Explore our courses
Diploma of Languages
3 years minimum, 7 years maximum 
Hobart, Launceston, Online
This course may not be available to international students. Please see our international page for courses that are offered to international students.
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
Languages are central to truly appreciating the cultures of places where they are spoken.
Language is the study of the cultural forces that shape societies. There are many benefits to studying a new language. It’s been shown to improve brain functionality, multi-tasking skills, decision making and memory.
Learning a language helps foster a more tolerant and plural society, developing a perspective that is globally focused; and it improves your broader academic performance and your employment chances in international and national businesses. It opens up a world of work and travel opportunities.
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.
Note, this course is available to study only on a part-time basis.
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.
All our language options are available in the Bachelor of Arts.
For those passionate about both languages and ancient history, our Ancient Languages program provides the opportunity to learn the beautiful and fascinating language of Latin. Discover just how much influence the language spoken by the ancient Romans has on the modern world. Your passionate and engaging lecturers will have you reading Latin from the very first class, as you begin a journey through the basics of Latin grammar all the way to rich and diverse literature 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
Did you know Mandarin Chinese is the second-most spoken language after English in Australian homes? Do you want to discover the beauty of this language? Our experienced and enthusiastic lecturers will guide you on a journey to explore this fascinating and popular language and its rich culture, and acquire practical communication skills through theme-based lessons. 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 fellow
students and native speakers. No prior knowledge is required.
Available: Online, and on campus Hobart and Launceston.
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.
Add sustainability to your degree
As part of our commitment to sustainability, we have created a complementary, optional major available across most of our flexible bachelor's degrees.
In the major, explore interdisciplinary knowledge and skills that underpin the development of sustainable societies and solutions. Informed by international and local research, practice, and
theory, this major allows you to develop specialist expertise across the physical and social sciences and humanities, emphasising student-led and problem-based learning.
It provides the frameworks for developing sustainability-oriented solutions in a range of fields and is relevant to a wide range of careers.
Find out more about what you'll study, entry requirements, fees and scholarships - and to apply.
Bachelor of Arts
3 years minimum, 7 years maximum Hobart, Launceston, Online, Cradle Coast
Global communication skills
Master languages to connect across cultures and open doors worldwide.
Intercultural expertise
Gain deep insights into diverse traditions, histories, and perspectives, preparing you to thrive in multicultural environments.
Career versatility
Use your language proficiency to stand out in fields like diplomacy, education, translation, international business, and humanitarian work.
Discover a world of possibilities with the Bachelor of Arts
This degree offers a flexible approach to studying the humanities, social sciences, and languages. With maximum flexibility, you can tailor your studies to match your passions and career aspirations.
Designed for curious minds and bold thinkers, the Bachelor of Arts empowers you to shape a rewarding future in a dynamic and ever-changing world.
Study options in this degree
We’ve curated a selection of language-focused majors within the Bachelor of Arts to help you align your studies with a passion for understanding critical global issues. These options are designed to inspire your journey, giving you the freedom to start with a clear direction and then branch out as your interests evolve. Each of these study areas can be explored through the courses listed below.
Did you know Mandarin Chinese is the second-most spoken language after English in Australian homes? Do you want to discover the beauty of this language? Our experienced and enthusiastic lecturers will guide you on a journey to explore this fascinating and popular language and its rich culture, and acquire practical communication skills through theme-based lessons.
When you study Latin and Greek, you will find an exciting new home in the languages that shaped the fundamentals of western thought in the sciences, philosophy, medicine, and literature. Beautiful and fascinating in their own right, these ancient languages provide you with a deeper understanding of modern culture, specialist technical terminologies and many modern languages through their roots in Latin and Greek.
When you study language and culture through the best and most compelling books and stories of the ages you will learn to read the world around you actively and critically. You will come to understand how texts work as well as the key elements of poetry, narrative, theatre and filmmaking. Reading texts from the medieval period to the present, from fiction and poetry to theatre, film, television and the Internet, you will discover how to analyse texts and genres in their cultural, historical and contemporary contexts.
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.
The Japanese program offers the opportunity to enhance your critical thinking skills in global contexts. Our staff support and work closely with a vibrant student community, in which students are regularly encouraged to actively participate to enhance their study and deepen their understanding of Japanese language and culture. The Japanese major is a gateway to Japanese popular cultures and global literacy. Gaining critical insights through this lens can impact your understanding of your own culture in surprising ways.
Add sustainability to your degree
As part of our commitment to sustainability, we have created a complementary, optional major available across most of our flexible bachelor's degrees.
In the major, explore interdisciplinary knowledge and skills that underpin the development of sustainable societies and solutions. Informed by international and local research, practice, and
theory, this major allows you to develop specialist expertise across the physical and social sciences and humanities, emphasising student-led and problem-based learning.
It provides the frameworks for developing sustainability-oriented solutions in a range of fields and is relevant to a wide range of careers.
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Find out more about what you'll study, entry requirements, fees and scholarships - and to apply.
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.
18.9%
Translators
Predicted future growth for 2026
Mandarin is second most common language spoken at home, other than English in Australia
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021)
22.3% of Australian's speak a
language other than English at home
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021)
^^ National Skills Commission - Skills Priority List June 2021
