Diploma in Languages

Learn a language by studying the Diploma in Languages alongside your undergraduate degree at Melbourne. You will demonstrate a master of both the oral/aural and written/reading skills to communicate effectively in another language and appreciate its cultural contexts.

Languages available include:

• Ancient Greek
• Arabic
• Chinese
• French
• German
• Hebrew
• Indonesian
• Italian
• Japanese
• Latin
• Russian
• Spanish.

Undergraduate students can commence the diploma in their first year or second year of their respective bachelors degrees.

• Students enrolling in the diploma concurrently with a bachelors degree from first year will complete 100 points of study in addition to their bachelors degree program. Students choosing this option will be able to complete 400 points in total.
• Students enrolling in the diploma concurrently with a bachelors degree from second year, having completed 25 points of language at Level 1, will complete a further 75 points of language study within the diploma. Students choosing this option will be able to complete 350 points in total.
• Students enrolling in the diploma at third year, having completed 25 points of level 1 and 25 points at level 2 in their bachelors degree, will complete the remaining 100 points of the diploma. Students choosing this option will be able to complete 350 points in total.

Please note: Undergraduate students completing Chinese entry point 1 (beginners) require 125 points of study, therefore it is not possible to complete the equivalent of a Chinese major through the D-Lang, students are required to take the further 25 points (2 subjects) within their bachelors program pending on capacity and course requirements.

It is the student's responsibility to ensure that s/he meets the requirements of the diploma by enrolling in the correct number of subjects at the appropriate year level.

Being able to speak a second language literally opens the door to the world. A language greatly increases your chances landing work in the international career market. You can work as a diplomat, in government, or as a translator.

Applications open twice each year for start-year (semester one) and mid-year (semester two) entry. It is also possible to commence the diploma in the summer semester if required. A place in the diploma cannot be deferred. You must apply for the diploma prior to the semester in which you wish to commence it.

All students wishing to enrol in a language subject for the first time are required to complete a background questionnaire online.

Language subjects are organised in a progressive sequence of units. Entry and exit points are determined by the student's background in the language, placement testing, prerequisites, or at the discretion of the language program Convenor. Students normally progress through the subjects in consecutive order. Mid-year entry is also possible into language subjects offered in Semester 2, subject to appropriate experience and approval from the Convenor of the language program.

This includes students who have never studied the language before. Based on the questionnaire responses, some students will be placed directly into the most appropriate subject. Others will need to take an online placement test. Depending on the test results, some students may also be asked to provide a sample of writing and/or attend an interview with program staff members to determine the most suitable subject to enrol in.