Study with the Department of Languages and Cultures

The Department of Languages and Cultures offers degrees and majors at La Trobe University’s Melbourne and Bendigo campuses, and online.

Our students develop the knowledge and skills they need to understand, reflect on and transform the world we live in.

Our graduates contribute to the social and cultural fabric of their communities. They often work with cultural institutions, in education, non-governmental organisations and local councils.

Courses

Languages at La Trobe

Languages at La Trobe

Learn a language! Find out more about how to enrol and study languages at La Trobe University.

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Auslan courses

Auslan courses

Learn Auslan (Australian Sign Language), the language of the Australian Deaf community.

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Asian Studies courses

Asian Studies courses

Learn about Asia and its languages, while exploring its history, culture and political systems.

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Classics and Ancient History courses

Classics and Ancient History courses

Explore the legacy of Greece and Rome through history, literature and art.

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Creative and Professional Writing courses

Creative and Professional Writing courses

Learn how to move an audience by harnessing the power of the written word.

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English courses

English courses

Analyse literature in English and learn more about identity, representation, authorship and ethics.

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French Studies courses

French Studies courses

Learn more about French history, society and culture while you build your language skills.

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Greek Studies courses

Greek Studies courses

Learn about the Greek language and Greece’s literature, history, culture and politics.

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Hindi Studies courses

Hindi Studies courses

Study the most widely spoken national language of India and build skills in cultural awareness.

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Italian Studies courses

Italian Studies courses

Learn more about the Italian language, along with Italy’s literature, history, culture and society.

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Japanese Studies courses

Japanese Studies courses

Develop skills in conversational Japanese and learn about Japan’s history, politics and economics.

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Linguistics courses

Linguistics courses

Learn more about human communication and explore the building blocks of language.

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Spanish Studies courses

Spanish Studies courses

Learn about the Spanish language and explore the culture and literature of the Hispanic world.

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Visual Arts courses

Visual Arts courses

Build your interdisciplinary technical and conceptual skills and your professional networks.

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Visual Cultures courses

Visual Cultures courses

Discover how culture is expressed through visual images and learn how to critically interpret them.

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Graduate research degrees

Graduate research degrees

Gain a deeper understanding of language, cultural expression, identity and cultural diversity.

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RISE with La Trobe

RISE with La Trobe

Our RISE with La Trobe Indigenous pathways program prepares you for your future university study.

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Student experience

Our students have diverse backgrounds and identities. Together, we are learning to understand the world in all its complexity, and make a positive difference to the communities we serve.

We are committed to providing a learning environment and workplace where all students and staff feel valued, respected and supported to achieve their full potential.

Find out how we set our students up for success.

At La Trobe University, we have a longstanding commitment to diversity, inclusion and social justice.

Our students are among the most diverse of all Australian universities, and we are committed to providing a learning environment and workplace where all students and staff feel valued, respected and supported to achieve their full potential.

We care about building a connected community that actively champions diversity and inclusion to help people thrive. We achieve this by supporting our people, valuing diverse thinking as a key driver of innovation, and holding ourselves to account in delivering a culture where equity is a way of life.

La Trobe is committed to promoting equal opportunities and support for all students and staff, with a focus on six key pillars: cultural, disability, gender equality, Indigenous, LGBTIQA+ and life stages.

Find out more about our services and events.

We want our students to have an excellent experience with us and hope they return as they progress through their professional careers.

We meet regularly with our student representatives to ensure that we are responsive, problem solve and work together to enhance the student experience.

Many of our language-based disciplines also have student associations that meet regularly to improve language skills, enjoy cultural experiences in informal settings, or volunteer at community events.

La Trobe Student Theatre and Film, for example, gives creative writing students the opportunity to have their contributions workshopped, directed and performed for stage and screen.

And, the Ancient Greek and Roman Organisation meets regularly and supports access to student volunteer experiences at Melbourne cultural venues, including the Hellenic Museum.

We also believe that wellbeing is just as important as success. La Trobe offers extensive support services to optimise the student experience.

Find out more about how we support our students to excel at La Trobe.

Our students can put their theoretical learning into practice by undertaking an industry placement with an organisation of their choice.

Our English students, for example, can apply to undertake a 22-week internship with a Melbourne-based publisher, giving them in-house publishing experience.

And, our Visual Arts students can take ‘Exhibiting Cultures,’ a gallery-based subject taught in partnership with Bendigo Art Gallery. It deepens learning across a range of arts disciplines and creative practices including Art History, Archaeology, Law, Textual Studies, Education and Politics, via the experience of a unique, curated exhibition.

Many of our language students participate in exchange programs, allowing them to improve their skills, learn about the country and make lifelong friends.

Our students also have access to a range of international study tours, where they can immerse themselves in the cultures and languages they are studying.

Students of Italian, for example, can explore the history, art, archaeology and culture of Sicily from antiquity to the modern day, gaining an understanding of the rich transcultural heritage of this Mediterranean island.

Global experiences are also on offer through virtual in-country programs that provide students with opportunities to gain valuable international experience without travelling.

Students of Chinese, for example, can participate in a virtual in-country program with Chongqing University, featuring lectures on the Chinese tea ceremony, Chinese economy and society, and working cultures in China and Australia. Students from both institutions also exchange information on each city’s food culture, housing, transportation, recreation and sports.

Find out more about our exchange programs.