Faculty of Arts

Examples of Course Structures for Bachelor of Arts Students

• DipLang enrolment at first year (400 points in total)
• DipLang enrolment at second year (375 points in total)
• DipLang enrolment at second year (400 points in total)
• DipLang enrolment at third year (350 points in total)
• Fast-track program for high-achieving students (350 points in total)

Examples of Course Structures non-BA Undergraduate Degree Students

• DipLang enrolment at first year (400 points in total)
• DipLang enrolment at second year (350 points in total)
• DipLang enrolment at second year (375 points in total)
• DipLang enrolment at third year (350 points in total)
• Fast-track program for high-achieving students (350 points in total)

In 2009, five concurrent Diplomas will be offered with the Bachelor of Arts at the University of Melbourne: Global Issues, Languages, Informatics, Mathematical Sciences and Music (Practical). All concurrent Diplomas comprise 100 specified points of study.

The information here focuses on the Diploma in Languages (DipLang). The DipLang 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.

For re-enrolling students, applications for entry to the Diploma in Languages are open during the course planning period for the following year (see below for dates).

Students commencing study in 2009 will apply for entry to the Diploma in Languages online after enrolment in their degree program has been completed.

The application process will be managed by the Arts and Music Student Centre.

The Diploma in Languages provides students with the opportunity to gain a recognised Diploma in the study of language while completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne. The Diploma in Languages 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).

DipLang 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 DipLang is Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) free. The Higher Education Contribution Scheme exemption is available to students in the new generation undergraduate degree, but not to Bachelor of Engineering students. Only the final 50 points of the Diploma in Languages may be taken as Higher Education Contribution Scheme 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 to complete 50 points of study Higher Education Contribution Scheme free.

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

• More details are in the 2010 Course and Subject Handbook.

On completion of the Diploma, students should:

• have acquired a mastery of both oral/aural and writing/reading skills comparable to that of a student majoring in a language discipline;
• have gained a basic understanding of selected aspects of the culture (or cultures) and of the society (or societies) associated with the language.

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

• essay and assignment preparation and writing, tutorial discussion and class presentations;
• public speaking and confidence in self-expression: through tutorial participation and class presentations.

There are a range of career opportunities for graduates of the DipLang. For more information about career pathways visit the Faculty of Arts careers web page.

The Diploma in Languages provides a pathway to graduate level language study.

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 continuing Bachelor of Arts; degrees in Health Sciences, Veterinary Science; and Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) degrees are not permitted to enrol in the Diploma in Languages. Students enrolled in these degrees 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.

* The Diploma of Languages is not usually available to Bachelor of Commerce students majoring in Actuarial Studies.

• International Students must print and complete an application form (260kb pdf)
• Local Students (inlcudes New Zealand students) must use the online application system (note course code is D24-AA).
• The application period for admission in Semester 1, 2010, commences Monday 21 September and closes Friday 5 March 2010.

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. The 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 Course and Subject Handbook for detailed information about available streams of study, procedures for stream enrolment and language testing.

The Diploma in Languages 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 Diploma in Languages study:

• Arabic (beginners and post-Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE))
• Chinese (beginners*, non-dialect speakers with Victorian Certificate of Education Chinese, and background speakers)
• French (beginners, intermediate and post-Victorian Certificate of Education)
• German (beginners, intermediate and post-Victorian Certificate of Education)
• Hebrew (beginners and post-Victorian Certificate of Education)
• Indonesian (beginners and post-Victorian Certificate of Education)
• Italian (beginners, intermediate and post-Victorian Certificate of Education)
• Japanese (beginners, post-Victorian Certificate of Education and advanced stream)
• Russian (beginners and post-Victorian Certificate of Education)
• Spanish (beginners, intermediate and post-Victorian Certificate of Education)
• Swedish (beginners and intermediate)

* 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 Diploma in Languages.

For general guidelines please consult the 2010 Handbook.

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 DipLang.

• More details are available in the 2010 Handbook.