How can I study a language as part of my course?

You may be able to study a language as either:

  • a minor (four units)
  • a second major (six - eight units)
  • option units (electives).

Check the structure of your course to see if you can incorporate a language into your study.

What languages can I study?

Through the Brisbane Universities Language Alliance, you can study a range of languages offered here at QUT, at Griffith University or at the University of Queensland.

QUT
Mandarin, native-speaking Chinese - English translating and interpreting
Griffith
Japanese, Italian, Spanish, advanced Mandarin (for non-native speakers)
UQ
French, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Mandarin and advanced Mandarin (for non-native speakers)

Studying languages at UQ or Griffith

If you want to study a language that’s offered at UQ or Griffith, you’ll enrol in your language unit as a cross-institutional student. You can apply online through the Brisbane Universities Languages Alliance once you’ve been admitted to study at QUT, received approval from your faculty and added the appropriate language unit codes to your QUT study plan.

You must be admitted as a QUT student, enrolled in your course, and have room in your degree structure to take an elective, minor or second major in a language.

Studying Mandarin at QUT

Learning a language

We teach beginner Mandarin subjects at our Gardens Point campus:

    You can do Chinese units not offered at QUT via the Brisbane University Alliances.

    You’ll be able to find out which units you can enrol in with a placement interview that will take place after you’ve accepted your offer to study.

Translating and interpreting

We also offer some units in Chinese-English translation and interpreting:

These units are available to students who are:

  • native Mandarin/Chinese speakers from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan or Singapore or have near-native competence in Chinese and English
  • interested in developing an understanding of Chinese and English language use in business
  • interested in developing skills in translating business texts.

You can do translation and interpreting units not offered at QUT via the Brisbane University Alliances..

Study Mandarin on exchange

If you're studying Mandarin at QUT, you can apply to participate in a one-semester immersion program at Qingdao University, China. Qingdao University is one of China's most progressive and dynamic tertiary institutions and the largest university in the Province. The city of Qingdao is a modern metropolis with a population of two million people.

During the program, you will:

  • develop your Chinese language skills and increase your proficiency
  • improve your listening, speaking, reading and writing skills through daily communication with native speakers
  • get valuable insight into Chinese culture and society.

A one-semester program runs for 16 weeks, with about 300 hours of classes.

To be eligible, you need to:

  • have successfully completed Mandarin 1 (AMB031) and Mandarin 2 (AMB032) with a GPA of 5
  • complete 96 CP of your total degree
  • have 3 (36CP) or 4 (48CP) university-wide elective spaces available in your study plan.

For more information on how to apply, contact Chinese Program Coordinator, Ingrid Wang.

Looking for English language courses?

International students can study English language courses with our QUT International College. You can study to:

  • improve your English
  • meet the language requirements for a course
  • prepare for an English language proficiency exam.

Explore our English language programs