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Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

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Facts & figures

Modern Languages

#1 in Sydney
Top 30 in the world
2020 QS World University Rankings

Faculties and schools_

School of Languages and Cultures

Ranked #1 for Modern Languages in Sydney*

We offer a wide range of language studies. Join us to discover the world's cultures first hand and become a truly global citizen.

Placing first in Sydney and the top 30 in the world for modern languages*, we lead in the education and research of languages and cultures*. Our language offerings include Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew (Classical and Modern), Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Modern Greek, Sanskrit and Spanish. We also offer study options in Asian Studies, Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies, European Studies, and International Comparative Literature and Translation Studies.

With Australia’s growing diversity, we equip our students with cultural and linguistic competency and enable them to become successful and responsible citizens of the country and of our interconnected world.

For students who haven't had the opportunity to learn a new language, we offer the largest study in-country program at the University. Undergraduate students can go on global study adventures to various destinations through our Open Learning Environment (OLE) In-Country units and learn about a culture and its language first-hand.

*2020 QS World University Rankings by Subject

Our offerings

Study areas

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Modern languages and cultures

When you study language or linguistics with us, you will gain qualities that set you apart – unique communication skills and deep cultural awareness.

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History, classical languages and archaeology

Develop a deep understanding of some of the world's oldest and heritage-rich cultures, civilisations and languages, while learning new and transferable skills.

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English, literature and writing

Whether you love reading, writing or analysing the works of great poets, you will gain a deeper understanding of the theories and histories of writing and develop the core skills of writing.

Research expertise

Languages and cultures research

Languages and cultures research

We study languages, literature and cultures, along with studies of ancient and modern societies in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, as well as the multilingual reality of Australia.

World Literatures and the Global South Conference

UPDATE: In light of COVID-19 developments, please be advised this University event will no longer take place in the short term. Some of our events are transitioning to online, and these will be advertised accordingly. Let us know what event you're interested in via our online form, and we'll update you as the situation changes.

Learn more about the University’s advice regarding COVID-19 here.

The School of Languages and Cultures proudly hosted the third international congress of the World Literature Association on 'World Literatures and the Global South' on 23–25 August 2019.

Co-convened with the Peking University Australian Studies Centre and the World Literature Association, this international conference engaged with literary production on and from the Global South in their own languages as well as in translation.

Our people

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Read our latest school magazine

In this issue: Rare Renaissance sketch discovery, Chinese tomb murals along the Silk Road, language learning via cultural immersion and more

Are you a current student?

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Upcoming events

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Head of School

Professor Yixu Lu

Visit Professor Lu's academic profile

Address

Room 506, Brennan MacCallum Building A18, The University of Sydney NSW 2006

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Contact

Phone

1800 SYD UNI (1800 793 864) (in Australia)
+61 2 8627 1444 (outside Australia)

Email

arts.slcadmin@sydney.edu.au

Looking to enrol?

Visit the enrolment page on our student site

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SLC Magazine

Our school magazine features in-depth editorials from our academics along with research and education highlights.

Featured news

30 January 2020

Library staff looking over an open book

Not just for laughs: 3 new ideas about humour

Funniness is culturally, contextually, and personally dependent, as highlighted in three pieces of quirky University of Sydney research.

28 January 2020

Library staff looking over an open book

China in 2020 - what can we expect?

Last Saturday 25 January was Chinese New Year. As we move into the year of the rat, experts at the University of Sydney share their thoughts on what we can expect from China in 2020.

16 January 2020

Library staff looking over an open book

Carole Muller’s million-dollar bequest to support research on Bali

In memory of the former University of Sydney student, two scholarships have been established for postgraduate research and overseas fieldwork on Balinese culture.

20 November 2019

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Graduate gives $175,000 to support Department of Modern Greek and Byzantine Studies

Peter Pontikis, an alumnus of the University of Sydney, has generously pledged to donate a total of $175,000 for the teaching of Modern Greek language and culture.

22 October 2019

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How studying languages can expand your world

In this interconnected era, cross-cultural and multilingual skills are integral to navigating the world around us. We talk with two of our former students who are making their mark through languages.

Five minutes with Yixu Lu

In the lead up to the University's first multilingual conference on world literature, we speak with Professor Yixu Lu, convenor of the World Literatures and Global South Conference, about the cultural and linguistic diversity of international literary works.

Library staff looking over an open book

Sydney experts help secure Australia's place in Remembrance Alliance

Scholars from the University of Sydney's Department of Hebrew, Biblical and Jewish Studies played a vital role in helping Australia secure membership to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

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University of Sydney research shines in ERA results

All 22 broad fields of research undertaken at the University of Sydney have been rated as above or well above world standard by the Australian Research Council in a report released today.

Library staff looking over an open book

Alumna's $2 million gift for teaching modern and biblical Hebrew

Ann Kirby, an alumna of the University of Sydney, has left a $2 million bequest to the University to be used for teaching modern and biblical Hebrew.

25 February 2019

Library staff looking over an open book

Sydney librarian discovers rare drawing by Renaissance artist

One of the most enigmatic figures in Renaissance art, Giorgione, has been identified as the artist behind a drawing that remained undiscovered for over 500 years on the back page of a University of Sydney library book

20 November 2018

The lost voices of WWI: German internment in Australia

The story of Australia's 'German Concentration Camps', as they were called, is a little-known episode in the history of the First World War. Now, 100 years on, a collection of letters written by these internees have been translated into English for the first time by students from the University of Sydney's Department of Germanic Studies.

18 September 2018

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Edward Said's Orientalism

Four decades ago, Edward Said released Orientalism, a book that transformed the study of the non-West and pioneered entirely new fields of academic enquiry. Whether Said is considered a beacon or provocateur, academics from all over the world have been touched by his work and ideas.

09 February 2017

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Improving Australia's understanding of China

Professor Ying Jie Guo discusses what it means to be Chinese in the modern era as the University continues to deepen its teaching and learning in this vitally important area.