I’ve been really passionate about the Italian language and culture for as long as I can remember. So, I knew straight away that I wanted to study Italian. I decided to study at the University of Mannheim because of its prestigious reputation and its international focus. I also liked the interdisciplinary nature of the program – it enables me to combine the Humanities with Business Administration and Economics. In addition to the excellent quality of the program, I also liked how teachers and students share ideas. The atmosphere on campus was inspiring and motivating!
Program facts and information
Degree: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Standard period of study: 6 semesters (3 years)
ECTS credits: at least 180
(approx. 120 in the core subject, approx. 60 in the specialist subject)Language of instruction: Italian, German and English
Language requirements: Proficiency in Italian is recommended (but may be proven at a later date). You can attend preparatory language courses at the Department of Romance Languages during your studies. If you are not a German citizen or do not have a German university entrance qualification (Abitur or equivalent school leaving certificate), you must prove German language proficiency at C1 level.
Program start: Fall semester (September)
Academic calendarSchool: School of Humanities
Semester fee: EUR 169 (more information)
Tuition fees for international students from non-EU countries: EUR 1,500
Tuition fees for a second degree: EUR 650Program overview
The Bachelor of Arts program in Culture and Economy is a program combining subjects and subject cultures, which are usually studied separately: a cultural studies major from the School of Humanities and an economics combination major. A connection is created, for example, by language practice courses with a focus on economics.
The core subject, Italian Studies, teaches students about Italian literature, culture and language. In literary studies, you will study texts of all genres, such as novels, novellas or plays. In the field of cultural studies, you will learn about the cultural history of Italy and analyze, for example, films, music, advertisements, and articles. It also covers topics related to Europe, migration, and economic and crisis discourses. In the linguistic part of the program, you will cover the basics of linguistics (including the theories and methods of language acquisition, language development, and multilingualism) and take practical language courses, in which you will develop your language skills to a very high level. You can complement your studies by taking courses in Business Italian or seminars on intercultural communication.
You can choose between business administration and economics as specialist subjects. If you choose business administration, you attend basic courses in finance, marketing, management, business informatics, accounting, and production. The University of Mannheim also focuses on courses in business and corporate ethics. In economics, students will acquire knowledge in the areas of analysis, statistics, microeconomics, and macroeconomics, in addition to the fundamentals of economics. Economic history is another special area of study.
Why study Culture and Economy: Italian Studies at the University of Mannheim?
The bachelor's program in Culture and Economy: Italian Studies combines specialized knowledge of Italian linguistics, literary, cultural and media studies with a solid understanding of economics or business administration. This combination of aspects to form one degree program is unique in Germany. As such, graduates of the program, with their knowledge of the humanities and business administration or economics, are particularly sought-after on the labor market.
Romance Studies at the University of Mannheim have an excellent reputation and achieve very good positions in the current CHE university ranking in the categories “study organization” and “support for first-year students”.
With 450 partner universities, and students from 100 countries, Mannheim is one of the most international universities in the country, and provides students with an inspiring learning environment that facilitates excellent teaching and research.
Career opportunities
Graduates of the program know and understand economic concepts and processes, and are therefore particularly in demand in roles that combine communication, economics, and business administration. They work, for example, as project managers in PR agencies, in business consultancy, marketing or in sales.
The combination of language and business gives you the opportunity to work in international cultural organizations, foreign representative offices, language schools or in translation management and the tourism industry, as well as in the business areas of communication and international management.
An academic career in the fields of linguistics, literature, cultural studies or economics is also possible afterwards.Required interests and skills
- be interested in Italian language and culture,
- ideally, have a good level of proficiency in Italian at the start of the program,
- be very proficient in German and have good English language skills,
- be capable of critical thinking and like discussing topics,
- like giving presentations,
- enjoy reading and writing,
- have an academic interest in the subjects (methods/theories).
To study Economics as your combination major, you should have very good mathematical skills and find statistics and politics interesting. To study Business Administration as your combination major, you should find marketing, management, and business ethics fascinating and have good mathematical skills. You should also be able to learn and apply course content quickly.
Program structure
Module catalog
You can find further details on how the program is structured in the module catalog.Studying abroad
The University of Mannheim is part of a global network. The School of Humanities is partners with over 150 universities worldwide. Our team for international affairs will support you in planning a stay abroad. We recommend that students go abroad during the fourth or fifth subject-specific semester, but it is possible to make individual arrangements. Studying abroad is optional, and is encouraged by the School.Internships
A six-week internship in Germany or abroad is integrated into the program of study. Information and contact persons for all questions relating to internships and career entry can be found on the website of the School of Humanities.Continuing Education
Certificate programs
Strengthen your potential, deepen your knowledge, find solutions for challenges we will face tomorrow – there are many good reasons to think outside the box, get to know and try out new things even during your studies.At the University of Mannheim, you can do this in the “Studium Oecologicum” which focuses on sustainability. In our certificate program, you will acquire interdisciplinary expert knowledge which can help you to act ethically and to make holistic decisions.
Language courses
Making language learning easier: No matter if you want to learn Japanese, Hebrew, Spanish or Norwegian, take the Graduate Record Examination Test (GRE), The European Language Certificates (telc) or the TOEFL test – each semester, the University of Mannheim offers language courses and language certificates in more than 16 languages for students and non-university members, online and on campus!Further study
The following degree programs are partly or fully available in English:
Mannheim Master in Management (M.Sc.)
Master’s program in Economics (M.Sc.) if you completed the module on economics (Vertiefung Volkswirtschaftslehre) during the bachelor's program (see selection statutes)
The following degree programs are (mainly) taught in German:
Master’s program in Culture and Economy (M.A.)
Master’s program in Language and Communication (M.A.)
Master’s program in Literature, Media and Culture in the Modern Era (M.A.)
Application and selection
At the University of Mannheim, a traditional numerus clausus (within the meaning of a minimum grade required for admission) does not exist. In our selection process, we take numerous criteria into account. For more details, please check the selection statutes (see below). Be bold! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need advice. We are looking forward to receiving your application!
In our selection process for the Bachelor's Program in Culture and Economy: Italian Studies, we take the following criteria into account:
- the grade average achieved in your university entrance qualification,
- the grades achieved in Mathematics and your best foreign language,
- relevant work experience and extracurricular qualifications and activities.
German language proficiency
If you are not a German citizen or do not have a German university entrance qualification (Abitur or equivalent school leaving certificate), you must prove German language proficiency at C1 level.Selection statutes
Under “Application and selection” we have compiled the most important selection criteria of the program for you. For more detailed explanations of the selection process and the legally binding requirements of the degree program, please refer to the selection statutes.If the program of study is currently not selective, you will receive a study place if you fulfill all admission requirements and apply in due time and form.
Application
- The application deadline for our bachelor's programs for the fall semesters starts on 1 June and ends on 15 July.
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