Italian Studies

Our PhD Italian Studies programme enables you to carry out a piece of significant and original research at a department that undertakes internationally recognised research that is both wide-ranging and markedly interdisciplinary.

We have a number of specific focuses. These include Modernism, arts and power, the Italian Fascist regime and European totalitarianisms, the history of the book and periodical studies, late medieval and Renaissance literary and cultural studies, translation studies, contemporary literature and arts, and linguistics and sociolinguistics.

A considerable number of PhD candidates in Italian have pursued research across fields from the medieval to modern. This includes linguistics and cultural and translation studies. This research is often supported by funding secured from major AHRC project awards. Italian was also at the forefront of the relaunch of the John Rylands Research Institute and Library .

This helped secure PhD bursaries for candidates working on the world-class special collections of early Italian printed books and manuscripts from the Spencer, Christie and Bullock collections. Staff are also involved in collaborations with colleagues from institutions across the world. They have secured visiting professorships, fellowships and grants at Harvard University, Milan Statale University, Naples University, the Folger Library, the Morgan Library and the British School in Rome.

Our research culture is further enhanced by the presence of visiting professors and lecturers from Italy and the USA, participation in the interdisciplinary seminars held by CIDRAL , and our own research seminars.