Liberal Studies in Communication

Corridoio interno
Liberal Studies in Communication
Course sheet
A.Y. 2026/2027
Bachelor
L-20 R - Scienze della comunicazione
Bachelor
180
ECTS
Access
Limited enrolment with admission test
3
Years
Course location
Milan
Language
Italian
The Bachelor's degree programme in Liberal Studies in Communication is designed to equip students with the theoretical, technical and practical competencies needed to work in the world of information and communication. In particular, the programme provides students with a solid knowledge of multimedia (radio, television, cinema, newspapers, Internet, etc.), with a focus on historical and cultural traditions, aesthetic and philosophical reflection, language and entertainment.
The study plan comprises core courses encompassing the areas of semiotics, linguistics, literary studies and information technology (e.g. courses on glottology and linguistics, contemporary Italian literature, foreign languages and computer science). These are complemented with courses which are peculiar to the degree programme and focus on the methods, analysis and techniques of communication (aesthetics, philosophy and theory of language, history of contemporary art, musicology and history of music, performing arts, cinema, photography and television) as well as on human, economic and social sciences (demology, ethnology and anthropology, social psychology, sociology of culture and communication). Some of these courses are compulsory, whereas others are to be chosen among a set of options. An additional focus is placed on important branches of law, history, politics and philosophy, such as contemporary history, history of political thought, history of political institutions, constitutional law, media law. The study plan also includes supplementary and elective courses, for example on musical dramaturgy, foreign literatures, history of political communication, history of printing and publishing, economic history, all of them contributing to enriching the contents of the programme.
Students must demonstrate knowledge of English and another language of the European Union (to be chosen between French, Spanish or German). As regards English, students will have to sit a compulsory exam during their first year; as for the second foreign language, they will have to sit an assessment test during their second year. The job-oriented nature of this degree programme is prominent in a number of courses, as well as in the workshops included in the first, second and third year study plan. In particular, workshop activities and the third-year internship are aimed at providing students with data processing and analysis skills, as well as with the ability to produce communication materials for both traditional and digital media.
By the end of the programme, students are expected to reach proficiency in English at level B1 under the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR).
Moreover, graduates will have developed a set of soft skills enabling them to work for different types of media outlets, including a high degree of operational autonomy and a collaborative approach to teamwork. Lastly, they will be able to properly communicate the objectives and results of their activities and to continuously update their knowledge and expertise.
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

Thanks to the knowledge and skills acquired during the programme, graduates will be able to take on professional roles in the areas of information, communication and public relations.
After completing a 18-month professional training recognised by the Ordine dei Giornalisti (Italian Order of Journalists), and upon passing the State Exam, they will be licensed to work as journalists.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

1) Web technicians (digital media managers, social media managers, web communication managers and web content managers)
Job function:
These technicians support web designers and web analysts in the development, configuration, management, maintenance and optimisation of websites, intranet platforms and servers. More specifically, they take care of the following:
- design of static and dynamic websites, as well as social media pages;
- development of static and dynamic websites, as well as social media pages;
- management and maintenance of static and dynamic websites, as well as social media pages;
- search engine optimisation (SEO);
- promotion of websites and social media pages on the Internet.
Professional skills:
- basic IT literacy, web design and social media planning
- online communication and web writing
- internet marketing
- knowledge of sociology of new media, semiotics of new media and digital humanities
Potential employers:
- companies and organisations providing web communication services to other parties
- companies and organisations who manage their online communication and social media presence in-house
- web communication/social media departments of companies and public administrations

2) Advertising technicians
Job function:
These technicians assist senior specialists in:
- promoting the products and services of a company or organisation;
- creating a positive image of the company or organisation;
- planning and developing different types of promotional and advertising campaigns, using various channels.
Professional skills:
- basic knowledge of marketing, mass communication and market analysis strategies
- storytelling analysis, ability to understand the meanings and values linked to a brand or product
- marketing campaign analysis, knowledge of traditional and new media
Potential employers:
- advertising agencies
- companies, organisations and consulting firms active in tourism marketing
- communication departments of companies or organisations
- public relations offices of public administrations

3) Public relations technicians
Job function:
These technicians assist senior specialists in:
- researching, selecting, collecting and organising communication and marketing materials for the company or institution;
- organising and sponsoring events which are not strictly linked to advertising, but help give visibility to the company or institution.
Professional skills:
- ability to analyse communication and information campaigns run by different actors (companies, organisations, institutions, etc.)
- expertise with traditional and new media, advertising, mass communication and corporate communication
Potential employers:
- public relations and event management companies/consulting firms
- communication departments of companies or organisations
- public relations offices of public administrations

4) Fair, exhibition and cultural event organisers
Job function:
Fair, exhibition and cultural event organisers combine their ability to organise their own work, as well as that of other staff members, with a comprehensive overview of the communication strategy of their company or organisation, thus being able to turn the event they are managing into a strategic communication tool.
They assist senior specialists in:
- planning fairs, exhibitions and cultural events;
- organising exhibition spaces;
- managing fairs, exhibitions and cultural events;
- venue management (i.e. how event spaces are to be used by exhibitors, clients and the public).
Professional skills:
- a foundation in marketing and corporate communication
- ability to assess venue suitability
- competencies in psychology of communication
- knowledge of ethnographic and socio-semiotic methods
Potential employers:
- companies and consulting firms handling the organisation of fairs, exhibitions and cultural events
- communication departments of companies or organisations
- public administration departments handling the organisation of fairs, exhibitions and cultural events

5) Conference and reception organisers
Job function:
Conference and reception organisers combine their ability to organise their own work, as well as that of other staff members, with a comprehensive overview of the communication strategy of their company or organisation, thus being able to turn the event they are managing into a strategic communication tool. They assist senior specialists in:
- planning conferences and receptions;
- organising spaces;
- managing conferences and receptions;
- venue management (i.e. how event spaces are to be used by clients and the public).
Professional skills:
- a foundation in marketing and corporate communication
- ability to assess venue suitability
- competencies in psychology of communication
- knowledge of ethnographic and socio-semiotic methods
Potential employers:
- companies and consulting firms handling the organisation of conferences and receptions
- communication departments of companies or organisations
- public administration departments handling the organisation of conferences and receptions

6) Production organisation technicians in radio, television, cinema and theatre broadcast programmes
Job function:
These technicians oversee broadcast programming for radio and TV channels and provide assistance for stage and film productions.
Professional skills:
- theoretical knowledge as well as technical and practical skills relating to the film, TV, and radio industry
- literary and linguistic competencies
- competencies in history, philosophy and arts
- knowledge of traditional media
Employment opportunities:
- on-set assistance for the film and TV industry
- coordination and optimisation services for the radio and TV industry
- broadcast programming
- television production
- cinema production
- radio production
- script supervising
- production assistance
- editorial assistance

Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
The Degree Course offers the opportunity to carry out a training experience abroad, through the Erasmus+ Study Program, for a period of 6 months at various locations in France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Spain and Sweden, with the possibility of extending the stay or repeating the experience up to 12 months. Students who wish to carry out activities of course attendance, research and degree thesis, in disciplinary fields consistent with their training path, are interested.
In particular, we highlight the active agreements with the universities of Avignon, Le Mans, Lille and Paris (France), Heidelberg (Germany), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Warsaw and Wroclaw (Poland), Cardiff (United Kingdom), Prague (Czech Republic), Barcelona, ​​Madrid and Zaragoza (Spain) and Stockholm (Sweden).
The exams taken abroad and the research and degree thesis activities are recognized following a study plan agreed with the host institution. Before leaving, students define a Learning agreement based on the exams and activities they intend to take at the partner University, corresponding to the needs of their study plan.
The Degree Course also promotes the Erasmus+ Traineeship Program, which provides for mobility also for recent graduates within 12 months of graduation, at foreign institutions identified from time to time, for a period of internship that can be recognized, upon agreement, through university training credits (cfu) and registered on the 'Europass' document.
Course attendance is strongly recommended, though not mandatory. Conversely, attendance is compulsory for the three workshops and the internship.
Enrolment
QUALIFICATIONS AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION

Admission to the Bachelor's degree programme in Liberal Studies in Communication is capped at 275 students.

This limitation is due to the fact that courses and workshops require properly-equipped classrooms.

In order to be admitted to the programme and successfully participate in its educational activities, students must hold a high school diploma or an equivalent foreign qualification and demonstrate a good command of Italian, good general knowledge and logical skills.
Applicants' knowledge and skills will be assessed through an admission test.

Students who achieve lower scores than the ones mentioned in the section "ADDITIONAL LEARNING REQUIREMENTS (OFA) AND REMEDIAL ACTIVITIES" will be required to fill their learning gaps by the end of the first programme year. To this end, they will be assigned additional learning requirements (also known as OFA, from the Italian Obblighi Formativi Aggiuntivi).

ADMISSION ASSESSMENT

Applicants have to sit for an admission test known as TOLC-SU, which is administered by CISIA (Consortium of Inter-University Integrated Access Systems). Applicants can sit for the TOLC-SU at the University of Milan or any other university that offers this type of test.

There will be two admission sessions: 100 applicants will be admitted during the first session and 175 applicants during the second session. Instructions on how and when to take the TOLC-SU are provided in the call for applications, which is published on the University website and accessible via the following link:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/degree-programme-enrolment/enrolment-first-degree-programme

Information on the TOLC-SU test is available on the University website at:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/degree-programme-enrolment/enrolment-first-degree-programme/cisia-tolc-test

ADDITIONAL LEARNING REQUIREMENTS (OFA) AND REMEDIAL ACTIVITIES

Admitted applicants who scored less than 30 out of 50 in the first three sections of the TOLC-SU test (Reading comprehension and knowledge of the Italian language; Knowledge and skills acquired through studies; Logical reasoning), or less than 18 out of 30 in the section Reading comprehension and knowledge of the Italian language, will be assigned additional learning requirements (OFA).

Applicants will be notified of any OFA when enrolling online.

Additional learning requirements must be fulfilled within the first programme year by attending online remedial activities organised by the University, and by passing the corresponding end-of-course test. Information on how to attend the OFA remedial course will be made available on the University website at
https://www.unimi.it/en/education/faculties-and-schools/humanities/studying-humanities/additional-learning-requirements-ofa-humanities-students
as well as on the website of the degree programme.

Places available: 275 + 10 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 11/06/2026

Application for matriculation: from 18/06/2026 to 30/06/2026

Read the Call

Session: 2

Application for admission: from 02/07/2026 to 28/08/2026

Application for matriculation: from 03/09/2026 to 10/09/2026

Read the Call

Admissions A.Y. 2026/2027

The calls for applications for the 2026/27 academic year are now available. Please refer to the call for details on the admission test dates and syllabi, as well as complete information on how to apply.

Programme description and courses list
First semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Aesthetics 9 60 Italian PHIL-04/A
Contemporary History 6 40 Italian HIST-03/A
Literary Communication in Twentieth-Century Italy 9 60 Italian LICO-01/A
Optional
Film History and Criticism 9 60 Italian PEMM-01/B
History of Modern and Contemporary Music 9 60 Italian PEMM-01/C
Second semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
English 9 60 Italian ANGL-01/C
Optional
History of Contemporary Art 9 60 Italian ARTE-01/C
Open sessions
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
English Assessment B1 (3 ECTS) 3 0 English NN
Optional activities and study plan rules
a - 9 credits to be acquired in one of the following subjects
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Film History and Criticism 9 60 Italian First semester PEMM-01/B
History of Contemporary Art 9 60 Italian Second semester ARTE-01/C
History of Modern and Contemporary Music 9 60 Italian First semester PEMM-01/C
b - 6 credits to be acquired in one of the following subjects
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Communications Theory and Techniques in Journalism 6 40 Italian First semester GSPS-06/A
Corporate and Organizational Communication 6 40 Italian Second semester GSPS-08/A
Theory and Techniques in Advertising and Image 6 40 Italian Second semester GSPS-06/A
Web Communication Theory and Techniques 6 40 Italian Second semester GSPS-06/A
c - 9 credits to be acquired in one of the following subjects
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Archival Studies 9 60 Italian Second semester HIST-04/C
Bibliography 9 60 Italian First semester HIST-04/C
Contemporary Russian Literature 9 60 Italian First semester SLAV-01/A
Contemporary Spanish Literature 9 60 Spanish Second semester SPAN-01/A
Economic History 9 60 Italian STEC-01/B
Economics and History of Globalization 9 60 Italian First semester STEC-01/B
Economy and Culture of the Cooperative Enterprises 9 60 Italian First semester ECON-06/A
English Literature 9 60 Italian Second semester ANGL-01/A
French Literature 9 60 Italian First semester FRAN-01/A
German Literature 9 60 Italian First semester GERM-01/B
History of Political Communication from Antiquity to the Present 9 60 Italian First semester GSPS-03/A
History of Printing and Publishing 9 60 Italian HIST-04/C
Institutional History of Media 9 60 Italian Second semester GSPS-03/B
Italian Literature 9 60 Italian ITAL-01/A
Librarianship 9 60 Italian First semester HIST-04/C
Musical Dramaturgy 9 60 Italian First semester PEMM-01/C
Rhetoric 9 60 Italian PHIL-04/A
d - 3 credits to be acquired with a laboratory
be activated by the A.Y. 2027/2028
Not specified period
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Fundamentals of Computer Science 6 40 Italian INFO-01/A
First semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Public History 6 40 Italian HIST-03/A
Theoretical Linguistics 9 60 Italian GLOT-01/A
Optional
Constitutional Law 6 40 Italian GIUR-05/A
Second semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
History of Theatre and Performing Arts 9 60 Italian PEMM-01/A
Optional
Media Law 6 40 Italian GIUR-05/A
Optional activities and study plan rules
e - 6 credits to be acquired in one of the following subjects
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Constitutional Law 6 40 Italian First semester GIUR-05/A
Media Law 6 40 Italian Second semester GIUR-05/A
f - 6 credits to be acquired in one of the following subjects
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Communications Theory and Techniques in Journalism 6 40 Italian First semester GSPS-06/A
Corporate and Organizational Communication 6 40 Italian Second semester GSPS-08/A
Theory and Techniques in Advertising and Image 6 40 Italian Second semester GSPS-06/A
Web Communication Theory and Techniques 6 40 Italian Second semester GSPS-06/A
g - 12 credits to be acquired in free choice courses (6+6 credits or 9+3 credits as integration - Requests to repeat an exam, for a maximum total of 18 credits, must be justified to the teacher in charge of the course, who will agree on the relevant exam programme)
h - 3 credits to be acquired with a verification of knowledge of a second language of the European Union, for which reference is made to Centro Linguistico d'Ateneo - SLAM
i - 3 credits to be acquired with a laboratory
be activated by the A.Y. 2028/2029
Not specified period
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Cultural Anthropology 9 60 Italian SDEA-01/A
History of Scientific Communication 9 60 Italian PHIL-02/B
Media Archaeology 9 60 Italian PEMM-01/B
Philosophy of Language 9 60 Italian PHIL-04/B
Semiotics 9 60 Italian PHIL-04/B
Theories of Language and the Mind 9 60 Italian PHIL-04/B
First semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Social and Environmental Psychology 9 60 Italian PSIC-03/A
Second semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Italian Language and Communication 9 60 Italian LIFI-01/A
Optional
History of Journalism 9 60 Italian HIST-03/A
History of Radio and Television 9 60 Italian HIST-03/A
Sociology of Communications 6 40 Italian GSPS-06/A
Conclusive activities
There are no specific sessions for these activities.
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Compulsory
Final Exam 9 0 Italian NN
Optional activities and study plan rules
j - 9 credits to be acquired in one of the following subjects
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Philosophy of Language 9 60 Italian PHIL-04/B
Semiotics 9 60 Italian PHIL-04/B
Theories of Language and the Mind 9 60 Italian PHIL-04/B
k - 6 credits to be acquired in one of the following subjects
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Cultural Anthropology 9 60 Italian SDEA-01/A
Media Archaeology 9 60 Italian PEMM-01/B
Social and Environmental Psychology 9 60 Italian First semester PSIC-03/A
Sociology of Communications 6 40 Italian Second semester GSPS-06/A
l - 9 credits to be acquired in one of the following subjects
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
History of Journalism 9 60 Italian Second semester HIST-03/A
History of Radio and Television 9 60 Italian Second semester HIST-03/A
History of Scientific Communication 9 60 Italian PHIL-02/B
m - 9 credits to be acquired in one of the following subjects (if not already taken)
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Archival Studies 9 60 Italian Second semester HIST-04/C
Bibliography 9 60 Italian First semester HIST-04/C
Contemporary Russian Literature 9 60 Italian First semester SLAV-01/A
Contemporary Spanish Literature 9 60 Spanish Second semester SPAN-01/A
Economic History 9 60 Italian STEC-01/B
Economics and History of Globalization 9 60 Italian First semester STEC-01/B
Economy and Culture of the Cooperative Enterprises 9 60 Italian First semester ECON-06/A
English Literature 9 60 Italian Second semester ANGL-01/A
French Literature 9 60 Italian First semester FRAN-01/A
German Literature 9 60 Italian First semester GERM-01/B
History of Political Communication from Antiquity to the Present 9 60 Italian First semester GSPS-03/A
History of Printing and Publishing 9 60 Italian HIST-04/C
Institutional History of Media 9 60 Italian Second semester GSPS-03/B
Italian Literature 9 60 Italian ITAL-01/A
Librarianship 9 60 Italian First semester HIST-04/C
Musical Dramaturgy 9 60 Italian First semester PEMM-01/C
Rhetoric 9 60 Italian PHIL-04/A
n - 3 credits to be acquired with a laboratory
o - 3 credits to be acquired with an internship
Not specified period
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Economic History 9 60 Italian STEC-01/B
History of Printing and Publishing 9 60 Italian HIST-04/C
Italian Literature 9 60 Italian ITAL-01/A
Rhetoric 9 60 Italian PHIL-04/A
First semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Bibliography 9 60 Italian HIST-04/C
Communications Theory and Techniques in Journalism 6 40 Italian GSPS-06/A
Contemporary Russian Literature 9 60 Italian SLAV-01/A
Economics and History of Globalization 9 60 Italian STEC-01/B
Economy and Culture of the Cooperative Enterprises 9 60 Italian ECON-06/A
French Literature 9 60 Italian FRAN-01/A
German Literature 9 60 Italian GERM-01/B
History of Political Communication from Antiquity to the Present 9 60 Italian GSPS-03/A
Librarianship 9 60 Italian HIST-04/C
Musical Dramaturgy 9 60 Italian PEMM-01/C
Teaching Workshop: Italian Writing 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Business Templates for the Web 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Communication and Sustainability, from Theory to Practice 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Copyright and Artificial Intelligence for the Publishing and Communication Professions 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Corporate and Organizational Communication 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Curator Profession: Conceive, Organize and Communicate an Exhibition of Books and Images 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Fashion and Jewelry: Styles, Meanings and Communication 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Generative Artificial Intelligence and Writing 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Groundbreaking (Magazine of Fashion Cultures by Unimi Students) 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Public Policies of Memory and Urban Space: the Case of Milan 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Sports Journalism: Traditional and Digital Media 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Talking About Politics: Editorial Practices Between Current Affairs and Popularization 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Territorial Marketing: Strategies and New Perspectives 3 20 Italian NN
Second semester
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language SSD
Optional
Archival Studies 9 60 Italian HIST-04/C
Contemporary Spanish Literature 9 60 Spanish SPAN-01/A
Corporate and Organizational Communication 6 40 Italian GSPS-08/A
English Literature 9 60 Italian ANGL-01/A
Institutional History of Media 9 60 Italian GSPS-03/B
Theory and Techniques in Advertising and Image 6 40 Italian GSPS-06/A
Web Communication Theory and Techniques 6 40 Italian GSPS-06/A
Workshop: Advertising Strategy 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Brand Communication Strategies and Techniques: Influencer Marketing, Pr and Storytelling 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Communication and Media Manipulation in Conflicts 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Corporate Communication Models 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Digital Humanities and Web Design 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, Twitter: Creating and Filtering Information On Social Media 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Modernity On the Catwalk: Industries, Identities, and Fashion Cultures from the Postwar Period to the 21st Cen 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Publishing and Digital Communication 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Reporter Profession: Techniques for Telling Stories with Images and Sounds 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: the Cinematographic Language 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: the Job of the Fashion Journalist 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: the Professional Figure of the Editorial Editor 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop: Writing On the Web 3 20 Italian NN
Workshop:from Courts to the City:fashion,bodies,and Power Between the Ancien Régime and Totalitarianism(1760-1945) 3 20 Italian NN
Learn more
Location
Milan
Erasmus and international mobility tutor 
Study plan tutor
Internship tutor
Quality Assurance Delegate
Contacts

The tuition fees for students enrolled in Bachelor's, Master's and single-cycle degree programmes are divided into two instalments with different calculation methods and payment schedules:

  • The amount of the first instalment is the same for all students
  • The amount of the second instalment varies according to the ISEE University value, the degree programme and the student status (on track / off track for one year or off track for more than a year) 
  • An additional fee is due for online programmes

The University also offers:

  • Concessions for students meeting high merit requirements
  • Diversified tuition fees according to the student's home country for international students with assets/income abroad
  • Concessions for international students with refugee status

Scholarships and benefits

The University provides a range of financial benefits to students meeting special requirements (merit, financial or personal conditions, international students).

Learn more