Master in Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs at University of Parma
Two-year English-taught LM-39 master at the University of Parma on inclusive language education, accessibility, subtitling and cultural studies, with three curricula, including one with Italian from beginner level.
Master
2 years
Parma
English
University of Parma
Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs is a two-year, 120 ECTS master in linguistics (LM-39) taught in English at the University of Parma, in a blended format. It covers inclusive language education, multimedia accessibility and cultural studies. Fees follow family income, so it can be tuition-free for eligible students.
Entry requirements
- A bachelor's degree in linguistics, foreign languages or the humanities, or an equivalent foreign qualification.
- English at B2+ or C1, certified by IELTS (6.5), TOEFL (79) or CAE.
- For the Second Language curriculum: French, Spanish or German at B2+ or C1, or Russian at B1+ or B2, with a certificate. No Italian is needed for the Italian for International Students curriculum.
- Open access with a check of your documents; the admissions board may also hold an interview on language, cultural and subject knowledge.
- Degree certificate and transcript in English or Italian (or with official translations), and the originals delivered in person at enrolment.
About the programme
Language Sciences and Cultural Studies for Special Needs is a two-year laurea magistrale in linguistics (class LM-39) worth 120 ECTS. It is run by the Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries of the University of Parma, and all core subjects are taught in English.
The degree builds advanced skills in four areas: foreign languages, educational linguistics with a focus on learners with disorders that affect language learning and communication, multimedia accessibility, and cultural studies. It suits graduates in languages, linguistics or the humanities who want to work on inclusive teaching or accessible content.
What you will study
The first year shares a core in linguistics and language education. You then follow one of three curricula: Second Language (French, German, Russian or Spanish), Teaching Italian as an L1/L2, or Italian Language and Culture for International Students, which starts Italian from beginner level. Units in the 2026/27 plan include:
- Cognitive Linguistics and Neuroscience and Language
- Language Learning, Teaching and Assessment
- Language Education for Special Needs
- English Language and Literature, then English Language and Linguistics (12 CFU each)
- Clinical Linguistics, Special Needs Education or Instructional Design for Language Teaching and Learning
- Intercultural Communication
- Academic Writing and Soft Skills
- An internship (6 CFU), research methodology and a 16 CFU dissertation
How the programme is taught
The course is delivered in blended mode. In-person attendance in Parma is strongly recommended and all exams are taken in person, while lessons of the main subjects are recorded and extra material sits on the Moodle platform. Teaching relies on interaction, project work, oral presentations and essays, and multimedia lessons support self-study.
Career paths
The university describes an original professional profile that combines languages, educational linguistics, accessibility and cultural studies. Graduates can find work in:
- Inclusive education for people with special needs
- Language teaching with non-traditional methods and environments
- Text accessibility in traditional and digital publishing
- Audio description and subtitling for deaf and hard of hearing audiences
Fees and scholarships
For 2026/27 Parma charges a one-time €156 at enrolment. After that you pay a personalised contribution between zero and about €2,000 a year, set by your family's economic situation, merit and years of enrolment. Students whose income is abroad request the reduction through ER.GO, which also runs the regional scholarship and housing call, so this degree can be tuition-free for eligible students.
How to apply from outside the EU
Check the language rules for your curriculum first: besides English, the Second Language path asks for a certified level in French, Spanish, German or Russian, and the board may interview you.
Non-EU applicants who need a visa apply on the apply.unipr.it portal with a €30 fee, which covers up to three applications in one call. For 2026/27 the window ran from 15 January to 6 April 2026. After a positive assessment you pre-enrol with the university, complete Universitaly pre-enrolment and request a type D study visa. Enrolment needs a declaration of value or a CIMEA statement.
How ApplyAZ helps
If this programme fits your goals, ApplyAZ can include it in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes at Italian public universities. We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose, submit your applications and Universitaly pre-enrolment, file your DSU scholarship application and prepare your visa file, with a named person on each stage. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa. See how ApplyAZ works or check your eligibility.
Questions and answers
Is this master taught in English?
Yes. All core subjects are taught in English. The Second Language and Teaching Italian curricula also include units in French, German, Russian, Spanish or Italian.
Is the course online?
It is blended. In-person attendance in Parma is strongly recommended and exams are taken in person, while main lessons are recorded and extra material is on Moodle.
Which bachelor's degrees are accepted?
International applicants with a bachelor's in linguistics, foreign languages or the humanities meet the requirement. The board checks your documents and may interview you.
What English level do I need?
B2+ or C1, certified by IELTS (6.5), TOEFL (79) or CAE. The Second Language curriculum also needs a certificate in French, Spanish, German or Russian.
Do I need to speak Italian?
No. The Italian Language and Culture for International Students curriculum requires no Italian and teaches it from beginner level, though some knowledge is an advantage.
When can I apply?
For 2026/27 non-EU applicants applied on apply.unipr.it from 15 January to 6 April 2026, with a €30 fee. The 2027/28 dates are not published yet.
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