University of Turin

What you'll study

This two-year second-cycle degree combines heritage studies, cultural policy, planning and tourism development with practical training. Teaching draws on disciplines such as history of art, archaeology, cultural economics, urban and regional planning, conservation theory and community engagement.

• Core modules: theories of cultural heritage; heritage conservation and legislation; cultural policy and governance; heritage interpretation and mediation.
• Applied and professional modules: sustainable and creative tourism development; cultural routes and territorial branding; project management and fundraising for cultural initiatives; heritage site management and visitor studies.
• Technical skills: digital methods for heritage (GIS, digital documentation and virtual dissemination); data analysis for tourism and cultural statistics; marketing and audience development.
• Research and practice: research methods and critical approaches; internships or project placements with museums, local authorities, heritage organisations or tourism agencies; a final dissertation or applied project that addresses a territorial development challenge.

Teaching typically combines lectures, seminars, fieldwork, laboratory sessions and cooperative projects with local cultural institutions. Students learn to design strategies that balance conservation, community needs and sustainable economic development.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a recognised first-cycle degree (bachelor’s) in an appropriate subject such as art history, archaeology, architecture, anthropology, geography, cultural studies, tourism or related social sciences. Candidates with professional experience in heritage or tourism and demonstrable prior learning may also be considered.

• Official transcripts and a degree certificate or provisional diploma.
• A curriculum vitae and a motivation letter describing relevant experience and study objectives.
• Depending on the applicant’s background, a portfolio or examples of prior project work may be requested.
• Language requirements: proficiency in the programme’s language of instruction is required. International applicants will normally need to provide evidence of language ability (Italian and/or English), and the admissions office will indicate acceptable tests or certificates.
• References or academic recommendations may be requested for some candidates.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles that connect cultural heritage with territorial development, creative economies and sustainable tourism. Typical career pathways include:

• Museum and site management (curators, collections managers, visitor services).
• Local and regional cultural policy officers, heritage planners and conservation advisors.
• Tourism development and destination management, including sustainable tourism planners and consultants.
• Project managers for cultural projects, community cultural mediators and cultural entrepreneurs.
• Research and further study at doctoral level, or professional careers in NGOs, international organisations and private consultancies working on heritage-led regeneration.

Why study at University of Turin

The University of Turin offers strong disciplinary expertise across art history, archaeology, architecture and social sciences, combined with close links to the city’s museums, archives and cultural organisations. The university’s location in a region rich in built heritage, industrial archaeology and cultural landscapes provides abundant opportunities for fieldwork and applied projects.

Students benefit from interdisciplinary teaching, collaborative research centres and partnerships with regional authorities and cultural institutions, which support internships and placement opportunities. The programme’s emphasis on combining conservation ethics with sustainable territorial development equips graduates to work across public, private and third-sector contexts in Italy and internationally.