years if you choose a part-time contract.
To obtain the degree, you must obtain 180 ECTS academic credits.
You have the opportunity to pursue a binational degree in agreement with the Université de Savoie Mont Blanc,Chambéry.
The location of the course is in Vercelli, in via G. Ferraris 116.
Course organiser (Chair) of Modern Languages
Laura Tommaso - presidente.lsm@uniupo.it
Description
The course is based on a solid core of linguistic and cultural preparation aimed at providing the theoretical, methodological and applicative skills for professional roles in the field of public and private services, and communication, publishing and the cultural industry, international business relations, in contexts characterised by increasingly marked processes of interculturality and internationalisation.
The course aims to offer graduates in Modern Languages a series of basic theoretical-practical knowledge and skills in the field of foreign languages, literatures and cultures, in a perspective encompassing international, European and extra-European dimensions. Conscious and in-depth learning of at least two languages and their respective cultures is expected. In addition to the activity offered in Other Educational Activities, the linguistic and cultural areas from which students can choose are: French, Spanish, German and English (opting in the latter case for one of the two versions: British English and American English).
The student's preparation is completed by a wide choice of related and integrative disciplinary sectors aimed at providing the most useful tools for the constantly evolving contexts of the world of work, and sensitive to the requests for linguistic and plurilingual skills, intercultural mediation and international exchanges on the part of socio-economic, local, regional and macro-regional levels.
Furthermore, the Course aims to prepare the student who wishes to continue to a Master's degree course, in particular the Interclass Course in Languages, Cultures, and Tourism (LM-37&LM-49), guaranteeing a suitable educational base already in the three-year period, permitted by the aforementioned choice of related and integrative sectors. Given the objectives of the course, the choice of a study period abroad within the Erasmus programme or other international exchange programmes is also encouraged, even on individual modules.
The course of study allows you to study and improve two languages of your choice among French, English, Spanish and German and the related linguistic, cultural and literary disciplines. Within Hispanic Studies, you can choose to delve deeper into Hispanic American Literatures.
Starting from the 2nd year, you will be able to add a 3rd language and choose between three tracks: linguistic, economic-communicative, literary-artistic; starting from the 2nd year, you will be able to study Russian Language and Culture. In this degree, you will be able to attend annual modules of language practice lasting 4-6 hours per week and, from the 2nd year, courses with lessons entirely held in a foreign language.
You will be able to pursue a binational degree with the Université Savoie Mont Blanc-Chambéry in the 3rd year. You will also be able to participate in Erasmus exchanges, the English Presentation Project and various internships and training courses; you will have access to specialisation courses in Business English, the TiLLiT language theatre workshop, and have direct access to the two-year specialist course in Languages, Cultures, and Tourism.
Key features
- Practice sessions to strengthen language skills
- Possibility to study up to 4 languages and choose between education tracks
- Innovative teaching: theatre in language activity (TiLLiT) English Presentation Project, lessons taught in the foreign language, translation activity
- Possibility of a Dual Degree (Université Savoie Mont Blanc-Chambéry)
- Direct access to the master's degree in Languages, Cultures, and Tourism
- Study abroad (Erasmus and Free-Mover exchange programmes)
Employment opportunities
Professional activities in the field of cultural services, including libraries and archives, public relations (corporate and otherwise), advertising, cultural and current affairs journalism, entertainment and mass communications. Highly professional activities within Italian and foreign cultural institutions in Italy and abroad, within international organisations and various sectors of industry and the advanced tertiary sector. Professional activities in the field of cultural mediation, the publishing industry (paper and online), in the editorial field in a broad sense, or in other fields, including promotional areas and the more specific fields of literary and non-literary translation. The field of translation could also be extended to functional translation for film and television dubbing.
Course organisation
Courses and programmes
On the Uniupo - Syllabus website you can consult the syllabuses of the courses of the first year (select the academic year of interest from the drop-down menu) or the syllabuses of the courses of subsequent years while on the dedicated page of this website you can find more information on compiling the study plan.
Study plans
Didactic Regulations
To register or enrol
The information on registering and enrolling on this course explains all the procedures you need to follow.
There are some tests required for evaluation of your initial skills – TOLC.
Initial Skills Assessment Test (TOLC)
Following enrolment, your level of preparation will be assessed through the Initial Skills Assessment Test. The test consists of multiple-choice questions that focus on linguistic-grammatical and text comprehension topics. It is a test required by law, but even if you do not pass it, you will be able to take the 1st year exams of the course of study you have chosen.
Contacts: Laurence Audéoud (Coordinator), Marcella Trambaioli (Chair)
Visit the section Initial Skills Assessment Test
PLEASE NOTE: if you have not taken the assessment test you will not be able to register for the exams.
English Placement Test
After enrolment, your level of knowledge of the English language will be verified through the English Placement Test, an online test carried out in collaboration with Macmillan English Campus. The test is mandatory, but not selective, and is not binding for access to the courses.
Visit Skills Assessment -> English Placement Test
Useful Links
Tutors and didactic committee
Teacher-Tutor (Chairman)
Prof. Laura Tommaso
Lecturer-tutors
The Lecturer-tutor has the task of advising, guiding and accompanying you in the compilation of the option forms, as well as throughout your academic career.
Here is the link to the document showing the assignment of LSM tutors for the academic year 2025/2026.
The Tutors are:
- Laurence Audéoud
- Andrea Baldissera
- Maurizio Busca
- Gabriele Costa
- Filippo Fassina
- Stefania Ferrari
- Elena Giovannini
- Maria Cristina Iuli
- Matteo Mancinelli
- José Manuel Martin Moran
- Michele Mastroianni
- Carla Pomaré Detto Montin
- Marco Pustianaz
- Miriam Ravetto
- Stefania Sini
- Laura Tommaso
- Marcella Trambaioli
Tutoring
For ongoing guidance and support to students enrolled in the degree course, the teaching staff is assisted by tutors specialised in the various training areas, selected by means of a special call for applications from among the best prepared and most deserving student population.
Teaching Commission for Modern languages
The Teaching Commission is composed by:
Other activities
It is only possible to include in one's study plan those activities relating to transversal competences that the course of study has deemed consistent with the educational pathway. Additional activities' may include workshops, external and internal placements, ICDL and other initiatives (ex art. 10, para. 5/d), such as conferences, seminars, tandem projects and cultural events.
“Tandem” peer-to-peer conversations in English and Italian language (2 CFU)
Referee: Prof. Cristina Iuli
Coordinators: Prof. Cristina Iuli, Department of Humanities, UPO and Prof. Paola Morgavi, Department of French and Italian Northwestern University, USA.
Places available: 15 -16.
The project involves participation in peer conversation sessions in English/Italian. The conversations proceed freely, taking their cues from topics of everyday life, and take place for about 30 minutes in English and about 30 minutes in Italian.
Three sessions are scheduled each year: fall, winter, spring. Participation in each session confers 2 CFUs. To acquire the 2 CFUs, participants must send a short (1-page) report evaluating the experience to Prof. Iuli. Those who attend all three sessions will acquire a total of 6 CFUs, which are necessary to fulfill the requirements of second- or third-year “other” (F) activities.
Interested students should contact Prof. Iuli (cristina.iuli@uniupo.it); admissions are guaranteed while places last. In case of excess applications, priority will be given to students and students who have not yet had the opportunity to participate in the project.
Music History Workshop (6 CFU)
Referee: Prof. Andrea Baldissera
Link to the program: https://of.uniupo.it/syllabus/didattica.php/it/2024/1723#289300
Critical and Academic Writing Workshop. The form of the essay (6 CFU)
Referee: Prof. Stefania Sini
Introductory workshop on writing and editing a critical essay and theoretical criticism of literature. The 30-hour workshop will run from October to January with a 4-hour meeting on alternate weeks.
Students intending to attend the Workshop are invited to write to the teacher. Program link: https://of.uniupo.it/syllabus/didattica.php/it/2023/1723#201802
Bibliolab module, bibliographic literacy and source management (3 CFU)
Referee: Chiara Zara
Online laboratory for basic information skills. Full course (7 modules) and final certificate: 3 CFU (first four modules are compulsory). Full program at this address: https://sba.uniupo.it/servizi/formazione/bibliolab/
Introduction to gender and queer studies workshop (6 CFU)
Referee: Prof. Marco Pustianaz (prima parte, primo semestre)
The workshop aims to present an introductory overview of the cultural, artistic and political debates related to the development of the feminist movement and LBGTQ+ activism from the 1970s to the present, and their persistence and transformation in contemporary, national and international scenarios, through the selection of texts and audiovisual materials proposed by the lecturer and collected by the students themselves during the seminar. There will be contributions from outside experts.
Language Theater Workshop - TILLIT (6 CFU)
Referee: Prof. Marco Pustianaz (da fine novembre + secondo semestre, prima e seconda parte)
Practical workshop with elements of improvisation for each of the four languages; group work both in the presence of instructors and independently. Realization of final performance.
The foreign language theater workshop is offered in the following languages:
- English (coordinator Marco Pustianaz)
- French (coordinator Laurence Audéoud)
- Spanish (coordinator to be defined)
- German (coordinator Michaela Reinhardt)
- Italian (L2) for international students or non-Italian speakers (coordinator Filippo Fonio)
It is necessary to get in touch with the coordinator of the chosen language compulsorily by the end of October to allow the groups to be formed.
Language TIPS - Research (3 CFU)
Referee: Prof. Stefania Ferrari
The Language TIPS (Task, Interaction, and Pragmatics in Schools) project aims to promote interaction between university teaching, research, training, and teaching on the subject of language learning. In particular, the project focuses on the development of pragmatic and interactional skills in the mother tongue, second language, or foreign language, an area that is still not sufficiently addressed in teaching practice and has been little explored by research, despite its key role in the development of advanced language skills. The course includes activities dedicated to the use of tools for recording, transcribing, and annotating spoken data and conducting field research aimed at the collaborative construction of a task-based corpus of spontaneous and elicited speech. The meetings involve not only students but also university researchers and teachers from local schools.
The activity may include:
- the collection of speech data;
- the compilation of a corpus;
- the transcription of speech data;
- the pragmatic annotation of data;
- the design and testing of materials;
- the drafting of a research report.
Language Conversations Project (3 CFU)
Referee: Prof. Stefania Ferrari
The program aims to provide an opportunity for students of Foreign Language Didactics from three-year and master's degree programs to carry out an action-research experience oriented toward testing some task-based tools for the assessment and teaching of foreign language speaking skills. The initiative involves the collaborative design, implementation and documentation of short cycles of foreign language lessons in presence or at a distance in collaboration with local secondary schools.
Interested students are invited to write to stefania.ferrari@uniupo.it.
International and national congresses, conferences and workshops (fino a 3 CFU)
Participation in conferences organised by DISUM or within the UNIVERSITY, subject to final report and written evaluation by the relevant teacher, will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and considered for the purposes of acquiring credits as part of "OTHER" activities pursuant to ex Art. 10 for up to a maximum of 3 credits.
What to do with AI?
Referees: Proff. Maurizio Lana and Laura Tommaso
Program of meetings:
- What AI is (and what it is not!)
- Conscious use of AI
- Writing with AI
- Translating with AI
The activity includes:
- An initial questionnaire to gather participants' initial perceptions;
- practical/operational content in the classroom, experimenting live with comparative and conscious uses of different AI systems (Copilot, GPT, Perplexity, DeepSeek, Claude, Gemini, and Deepl);
- a short translation assignment (English-Italian) involving or requiring the use of AI systems
- a presentation of no more than 4500 characters (i.e., 1 A4 page) “What did I learn in the activity What to do with AI?”
There are a maximum of 25 places available. Interested students are invited to send their application by February 15, 2026, to the following email addresses: maurizio.lana@uniupo.it or laura.tommaso@uniupo.it
UPO Junior day, October, 28 2025
Referee: Prof. Elena Giovannini
UPO Junior is a university event involving schools of various types and levels in the local area. Participation in the day consists of conducting language activities in small groups with primary or secondary school students. More specifically, the workshop uses a board game designed to observe pragmatic skills in spoken interaction. Participating university students will collaborate with teachers in preparing and conducting the game during the event, reviewing the material, and collecting data that emerges from the game.
Project “Language in Action” (up to 6 CFU)
Referee: Prof. Stefania Ferrari
Location: online, Novara
Period: From October 2025 to February 2026; from March 2026 to May 2026
Training internship, 150 hours (6 credits)
Short internship, 50/75 hours (2/3 credits)
Other activities pursuant to Article 10, 25/75 hours (1/3 credits)
The project involves participation in training activities conducted by DISUM with a network of primary and secondary schools in the area dedicated to the teaching of Italian as a second language in schools. Students have the opportunity to accompany classroom teachers and Italian as a second language teachers in the implementation of research-action and educational experimentation projects. More specifically, the activity may include:
- participation in training courses
- participation in Italian as a second language classroom or laboratory activities
- design and experimentation of teaching programs
- documentation of teaching programs
In line with the University Code of Ethics (Art. 2, paragraph 3, letter c), students are required to respect the intellectual property rights of the material and supplementary teaching tools made available for study on the DIR pages of the courses. The recording of lessons, their reworking using artificial intelligence tools, and their dissemination are not permitted without the prior approval of the teacher responsible. Furthermore, in exams: The thesis must be written independently and personally. Students therefore assume full individual responsibility for the originality and transparency of their work. For this reason, the use of artificial intelligence tools not authorized by the supervisor is not permitted. Any authorization by the supervisor to use such tools for one or more tasks or phases of the work must be documented and, therefore, attached to the final thesis uploaded to Esse3.AI Code of Ethics
Final exam
Internationalisation
You can enrich your academic career with an international experience.
You can spend a period of study abroad with Erasmus+ mobility by choosing from the many locations where we have international mobility agreements, or opt for other forms of mobility at one of the European and non-European locations with which we have institutional cooperation agreements. You can also spend a period abroad as a "FreeMover" taking advantage of the University's financial and organisational support, whether you intend to study or are interested in gaining professional experience.
Erasmus opportunities. Austria: Graz. Belgium: Liège. Croatia: Zagabria. France: Bordeaux, Lille, Metz, Versailles, Paris Diderot, Grenoble. Germany: “Ludwig Maximilian” (Munich), Marburg, Aachen, Bochum, Potsdam. Norway: Volda. Poland: Warsaw, Wroclaw, Lodz, “Adam Mickiewicz” Poznań. Portugal: Madeira. Romania: Alba Iulia, Bucarest. Spain: Malaga, “Carlos III” (Madrid), “Miguel de Cervantes” (Valladolid), Alcalã, Valencia, Tenerife, Salamanca, Seville, Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, Cáceres, Santander, Ciudad Real, Huelva.
DUAL DEGREE with the Université Savoie Mont Blanc of Chambéry
You will be able to obtain a dual degree with the Université de Savoie Mont Blanc, Chambéry. A binational agreement between Disum and the Université Savoie Mont Blanc allows you to obtain a dual degree by spending the last year of study of the three-year period (or the first of the two-year master's degree) at the Université Savoie Mont Blanc.
Need more info? Here’s who to contact, and how
- To find info on teachers and office hours: UPObook
- To contact the Student Secretariat: UPOrisponde
- If you wish to talk directly to the Secretariat (regarding particularly complex issues): UPOriceve
- If you need support from Student Services for disability/learning problems: UPOrisponde
- If you are looking for information on careers guidance, internships and job placements: jobplacement@uniupo.it
A complete list of contact details can be found here.
During the enrolment period, the PIMs (Punto informativo matricole – Enrolment Info Desks) are available.
The helpdesk “S.O.S.T.A.” (University Orientation and Tutoring Service) is a peer support system, provided with the collaboration of students.
Quality Assurance of Course
Quality Assurance of teaching is linked to the University's quality policies, and is implemented and monitored by evaluating the management of the educational offer, with a view to continuous improvement. At course level, quality assurance is delegated to the Quality Group and Review Team.
Documents relevant to the course quality assurance can be found in this section.
Student Representatives
Student representatives are part of the governing bodies of the Department and the University and are an important component, contributing to the direction of all its activities.
The Student Representatives Headquarters in Vercelli is located in room B3 at the Ex-Ospedaletto, viale Garibaldi 98.
Archive of Study Plans, Programmes and Regulations
- Study plans
- Programmes (select the year from the drop-down menu)
- Education regulations
To access programmes from A.Y. 2011/2012 to 2001/2002 contact UPO Replies.
Social partners
This section is dedicated to the relationships between the Degree in Philosophy and Communication and the Interested Social Partners (ISP), i.e. the organisations and institutions potentially interested in the cultural and professional profile of graduates in Humanities
The Interested Partners express the training needs of their company, which include:
- organisations representing the production of goods and services, professions and/or, in the absence of organisations specifically responding to the needs of the project,
- scientific societies/companies, research centres, academic and cultural institutions of national or international importance.
The ISP can provide valuable information regarding the roles that the Bachelor or Master's degree graduate will be asked to perform, thus allowing the corresponding skills to be identified.
The input of the ISP is also significant with regards to later verification of the effectiveness of preparation achieved by bachelor or master's graduates.
Finally, ISPs also play an essential role in carrying out training or professional internships, hosting candidates and assisting them with company tutors.
The minutes of the Department meetings with the PSIs can be found in the “QA” section of the Disum website, tab Social Partners.
Useful Links
Last modified 15 December 2025