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.
Learn a language. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a confident speaker, our language courses will help you to build valuable skills and advance your career.
Learn Auslan (Australian Sign Language), the language of the Australian Deaf community. Develop skills in a complex visual-gestural language to prepare you for a range of careers.
Explore the cultural landscapes of our nearest neighbours. Learn about Asia and its languages while examining the history, culture and political systems of this dynamic continent.
Explore Greece and Rome through history, literature, architecture and art. Use your critical thinking and analytical skills to understand worlds that existed thousands of years ago.
Discover how words can be used to convince, captivate and compel. Gain experience writing for publication, the stage, electronic media, advertising and public relations.
Step into the world of English literature. Explore literary history, theory and contemporary critical approaches through a focused study of literary genres, periods and regions.
Spoken in the United Nations, as well as in Europe, Africa and the Caribbean, French studies opens up new ways of interacting with the world and prepares you for a range of careers.
Explore aspects of Greek language, literature, history and politics and examine contemporary Greece within the context of Europe and the Greek diaspora.
Study the most widely spoken national language of India. Learn how modern Hindi draws upon India’s diverse cultures and traditions to prepare you for a range of careers.
With our multidisciplinary approach and student exchange opportunities, Italian studies lets you master a new language and deepens your understanding of this rich culture.
Step into the world of Japanese culture and language. Develop skills in conversational Japanese and learn to read and write the hiragana, katakana and kanji scripts.
Develop an understanding of human communication. Explore the building blocks of language, the comparison of oral, written, and signed languages and the social significance of language.
Step into the world of Spanish language and culture. Master a language spoken by over 400 million people and explore the culture and literature of the Hispanic world.
Embrace your creative potential with an interdisciplinary arts program designed to nurture your technical and conceptual development to prepare you for a range of careers.
By examining the political, social and cultural role of art, film and media from the past and present, build the analytical and hands-on skills to shape today’s image-saturated world.
Become a graduate researcher. Join a vibrant community that makes significant contributions to our society and is serious about supporting graduate researchers.
Are you an Indigenous high school student or prospective mature age student? Our RISE with La Trobe Indigenous pathways program prepares you for university study.
Read more
Supportive learning
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.
Professional experience
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.
A global perspective
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.
