Buongiorno!

Italy's language and culture have been of great significance for centuries and in recent times Italy has become one of the world's leading industrial and economic powers.

Connect with Italian culture through the Italian language

There’s no doubt that learning Italian will exercise your mind, enhance your appreciation of European cultures, and enrich your experience when you travel to Italy – but as Australia has one of the largest populations of Italian speakers outside Italy, studying Italian can also be a great way to connect with your communities here in Australia.

You’ll take a placement test to make sure you’re in the right class for your level, whether you’re a beginner or have studied Italian before – but you won’t just have the opportunity to learn the language, you’ll be able to engage critically with many aspects of Italian culture, society and history. There are opportunities for you to study in Italy, both through exchange and study abroad programs and through in-country subjects – and there are scholarships you can apply for to help you get there. There are even opportunities for you to do work integrated learning in Italian to help foster your future career prospects.

Where can Italian studies take you?

After studying Italian at University, you’ll have developed strong analytical and critical thinking competencies, and in our multicultural society your abilities in transcultural communication will give you a competitive edge. Italian will broaden your career prospects in fields such as international relations, education, allied health fields, diplomacy, community development, translation and interpretation, media and communications, government, tourism and trade – just to name a few possibilities.

As a physiotherapist in the public health sector, you need to communicate with patients and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with empathy and sensitivity. I use my Italian daily to communicate with Italian-speaking patients in their own language. This helps to develop rapport to ensure optimal care.

Sarah Retica
Former Italian Studies student

Where do I start?

Before you begin studying a language, there are a couple of steps you will need to take:

1. Pick how you’ll study your chosen language

There is a wide range of options available to students interested in studying Italian

2. Apply/Enrol

You’ll need to create an account and apply for your chosen course before taking the language questionnaire and placement test.

Visit your chosen course page and begin the application process.

3. Online placement test

The language questionnaire and online placement test makes sure you're placed in the right class for your ability and background in Italian. It's important to note that you should not study for this test or get a friend to take it for you as it will assess your current ability. Your test results will determine what level class you're placed in.

Once you have completed your placement test, you will be placed in one of the below entry points:

Italian Studies 1 entry point
For students who have very little or no background in the Italian language.

Italian Studies 3 entry point
Usually for students who have undertaken four or five years of secondary school Italian.

Italian Studies 5 entry point
Usually for VCE Italian students.

Italian Studies 7 entry point
Usually for native speakers or near-native speakers of Italian, or for candidates who have spent a number of years in an Italian speaking country.

Take placement test

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