Languages

Studying with us, you'll learn from fluent experts who will help you improve your language skills. You’ll also get to experience different cultures, undertake work placement or internships, and meet new people.

Explore our courses

Diploma of Languages

Gain more than just a new language

Gain valuable skills for any career such as critical thinking, inter-cultural awareness, and researching

Set yourself apart as a graduate

Combine languages with another area of study and gain a competitive edge as a graduate

New language, new experiences

Unlock international and cultural experiences to practise your skills

Open up a new world of understanding and experience

Learning a language helps you understand Australia, Australians, and our place in the world. It also moves you out of the minority with the ability to connect with more people globally. At the University of Tasmania, you’ll engage with different languages and cultures in an inclusive, welcoming environment. We value equity and accessibility for all, and we strive to reflect these values in our teaching and practice.

Study options in this degree

The Diploma of Languages can be undertaken as a stand-alone qualification, or in conjunction with another degree. We offer five language options to choose from within the Diploma.

French, along with all our other language options, is available in the Bachelor of Arts.

Discover just how much influence the language spoken by the ancient Romans has on the modern world, as your passionate and engaging lecturers will take you on a journey from the very basics of Latin grammar, to being able to read a wide range of texts written by the Romans themselves. No prior knowledge is required, and you will be supported throughout by the best quality digital resources.

Available: Online, and on campus in Hobart

As Australia's relations with China have expanded, so has the demand for skills in Chinese language and an appreciation of cultural forms. Learning Chinese not only opens a window to understanding one of the oldest civilizations in the world, but also boosters your career opportunities, including diplomacy, tourism, finance, translators and interpreters, law, technology, business and education.

Whether you decide to study on-campus or online, you’ll be studying in a welcoming and supportive learning environment with rich opportunities to interact with other students and your lecturers. And you need no prior knowledge to take the first step.

Available: Online, and on campus Hobart and Launceston.

If you want to really learn German and how to use the language to talk about things important to you in a fun and structured way, then we've got you covered. Explore the language and culture of some of the world’s best-known innovators, scientists, entrepreneurs, philosophers, musicians, and artists. Guided by experienced and passionate lecturers, you’ll be starting with our own textbook - one designed for learners like you.

Supported by a high-quality audio and companion video series filmed in Tasmania, Germany, and Austria, you’ll soon be joining one of the 130 million people who speak German as their native language, and almost as many again who speak it as a second or foreign language.

Available: Online, and on campus in Hobart and Launceston

You may know about Bali and Komodo dragons, but after studying Indonesian, you’ll learn that our close neighbour has an extraordinary literary history. Learning Indonesian is an intellectual passport to one of Southeast Asia’s most exciting and diverse cultures.

Many of Australia's key national interests, from security and borders to agriculture and trade, are heavily dependent on Indonesia. As we strengthen our strategic relations with Indonesia, the importance of your knowledge will also grow.

Available: Online, and On-Campus Hobart

Have you grown up surrounded by brands like Nintendo, Sony, Toyota, Shiseido, Uniqlo, Studio Ghibli? Would you like to know more? We offer a combination of language and cultural studies units to help you both learn the Japanese language, and build skills in communication, cultural awareness, and problem solving. Taught by academics who are experts in Japanese popular cultures, literature, and history, you gain critical insights into the subject matters of your interest, and how the language reflects them.

You can also have opportunities to study together with Japanese native speakers in both online and face to face settings, or enrol in units offered from our partner universities in Japan.

Available: Online, and on campus in Hobart and Launceston.

Find out more about what you'll study, entry requirements, fees and scholarships - and to apply.

Visit the course page

Career opportunities

Learning a new language has profound advantages for your career development. It prepares you well for a wide range of jobs with the ability to travel and work in different countries. Speaking more than one language can give you an edge across many fields such as, public relations, consulting, marketing, real estate, trade, defence, journalism and more.

If you reach a level of fluency, you can also pursue language-specific careers, such as teaching, translating and interpretation.

Strong future demand for
Translators & Interpreters

Projected demand by 2025^^

Mandarin is second most common language spoken at home, other than English in Australia

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2016)

21% of Australian's speak a
language other than English at home

Australian Bureau of Statistics (2016)

^^ National Skills Commission - Skills Priority List June 2021