University of Turin

What you'll study

The programme offers an interdisciplinary curriculum bringing together heritage studies, cultural management, tourism planning and territorial development. Core topics typically include:

• Cultural heritage theory and policy — concepts of tangible and intangible heritage, legal and ethical frameworks, international conventions and cultural rights.
• Museology and exhibition practice — museum management, interpretation techniques, curatorial practice and audience development.
• Territorial planning and sustainable tourism — strategies for place-making, visitor management, community-based tourism and sustainability assessment.
• Cultural economy and entrepreneurship — cultural markets, creative industries, project design, fundraising and business models for cultural organisations.
• Digital heritage and communication — digitisation, virtual exhibitions, social media strategy and digital tools for interpretation and access.
• Conservation principles and site management — basics of material conservation, preventive maintenance, risk management and conservation planning in heritage contexts.
• Research methods and evaluation — qualitative and quantitative methods, impact assessment, participatory research and evaluation techniques.

Teaching methods typically combine lectures, seminars, fieldwork, laboratory sessions, case studies and project-based learning. Students usually undertake internships or placements with museums, cultural organisations, tourism authorities or local administrations, and complete an independent final dissertation or applied project focused on a real-world heritage or territorial challenge.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a recognised undergraduate degree in a related field such as humanities, cultural studies, art history, architecture, archaeology, tourism studies, economics or social sciences. Relevant professional experience, documented project work or a portfolio can strengthen an application.

• Academic transcripts demonstrating completion of a first-cycle degree (or equivalent).
• Curriculum vitae outlining education and any relevant professional or volunteer experience.
• Motivation letter describing interests, relevant skills and proposed study or research focus within the programme.
• Language proficiency — proof of language skills in the language(s) of instruction (Italian and/or English) where required; accepted evidence typically includes recognised language test results or documentary proof of prior study in the language.
• References or academic recommendations may be requested, and some candidates may be invited to a short interview or submit a portfolio of relevant work.

Specific eligibility criteria and documentation requirements follow university regulations; prospective applicants should consult the programme admissions pages for up-to-date procedural details.

Career prospects

Graduates leave prepared for a range of roles across cultural and territorial sectors. Typical career paths include:

• Cultural project manager or coordinator in museums, cultural centres and heritage organisations.
• Museum curator, collections manager or exhibition developer.
• Heritage and site manager for historic properties, archaeological parks or protected landscapes.
• Tourism planner, sustainable tourism officer or destination manager working for local authorities, development agencies or tourism boards.
• Consultant in cultural policy, heritage impact assessment or cultural tourism development.
• Community engagement officer, education and outreach specialist or creative industries entrepreneur.
• Researcher or PhD candidate in heritage studies, cultural policy or tourism research.

The combination of practical placements, project work and interdisciplinary training is intended to give graduates both sector-specific skills and transferable competences such as project design, stakeholder consultation, and digital communication.

Why study at University of Turin

The University of Turin is one of Italy’s historic universities, located in a region rich in cultural assets and diverse landscapes that make it a natural laboratory for heritage and territorial studies. The institution offers interdisciplinary teaching across humanities, social sciences and architecture, and benefits from collaborations with local museums, archives, cultural institutions and regional authorities.

Students benefit from access to fieldwork opportunities in Piedmont and beyond, research centres focused on cultural heritage and tourism, and networks that support internships and applied projects with public and private partners. The programme’s blend of theory, practice and regional engagement is aimed at preparing graduates to contribute to sustainable cultural development and innovative heritage-led tourism strategies.