Modern Humanities

Chiostro: particolare
In-person programme
Modern Humanities
Course sheet
A.Y. 2026/2027
Master programme
LM-14 - Modern philology
Master programme
120
ECTS
Access
Open with entry requirements examination
2
Years
Course location
Milan
Language
Italian
International title
Double Degree
The Master's Degree Programme in Modern Humanities aims to provide advanced, systematic, and methodologically grounded training in the fields of literary, linguistic, and philological studies from the Middle Ages to the contemporary period.
The curriculum, organized not by academic year but by broad learning areas, is designed to ensure knowledge and understanding of textual structures, with particular reference to Italian literary and linguistic experience, also through a comparative approach; knowledge of the linguistic and historical processes underlying the production and evolution of texts; the ability to understand the mechanisms of textual analysis and interpretation; mastery of critical methods in historiography, cultural history, and the contexts in which texts and linguistic and literary traditions have taken shape; and familiarity with research tools and methodologies, including digital approaches.
The programme enables students progressively to acquire skills in the analysis and interpretation of texts and documents of any genre and type (particularly those related to the chosen areas of specialization) in their communicative functions; the ability to situate texts and other cultural events and artefacts within their contexts; and the capacity to identify and relate diverse sources through critical comparative analysis and to establish the necessary connections between different disciplinary fields.
The programme also fosters the development of independent judgment, understood as the ability to formulate critical evaluations grounded in an adequate understanding of literary phenomena in their multiple forms and in relation to broader ethical and social issues. Specific digital competencies in the humanities may further strengthen awareness of the contemporary cultural role of technology.
The programme ensures the consolidation of appropriate communication skills, both in written production and in the reasoned presentation of complex content, and promotes the ability to connect theoretical and methodological assumptions with the appropriate disciplinary and research-specific terminology. At the same time, the programme fosters autonomous learning skills, grounded in solid epistemological and methodological foundations that provide the basis for the further development and deepening of knowledge.
Teaching methods aimed at achieving these skills and competencies include lectures, participatory teaching formats, workshops and supplementary educational activities, as well as the preparation of the final thesis under the supervision of one or more faculty members. Assessment methods include oral and written examinations, reports and final workshop assessments, and the discussion of the Master?s thesis in the final examination. Students are also required to attain English language proficiency at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Upon completion of the programme, graduates will possess in-depth knowledge of Italian and European literary and linguistic culture, as well as of the methodologies and tools applicable to medieval, modern, and contemporary texts and documents, including through a comparative approach. They will be able to apply broad-ranging competencies suited to professions requiring advanced expertise in the humanities, strong skills in text production and interpretation, and the ability to critically manage information.
The Master programme in Modern Humanities provides broad-spectrum professional skills to be used for career opportunities requiring advanced knowledge in the area of the Humanities, the ability to produce and interpret texts as well as the ability to critically manage information. The employment opportunities open to graduates possessing a Masters degree in Modern Humanities include work in areas such as those of publishing, editing, communication, public relations, information management, management of the cultural heritage, management of research centres in the field of the Humanities (libraries, archives, museums, boards for the management of cultural heritage, etc.), text production and human resources. The programme is also designed to offer students the possibility to obtain credits (ECTS) in the appropriate disciplines necessary to qualify for training as a secondary-school teacher. Graduates with a Master's degree in Modern Humanities also qualify for access to PhD and second level Master's programmes within their area of specialisation.

Employment statistics (Almalaurea)
The course supports students' international mobility, through:
- Erasmus+ 'call for study': thanks to agreements signed by the Department with some UE Universities (Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Poland, Czech republic, Spain, Hungary, to which Swiss confederation and United Kingdom must be added), students can apply for about 40 fellowships. Funding allows students for study-abroad experiences (courses and exams) that will be recognized by Unimi, if they comply with the 'learning agreement' that must be signed before departure and approved by the Course's Erasmus committee.
- Erasmus+ 'Traineeship': funding allows students to do traineeships based at UE academic or research institutions (Swiss confederation included). Applicants to the Summer call should identify a host institution autonomously, whereas the Fall call offers traineeships based on the agreements signed by Unimi, among which some are offered by the course.
- 'Thesis abroad' programme: funding allows students of Master degree to can carry out their thesis work at academic and research institutions abroad, with no geographical restriction.
- Double degree: the agreement between Sorbonne University in Paris and the University of Milan allows students enrolled in the program to follow a dedicated study track leading to the award of a double degree.
Attending courses is strongly recommended. However, each course offers an ad-hoc syllabus for non-attending students. Workshop attendance is mandatory.
Enrolment
Admission to the Master's degree in Modern Humanities is open to graduates in the L-10 class (Humanities). Graduates from other Bachelor's degree classes may also be eligible for admission, provided that they have obtained a minimum number of credits in specific academic fields during their prior academic studies, as specified below:

27 credits in the following academic fields:
COMP-01/A - Literary Criticism and Comparative Literature(ex L-FIL-LET/14)
FLMR-01/A - Medieval and Humanistic Latin Literature (ex L-FIL-LET/08)
FLMR-01/B - Romance Philology and Linguistics(ex L-FIL-LET/09)
ITAL-01/A - Italian Literature (ex L-FIL-LET/10)
LICO-01/A - Contemporary Italian Literature(ex L-FIL-LET/11)
LIFI-01/A - Italian Linguistics (ex L-FIL-LET/12)
LIFI-01/B - Italian Philology (ex L-FIL-LET/13)

6 credits in the following academic field:
LATI-01/A -Latin Language and Literature (ex L-FIL-LET/04)

12 credits in the following academic fields:
HIST-01/A - Medieval History (ex M-STO/01)
HIST-02/A - Modern History (ex M-STO/02)
HIST-03/A - Contemporary History (ex M-STO/04)
STAN01/A - Greek History (ex L-ANT/02)
STAN01/B - Roman History (ex L-ANT/03)

Proficiency in English at a B1 level or higher according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is required for admission.
The B1-level requirement will be ascertained by the University Language Centre (SLAM) upon admission as follows:
- Valid language certificate at B1 level or higher, issued no more than three years before the application date. The list of language certificates recognized by the University is available at https://www.unimi.it/en/node/39322 .The certificate must be uploaded when submitting the online application;
- English level achieved during a University of Milan degree programme and certified by the University Language Centre (SLAM) no more than four years before the application date, including levels based on language certificates submitted by the applicant during their Bachelor's degree at the University of Milan. Verification will be carried out automatically, no documents need to be uploaded.;
- Entry test administrated by the University Language Centre (SLAM) according to the calendar published on the website: (https://www.unimi.it/en/node/39267/ )
Applicants who fail to submit a valid certificate or do not meet the required proficiency level will be instructed during the admission procedure to take the Entry test.
Applicants who do not take or pass the Entry test will be required to obtain a language proficiency certificate recognized by the University (see https://www.unimi.it/en/node/39322) and submit it to SLAM via the InformaStudenti service by the deadline set by the master's degree programme (https://www.unimi.it/en/node/39267/).
Applicants who fail to meet the requirement by said deadline will not be admitted to the master's degree programme and may not sit any further tests.


In order to be admitted to academic year 2026-2027, candidates must meet all admission requirements (degree, any single exams) by December 31, 2026.
The application for admission to the Master's degree programme must be submitted no later than October 30, 2026.
Those who graduate by December 31, 2026 must enrol by January 15, 2027.

At the time of submitting the application for admission, students who have not yet graduated and intend to enrol on this programme must have earned at least 130 credits in their Bachelor's degree programme.

Admission assessment
The candidate's educational background will be assessed by an admission board. The board may admit candidates who meet the above-mentioned curricular requirements and who have achieved a degree mark higher than 95, without interviewing them. These candidates will be notified of admission individually. Candidates who have achieved a degree mark lower than 96, as well as all other candidates who, even if they meet admission requirements, have not been notified of admission, are required to show up for the interview with the board on one of the scheduled dates.

For information on the composition of the board, the documents to be submitted for admission, and interview dates: https://letteremoderne.cdl.unimi.it/it/iscriversi

Admission

Application for admission: from 22/01/2026 to 30/10/2026

Application for matriculation: from 05/05/2026 to 15/01/2027


Attachments and documents

Admission notice


Admissions A.Y. 2026/2027

Admission applications for Academic Year 2026/2027 are now open. Non-EU students visa applicants are required to apply for admission no later than 30 April 2026.

Learn more:
Programme description and courses list
Optional programme year

Compulsory activity
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
English Proficiency B2 (3 ECTS) 3 0 English Open sessions NN
1 - 18 ECTS (9 + 9 ECTS) IN TWO OF THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
19th and 20th Century Italian Literature 9 60 Italian Second semester LICO-01/A
History of Italian Language Ma 9 60 Italian Second semester LIFI-01/A
Medieval, Humanistic and Renaissance Italian Literature 9 60 Italian Second semester ITAL-01/A
Modern Italian Literature 9 60 Italian Second semester ITAL-01/A
2 - 6 ECTS IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Topics and Problems in Early Modern Philosophy 9 60 Italian PHIL-05/A
Aesthetics of Objects 9 60 Italian First semester PHIL-04/A
History of Contemporary World 9 60 Italian First semester HIST-03/A
History of Early Modern Europe 9 60 Italian First semester HIST-02/A
Medieval History Ma 9 60 Italian First semester HIST-01/A
Medieval Philosophy 9 60 Italian First semester PHIL-05/C
Digital Publishing 6 40 Italian Second semester GSPS-06/A
Environmental Anthropology 9 60 Italian Second semester SDEA-01/A
History of the Early Modern Italian States 9 60 Italian Second semester HIST-02/A
Moral Philosophy (MA) 9 60 Italian Second semester PHIL-03/A
Roman History Ma 6 40 Italian Second semester STAN-01/B
Social Anthropology 9 60 Italian Second semester SDEA-01/A
3 - 24 ECTS (UP TO FOUR) IN THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Comparative Literature 6 40 Italian First semester COMP-01/A
History of Classical Tradition 6 40 Italian First semester FICP-01/A
History of Printing and Publishing Systems 9 60 Italian First semester HIST-04/C
Italian Philology and Formal Analysis 9 60 Italian First semester LIFI-01/B
Latin Language Ma 9 60 Italian First semester LATI-01/A
Latin Literature Ma 9 60 Italian First semester LATI-01/A
Romance Linguistics 6 40 Italian First semester FLMR-01/B
Textual Stylistics 9 60 Italian First semester COMP-01/A
Comparative Romance Languages and Literatures 9 60 Italian Second semester FLMR-01/B
Medieval Latin Literature Ma 6 40 Italian Second semester FLMR-01/A
Medieval Latin Philology 9 60 Italian Second semester FLMR-01/A
Provencal Literature 9 60 Italian Second semester FLMR-01/B
Textual Bibliography 6 40 Italian Second semester LIFI-01/B
Theoretical Linguistics Ma 6 40 Italian Second semester GLOT-01/A
Theory of Literature 9 60 Italian Second semester COMP-01/A
4 - 27 ECTS (6+6+6+9 OR 9+9+9+) IN THE TWO FOLLOWING GROUPS, OTHERS THAN THOSE ALREADY CHOSEN FROM A PREVIOUS GROUP. ALMOST 15 ECTS MUST BE SELECTED IN THE GROUP A.
4.1 - GROUP A
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Comparative Literature 6 40 Italian First semester COMP-01/A
Contemporary Italian Literature and Publishing System 9 60 Italian First semester LICO-01/A
Critical Approaches in Law and Literature 6 40 Italian First semester GIUR-17/A
Culture e testi del medioevo europeo 9 60 Italian First semester FLMR-01/A FLMR-01/B
Italian Language and Music Lyrics 9 60 Italian First semester LIFI-01/A
Italian Literature and Performing Arts 6 40 Italian First semester ITAL-01/A PEMM-01/A
Italian Philology and Formal Analysis 9 60 Italian First semester LIFI-01/B
Literature and Human Rights 6 40 Italian First semester COMP-01/A GIUR-17/A
Romance Linguistics 6 40 Italian First semester FLMR-01/B
Textual Stylistics 9 60 Italian First semester COMP-01/A
Women's Literature in Italy 6 40 Italian First semester ITAL-01/A LICO-01/A
19th and 20th Century Italian Literature 9 60 Italian Second semester LICO-01/A
21th Century Literature 9 60 Italian Second semester COMP-01/A LICO-01/A
Comparative Romance Languages and Literatures 9 60 Italian Second semester FLMR-01/B
Contemporary Italian, Corpora, and Artificial Intelligence 9 60 Italian Second semester INFO-01/A LIFI-01/A
Dante Studies 6 40 Italian Second semester ITAL-01/A
Data Natural Language and Technologies 6 40 Italian Second semester INFO-01/A
Digital Methods and Ai for the Study of Italian Literature 6 40 Italian Second semester ITAL-01/A
Gender and Queer Studies 6 40 Italian Second semester COMP-01/A
History of Italian Language Ma 9 60 Italian Second semester LIFI-01/A
Literary Culture and Genres of Modernity 6 40 Italian Second semester LICO-01/A
Media Linguistics 9 60 Italian Second semester LIFI-01/A
Medieval Latin Literature Ma 6 40 Italian Second semester FLMR-01/A
Medieval Latin Philology 9 60 Italian Second semester FLMR-01/A
Medieval, Humanistic and Renaissance Italian Literature 9 60 Italian Second semester ITAL-01/A
Modern Italian Literature 9 60 Italian Second semester ITAL-01/A
Provencal Literature 9 60 Italian Second semester FLMR-01/B
Teaching Italian Language 6 40 Italian Second semester LIFI-01/A
Teaching Italian Literature 6 40 Italian Second semester ITAL-01/A
Textual Bibliography 6 40 Italian Second semester LIFI-01/B
Theory of Literature 9 60 Italian Second semester COMP-01/A
4.2 - GROUP B
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Didactic Methodologies and Technologies 9 60 Italian PAED-02/A
American Literature 9 60 English First semester ANGL-01/B
Artistic Production and Industrial Society 9 60 Italian First semester ARTE-01/C
Contemporary English Literature 9 60 English First semester ANGL-01/A
French Literature 9 60 Italian First semester FRAN-01/A
Indian Religions and Civilization 6 40 Italian First semester ASIA-01/C
Latin Language Ma 9 60 Italian First semester LATI-01/A
Latin Literature Ma 9 60 Italian First semester LATI-01/A
Social and Environmental Psychology 9 60 Italian First semester PSIC-03/A
Archival Studies 9 60 Italian Second semester HIST-04/C
Cinema and Cultural Studies 6 40 Italian Second semester PEMM-01/B
Contact Linguistics 9 60 Italian Second semester GLOT-01/A
English Literature 9 60 Italian Second semester ANGL-01/A
Geography of Languages and Literatures 6 40 Italian Second semester GEOG-01/A
Greek History Ma 6 40 Italian Second semester STAN-01/A
Greek Literature Ma 9 60 Italian Second semester HELL-01/B
Roman History Ma 6 40 Italian Second semester STAN-01/B
Teaching Latin Language and Literature 6 40 Italian Second semester LATI-01/A
Theoretical Linguistics Ma 6 40 Italian Second semester GLOT-01/A
5 - The student also has 9 ECTS available for electives. These credits can be allocated to in-depth study of subjects already included in the study plan, within the maximum number of credits awarded by these courses, or they can be allocated to a course other than those included in the study plan.
It's not allowed to take the same exam more than once.
6 - Moreover, the student must earn 6 ECTS (3 + 3 ECTS) in other training activities, which are assessed with a pass or fail score. These credits can be earned through:
- the workshops proposed or approved by the degree programme
- internships
- further language assessment (level B2) in addition to English Language
(https://www.unimi.it/it/studiare/competenzelinguistiche/altre-lingue-test-e-corsi/studi-umanistici-accertamento-della-conoscenza-di-lingua-francese-spagnola-e-tedesca3-cfu)
- soft skills courses (https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/soft-skills)
Final activities
Courses or activities Max ECTS Total hours Language Lesson period SSD
Final Exam 27 0 Italian Open sessions NN
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