Facts & figures
Philologist in Italian Language, Literature and Culture
Institute of Romance Studies
Italian
Program
The MA in Italian Language, Literature and Culture at ELTE is designed for students who have a thorough knowledge of the characteristics of written and spoken communication in Italian, the principles of precise and conscious language use, and the active and passive vocabulary required for advanced proficiency. The programme welcomes applicants who are familiar with the research methods necessary for understanding and interpreting the deeper connections within Italian language, literature, and culture.
Programme Details
Graduates of the programme will possess comprehensive knowledge of the Italian language and culture, supported by their acquired expertise in linguistics, literary studies, and cultural history. They will have an in-depth understanding of Italy’s culture, history, and political system, as well as the fundamentals of Italian-Hungarian translation and literary translation. Graduates will be able to apply their knowledge in practice by performing language mediation tasks in a wide range of areas within cultural life. They will also be capable of interpreting their professional knowledge within broader European and global contexts. The programme provides a strong foundation for continuing their studies at doctoral level.
Note that the program does not offer teaching qualifications.
I laureati potranno:
— utilizzare creativamente le conoscenze acquisite nel campo delle relazioni culturali, lavorando come mediatori linguistici;
— svolgere funzioni organizzative nel campo della vita politica, economica e culturale dove sia richiesta la conoscenza della lingua e della cultura italiana; svolgere funzioni organizzative e relazionali a livello linguistico nei media;
— lavorare come mediatori linguistici e culturali nell’industria turistica.
I laureati saranno in grado:
— di usare la lingua italiana in orale e in scritto a un livello corrispondente al livello C1 delle norme europee;
— di utilizzare gli strumenti generali di studio e le tecniche fondamentali di ricerca correnti nello studio della linguistica o della storia letteraria italiana;
— di effettuare ricerche in questi campi.
I laureati saranno in grado: di usare la lingua italiana in orale e in scritto a un livello corrispondente al livello C2 delle norme europee; di utilizzare gli strumenti generali di studio e le tecniche fondamentali di ricerca correnti nello studio della linguistica o della storia letteraria italiana; di effettuare ricerche in questi campi.
The graduate students will be able to use Italian in speech and in writing in a way which corresponds to C2 level of the European framework; use the general study instruments and basic research techniques in connection with Italian linguistics and history of literature and conduct independent research in these fields. Note that the program does not offer teaching qualifications.
Structure
Career
I laureati potranno: utilizzare creativamente le conoscenze acquisite nel campo delle relazioni culturali, lavorando come mediatori linguistici; svolgere funzioni organizzative nel campo della vita politica, economica e culturale dove sia richiesta la conoscenza della lingua e della cultura italiana; svolgere funzioni organizzative e relazionali a livello linguistico nei media; lavorare come mediatori linguistici e culturali nell’industria turistica.
The graduate students will be able to use their knowledge creatively in the field of cultural relations, working as linguistic mediators; to fulfil organizing positions in those fields of politics, economy and culture where knowledge of the Italian language and culture is required; to fulfil organizing and relational positions at a linguistic level in the mass media; to work as linguistic and cultural mediators in tourism.
Carriera diplomatica, come interprete e traduttore presso il corpo diplomatico guida turistica esperto linguistico presso ditte e imprese manager culturale.
Career in diplomacy, interpreter and translator, tour-guide, expert of the language in various companies, cultural manager.
Admissions
| EU/EEA students | Non-EU/EEA students | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee/semester | 2,500 EUR | 2,500 EUR |
| Application fee |
The application fee is discounted for Early Bird applicants: EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2026 - 30/11/2026 and between 01/02/2027 - 31/03/2027;
The regular application fee is: EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 01/04/2027-31/05/2027
|
The application fee is discounted for Early Bird applicants: EUR 100 (non-refundable) between 01/10/2026 - 30/11/2026 and between 01/02/2027 - 31/03/2027;
The regular application fee is: EUR 150 (non-refundable) between 01/04/2027-31/05/2027
|
| Entrance exam fee | 100 EUR (entrance exam fee) | 100 EUR (Entrance exam fee) |
| Other cost |
Entry requirements
Applicants must hold a university bachelor’s degree (or an equivalent college degree) in the fields listed below. Full credit acknowledgement is only given for a Bachelor’s degree in Romance Philology, Specialized in Italian Studies or Italian as a Foreign Language Teacher qualification.
In case of any other degree, each diploma will be considered individually. The applicant must have at least 50 credits in the field of Italian studies (Linguistics, Literature and Culture) to enter the programme. Transcripts from your bachelor's degree as well as course descriptions will be requested.
The educational and outcome requirements are defined by the Ministry of Human Capacities, Regulation No. 18/2016. (VIII. 5.). Details of the application and admission process are defined by the Organisational and Operational Regulations of ELTE.
Language requirements
C1 level (CEFR)
Conoscenza dell’italiano di livello C1
Admission to the Master’s programme requires applicants to hold a state-recognised advanced-level (C1) comprehensive Italian language certificate, or an equivalent secondary school leaving certificate or higher education diploma.
The language of instruction for the entire program is Italian.
Depending on its (academic) profile, the applicant might be offered preparatory courses if this level of proficiency has not been reached yet.
English is the language of administration for all international courses at ELTE Faculty of Humanities. All communication in administrative matters will be conducted in English. It is therefore recommended that all applicants speak a minimum of A2 level of English, even if it is not the language of tuition of their chosen programme.
| Document | Comment |
|---|---|
| Online application form | - |
| Secondary school certificate (graduation certificate) | Notarized copy only on request. |
| Bachelor-level degree | An official copy of your completed Bachelor degree |
| Transcript of records | |
| CV | In English, in MS Word format with one low resolution photo |
| Motivation letter | A maximum of 500 words. |
| Copy of the main pages of the passport (needs to be valid) | Scanned, in colour all personal details and expiry date must be shown. Passport must be valid. |
| Copy of application fee payment receipt | |
| Copy of the Entrance exam fee payment receipt | |
| Language certificate | Official test result or certificate must be provided; see program specific proficiency requirements. |
| Other: An official English translation of the certificates and the records if the language of the original is not English |
Optional documents for admissions
- Research Proposal
Please consult with the coordinating department for more information - Letter of Reference
Also called "Letter of recommendation." From a former instructor and/or employer.
Application deadlines
The deadline for application means the deadline of submission of the full and complete application package in the online system.
Period 1 (with Early Bird discount): 01/10-30/11/2026 23:59 (CET)
Period 2 (with Early Bird discount): 01/02-31/03/2027 23:59 (CET)
Period 3: 01/04-31/05/2027 23:59 (CET)
The application procedure includes 2 periods in order to give the applicants the freedom to submit their application when it’s most suitable for them. The applicants of each period have the same chance to get admittance for the programme. However, please note, that the Faculty of Humanities ELTE reserves the right to cancel the entrance periods in case the number of the admitted applicants reaches the limit during the previous entrance periods.
Procedure of the application
The application starts in the online application system. Students need to register in the system, fill in the online application form, upload the required documents and follow the instructions during the application process.
Applications will only be processed if the application fee (non-refundable) has been paid on the University’s online payment platform.
Before making the payment please visit the Faculty’s website (go to section Application and Entrance Exam fees) for detailed guidance on how to use the payment platform.
Payment platform: https://epay.elte.hu/
Entrance examination and selection process
When the university receives the full application package and it is checked by the Department of International Affairs an entrance exam date option will be sent no later than the application deadline for the relevant period. Please, check your messages in the application system, and the e-mail address that is linked to the account regularly. The applications are examined by the Admission Board no later than after each application period and applicants are notified of the outcome of the selection in the online application system after the decision is official. Admission letters are sent out in the online application system within a few days.
Procedure of the entrance examination
The entrance exam contains a discussion about the motivation of the applicant. Successful applicants must have a good command of English to pass the entrance exam. The format of the entrance exam is an online interview. Ranking is based on the overall evaluation of academic excellence (based on the submitted documents) and the results of the entrance exam.
Results and the official decision will be announced in the application system. Admission letters are sent out also in the online application system within a few days.
Recommended Reading for Preparation
A. Linguistics
F. Bruni: L’italiano letterario nella storia. Bologna: Il Mulino, 2007.
C. Marcato: Dialetto, dialetti e italiano. Bologna: Il Mulino, 2007.
M. Prandi: L’analisi del periodo. Roma: Carocci, 2013.
G. Salvi: Le parti del discorso. Roma: Carocci, 2013.
B. Literary and Cultural History
M. Apollonio: Storia del teatro italiano. Milano: Rizzoli, 2003.
M. Corti: Percorsi dell’invenzione: Il linguaggio poetico e Dante. Torino: Einaudi, 1993.
Il Rinascimento italiano e l’Europa. I. Storia e storiografia, edited by M. Fantoni. Vicenza: Fondazione Cassamarca – Angelo Colla Editore, 2005. (Three selected chapters)
G. Pedullà: Il teatro italiano nel tempo del fascismo. Bologna: Il Mulino, 1994.
C. Segre: La letteratura italiana del Novecento. Roma-Bari: Laterza, 2004.
C. Translation and Literary Translation
U. Eco: Dire quasi la stessa cosa. Esperienze di traduzione. Milano: Bompiani, 2003.
G. Folena: Volgarizzare e tradurre. Torino: Einaudi, 1991.
B. Osimo: Manuale del traduttore. Guida pratica con glossario. Milano: Hoepli, 1998.
Contacts
Admission
Department of International Affairs
E-mail: admission@btk.elte.hu
Address: 1088 Budapest, Múzeum krt. 4.
More information
Website
Dr. Dávid FALVAY
Professor
Nel corso di laurea specialistica in italiano, gli studenti possono scegliere, a seconda dei loro interessi, tra due tipi di specializzazione. I corsi di base (A) sono uguali per tutti e hanno un valore di 30 crediti. I corsi di questa parte del piano di studi sono quindi obbligatori per tutti, indipendentemente dal tipo di specializzazione (B) scelto dallo studente. La struttura del corso di laurea è, schematicamente, la seguente: Laurea specialistica in italiano (120 crediti, 1200-1260 ore)
A) Corsi di base (30 crediti) 1. Iniziazione teorica (6 crediti, 60 ore) 2. Modulo di base (24 crediti, 300 ore)
B) Corsi differenziati (70 crediti) 1. Specializzazione a scelta (50 crediti, 600 ore) 2. Corsi a scelta libera (20 crediti, 240-300 ore)
C) Tesi di laurea (20 crediti)
In the specialised degree course in Italian, the students can choose, according to what they are interested in, between two types of specialisation. The basic courses (A) are the same for everyone, and they are worth 30 credits. These courses are obligatory for all the students, independently of the type of specialization (B) chosen by them. The structure of the degree course, schematically, is the following: Specialised degree in Italian (120 credits, 1200-1260 lessons)
A) Basic courses (30 credits) 1. Theoretical introduction (6 credits, 60 lessons) 2. Basic modul (24 credits, 300 lessons)
B) Differentiated courses (70 credits) 1. Chosen specialisation (50 credits, 600 lessons) 2. Freely chosen courses (20 credits, 240-300 lessons)
C) Thesis (20 credits)
Find the detailed structure of the program on the webpage of the Faculty.