Diploma in Languages

The Diploma in Languages consists of studies in a single language over three years and is available to all domestic students who are enrolled in any undergraduate Bachelor degree at the University of Adelaide. All languages are available at either beginners or advanced level. Students reduce the study load in their Bachelor degree each year, and extend the studies toward their degree over an extra year to accommodate the language sequence. This means, for example, that students may graduate with a Bachelor of Economics, Science or Arts, and a Diploma in Languages, in 4 years of full-time study. Students who graduate with the Diploma in Languages and a Bachelor degree will have a more rounded educational experience, and will bring a valuable additional skill to their professional and personal life. The benefits to be gained from adding a language skill to your chosen field of study are substantial. Some of the practical and cultural benefits are:

• enhanced employment prospects
• the possibility of studying in your chosen field overseas (at post-graduate level or as part of an undergraduate exchange program) 
• the possibility of competing for overseas study scholarships (most foreign embassies offer these, e.g. for science students)
• access to resources and materials published in a foreign language
• the possibility of interacting with students in other countries studying in the same area
• greater understanding of people of other cultures through insights into their ways of thinking and cultural and linguistic practices

Languages available in the Diploma in Languages

• Chinese
• French
• German
• Modern Greek
• Italian
• Japanese
• Spanish
• Indonesian

 Applying for the Diploma in Languages

• You must have a place in an undergraduate Bachelor degree at the University of Adelaide.
• Email Vicki Johnson in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences stating your name and student ID to register your interest in studying the Diploma of Languages.
• Note that entry to the Diploma in Languages may not be deferred.
  

Who can undertake the Diploma in Languages?

Any student who has a place in an undergraduate Bachelor degree at the University of Adelaide is eligible to enrol in the Diploma in Languages. Entry is not competitive, so a place in a Bachelor degree assures a student of a place in the Diploma.

What is the program of study for the Diploma?

Students are required to complete a sequence in a single language consisting of courses to the value of 6 units at Level I, 9 units at Level II and 9 units at Level III. In order to accommodate these language courses, students will add one year to their undergraduate degree. This will mean the normal progression from level I to level II, and from level II to level III will need to be staggered to some extent so that there is no substantial overload in any year. Students need to plan an appropriate pattern of study each year. See the combined degree/diploma template below for a typical pattern of study.

Can I just do the Diploma in Languages by itself?

No, not even if you have already completed a degree at the University of Adelaide. You can only do the Diploma if you are enrolled concurrently in an undergraduate Bachelor degree at the University of Adelaide.

How long is the Diploma in Languages program?

The program consists of studies in a single language over a minimum of three years, but must be taken concurrently with full or part-time study in an undergraduate degree. The combined program is normally completed in four years.

Can I study the Diploma in Languages as a cross-institutional student?

The program is not normally available to students from other universities.

Can I undertake the Diploma to study a second language?

If you are currently studying a language in your undergraduate Bachelor degree you may undertake the Diploma in Languages in order to study a second language. You may, however, only complete one Diploma in Languages.

Can I transfer language courses previously studied to the Diploma in Languages?

 You can transfer language courses previously studied in a Bachelor degree at the University of Adelaide to the Diploma in Languages and then undertake additional courses to fill those gaps created in your undergraduate Bachelor degree. You cannot count language courses for both the Diploma in Languages and your undergraduate degree.

Are the language courses in the Diploma different from those offered in the Bachelor of Arts or other programs?

No, they are exactly the same courses.

Can I undertake the Diploma if I am in the 2nd or 3rd year of my undergraduate program?

Yes. You can begin the Diploma in Languages at any point in your undergraduate degree but you must remember that you are required to complete Level 1 before you progress to Level II, and completion of Level II before you progress to Level III. As a result the Diploma is taken over three years.

Can I be awarded the Diploma if I have not yet completed my undergraduate degree?

No, the Diploma in Languages can only be awarded at the same time as, or after, your concurrent undergraduate degree.

Can I do any of my studies in the Diploma at an overseas institution?

With the permission of the Faculty, you may undertake a semester of study at an approved overseas institution as part of a formal international exchange program. This can count for up to 9 units credit toward the Diploma in Languages.