The programme has limited access with 170 places available in total. More specifically, 

• 150 places are reserved for students with an Italian degree qualification, EU applicants and non-EU applicants residing in Italy or an EU country with a foreign degree qualification;
• 20 places are reserved for non-EU students living in non-EU countries and applying for a visa.

As regards the call for applications for 150 places, the entrance requirements differ according to whether the degree qualification is an Italian or a foreign one, as described below. 

APPLICANTS WITH AN ITALIAN DEGREE QUALIFICATION MUST:

1. hold a Bachelor’s Degree (first-level degree) in the following classes: L-11, L-12, L-15, L-16, L-18, L-20, L-36, L-37 (D.M. 270/04); or classes 11, 3, 39, 19, 17,14, 15, 35 (M.D. 509/99); or a language university degree before MD 509/99 

2. have obtained, by the date on which the application for admission is submitted:

• at least 20 CFUs (university credits) in the scientific disciplinary sectors related to foreign languages, corresponding to Italian SSDs (L-LIN/04, L-LIN/07, L-LIN/12, L-LIN/14) 

and additional 

• 34 CFUs in the following SSDs: L-LIN/01, L-LIN/03, L-LIN/05, L-LIN/06, L-LIN/10, L-LIN/11, L-LIN/13, L-FIL-LET/12, M-FIL/01, M-FIL/05, M-GGR/02, M-STO/04, SECS-P/01, SECS-P/02, SECS-P/07, SECS-P/08, IUS/02, IUS/13. If the degree programme belongs to the old system (prior to MD 509/99), the examinations taken by the applicants must be related to the scientific disciplinary sectors indicated above. 

3. As the programme is in English, applicants are required to have at least a B2 level of English when submitting their application for admission, regardless of the two languages of study they have chosen. 

If not clearly indicated among the courses in their university career, their English level may be proven by 

• an international language certificate 

or 

• a certificate issued by the applicant’s home University. In this case, it is necessary to contact the University Language Centre, a lecturer of English language or the Director of the degree programme and ask for a signed declaration, written on headed letter confirming the level of language competence achieved, which should be attached to the application. 

A list of the main international certificates recognised by UNIMORE is available at the following link: 

https://www.cla.unimore.it/site/home/certificazioni.html

Applicants are NOT eligible if: 

• their degree classes are different from the ones listed above; 
• they do not hold the CFUs indicated (or not related to the CFUs indicated) by the date on which the application is submitted;
• they do not provide certification of at least a B2 level of English by the date on which the application is submitted, if the level is not indicated in their university career. 

APPLICANTS WITH FOREIGN DEGREE QUALIFICATION MUST:

1. hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Modern language studies, Economics and marketing, Communication studies, International relations and political studies, Business administration or Tourism management;

2. demonstrate that: 

• they have taken foreign language exams (French, English, Spanish, or German) in their previous university studies, and exams in the field of linguistics, economics, and law; 
• they have at least a B2 level of English proven by an international language certificate or, alternatively, a certificate issued by their home University (Language Centre, a lecturer of English language or the Director of the degree programme), confirming the level of language competence achieved, unless the level is indicated in the applicants’ university career, regardless of the two foreign languages chosen. 

A list of the main international language certificates recognised by UNIMORE is available at the following link: https://www.cla.unimore.it/site/home/certificazioni.html

Italian, EU and non-EU applicants residing in Italy or in EU countries, who possess the entrance requirements described above, have to take an entrance test in the two foreign languages indicated by the applicant in the application form (chosen between English, French, German, and Spanish), that will be studied during the course.

NON-EU APPLICANTS LIVING IN NON-EU COUNTRIES AND APPLYING FOR A VISA

As regards the call for applications for 20 places (non-EU applicants living in non-EU countries and applying for a visa), the entrance requirements are the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in Modern language studies, Economics and marketing, Communication studies, International relations and political studies, Business administration or Tourism management; 
• adequate knowledge of the two foreign languages applicants intend to study as first- and second-language chosen  between English, French, Spanish and German; 
• at least a B2 level in English, as certified by an international language certificate or, alternatively, a certificate issued by applicants’ home University, unless it is indicated in the list of their university exams.

Non-EU applicants living in non-EU countries who meet the entrance requirements described above, are not required to do an entrance test.

Applicants with an Italian degree qualification and those with a foreign degree qualification who have satisfied the requirements have to take an in-person entrance test in the two foreign languages indicated in the application for admission (chosen between English, French, German, and Spanish).

The entrance test is taken electronically. The test lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes in total. The maximum time for the completion of each test in the two chosen foreign languages (English, French, German, and Spanish) is 75 minutes. Once the test in one language has been completed, then the test in the second language chosen follows. 

The test consists of 60 multiple-choice questions for each of the languages selected. It is divided into 3 parts: 

1) lexical and grammar exercises (20 points) 

2) reading comprehension exercises (10 points) 

3) cloze-type exercises (30 points) 

TOTAL 60 points 

The score is assigned as follows: 

1 point for each correct answer 

0 points for each answer not provided 

a penalty of 0.25 points for each wrong answer

The ranking is drawn up according to the final score which is the sum of the scores obtained in each test and is expressed in a 120-point scale. The maximum score for each test is 60/60 whereas the minimum score to pass each test is 24/60. Applicants must obtain a minimum score of 24/60 in both language tests.

If two or more candidates have the same total number of points, priority will be given to the candidate who, respectively: 

• has obtained a higher score in the cloze-type exercises (taking into account the sum of the cloze-type exercise results in both languages); 
• has obtained a higher score in the lexical and grammar exercises (taking into account the sum of the lexical and grammar exercise results in both languages); 
• has obtained a higher score in the reading comprehension exercises (taking into account the sum of the reading comprehension exercise results in both languages); 
• is younger. 

MA’s degree programme in LACOM

I year

II year

Students cannot take the exam English/French/Spanish/German Specialised Communication and Translation in the second year, until they have passed the first-year exam Intercultural Communication and Language Variation – English/French/Spanish/German Language.

Exams taken as part of the Erasmus+ Program are not subject to prerequisite rules. A course is considered as a prerequisite when it must be taken before another (e.g., first-year language courses are prerequisites for second-year courses).

In the second year of the course, students must pass the LCL (Language Proficiency Level) tests: C2 for the first language and C1 for the second language. Those who have an international certification of the same level are exempt. A list of international certificates is available at the University Language Centre webpage.

Italian as a foreign language: a course reserved for international students.

Credits for elective courses 9 cfu can be covered by exams offered by both undergraduate and master’s degree programmes from all the Departments of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, subject to the approval by the Professor teaching the course. 

It is possible to take an exam worth 9 credits (or more, with any excess being considered as extra credits). If an exam worth fewer than 9 credits is chosen, it must be at least 6 credits.

The remaining credits can be completed through:

• an additional exam worth 3 credits or an exam worth more than 3 credits (with any excess considered as extra credits);
• an extended internship (maximum 3 credits - 75 hours) see other activities below;
• participation in a series of seminars organised by the department/university (maximum 3 credits);
• C2 language proficiency (3 credits) in the second-language chosen.

Students are not allowed to take exams at the Marco Biagi Department of Economics in the following courses:

• first-year courses in undergraduate degree programmes;
• foreign language courses;
• Computer science courses in the scientific-disciplinary sectors INF/01 and ING/INF-05;
• International economics course (3rd year course in CLEF and CLEMI);
• Ethics and corporate social responsibility exam (3rd year course in CLEAM).

This is because of the high number of students attending these courses.

Other activities 8 cfu

Students must complete an internship of at least 125 hours equivalent to 5 credits. The additional 3 credits can be completed through:

• seminars offered in the course curriculum such as “Seminar on administrative writing in Italian”; “Seminar on (digital) environment and human Rights”;
• participation in a series of seminars organised by the Department / University (maximum 3 credits);
• C2 language proficiency in the second-language chosen; 
• credits obtained through Erasmus+ mobility for attending courses and/or excess credits for attending courses.

However, it is strongly recommend to complete an internship worth 8 credits (200 hours). It is also possible to extend the internship of further 75 hours to obtain 3 credits as elective courses.   

Studying abroad with Erasmus+ enables students at higher education institutions to spend a period of study abroad from a minimum of 3 months to a maximum of 12 months. Students have the chance to:

• attend courses (one or two semesters),
• work on their dissertation.

Students may be awarded an Erasmus+ grant to cover travel and living expenses incurred in connection with their study period abroad.

Prior to their departure Erasmus+ students are provided with:

• a grant agreement covering the mobility period and signed by the student and his or her sending higher education institution;
• a “Learning Agreement” setting out the programme of studies to be followed, as approved by the student, the sending and the receiving institution;
• the “Erasmus+ Student Charter” setting out the student’s rights and obligations with respect to his or her period of study abroad.

At the end of the period abroad:

• the receiving institution must provide the student and his or her sending institution with a transcript of records confirming that the agreed programme has been completed and confirming the results;
• the sending institution must give full academic recognition for satisfactorily completed activities during the mobility period as agreed in the Learning Agreement, by using credits or an equivalent system. 
• Erasmus+ students – regardless of whether  they receive an Erasmus+ EU grant – are exempt from paying fees for tuition, registration, examinations and access to laboratory and library facilities at the host institution

The internship is formally part of the degree programme. Students are required to take an internship of at least 125 hours corresponding to 5 credits. The course has set up agreements with several enterprises.

How it works

• Working hours depend on the needs of the enterprise.
• The University will cover all insurance expenses.
• Generally internships are not paid, but the enterprise might agree to cover some expenses such as transport and meals.
• Contact the Department Placement Office (Ufficio Stage/Tirocinio: stage.dslc@unimore.it) of the Department of Studies on Language and Culture in order to choose a suitable enterprise. 

Internships can also be carried out abroad; students interested in undertaking an internship abroad must follow the procedure outlined below:

1. Identify a company/institution willing to host the internship, possibly using the contacts available through the Department.
2. Ask the company to send a letter of acceptance.
3. Identify and contact the Department’s member who will act as the academic supervisor.
4. Contact the Department Placement Office (stage.dslc@unimore.it) for the necessary steps to formalise the agreement and the training project.

At the end of the internship, students must send the attendance record and the internship form to their academic supervisor via email. The academic supervisor will then complete the form and send it to the Department Board for validation. 

Internships can also be undertaken abroad as part of the Erasmus+ for Traineeship mobility programme. Students must submit an application to take part in the programme. The traineeship period may last between 2 and 12 continuous months, depending on what is agreed with the host company/institution.

During the selection process for the Erasmus+ for Traineeship programme, the Department Internationalisation Committee considers the possession of a company’s letter of acceptance as a preferential criterion. 

The Committee also evaluates the effort put into finding the company, the student’s motivation, and academic curriculum, assigning the following percentage values to each criterion: 

• possession of the company’s letter of acceptance – 30%
• motivation and objectives – Max 20%
• feasibility analysis of the professional mobility project – if already defined – Max 15%
• evaluation of the academic career/CV – Max 15%
• language proficiency – Max 10%
• previous experiences abroad – Max 10%

The Committee also gives priority to students in the final year of their courses, taking into account the credits earned, and to candidates who have not previously undertaken another internship with credit recognition.

Selection is carried out through the completion of a questionnaire. Failure to complete the questionnaire within the specified time will result in exclusion from the selection procedure. Eligible students listed in the ranking have Erasmus+ student status. Those awarded a scholarship also receive financial support.

Students are responsible for finding a company. They can use contacts available from the Department or contact the Europe Direct service of the Municipality of Modena.

Any public or private organisation active in the labor market or in the field of education, training, and research is eligible.

The following organisations are not eligible: EU institutions and other EU bodies, including specialised agencies; organisations managing EU programmes, such as Erasmus+ national agencies.

In case of any doubts, contact the International Relations Office to assess the eligibility of the company.

Students awarded the Erasmus+ for Traineeship grant/status must:

• identify a company willing to host the internship, make arrangements with them, and ask the company to send a letter of acceptance according to the template attached to the call for applications (if not already provided during the application phase);
• complete, in agreement with the company, the learning agreement provided by the International Relations Office; sign it, obtain the company’s signature, and send it to Dr. Francesca Bergamini, who is responsible for the Department International Office. 
• contact Prof. Donatella Malavasi, who will act as the scientific tutor.

Contact the Department Placement Office (stage.dslc@unimore.it) for further information. At the end of the internship, students must send the attendance sheet and the final internship report to the scientific tutor via email (with the subject “for the Committee”); the scientific tutor will complete the internship form with credits and signature, then forward it to the Department Committee for validation.

The first- and second-year core language courses offered in the degree programme (Intercultural communication and language variation – English/French/Spanish/German language; English/French/Spanish/German specialised communication and translation) are supplemented by activities to improve communication skills in English/French/Spanish/German, organised in small groups and run by foreign language instructors teaching at the University Language Centre (CLA). Preparatory language courses (‘Lettorati’) are annual courses which give students the chance to practice reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in various languages in compliance with CEFR proficiency levels. See the Guidelines for more information on preparatory language courses.

At the end of the first-year ‘lettorato’ course, students  must sign up to the language instructor’s exam (prova di lettorato) on Esse3, to enable the registration of the language instructor’s assessment from the course. This procedure is required for both attending students, who will have completed in-course assessment, and non-attending (‘prova sommativa’).

At the end of the second-year ‘lettorato’ course and before concluding the degree programme, students must take the Language Competence Level (LCL) test. More specifically, they must obtain a C2 level in their first-language choice and a C1 level in their second-language choice. 

Students who have international language certificates (C1 level as second-language and C2 level as first language are exempt from taking Language Competence Level (LCL) tests. For further details, see the CLA website

See the CLA Moodle page for mock exams and further details on LCL tests.

Characteristics of the dissertation

The dissertation consists in the writing of a paper in a foreign language of the student’s choice, focused either on the analysis of experiences during an internship, or on a topic related to a field chosen by the student, after consulting with his/her supervisor and co-supervisor. The student will collect empirical data, as well as review state-of-the-art literature on the topic and carry out an original and critical analysis of it.

Defence of the dissertation

The defence of the dissertation will last approximately 15-20 minutes and it will concern the content of the written dissertation prepared by the student under the guidance of a supervising professor and a co-supervisor.

The viva can be in one of the foreign languages studied. It will highlight:

• the ability of the student to apply the acquired knowledge, by critically and appropriately selecting and interpreting the data and the topics analysed;
• the ability to discuss coherently and cohesively.

The Examining Committee for the dissertation is composed of at  least five members. The methods and criteria for assessment are:

• an adequate bibliography;
• ability to select and interpret data;
• relevance of the arguments brought to support the thesis;
• ability to organise concepts and ideas autonomously and critically, by formulating individual and original comments on the topics.

Regulation for the assignment of the dissertation supervisor and co-supervisor

A Committee will nominate a dissertation supervisor and co-supervisor to each student who has submitted the application form by pre-established dates. The assignment is based on the student’s interests, his/her study plan and the exams taken.

Students can choose from 5 graduation sessions during the academic year. They are allowed to apply for the assignment of a supervisor and co-supervisor only if they have obtained 57 credits (those who wish to graduate in the July session of the 2nd year), 60 credits in the October and December sessions, and 66 credits in the February and April sessions. Once the said credits have been obtained, each student must submit an application to the Committee ONLY in the periods indicated below at the following email address: domandetesilacom@unimore.it 

The Committee will collect the student’s self-certification on the following deadlines (5 dates each calendar year). The Committee will collect and nominate a supervisor and co-supervisor as follows:

Students will be informed about their supervisor and co-supervisor as follows:

Application for supervisor/co-supervisor assignment

The application that each student must submit to the Committee must contain:

• First name, family name, student matriculation number, e-mail;
• Session in which the student intends to graduate;
• Self-certification of the exams taken, downloaded from the student’s Esse3 personal profile, under the section “Certificates”;
• Study plan, also including the exams taken as elective courses;
• Languages studied (including a third, if applicable);
• Indication of the 3 macro-areas (economic, legal, linguistic) in order of preference;
• For the linguistic macro-area, the indication of 3 languages in order of preference (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese);
• Indication of 2-3 topics of interest for each macro-area so that the Committee is able to nominate a supervisor and co-supervisor appropriately. 

After the application has been submitted, the Committee will assign a supervisor and co-supervisor to the student. The assignment of supervisor and co-supervisor will be notified via the MOODLE platform as soon as the procedures have been completed.

The student must then proceed to:

• contact the supervisor and co-supervisor within 15 days to better define the field of study and the topic of the dissertation;
• fill in the graduation application form and submit it to the Director of the Degree Course at least 5 months before the session in which the student intends to graduate;
• upload an almost complete version of the dissertation on the MoReThesis platform at least 21 days before the graduation session. This file must already contain all the chapters of the dissertation (although they can be revised), whereas the content table, abstracts, introduction, conclusions, bibliography can be added up to three days prior to the graduation. 

The dissertations will be assigned to supervisors in such a way as to guarantee a fair and equal distribution among the professors for each graduation session. Whenever a student expresses a preference for disciplines in which the professors have already reached the maximum number of supervised dissertations, the Committee is entitled to assign a supervisor covering other disciplines included in the student’s study plan. The Committee keeps track of the number of students assigned to each professor for each academic year and the graduation procedure should be concluded by the session after the one initially chosen by the student. Students can submit a new application if they have not discussed the dissertation during this time frame.

Writing style

Please note that the length of the dissertation should not be less than 200,000 words (including footnotes and bibliography). Here are some characteristics:

• Times New Roman font;
• Font size: 12 points;
• Line spacing: not exceeding 1.5;
• Page size: A4;
• Margins: not less than 2 and not more than 3cm;
• Except for dissertations in the field of Italian linguistics, all dissertations must be written in a foreign language chosen among the ones studied during the degree programme.