Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Languages requires completion of 144 units, of which:

A maximum of 60 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

A minimum of 18 units must come from completion of 3000-level courses

A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving

A minimum of 84 units must come from the following lists:

48 units from completion of one of the following language majors:

Ancient Greek

Arabic

Chinese Language

French Studies

German Studies

Hindi Language

Indonesian Language

Italian Studies

Japanese Language

Korean Language

Latin

Persian

Sanskrit Language

Spanish Studies

Thai Language

Vietnamese Language

OR

24 units from completion of one of the following advanced language minors:

Advanced Ancient Greek

Advanced Arabic

Advanced Chinese Language

Advanced French Studies

Advanced German Studies

Advanced Italian Studies

Advanced Japanese Language

Advanced Korean Language 

Advanced Latin

Advanced Persian

Advanced Sanskrit Language

Advanced Spanish Studies

AND

24 units from courses available in:

• the advanced minor list
• the following language minors:

Ancient Greek

Arabic

Burmese Language

Chinese Language

French Studies

German Studies

Hindi Language

Indonesian Language

Italian Studies

Japanese Language

Japanese Linguistics

Korean Language

Latin

Literary Chinese

Mongolian Language

Persian

Russian Studies

Sanskrit Language

Spanish Studies

Tetum Language

Thai Language

Tok Pisin Language

Vietnamese Language

24 units from completion of one of the following language minors, which must be in a different language to the major or advanced minor from the list above:

Advanced Ancient Greek

Advanced Arabic

Advanced Chinese Language

Advanced French Studies

Advanced German Studies

Advanced Italian Studies

Advanced Japanese Language

Advanced Korean Language 

Advanced Latin

Advanced Persian

Advanced Sanskrit Language

Advanced Spanish Studies

Literary Chinese

Ancient Greek

Arabic

Burmese Language

Chinese Language

French Studies

German Studies

Hindi Language

Indonesian Language

Italian Studies

Japanese Language

Japanese Linguistics

Korean Language

Latin

Mongolian Language

Persian

Russian Studies

Sanskrit Language

Spanish Studies

Tetum Language

Thai Language

Tok Pisin Language

Vietnamese Language

A minimum of 12 units of the following Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving courses:

ASIA2308 Linguistic Histories in Asia and the Pacific

FREN3109 Global Paris: Culture, History and Identity in the French Capital

HUMN2004 Global Vietnam: Gender, Labour and Migration

LING2015 Language, Culture and Translation

LING2029 Language, Assessment and Policy

LING2034 Communication in Health Care

PASI2001 Pacific Studies in a Globalising World

A maximum of 12 units from completion of courses available in:

• any of the above-listed language majors
• any of the following majors:

Asian Studies

Australian Indigenous Studies

Computer Science 

Contemporary Europe

English

Linguistics

Mathematical Modelling

Mathematics

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies

Pacific Studies

A minimum of 48 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU.

Majors

Minors

Elective Study

Once you have met the program requirements of your degree, you may have enough electives to complete an additional elective major, minor or specialisation.

Study Options

Admission Requirements

At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not guarantee entry into the program.

In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors.

The University reserves the right to alter or discontinue its programs and change admission requirements as needed.

Domestic applicants

Before applying for a program, you should review the general information about domestic undergraduate admission to ANU programs how to apply, and the program-specific information below.

-Applicants with recent secondary education are assessed on:

• completion of Australian Year 12 or equivalent, and the minimum Selection Rank (from their academic qualifications, plus any adjustment factors) requirement for this program; and
• English language proficiency; and
• any program-specific requirements listed below.

-Applicants with higher education study are assessed on:

• previous higher education studies; or secondary education results if completed less than one full-time equivalent year (1.0 FTE) of a degree; or the result from a bridging or preparatory course; and
• English language proficiency; and any program-specific requirements listed below.

-Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are assessed on:

• previously completed VET qualifications at AQF level 5 or higher (i.e. a Diploma or above); or secondary education results if the VET qualification is not completed; and
• English language proficiency; and any program-specific requirements listed below.

-Applicants with work and life experience are assessed on:

• ATAR or equivalent if secondary education was completed; or
• the Special Adult Entry Scheme (SAES); or
• work experience; and English language proficiency; and
• any program-specific requirements listed below.

International applicants

Applicants who complete a recognised secondary/senior secondary/post-secondary/tertiary sequence of study will be assessed on the basis of an equivalent selection rank that is calculated upon application. A list of commonly observed international qualifications and corresponding admission requirements can be found here. Applicants must also meet any program-specific requirements that are listed below.

Diversity factors & English language proficiency 

As Australia's national university, ANU is global representative of Australian research and education. ANU endeavours to recruit and maintain a diverse and deliberate student cohort representative not only of Australia, but the world. In order to achieve these outcomes, competitive ranking of applicants may be adjusted to ensure access to ANU is a reality for brilliant students from countries across the globe. If required, competitive ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency.

Further information is available for English Language Requirements for Admission 

Adjustment Factors

Adjustment factors are additional points added to an applicant’s Selection Rank (for example an applicant’s ATAR). ANU offers adjustment factors based on performance and equity principles, such as for high achievement in nationally strategic senior secondary subjects and for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. 

Selection Rank adjustments are granted in accordance with the approved schedules, and no more than 15 (maximum 5 subject/performance-based adjustment factors and maximum 10 equity-based adjustment factors) can be awarded. 

You may be considered for adjustment factors if you have:

• applied for an eligible ANU Bachelor degree program
• undertaken Australian Year 12 or the International Baccalaureate
• achieved an ATAR or equivalent at or above 70
• not previously attempted tertiary study.

Please visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.

Fee Information

All students are required to pay the Services and amenities fee (SA Fee)

The annual indicative fee provides an estimate of the program tuition fees for international students and domestic students (where applicable). The annual indicative fee for a program is based on the standard full-time enrolment load of 48 units per year (unless the program duration is less than 48 units). Fees for courses vary by discipline meaning that the fees for a program can vary depending on the courses selected. Course fees are reviewed on an annual basis and typically will increase from year to year. The tuition fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and the courses selected and are subject to increase during the period of study.

For further information on Fees and Payment please see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates may find work in diplomacy, trade, defence, translation, journalism, language analysis, language teaching, tourism, trade and many other fields.

Learning Outcomes

1. communicate proficiently and confidently in at least one language;
2. identify the structure and uses of the languages studied;
3. recognise and contrast the societies and cultures of the languages studied, and their socio-historical context;
4. construct a global schema of the connections between the languages studied and their geographical, social and cultural origins; and
5. recognise the importance and value of intercultural communication.

Further Information

Planning your program

Students in the Bachelor of Languages need to study a minimum of two languages but can choose to study more than two if they have strong existing competency in one of the languages in which an advanced minor is offered, or via the final list in the study requirements. This final list is designed to provide a range of course options for students and spans multiple discipline areas.

Bachelor of Languages students may wish to consider building on existing language skills by completing a minor in a language of which they already have knowledge (they will take a placement test to determine the correct level of entry) and a major in a new language, or vice versa. Students will follow the pathway mapped out in the study requirements for their chosen language major and/or minor/s.

Completing the Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving Course Requirement

Students completing the Bachelor of Languages are required to complete a minimum of 12 units of Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (TD) courses as part of their program. TD courses listed in the Bachelor of Languages are listed below, please check the course prerequisites carefully and plan your degree accordingly:

ASIA2308 Linguistic Histories in Asia and the Pacific

FREN3109 Global Paris: Culture, History and Identity in the French Capital

HUMN2004 Global Vietnam: Gender, Labour and Migration

LING2015 Language, Culture and Translation

LING2029 Language, Assessment and Policy

LING2034 Communication in Health Care

PASI2001 Pacific Studies in a Globalising World

Completing the Bachelor of Languages as part of a Flexible Double Degree

The Bachelor of Languages can be taken as a single degree or as part of a flexible double degree program. For example, many students combine the Bachelor of Languages with degree programs in International Relations, Law, International Security Studies, International Business, among other discipline areas. The Bachelor of Languages can also be combined with the Bachelor of Arts for an even broader range of course options across the arts, humanities and social sciences.

Depending on the chosen languages of specialisation, and whether the Bachelor of Languages is combined with other degree programs, graduates may find work in diverse fields, from translation and interpreting to roles in the Australian Public Service (e.g. DFAT, Defence), international NGOs or multinational corporations.

Further Study with a Bachelor of Languages (Honours)

Students in the Bachelor of Languages may also wish to consider completing the Bachelor of Languages (Honours) program after graduation. This year-long program, in which students undertake a major research project and complete further coursework, will help to further equip them for the workforce or prepare them for postgraduate study.