Integrated study abroad at the University of Genoa

Degrees awarded: Master of Arts (M.A.) Cultural Studies: Culture & Organization / Laurea magistrale in Lingue e Comunicazione interculturale per le istituzioni e le imprese
Application period: April 1 - June 1
Type of programme: Thematic relevance, restricted admission
Study places: 5
Start date: October 1
Extent: 120 ECTS
Duration: 4 semester
Language: Englisch, German and Italian
Location: 1st year in Lüneburg, 2nd year in Genova

The German-Italian study path offers students the possibility of an inter­national specialisation within the scope of cultural studies. At Leuphana University of Lüneburg, you will study modules from the programme’s area of integration, the programme-specific core modules, elective modules and, if applicable, one module from the complementary studies programme in the first year.

In the Leuphana Master's programme Cultural Studies: Culture & Organization, you deal with the 'culturalisation' of organisations as well as the organisation of art and culture equally. The programme is thus dedicated to the relationships between art, culture and organisation.

In the third and fourth semesters you study at the Università degli Studi di Genova in the Master's programme "Laurea Magistrale in Lingue e Comunicazione interculturale per le istituzioni e le imprese" in italian, german and english. The curriculum „Comunicazione interculturale per le istituzioni e le imprese“ sets a focal point on intercultural communication for (cultural) institutions and businesses from the perspective of foreign language studies. As part of the cooperation, students choose the languages German and English in the Italian curriculum. In addition to language-related compulsory courses, there are several courses to choose from in anthropology, sociology, economics and law. The study programme in Lüneburg, which focuses on organisation, is supplemented by the stay abroad with a broader perspective that also includes legal and economic aspects.

Master's thesis and degree

The degree is completed in the country of the partner university with the aim of completing the Master's thesis there. The thesis is written under German-Italian co-supervision in either German, Italian or English language. Accordingly, a German-Italian examination board with supervisors from both universities meets for the final examination in Genoa.

Genoa is the capital of the Liguria region in northwest Italy and is home to one of the oldest universities in Europe. In contrast to the Leuphana University, which is mainly located on one campus, the University of Genoa with its partly historic buildings extends across the entire city. It consists of five schools with 22 institutes and thus accommodates a comprehensive academic spectrum. The cooperation, which has existed for almost ten years, is supervised in Genoa at the Dipartimento di lingue e culture moderne of the Scuola di Scienze umanistiche by the programme director Prof. Gerdes and the Ufficio di Relazioni Internazionali of the faculty.

The international orientation and dealing proficiently with multilingual contexts which graduates acquire through the course of studies in two university systems and three languages particularly qualify them for an international career.  As a result of intercultural experiences and the theoretical examination of intercultural communication they are qualified for activities as intercultural trainers and consultants, also for the culture & creative industry, the private and public cultural sector e.g. for foundations. In addition, the programme's research orientation enables a professional career in academic research, teaching and administration.

Students from Lüneburg only enroll regularly at Leuphana University Lüneburg during the first year of study and are also enrolled in Genoa at the beginning of the phase abroad.  Students receive the Erasmus+ scholarship during their studies in Genoa and are exempt from the Leuphana semester fee during their study abroad phase.

The amount of Erasmus funding currently amounts to approximately 390 euros per month. Further information in this regard can be found here.

Enrolment in the Master's programme Cultural Studies: Culture & Organization is a pre­requisite for obtaining the double degree. Participating students of the study path must there­fore fulfil the regular language require­ments and pre­requisites of the Master's programme. In addition, basic know­ledge of Italian must be proven, which is deepened in additional language courses during the first year of study and directly before the start of the programme. German language skills are expected as well.

Before starting your studies at the Italian partner university, you must success­fully complete the modules of the first academic year at Leuphana.

In addition to the regular application for the Master's programme Culture & Organization, you need to express your interest in the double degree programme with a letter of motivation. Please send the following documents by the first day of October of the first semester at Leuphana University Lüneburg to the Programme Director and the Inter­nationalisation administrator:

• Letter of motivation: The letter should state your professional and personal motivation for studying in Genoa and how the study programme fits into your previous and/or future course of studies and, if applicable, your professional career. You should also refer to your Italian language skills. The programme participants are selected in agreement of the two universities on the basis of convincing motivation and content-related fit.
• Curriculum Vitae
• Transcript of Records/Bachelor's degree certificate
• Proof of Italian language skills (Abitur or Bachelor's certificate, language test at the Language Centre of Leuphana, other test results or similar)

If you choose the double degree programme, you will have to adjust your course selection in the first year of study at Leuphana to the curricula of the cooperation.