skip to content

Postgraduate Study

Expected Academic Standard

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Masters (Distinction).

If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.

In addition to a distinction or equivalent at master's level, applicants are expected to hold a strong honours degree in a relevant field, with clear evidence of research potential.

Doctoral research for PhD programmes in French, German, Italian, Polish/Russian/Ukrainian and Spanish/Portuguese requires the study of material in the original language. Consequently, applicants must have an honours degree in that language, or be native speakers of that language, or be able to produce evidence of a reading knowledge of it equivalent to level C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference of Languages (CEFR).[1] [2] [3] This evidence must be provided either on the application form or via a supporting document (a certificate or a statement in an academic reference) at the time of submitting the application.

[1] The Slavonic Section permits applicants with knowledge of one Slavonic language, but who are interested in pursuing research that will require knowledge of another Slavonic language, to take on the study of the second language/s while in Cambridge. The Slavonic Section also permits applicants who, short of a good reading knowledge of a Slavonic language, nevertheless have a clear plan to acquire this as part of the training requirements of the PhD. Evidence must be provided at the time of submitting the application, while training requirements and needs would be discussed at the admission interview.

[2] The Italian Section permits applicants who, short of a good reading knowledge of Italian, nevertheless have a clear plan to acquire this as part of the training requirements of the PhD. Evidence must be provided at the time of submitting the application, while training requirements and needs would be discussed at the admission interview.

[3] The above language requirements do not apply to the separate PhD programme in Film.

University Minimum Academic Requirements


Language Requirement

IELTS (Academic)

Element Score
Listening 7.0
Writing 7.0
Reading 7.0
Speaking 7.0
Total 7.5

TOEFL Internet Score

Element Score
Listening 25
Writing 25
Reading 25
Speaking 25
Total 110

CAE

Score: Grade A & B (overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185 plus a Language Centre assessment)

CPE

Score: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 with no element lower than 185).


Visa Information

No ATAS required

What Is An ATAS?


Apply Now

Key Information


3-4 years full-time

4-7 years part-time

Study Mode : Research

Doctor of Philosophy

Department of Italian This course is advertised in multiple departments. Please see the Overview tab for more details.

Course - related enquiries

Application - related enquiries

Course on Department Website

Dates and deadlines:

Applications open
Sept. 15, 2022
Application deadline
Oct. 4, 2023
Course Starts
Jan. 5, 2024

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Michaelmas 2024

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2023
Application deadline
May 16, 2024
Course Starts
Oct. 1, 2024

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2023
Application deadline
Oct. 2, 2024
Course Starts
Jan. 5, 2025

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Course Funding Deadline
Dec. 5, 2023
Gates Cambridge US round only
Oct. 11, 2023

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.