Location: Palazzo Corigliano
Coordinator: Flavia Aiello
Admission: Open.
Language of instruction: Italian
How to apply: Requirements and admission procedures
> Notices from the coordinator: visit the notices section on Unifind
Course Overview
The Italian second-cycle degree program in Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa is a two-year program which belongs to Degree Class LM-36. To obtain the degree, students must earn 120 ECTS credits.
The program is structured into two curricula:
- Curriculum 1 – Lingue e letterature
- Curriculum 2 – Storia e civiltà
- Curriculum 3 – Humanities of Contemporary Africa and Asia
The degree program stands out for its well-structured academic organization and wide range of courses focusing on the languages and cultures of Asian and African countries. It is strongly characterized by a linguistic-literary and historical-cultural focus, offering students the opportunity to earn a highly specialized and competitive qualification.
Its primary objective is to provide solid linguistic skills and in-depth knowledge of Asian and African civilizations in their complex variety, across fields such as literature, history, religion, philosophy, institutions, and archaeology, all studied in their historical evolution from antiquity to the modern and contemporary periods.
The academic pathway allows students to refine their knowledge of one Asian or African language and its literature, while gaining a broad and in-depth understanding of its cultural reality. Depending on the curriculum, students will either acquire an additional Asian or African language (Curriculum 1), or broaden their humanistic knowledge with a focus on history, philosophy, and the arts within their selected cultural area (Curriculum 2).
They will also become familiar with methods for the analysis and description of non-European languages, as well as their philology, history, and culture, and their practical applications in the professional and business sectors at both national and international levels.
The program’s strong international profile is supported by numerous cooperation and exchange agreements with foreign universities, which allow students to carry out study and research abroad while strengthening their linguistic skills. This is fully in line with the University’s international character, rooted in its scientific and cultural orientation and marked by a distinctly global perspective.
For more detailed information, visit the Course Catalog
Discover the course
The program aims to:
•develop strong proficiency in one or more Asian or African languages;
•provide in-depth knowledge of related civilizations, including their literature, history, religion, philosophy, institutions, and archaeology;
•encourage critical understanding of these cultures from ancient to contemporary times.
Depending on the chosen curriculum, students will:
•study a second Asian or African language (Curriculum MAA/1);
•gain interdisciplinary humanistic knowledge in their selected cultural area (Curriculum MAA/2);
•gain advanced understanding of cultural and historical processes with a focus on contemporary times, taught primarily in English (Curriculum MAA/3).
Students will also acquire theoretical and practical tools for:
•analyzing and describing non-European languages;
•translation and philological studies;
•applying cultural knowledge in national and international professional contexts.
International Opportunities
The program benefits from a wide network of international partnerships and exchange agreements with foreign universities. Students are encouraged to spend a period abroad to further improve their linguistic and academic skills. The international profile of the program is further enhanced by Curriculum MAA/3, mainly taught in English.
Students can choose among three curricula:
•Curriculum MAA/1 – Lingue e letterature
•Curriculum MAA/2 – Storia e civiltà
•Curriculum MAA/3 – Humanities of Contemporary Africa and Asia
This Master’s Program offers a rich and diverse academic experience, combining advanced linguistic training with deep cultural and historical studies of Asian and African societies. It stands out for its broad range of language and culture courses, designed to provide a competitive and highly specialized qualification.
Curriculum MAA/1 – Lingue e letterature
Curriculum MAA/2 – Storia e civiltà
Curriculum MAA/3 – Humanities of Contemporary Africa and Asia
Career opportunities available to graduates of the Master’s Degree Programme in Asian and African Languages and Cultures include:
- high-level translators in the publishing sector;
- editors and editorial staff for publishing houses and news agencies;
- proofreaders and revisers of literary, technical and advertising texts;
- linguistic and cultural experts working for Italian cultural institutions and organisations abroad, government institutions, and international cooperation bodies;
- area specialists within internationally oriented commercial and industrial companies;
- business and trade mediators in the import-export sector;
- linguistic and cultural mediators working for governmental and non-governmental organisations;
- linguistic and cultural consultants in museums, libraries, tourism businesses, and organisations involved in the promotion of cultural events.
The programme also provides an appropriate academic foundation for pursuing further studies through PhD programmes and second-level Master’s degrees, both in Italy and abroad.
The course also provides the preparation for admission to teacher training programmes for school teaching.
Requirements and access procedures
Admission to the Second-Cycle Degree (i.e. Laurea Magistrale/Master Degree) program in Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa requires a Bachelor's degree, a three-year university diploma, a four-year degree or another equivalent Second-Cycle degree or a foreign qualification recognized as suitable.
Four-year degrees from the old system, three-year university diplomas and foreign qualifications recognized as suitable will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. For detailed information, please consult the webpage on Admission Procedures.
Study plans and course organization
Everything you need to know about the course structure, rules and study plans.
Teaching and Training Activities
This section helps you organize your university career in the best possible way. Here you can consult class schedules, exam dates, and practical course activities. You will also find information on other educational activities, workshops, internships, and tutoring services designed to accompany you step by step throughout your studies and help you build a well-rounded experience, both in the classroom and in the working world.
Training activities, workshops, internships and work placements
You will also find information on other training activities, workshops and internships, to build a complete experience that integrates the classroom and the world of work.
Study support and guidance
Services to support learning and active participation
Support, assistance and suggestions
This section contains all the information you need about student support offices and services.
✉️ If you have any suggestions, please write to maa-segnalazioni@unior.it
Quality and transparency
Tools for learning about how the course works and how it is assessed.