Master in European, American and Postcolonial Languages and Literatures at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Two-year LM-37-R master at Ca' Foscari in Venice with English-taught English Studies and American Studies paths in literature, cultural studies and English language and translation. Entry needs 48 credits in English and related fields and English at B2.
Master
2 years
Venice
Multiple
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
European, American and Postcolonial Languages and Literatures is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-37-R) at Ca' Foscari University of Venice, with English Studies and American Studies paths taught in English. Entry needs a bachelor's with 48 credits in English language, literature and related fields, English at B2 and, under the provisional 2027/28 rules, a CGPA of 80%. There is no entrance test.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
Ca' Foscari's European, American and Postcolonial Languages and Literatures master, on its English Studies and American Studies paths, asks for a bachelor's degree of at least three years with at least 48 CFU in English language, literature and related fields, English at B2 by enrolment, and a positive review of your CV by the Teaching Committee. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and the 48-credit rule
You need a bachelor's degree of at least three years. For the English Studies and American Studies paths, your degree must include at least 48 CFU in three groups: [1][2]
- 12 CFU in linguistics and related fields: general linguistics (L-LIN/01), language teaching (L-LIN/02), German, Romance or Slavic philology (L-FIL-LET/15, L-FIL-LET/09, L-LIN/21), Italian literature (L-FIL-LET/10 and 11), literary criticism and comparative literature (L-FIL-LET/14), or modern and contemporary history (M-STO/02 and 04). Extra credits in English or American literature and culture can count instead.
- 24 CFU in English language: English language (L-LIN/12) or Anglo-American language (L-LIN/11), counted interchangeably. Under L-LIN/11, only language exams count.
- 12 CFU in literature: English literature (L-LIN/10) or Anglo-American literature (L-LIN/11), with at least 6 in the area of your path, English literature for English Studies or American literature for American Studies. Under L-LIN/11, only literature exams count.
Where a course title does not show whether it is language or literature, the committee reads the syllabus. Missing credits must be made up before enrolment, only through bachelor's-level single courses at Ca' Foscari or another accredited institution. [1]
The provisional 2027/28 rules for applicants with an international qualification also ask for a CGPA of at least 80%. Without a numerical grading scale, your grades are converted proportionally to a percentage. [2]
Ca' Foscari's country rules for master's entry include: [4]
- India: a three-year honours bachelor's, a four-year professional bachelor's, or a pass or general bachelor's plus a postgraduate bachelor's or two-year master's.
- Pakistan: a three-year honours bachelor's, a four-year professional bachelor's, or a two-year pass bachelor's plus a two-year postgraduate bachelor's.
- Bangladesh: a three-year honours or four-year bachelor's, or a two-year pass bachelor's plus a two-year master's.
- Sri Lanka: a bachelor's of at least four years (honours or special degree).
- UK: a three-year honours bachelor's with at least an upper second-class (2:1) result.
Transcripts for all years of the degree are required. [4]
What this means for your transcript
Italian CFU and the credits on a foreign transcript are not the same unit, and the Teaching Committee looks at the subjects of your exams, not just your total. As a guide, based on the rule above:
- Usually a fit: a BA (Honours) in English, or in English language and literature, with English language or translation units alongside English or American literature and some linguistics or history.
- Check carefully: a BA in English literature with few language units, a BA in modern languages or linguistics, or a BA with English as one of several subjects, which can fall short of the 24 English language credits.
- Often short: a B.Tech, B.E., B.Sc., BCA, B.Com or BBA, which usually has only a general English paper and no literature or linguistics credits in these sectors.
The 24 credits must come from English language units, so a literature-only programme can fall short. Missing credits can only be cleared through single courses before you enrol, so we check your transcript against each group first. [1]
English and your specialisation language
English at CEFR level B2 is mandatory for enrolment. You can apply before you have a certificate, but you cannot enrol unless you meet the requirement by the enrolment deadline. Ca' Foscari does not test English during the application. [1][2]
Your specialisation language must be at a level comparable to B2 to C1, which the Teaching Committee assesses from your CV and language certificates. Because advanced English is essential, the portal encourages you to upload evidence such as a C1 or C2 certificate or time spent in English-speaking countries. [1][2]
Ca' Foscari's recognised B2 list includes IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72 (or 4 on the new scale for tests taken from 21 January 2026), PTE Academic 59, Cambridge First (FCE) and Trinity ISE II, taken within the last five years. Some applicants fall into an exemption category instead. [9]
Personal preparation and oral exam
Admission is open, with no entrance test, but the Teaching Committee must confirm your personal preparation. [1][3] Graduates of the Italian classes L-11 (modern languages) or L-12 (linguistic mediation) with at least 90/110 are normally considered prepared. Other applicants are assessed through their CV, and the committee may hold an additional interview. [1]
For applicants with an international qualification, the committee evaluates your transcript and CV and may schedule an oral exam if you meet the curricular requirements. [2]
2026/27 deadlines
For 2026/27, Ca' Foscari began accepting applications on 17 December 2025, in rounds set by citizenship, and the window for non-EU applicants who need a visa has now closed. Master's applicants could expect an answer about eight weeks after their round closed. [4][5]
Universitaly pre-enrolment for visa applicants closed on 30 September 2026, and the final enrolment deadline is 18 December 2026. [6] The 2027/28 admission rules on the portal are provisional, and the next rounds set the new dates. [2]
Documents and non-EU steps
You apply on Ca' Foscari's application portal, and one application covers up to two programmes ranked by preference. You upload transcripts for all years of your bachelor's, or a provisional transcript if you are in your final year, your CV and a motivation letter written for this programme. Documents must be in English or Italian, or come with a professional translation. [2][4]
After the letter of enrolment eligibility come Universitaly pre-enrolment and the study visa. To enrol, you upload your study visa, your bachelor's diploma and transcript with translations where needed, your English certificate, and one of these: a CIMEA Statement of Comparability, a declaration of value from the Italian diplomatic mission, an ARDI Statement of Correspondence with a CIMEA Statement of Verification, or a Diploma Supplement from a university in the European Higher Education Area. [6]
Sources and verification
Checked by the ApplyAZ admissions team against the university's official documents listed below. Entry rules can change with each new call, and we re-check them before every application.
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice. European, American and Postcolonial Languages and Literatures admission and enrolment page (minimum curricular requirements, personal preparation and English requirement), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Welcome Unit. MA European, American and Postcolonial Languages and Literatures, Literatures and Cultures curriculum, English Studies path, course page on the international application portal, provisional information for academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice. European, American and Postcolonial Languages and Literatures programme page (degree class, language, admission type, duration and attendance), enrolment from 2025/26. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Welcome Unit. Preliminary evaluation of international qualifications, and entry requirements for applicants with an international qualification, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Welcome Unit. Admission rounds notice for the 2026/27 academic year on the international application portal. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Welcome Unit. Pre-enrolment and visa application, and enrolment for non-EU students who require a visa, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice. Tuition fees for non-EU students, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice. Financial aid for high-achieving international students, academic year 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice. Recognised language certifications, list in use from academic year 2024/25. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
European, American and Postcolonial Languages and Literatures is a two-year master's degree in class LM-37-R (Modern American and European languages and literature), taught on Ca' Foscari's Linguistic Campus in Venice. [3]
It is a multilanguage degree: each path concentrates on one language, literature and culture, and the English Studies and American Studies paths of the Literatures and Cultures curriculum are taught in English.
The degree carries 120 ECTS, has open admission subject to an assessment of each applicant, and attendance is not compulsory. [1][3]
The degree offers advanced study of a language, literature and culture from Western countries and the postcolonial world, with an intercultural and interdisciplinary approach.
The English paths suit graduates in English or modern languages and literatures who want to specialise in English or American literature and culture.
What you will study
In English Studies, literature units run from the Renaissance to the 19th century, while American Studies deepens knowledge of the language and literatures of North America and the history of their literary language and cultures.
Both paths include advanced English language and translation. Units in the 2026/27 timetable for these paths include:
- English Language and Translation
- English Literature: The Renaissance
- English Literature: The 18th Century and The 19th Century
- American Literature
- American Cultural Studies
- American Theory
- British History
- Computational Linguistics
How the programme is taught
Classes rely on close textual analysis, class discussion and essay writing in the target language, with specialised seminars by international academics and practical workshops with cultural institutions such as theatres and museums.
The degree includes a curricular internship in Italy or abroad and a final thesis, and you can request one or two semesters at a partner university through Ca' Foscari's exchange programmes. [2]
A separate English and American Studies curriculum is open only to students of the European Joint Master's Programme in English and American Studies, who apply through the consortium's own portal. [1][2]
Career paths
Graduates can go on to a PhD or work with language, texts and culture. The university names:
- Editor, translator or linguistic consultant in publishing houses, businesses and organisations
- Interpreting and translation
- Public relations and image management
- Linguistic or philological research and consultancy
- Archives, libraries and museum curation
- NGOs, tourism and hospitality, and language and literature teaching
Fees and scholarships
Fees at Ca' Foscari follow flat rates for non-EU students, set by citizenship. [7]
Non-EU students can apply for the regional scholarship under the yearly regional call. Scholarship recipients are exempt from tuition, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. [7]
Applicants with a CGPA of 85% or more could also seek Ca' Foscari's merit-based aid in the first two 2026/27 admission rounds. [5] For students starting in 2027/28, Ca' Foscari offers 20 Honours Scholarships of €10,000 a year for two years to new master's students, and the call is due in the late autumn. [8]
How to apply from outside the EU
We pick the English Studies or American Studies path on apply.unive.it and upload your transcript, your CV and a motivation letter written for this programme. The provisional 2027/28 rules ask for a CGPA of at least 80% and 48 ECTS in English language, literature and related fields. [2]
The Teaching Committee may add an oral exam to confirm your preparation. [2] One application covers up to two programmes, ranked by preference. [4] For 2026/27, Ca' Foscari began accepting applications on 17 December 2025, in rounds set by citizenship, and the window for non-EU applicants who need a visa has now closed. The 2027/28 rounds are not yet published. [4][5]
After the eligibility letter, we complete Universitaly pre-enrolment, and you apply for a type D study visa. At enrolment you need a CIMEA Statement of Comparability, a declaration of value, an ARDI statement with CIMEA verification, or a Diploma Supplement. For 2026/27, Universitaly pre-enrolment closed on 30 September 2026 and the final enrolment deadline is 18 December 2026. [6]
How ApplyAZ helps
ApplyAZ is an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities. We can include this programme in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes that fit your profile, so your plan never rests on a single application.
For eligible students who start with us, a named person owns each stage, from A to Z:
- We check your transcript against Ca' Foscari's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your application on Ca' Foscari's portal with your transcript, CV and motivation letter, and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your regional DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format.
- We prepare your visa file.
With operations in all 20 Italian regions, we follow each region's scholarship rules and deadlines as they change. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa, so no one can promise an outcome. You pay in milestones, and every service you pay for is either delivered or its fee is refunded (terms apply).
Programmes at Italian public universities can be tuition-free for eligible students. Check if you are eligible and book a one-to-one consultation session with one of our Italy experts, or see how ApplyAZ works.
Questions and answers
What bachelor's degree do I need for English and American Studies at Ca' Foscari?
A bachelor's of at least three years with at least 48 CFU in set areas: 24 in English language, 12 in English or American literature, and 12 in linguistics, philology, Italian studies, history or extra literature. The provisional 2027/28 rules also ask for a CGPA of at least 80%. [1][2]
Is there an entrance exam?
No. Admission is open, with no entrance test. The Teaching Committee assesses your transcript, CV and motivation letter, and may call you for an oral exam or interview to confirm your preparation. [1][2][3]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
English at B2 is mandatory for enrolment, and your specialisation language must be at a level comparable to B2 to C1. Ca' Foscari's B2 list includes IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 72 and PTE Academic 59, and the portal encourages you to upload proof of advanced English, such as a C1 certificate. [1][2][9]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, Ca' Foscari began accepting applications on 17 December 2025, in rounds set by citizenship, and the window for visa applicants has now closed. Universitaly pre-enrolment closed on 30 September 2026. The 2027/28 rounds are not yet published, and the portal marks the 2027/28 rules as provisional. [2][5][6]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. If you are still in the final year of your bachelor's, you apply with a provisional transcript of records, but you need your diploma and transcript to enrol. For 2026/27, the final enrolment deadline for non-EU students who need a visa is 18 December 2026. [4][6]
I have a BA in English from India. Can I apply?
It can work. Ca' Foscari accepts a three-year honours or four-year professional bachelor's from India, while a pass or general BA needs a postgraduate degree on top. Your transcript must also show 24 credits in English language units, not only literature, plus 12 in literature and 12 in linguistics, history or related fields. [1][4]
I have a B.Com or B.Tech with English papers. Is that enough?
Usually not. These degrees rarely include 24 credits in English language, 12 in English or American literature and 12 in linguistics or related fields. Missing credits must be made up through bachelor's-level single courses before enrolment, so a BA in English is a much closer fit. [1]
Is the whole degree taught in English?
No. It is a multilanguage degree. The English Studies and American Studies paths of the Literatures and Cultures curriculum are taught in English, while other paths focus on French, German, Iberian, Scandinavian or Slavic and Balkan studies. [1][2][3]
Can someone handle my whole application to English and American Studies at Ca' Foscari?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against Ca' Foscari's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the regional DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format, and prepares your visa file, for eligible students. Start by checking your eligibility.
I'm applying from India. What is the route into English and American Studies?
Ca' Foscari accepts a three-year honours or four-year professional bachelor's from India, or a pass degree plus a postgraduate degree. A BA (Honours) in English is the closest fit if it has 24 credits in English language units, 12 in literature and 12 in linguistics, history or related fields. You also need English at B2. The steps are the portal application, the eligibility letter and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [1][4] Indian students apply for the type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers their state, such as New Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Is the route different from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka?
No. The academic rules for English and American Studies are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: portal application with your transcript, CV and motivation letter, the letter of enrolment eligibility and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for their country of residence. Read our guide for students in Dhaka.
I live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain. Where do I apply for the visa?
At the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live, after Universitaly pre-enrolment. The academic rules for English and American Studies are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: portal application with your transcript, CV and motivation letter, the letter of enrolment eligibility and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I studied or live in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. What is the route?
The academic rules for English and American Studies are the same whatever your nationality, and your degree is assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: portal application with your transcript, CV and motivation letter, the letter of enrolment eligibility and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for where they live. Read our guides for students in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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