Languages and Linguistics

Studying languages and linguistics offers a window into the cultural foundations of society and the nature of humanity itself. Languages reflect history and social values. They enable us to forge relationships and to carry out both mundane and complex tasks. The ANU is recognised nationally and internationally as a leading institute for teaching and research in languages and cultures. With over 25 languages on offer, we teach more languages than any other university in Australia. Our staff includes researchers at the cutting edge of a diverse range of areas related to language study. Research conducted at the ANU brings the latest developments in second language acquisition and language teaching pedagogy directly to the learning environment. As a language student at ANU, you can start at a level appropriate for your proficiency, from beginning to more advanced levels.

Languages and and Linguistics at the ANU encompasses languages within the modern European diaspora (French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Portuguese); Ancient Greek and Latin; Gamilaraay, an Australian Indigenous language; Middle Eastern languages (Arabic, Persian, Turkish), and a range of languages across Asia and the Pacific, including Burmese, Cantonese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese Mandarin, Literary Chinese, Mongolian, Sanskrit, Taiwanese, Tetum, Thai, Tok Pisin, Tibetan and Vietnamese.

Linguistics is the study of human language: how we use languages to communicate, how languages vary and change over time, how meanings are expressed, how children and adults acquire language, how communication differs across communities, and much more. ANU has strengths in a range of areas including applied linguistics, forensic linguistics, sociolinguistics, phonetics, semantics, language contact, and language documentation and description. Our staff undertake linguistic research on diverse language varieties from all over the world, including many Indigenous Australian languages and languages of the Asia-Pacific region. ANU Linguistics consistently places among top institutions in international ranking (e.g., as #1 in Australia and #22 in the world in the 2021 QS rankings). Our research underpins a vibrant undergraduate teaching program, fosters a thriving community of graduate students, and is supported by leading research centres:

The ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language investigates how languages vary, how we learn them, how we process them and how they evolve. The centre is home for the language-focused, cross-disciplinary work of linguists, anthropologists, philosophers, biologists and psychologists.

The Institute for Communication in Health Care works to translate cutting edge communication research into best practice and training for safe and compassionate healthcare.

The Australian National Dictionary Centre (jointly funded by The Australian National University and Oxford University Press Australia) conducts research into Australian English, and provides Oxford University Press with editorial expertise for their Australian dictionaries.

Check the School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics website for more information on the faculty, research, projects, latest news, upcoming events and more.

*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024

^Times Higher Education - Global University Employability Ranking 2023-24

Key facts

4 in Australia
53 for Linguistics in World*

#1 in Australia for graduate employability^

Degree programs

Bachelor of Arts

Key facts

3 in Australia
38 for Arts and Humanities in World*

3 year full-time
Semester 1 & 2 intake

#1 in Australia for graduate employability^

UAC Code: 131003
CRICOS Code: 074016B
Bachelor of Languages

Key facts

3 years
Semester 1 intake

#1 in Australia for graduate employability^

UAC Code: 131193
CRICOS Code: 073988B
Diploma of Languages

Key facts

1 Year FT* or 3-4 Years PT
Semester 1 & 2 intake

#1 in Australia for graduate employability^

UAC Code: 130015
Graduate Certificate of General and Applied Linguistics

Key facts

4 in Australia
53 for Linguistics in World*

0.5 Year FT or 1 Year PT
Semester 1 & 2 intake

#1 in Australia for graduate employability^

UAC Code: 830064
Graduate Certificate of Studies

Key facts

0.5 Year FT or 3 Years PT
Semester 1 & 2 intake

#1 in Australia for graduate employability^

UAC Code: 830584
CRICOS Code: 082261M
Master of General and Applied Linguistics

Key facts

4 in Australia
53 for Linguistics in World*

1.5 years full-time
Semester 1 & 2 intake

#1 in Australia for graduate employability^

UAC Code: 830052
CRICOS Code: 108329M
PhD & MPhil

Key facts

2-4 Year FT or 4-8 Year PT
Semester 1 & 2 intake

#1 in Australia for graduate employability^

Hear from our students

I chose ANU because I wanted to try somewhere different, a little further from my home in Brisbane. The strength of the International Relations and Political Science program at ANU really impressed me. I couldn't think of anywhere more logical to study these areas.
Brody , Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws

My brilliant career

"Every single day there’s some kind of enjoyment and I do something that makes me realise I’ve just got the best job."
Sarah Payne , BA '95

Watch the video

View discipline flyers

Ancient Greek (major/minor)
Ancient Greek discipline flyer
(PDF, 3.09 MB )
Arabic (major/minor)
Arabic discipline flyer
(PDF, 3.18 MB )
Bachelor of Arts
 Bachelor of Arts flyer
(PDF, 3.99 MB )
Bachelor of Languages
Bachelor of Languages flyer
(PDF, 219.77 KB )
Diploma of Languages
Diploma of Languages flyer
(PDF, 5.9 MB )
French Language and Culture (major/minor)
French Language and Culture discipline flyer
(PDF, 1.98 MB )
German Language and Culture (major/minor)
German Language and Culture flyer
(PDF, 3.53 MB )
Graduate Certificate of General and Applied Linguistics
Graduate Certificate of General and Applied Linguistics flyer
(PDF, 2.56 MB )
Graduate Certificate of Studies
Graduate Certificate of Studies flyer
(PDF, 5.06 MB )
Italian language and culture (major/minor)
Italian Language and Culture discipline flyer
(PDF, 4.57 MB )
Latin (major/minor)
Latin discipline flyer
(PDF, 1.19 MB )
Linguistics (major/minor)
Linguistics discipline flyer
(PDF, 3 MB )
Master of General and Applied Linguistics
Master of General and Applied Linguistics flyer
(PDF, 2.56 MB )
Persian (major/minor)
Persian discipline flyer
(PDF, 1.33 MB )
Portuguese (major)
Portuguese discipline flyer
(PDF, 4.17 MB )
Russian (minor)
Russian discipline flyer
(PDF, 2.31 MB )
Spanish (major/minor)
Spanish discipline flyer
(PDF, 4.25 MB )

Learn more

Check our series of videos about degree programs, majors and disciplines, and research strengths for your enjoyment.

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