Faculty of Arts

Diploma in Languages 2009


Note: the Diploma in Languages (DL) is only available to students enrolled in new generation degrees or the Bachelor of Engineering. Students enrolled in other University of Melbourne undergraduate degrees may apply for entry to the Diploma in Modern Languages (DML)


On this page:

Download Sample Course Plans incorporating the DL (1.2Mb)


Concurrent Diplomas at the University of Melbourne

There are four concurrent Diplomas currently offered at the University of Melbourne – Languages, Informatics, Mathematical Sciences, and Music (Practical). A fifth Diploma in Global Issues is under development and may be offered in 2009 subject to final approval by the Academic Board in late 2008.

All concurrent Diplomas comprise 100 specified points of study.

The information here focuses on the Diploma in Languages (DL). The DL will take a different format depending on the nature of the student’s undergraduate degree program, when the student chooses to enter the Diploma, and their level of academic ability, which is taken into account if students wish to overload after first year in order to fast track the Diploma.

Students may undertake only one Diploma at a time.

Students will apply for entry to the Diploma in Languages online after enrolment in their degree program has been completed. The online application will be available in early 2009. The application process will be managed by the Arts and Music Student Centre.


Diploma in Languages Course Overview

The DL provides students with the opportunity to gain a Diploma in language study while completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne. The Diploma consists of a three-year sequence of first-, second- and third-year language study and may add up to one year to the duration of the student’s degree course. In fast track mode both the Degree and Diploma may be completed in three years (see examples of course structure below).

DL students enrol in language subjects alongside their degree subjects in an integrated sequence of study. The Diploma may only be awarded on the completion of the degree course. This means that graduation from the Diploma will only occur when the Degree is completed.

The final 50 points of the Diploma in Languages is HECS free. The HECS exemption is available to new generation undergraduate degree students but not to Bachelor of Engineering students. Only the final 50 points of the DL may be taken as HECS free – students must have completed the first 50 points of the Diploma (either through a cross crediting arrangement or in addition to their degree requirements) to be eligible for the HECS free 50 points.

Students wishing to qualify for entry to the BA (Honours) should note that Diploma graduates must have completed a Bachelor of Arts degree to be eligible to apply for the BA (Honours), otherwise they may apply to enter the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts.


Course Objectives

On completion of the Diploma, students should:


Generic Skills Acquisition

Students that successfully complete the Diploma should be capable of communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically through:


Career Options and Further Study

There are a range of career opportunities for graduates of the DL. For more information about career pathways visit the Arts careers website.

The DL provides a pathway to graduate level language study.


Admission Requirements

The Diploma in Languages is only available to students who are currently enrolled in a new generation undergraduate degree (or the Bachelor of Engineering) at the University of Melbourne.

A place in the Diploma cannot be deferred.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications), the pre-2008 Bachelor of Arts, degrees in Health Sciences, Veterinary Science and VCA degrees are not permitted to enrol in the DL. Students enrolled in these degree programs may apply for entry to the Diploma in Modern Languages (DML).

Students entering the Diploma at the end of first or second year of their degree must have already completed 25 or 50 points of study in the language of the Diploma as part of their degree. These completed language subjects may be cross credited to the Diploma.


Language Proficiency Requirements

The Diploma may be available to students with no prior knowledge of a language as well as to those who have completed several years of study. See details of language streams below.

The language stream of enrolment is dependent on the student’s previous language experience and is determined by the relevant language program. Refer to the individual language entries in the undergraduate Handbook for detailed information about available streams of study, procedures for stream enrolment and language testing, if required.


Language Streams

The Diploma can be taken in any language stream currently available as a 100 point major sequence in the Bachelor of Arts.

The following languages and stream levels are available for DL study:

* Note that a beginners stream sequence in Chinese requires 125 points of study. Therefore, it is not possible to complete the equivalent of a beginners stream Chinese major through the DL.


Course Structure

The Diploma is available either in sequential mode (completing the Degree and the Diploma concurrently) or in fast-track mode for high achieving students (see fast track structure below).

Student completing the Degree and Diploma over 7 or 8 semesters need to ensure that they complete a first, second and third year sequence of language study, plus any required elective subjects in the language at the appropriate level.

Students that commence the Diploma from first year will complete 100 points of study in addition to their degree program.

Students that commence the Diploma from second year, having completed first year of the language within their degree, will complete a further 75 points of language study within the Diploma.

For students that enter the Diploma at third year, having completed first and second year of the language within their degree, the final 50 points of language study will be attributed to the Diploma. Students choosing this option will be able to complete a 350 point total program.

It is each 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 and within the rules outlined for the relevant language stream of the DL.


Examples of course structures for Bachelor of Arts students

Download Sample Course Plans incorporating the DL (1.2Mb)


DL enrolment at first year (400 points in total)


Year One (100 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Enrolment within the DL:

Year Two (100 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Enrolment within the DL:

Year Three (100 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Enrolment within the DL:

Year Four (100 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Enrolment within the DL:


DL enrolment at second year (375 points in total)


Year One (100 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Year Two (100 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Enrolment within the DL:

Year Three (100 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Enrolment within the DL:

Year Four (75 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Enrolment within the DL:


DL enrolment at second year (400 points in total)


Year One (100 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Year Two (100 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Enrolment within the DL:

Year Three (100 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Enrolment within the DL:

Year Four (100 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Enrolment within the DL:


DL enrolment at third year (350 points in total)


Year One (100 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Year Two (100 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Year Three (100 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Enrolment within the DL:

Year Four (50 points)

Enrolment within the BA:

Enrolment within the DL:


Fast-track program for high-achieving students (350 points in total)


Fast Track modes will involve cross crediting of up to 50 points and overloading in one, two or all three years of the course.

For the fast track mode, strong performance is required at first year level as students will overload by one 12.5 point subject per semester throughout their second and third years. Approval to overload must be sought on a semester-by-semester basis. An H2B average across the most recent 50 points of undergraduate degree study is required.

Year One

* as part of the core BA program

Year Two

* as part of the core BA program

Year Three

Enrolment within the BA:

Enrolment within the DL:


Examples of course structures for non-BA undergraduate degree students

Download Sample Course Plans incorporating the DL (1.2Mb)


DL enrolment at first year (400 points in total)


Year One (100 points)

Enrolment within the degree:

Enrolment within the DL:

Year Two (100 points)

Enrolment within the degree:

Enrolment within the DL:

Year Three (100 points)

Enrolment within the degree:

Enrolment within the DL:

Year Four (100 points)

Enrolment within the degree:

Enrolment within the DL:


DL enrolment at second year (375 points in total)


Year One (100 points)

Enrolment within the degree:

Year Two (100 points)

Enrolment within the degree:

Enrolment within the DL:

Year Three (100 points)

Enrolment within the degree:

Enrolment within the DL:

Year Four (75 points)

Enrolment within the degree:

Enrolment within the DL:


DL enrolment at third year (350 points in total)


Year One (100 points)

Enrolment within the degree:

Year Two (100 points)

Enrolment within the degree:

Year Three (100 points)

Enrolment within the degree:

Enrolment within the DL:

Year Four (50 points)

Enrolment within the degree:

Enrolment within the DL:


Fast track program for high achieving students (350 points in total)

Please note that depending on the nature of the student’s degree program and specialisation the combination of core and breadth subjects taken at later years may vary slightly from this example.


Year One

Year Two

Year Three

Enrolment within the core program:

Enrolment within the DL:

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