Ancient Civilizations for the Contemporary World

Ancient Civilizations for the Contemporary World
Blended learning programme
Ancient Civilizations for the Contemporary World
Course sheet
A.Y. 2026/2027
Bachelor
interateneo Università Ca' Foscari Venezia
L-1 - Cultural heritage
Bachelor
180
ECTS
Access
Limited enrolment with admission test
3
Years
Course location
Milan, Venice
Language
English

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The Bachelor’s programme ACCW,  jointly hosted by University of Milan La Statale and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, addresses the current, multi-disciplinary and international debate on the relevance of studying Ancient CIvilizatons for critically assessing the complexities of today's world. 

The Bachelor's programme in Ancient Civilizations for the Contemporary World is a three-year programme, taught in English and jointly hosted by two Universities: University of Milan La Statale (the Department of Cultural Heritage and Environment as well as the Department of Literary Studies, Philology and Linguistics are involved) and University of Venice Ca' Foscari (Department of Asian and North African Studies, Department of Philosophy and Cultural Heritage, Department of Humanities)
The programme aims to provide a basic, solid knowledge and training in the management and promotion of the tangible and intangible Cultural Heritage of several civilizations of the past, which flourished in Europe, north Africa, Eastern and Western Asia.
The programme covers four intertwined areas: 1. Tangible Cultural Heritage: history and interpretation; 2. Tangible Cultural Heritage: discovering, cataloguing, preserving and archiving; 3. Intangible Cultural Heritage: history, anthropology, philosophy, history of religions, law; 4. Intangible Cultural Heritage: languages and literatures.
The programme adopts an interdisciplinary approach, designed to explore the multi-faceted variety of ancient civilizations, with an emphasis on cultural intersections, contacts and tensions. This comparative approach will enable students to acquire basic know-how, breadth of vision and critical awareness, so as to address the current international debate on the relevance of studying ancient civilizations and its value for critically assessing the complexities of today's world.
Students can benefit from a wide range of expertise, research and teaching within both Universities, which are located in two exceptionally stimulating cities such as Milan and Venice. With their unique combination of tradition and innovation, past and present, ancient and modern, the two cities represent an ideal framework for studying Cultural Heritage and an exceptionally rich added value in terms of pedagogic experience
The Bachelor's programme prepares graduates to find employment as Cultural Operator in charge of multifarious services such as: Responsible for the management and/or implementation of reception services at archaeological sites, museums, exhibitions, cultural associations, foundations, or similar bodies and institutions; Collaborator in the cataloging of cultural heritage in foundations, cultural associations, auction houses, or similar bodies and institutions; Assistant Curator to organize exhibitions and cultural events; Excavation Technician, Excavation Assistant and similar; Technician of museums and similar.
A curricular internship involving a specific initial training may result in further jobs such as: Collaborator of cultural volunteering networks; Art Handler in charge of Fine Arts custom operations; Fine Art Specialist in a logistics company. Furthemore, graduates will be able to find employment as Cultural Communicator and Popularizer or Consultant for the entertainment industry with a historical-cultural setting.
Finally, subject to further qualifying post-graduate training, graduate will be able to find employment as tourist guides.

Cultural Services Operator

Role in a professional context
Graduates contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of cultural initiatives, events, and cultural tourism experiences, assessing their feasibility and effectiveness. They may operate in the following roles:
Management and delivery of visitor services at archaeological sites, museums, exhibitions, cultural associations, foundations, and similar institutions;
Cataloguing of cultural heritage within foundations, cultural associations, auction houses, and comparable organisations;
Assistant Curator in the organisation of exhibitions and cultural events;
Field technician, excavation assistant, or related roles;
Museum technician or related roles.
Following a curricular internship aimed at acquiring initial specialised training, additional professional roles may include:
Coordinator or collaborator in cultural volunteering networks;
Art Handler, Fine Arts customs operations officer, or Fine Art Specialist within logistics companies.
Following further post-graduate qualifying training, graduates may also access the professions of licensed tourist guide and specialised tour leader.

Associated competences
Sound linguistic, literary, and historical-cultural knowledge; knowledge of basic (including international) cultural heritage legislation; ability to connect different sectors of cultural service provision; ability to operate in multicultural contexts; skills in sourcing, selecting, and evaluating data and information; ability to produce clear, effective, and appropriate written texts of varying types and lengths; familiarity with digital communication tools, web writing, and systems for managing and accessing cultural heritage.

Career opportunities
Employment in the above sectors within public and private institutions, non-profit organisations, foundations, companies, and organisations involved in the management, enhancement, protection, and public use of cultural heritage, as well as in the organisation of cultural and tourism services.

Cultural Communicator and Public Engagement Specialist

Role in a professional context
Graduates produce digital content, social media posts, and articles for newspapers, magazines, websites, and blogs operating in the field of cultural heritage. They may also collaborate with press offices, engage in community management, promote events, and manage institutional or corporate social media profiles.

Associated competences
Sound linguistic, literary, and historical-cultural knowledge; ability to connect different sectors of cultural service provision; ability to operate in multicultural contexts; skills in sourcing, selecting, and evaluating data and information; ability to produce clear, effective, and appropriate written texts of varying types and lengths; basic knowledge of digital communication tools and web writing.

Career opportunities
Employment in periodical and digital publishing, press offices of companies, museums and galleries, public institutions, and marketing and communication agencies.

Consultant for the Entertainment Industry with Historical-Cultural Settings

Role in a professional context
Graduates support the development of entertainment products by selecting and evaluating data and information from specialised bibliography, analysing comparable existing products, and verifying the accuracy and consistency of historical and cultural elements.

Associated competences
Sound linguistic, literary, and historical-cultural knowledge; skills in sourcing, selecting, and evaluating data and information; ability to operate in multicultural contexts; familiarity with digital tools for managing and accessing cultural heritage.

Career opportunities
Employment in the video game industry, production and post-production companies, communication agencies, and theme parks.

Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
The Bachelor's programme in Ancient Civilizations for the Contemporary World strongly supports international mobility by providing students with the opportunity to spend study and internship periods abroad.
University of Milan supports international mobility through the International Agreements and Projects Office for teaching and training and of the International Mobility and International Promotion Office.
https://www.unimi.it/it/internazionale/studiare-allestero/partire-con-erasmus

The agreements entered into by the University with over 300 universities from the 27 EU member countries under the European Erasmus+ programme allow regularly enrolled students to carry out part of their studies at one of the partner universities or to undertake internships at companies, training and research centres or other organizations.
Similar international mobility opportunities are provided outside the EU through specific agreements with a number of prestigious institutions.
Students will also have access to an extensive catalogue of online courses offered by partner universities of the 4EU+ alliance of which University of Milan is a member.
https://www.unimi.it/it/internazionale/la-statale-nel-mondo/la-statale-partecipa-4eu/mobilita-e-nuovi-percorsi-formativi-4eu/4eu-gli-studenti-delluniversita-statale-di-milano
Course attendance is highly recommended. Attendance of Workshops and Internships is compulsory.
Enrolment
In order to be admitted to the Bachelor's programme in Ancient Civilizations for the Contemporary World, prospective students must hold an upper secondary school diploma or equivalent qualification obtained abroad after at least 12 years of schooling. More generally, an adequate educational background is required to understand the historical, cultural and methodological framework of the programme's subjects. Comprehension skills of a non-specialist literary text (in English) is also required. A special syllabus clearly indicates a few bibliographical items that provide all relevant information to pass the admission test.
A sound knowledge of English (level B2 of the European reference framework) is also required to make the best of the programme.
Pursuant to Art. 2 of Italian Law 264/1999, the enrolment in the Bachelor's programme has a cap on student numbers. This is to ensure the feasibility of compulsory internships in organizations and companies (as required by the programme and its learning objectives) and the availability of computer workstations with suitable classroom assistance (as required by the blended teaching and learning of programme: see below).
The maximum number of students is set at 100 included a number of spots (max 25) that will be reserved for non-EU candidates residing abroad. Based on available resources, the relevant Academic bodies will determine the number of students that can enroll annually.
The admission test assesses the basic knowledge and skills required to enroll in the programme namely a general understanding of historical, cultural and methodological facts as well as a basic comprehension of a literary text (in English).
Candidates should correctly answer at least 50% of the questions in each of the two areas (namely, general knowledge and reading comprehension).

OFA (Obblighi formativi aggiuntivi) are defined as further requirements for all students who fail to meet the 50% threshold in either (or all) of the two sections (general knowledge and reading comprehension) of the admission test. Students falling short of the threshold may be admitted at discretion but must undergo a specific training designed to address their areas of weakness. Within the first year of enrolment, they will be given the opportunity to sit the test again. Second-year exams will only be available to students who have passed the test. Further information is found at https://ancient-civilization.cdl.unimi.it.

The selection takes place in two sessions that will be held in May and in July 2024. Each selection contributes to the coverage of a quota of the total available places and has its own deadlines and requirements. For each of the two sessions, candidates must comply with all the procedures and deadlines set out below.

EU candidates:
The following requirements apply:
May session: both candidates who will obtain their high-school diploma in Italy or abroad (or equivalent qualification) within the 2024/2025 school year, and candidates already in possession of it can apply.
July session: applicants must hold their high-school diploma (or equivalent qualification), or be able to demonstrate its possession by the time of enrolling.

Non-EU candidates applying for a student visa:
May session: applicants must be enrolled in the final year of a secondary school, and obtain their qualification within the 2024/2025 school year.
Important. In this session 25 spots are reserved for NON-EU applicants (i.e. in need of a student visa): in order to benefit from the protected list it is mandatory to sit the test in this session. NON-EU applicants will be all ranked in a dedicated list. Those who will remain excluded and other NON-EU prospective applicants are invited to check the programme?s website to see whether any spots have remained vacant after the first admission session.
July session: applicants must already hold their secondary school qualification or be able to demonstrate its possession by the time of enrolling. NON-EU applicants (i.e. in need of a visa) are welcome to apply if available spots have been announced as per the previous point.


English OFA
To be able to sit the exams included in the degree programme, students must be proficient in English at a B2 level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). This proficiency level may be certified as follows:

- By submitting a language certificate attesting B2 or higher level in English and issued no more than three years before the date of submission. You will find the list of language certificates recognized by the University at: (https://www.unimi.it/en/node/39322). The certificate must be uploaded during the enrolment procedure, or subsequently to the portal https://studente.unimi.it/uploadCertificazioniLingue;

- By submitting a secondary school diploma with English as teaching Language. The diploma must be uploaded during the enrolment procedure in the Language Certificate section, or subsequently to the portal https://studente.unimi.it/uploadCertificazioniLingue;

- By taking a placement test offered by the University Language Centre (SLAM) during year I only, in October. Students who fail the test will be required to take a SLAM course. The Placement Test is mandatory for all students who do not hold a valid certificate, or a secondary school diploma with English as teaching language. Students who do not sit the Placement Test by October or who fail to pass the SLAM end-of-course test within six attempts, must obtain a paid certificate to be able to register for and sit any exam included in the degree programme.

Places available: 75 + 25 reserved for non-EU citizens

Call for applications

Please refer to the call for admission test dates and contents, and how to register.

Session: 1

Application for admission: from 12/03/2026 to 02/04/2026

Application for matriculation: from 22/04/2026 to 04/05/2026

Read the Call

Session: 2

Application for admission: from 13/05/2026 to 29/05/2026

Application for matriculation: from 16/06/2026 to 30/06/2026

Read the Call

Programme description and courses list
Compulsory
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Archaeology of Western Asia: Ancient Civilizations of Mesopotamia 12 80 English year STAA-01/E
Greek and Roman History 12 80 English year STAN-01/A STAN-01/B
Intellectual History of the Ancient Near East: the Origin 6 40 English First semester STAA-01/A
Introduction to Pharaonic Egypt: Mind and Memory of an Ancient Civilization 6 40 English Second semester STAA-01/B
Public and Community Archaeology and Digital Cultural 12 80 English year ARCH-01/G
The Bhagavad Gita: the Gospel of India 6 40 English First semester ASIA-01/B
Optional activities and study plan rules
- 1° COURSE YEAR: Students must obtain 6 CFU in one of the following subject
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Archaeology of the Silk Road 6 40 English Second semester ASIA-01/A
Classical Mythology and Its Media 6 40 English First semester HIST-04/A
Classical Wisdom in Arabic Garb 6 40 English First semester STAA-01/L
Elements of Christian Culture 6 40 English Second semester FICP-01/B
History of Classical Tradition in European Art 6 40 English First semester ARTE-01/D
History of Pre-Modern Science and Technology 6 40 English Second semester PHIL-02/B
Interculturality and Exchange in Medieval Latin Literature 6 40 English Second semester FLMR-01/A
Introduction to Byzantine Civilization 6 40 English Second semester HELL-01/C
Introduction to Chinese Thought 6 40 English Second semester ASIA-01/F
Introduction to Japanese Culture and Literature 6 40 English First semester ASIA-01/G
Introduction to Sanskrit Culture and Literature 6 40 English Second semester ASIA-01/C
Origins of Western Philosophy 6 40 English First semester PHIL-05/A
Phoenician and Punic Archaeology 6 40 English Second semester STAA-01/F
Prehistory of Th Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean 6 40 English Second semester ARCH-01/A
The Jews: History, Culture and Religion 6 40 English First semester HIST-04/A
be activated by the A.Y. 2027/2028
Compulsory
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Cultural Anthropology:material Approaches in Post-Colonial 9 60 English Second semester SDEA-01/A
European and Mediterranean Archaeology, from Prehistory to Late Antiquity A 12 80 English year ARCH-01/A ARCH-01/C ARCH-01/D
Introduction to Greek Literature 6 40 English Second semester HELL-01/B
Introduction to Latin Literature 6 40 English First semester LATI-01/A
Teaching Workshop: Theories, Techniques, Tools for Cultural Communication 3 20 English First semester NN
Optional activities and study plan rules
- 2° COURSE YEAR: Students must obtain 12 CFU (6+6) in one of the following subject (if not already taken)
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Archaeology of the Silk Road 6 40 English Second semester ASIA-01/A
Classical Mythology and Its Media 6 40 English First semester HIST-04/A
Classical Wisdom in Arabic Garb 6 40 English First semester STAA-01/L
Elements of Christian Culture 6 40 English Second semester FICP-01/B
History of Classical Tradition in European Art 6 40 English First semester ARTE-01/D
History of Pre-Modern Science and Technology 6 40 English Second semester PHIL-02/B
Interculturality and Exchange in Medieval Latin Literature 6 40 English Second semester FLMR-01/A
Introduction to Byzantine Civilization 6 40 English Second semester HELL-01/C
Introduction to Chinese Thought 6 40 English Second semester ASIA-01/F
Introduction to Japanese Culture and Literature 6 40 English First semester ASIA-01/G
Introduction to Sanskrit Culture and Literature 6 40 English Second semester ASIA-01/C
Origins of Western Philosophy 6 40 English First semester PHIL-05/A
Phoenician and Punic Archaeology 6 40 English Second semester STAA-01/F
Prehistory of Th Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean 6 40 English Second semester ARCH-01/A
The Jews: History, Culture and Religion 6 40 English First semester HIST-04/A
- Starting from the second year, students must obtain 6 ECTS from compulsory Internships.
be activated by the A.Y. 2028/2029
Compulsory
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Art and Law 6 40 English Second semester GIUR-06/A
History of Chinese and Japanese Art 12 80 English First semester ASIA-01/E
History of Indian Art 6 40 English Second semester ASIA-01/A
Introduction to Italian Literature 6 40 English First semester ITAL-01/A
Performance and Performativity Between Past and Present 6 40 English Second semester PEMM-01/A
Final Exam 6 0 English Open sessions NN
Optional activities and study plan rules
- 3° COURSE YEAR: Students must obtain 6 CFU in one of the following subject (if not already taken)
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Archaeology of the Silk Road 6 40 English Second semester ASIA-01/A
Classical Mythology and Its Media 6 40 English First semester HIST-04/A
Classical Wisdom in Arabic Garb 6 40 English First semester STAA-01/L
Elements of Christian Culture 6 40 English Second semester FICP-01/B
History of Classical Tradition in European Art 6 40 English First semester ARTE-01/D
History of Pre-Modern Science and Technology 6 40 English Second semester PHIL-02/B
Interculturality and Exchange in Medieval Latin Literature 6 40 English Second semester FLMR-01/A
Introduction to Byzantine Civilization 6 40 English Second semester HELL-01/C
Introduction to Chinese Thought 6 40 English Second semester ASIA-01/F
Introduction to Japanese Culture and Literature 6 40 English First semester ASIA-01/G
Introduction to Sanskrit Culture and Literature 6 40 English Second semester ASIA-01/C
Origins of Western Philosophy 6 40 English First semester PHIL-05/A
Phoenician and Punic Archaeology 6 40 English Second semester STAA-01/F
Prehistory of Th Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean 6 40 English Second semester ARCH-01/A
The Jews: History, Culture and Religion 6 40 English First semester HIST-04/A
Optional activities and study plan rules
- Students can earn 12 credits for elective activities to be chosen among those offered by this degree programme or by other degree programmes of both Universities. If a student decides to earn elective credits, partly or in full, through courses taught in a foreign language, such language cannot be the same as the student's own mother tongue. Students have to comply with all other obligations provided for by the academic rules of the degree programme, as laid down in art. 3.
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Additional Language Skills: Italian (3 ECTS) 3 0 Italian Open sessions NN
- 6 Additional ECTS must be obtained from two Training Workshops (3 ECTS each, other than the compulsory Theories, techniques, tools for cultural communication) or from 1 Training Workshop (3 ECTS, other than the compulsory Theories, techniques, tools for cultural communication) and an exam in Additional Language Skills. Information is available at https://ancient-civilization.cdl.unimi.it. Students without an Italian degree or diploma are recommended to obtain the 3 ECTS in Additional Language Skills by reaching proficiency in the Italian language at level A2 within the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFR.
Latin and Greek Language: To enrol in the exams of 'Introduction to Latin Literature' and 'Introduction to Greek Literature' students will first need to pass a Latin / Greek language test (Basic Level). Those who have no previous knowledge of Latin
and/ or Greek (e.g. from their school curriculum), are strongly encouraged to attend the workshop Training Latin Language (Basic Level) which is taught in the first year of the programme and / or the workshop Training Greek Language (Basic Level) which is taught in the second year (for details see https://ancient-civilization.cdl.unimi.it)

The fulfilment of the Additional Formative Obligations (OFAs) is preliminary to the second and third year examinations.
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For students enrolled in Bachelor's, Master's and single-cycle degree programmes, tuition fees are to be paid in two instalments:

  • the amount of the first instalment is the same for all students and is due upon enrolment
  • the amount of the second instalment varies according to each student's ISEE University value and the degree programme in which they are enrolled
  • for international students with income and assets abroad, the second instalment varies according to their country of origin.

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The University offers scholarships, cafeterias, subsidised accommodation and other forms of financial support to students meeting specific economic and merit requirements.

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