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Study languages and linguistics - 膧kona ng膩 reo me te wetereo

Study international languages and linguistics at Massey to deepen your understanding of how we communicate with each other.

Overview

Language is at the heart of communication 鈥撀燼 tool we use to connect with each other. Linguistics is the study of language 鈥撀爐he mechanics of how we communicate.

Learn from world-class lecturers with deep experience of different languages and cultures. Discover new ideas with researchers specialising in areas such as language learning or Mandarin in New Zealand's workforce. Practise new languages in supportive shared environments. Develop your communication skills and cross-cultural understanding.

Languages and linguistics are a good fit if you:

  • enjoy school subjects such as English or languages
  • want to understand how we use, learn and teach languages
  • like thinking analytically and communicating clearly.

Key topics

Languages and linguistics courses may cover:

  • languages such as Chinese, Spanish or te reo M膩ori
  • discourse studies 鈥 expression and meaning in the language of conversation, media and more
  • phonetics 鈥 how words are pronounced according to language-specific rules
  • semantics 鈥 the analysis of word meanings
  • syntax 鈥 how words are put together to make sentences
  • teaching techniques, including online language learning and TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages).

Speech and language therapy courses may cover:

  • childhood communication development
  • communication disorders caused by brain injury
  • swallowing disorders.

Popular languages to study at Massey

Massey teaches Chinese, French, Japanese, Spanish, and te reo M膩ori 鈥 and English language skills for international students.

Learning a language helps you engage with different people and cultures. It can also give you a competitive edge in industries such as:

  • business, including finance and exporting
  • diplomacy and foreign affairs
  • tourism.

As language learning deepens with cultural context, our highly interactive programmes include history, literature, music and popular culture. Massey students can also apply for exchanges at our partner universities in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America.

Student exchange programme

What is linguistics?

Linguistics delves into the science of language. It includes:

  • how our brains process language
  • how languages evolve
  • how culture and social groups affect language use
  • how people communicate with and influence others in different settings.

Bachelor of Arts 鈥 BA

With Massey's BA, you can study subjects that you enjoy while learning to be a creative, critical and independent thinker.

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Bachelor of Communication 鈥 BC

Become a well-rounded, innovative communication specialist who is sought after by employers, with Massey鈥檚 Bachelor of Communication.

Two students on campus looking at laptop Two students on campus looking at laptop Two students on campus looking at laptop Two students on campus looking at laptop

How to study languages and linguistics

Discover what we offer if you鈥檙e interested in languages and linguistics 鈥 whether you鈥檙e coming to university for the first time, changing direction or returning to advance your study or career.

Undergraduate study

Undergraduate study An undergraduate qualification is generally the first thing you鈥檒l study at university. In some qualifications you can choose what subject you鈥檇 like to specialise in.

Bachelor's degrees

Degrees are the standard qualifications you do at university 鈥 the most common is called a bachelor鈥檚. Degrees give you enough time to explore your interests, and also focus on specific subjects.

Undergraduate bachelor's degrees with honours

An undergraduate honours degree is a four-year bachelor鈥檚 degree. We also offer postgraduate honours years.

Undergraduate certificates

If you want to study at university, but aren't sure if you want to commit to a degree, try an undergraduate certificate.

Graduate certificates

Graduate certificates let you study in a subject you're interested in without doing a second bachelor's degree. Or you can use it as a bridge to postgraduate study if you already have an undergraduate degree.

Undergraduate diplomas

Undergraduate diplomas let you try university study before you commit to a degree. They鈥檙e also useful if you need to advance your career.

Graduate diplomas

Graduate diplomas can help you advance to postgraduate study or research in a subject you haven鈥檛 majored in for your undergraduate study.

Postgraduate study

Postgraduate study Once you鈥檝e graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree 鈥 or have equivalent experience 鈥 you鈥檒l be ready to take on postgraduate study.

Master's degrees

A master's degree normally builds on a main subject of study from your undergraduate degree.

Postgraduate certificates

Postgraduate certificates give you an introduction to postgraduate-level study. They鈥檙e shorter than postgraduate degrees. If you鈥檙e successful, you may be able to use the credits towards a postgraduate diploma

Postgraduate diplomas

Postgraduate diplomas are postgraduate-level qualifications that are longer than a postgraduate certificate. If you鈥檙e successful, you might be able to use the credits towards the longer master鈥檚 degree.

PhD and other doctoral degrees

Doctoral degrees, including PhDs, are the highest degrees we award. They鈥檙e very demanding and their entry criteria reflect this.

What our students say

鈥淵oung people are contributing to the future of the language and making it relevant to their lives. If any generation is likely to show the future of te reo M膩ori it鈥檒l be those who can speak M膩ori, and it鈥檒l be the younger generation who鈥檝e been raised through M膩ori medium education.鈥
Hinurewa Pout奴

Ng膩ti Rangi, Te 膧ti Haunui a P膩p膩rangi, Ng膩ti Maniapoto

Doctor of Philosophy

鈥淭eachers were very available and so encouraging. The four years at Massey equipped me well to become a language teacher.鈥
Christine Feuillade

Bachelor of Arts (Spanish, Minor in French)

鈥淚 ended up with my dream job working with adults who have speech, language or swallowing difficulties mainly as a result of brain injury.鈥
Karen Sturge

Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy

Our facilities

You鈥檒l have access to a wide range of first-class facilities when you study with us.

A mother, child and a specialist playing with toys.

Speech-language Therapy Clinic

A teaching clinic offering therapy for children and adults who experience communication and eating difficulties. Supervised by specialist staff, students provide assessment and intervention support at the clinic and in the community.

Location: Auckland campus

Te P奴tahi-a-Toi

Te P奴tahi-a-Toi - School of M膩ori Knowledge has a r奴nanga room and a wharekai 鈥 Toi Te Ora 鈥 where we can manaaki visitors, students and staff.

Location: Manawat奴 campus

Te P奴tahi-a-Toi

Marae and M膩ori spaces

Te Rau Karamu Marae on the Pukeahu campus during sunset

Te Rau Karamu Marae

Te Rau Karamu Marae provides stunning art-filled learning and teaching spaces and sits at the heart of the Wellington campus.

Te Whare Taupua

The M膩ori space on our Auckland campus. Te Whare Taupua is home to Te Rau Tauawhi, the M膩ori student support centre. While it's mostly a student space, it's also used for M膩ori events.

Marae and M膩ori spaces

English language courses

New to university, or keen to improve your English language skills? Our courses include:

Jobs in languages and linguistics

Many jobs rely on the strong communication skills gained while studying languages or linguistics.

Careers can be in all sorts of industries 鈥 from business to government agencies, education to healthcare, charities to non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Then there are specialist language careers, such as translating, research or teaching.

Languages and linguistics careers include:

  • communications roles in government or businesses
  • diplomats
  • intelligence officers in the military or security agencies
  • interpreters and translators
  • policy analysts, who advise government or businesses
  • speech-language therapists, who work with people with communication or swallowing disorders
  • teachers, including teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL).

Annual salary ranges for jobs

  • 鈥 $65,000 to $113,000
  • 鈥 $70,000 to $179,000
  • 鈥 $86,000 to $122,000
  • 鈥 $55,000 to 92,000
  • 鈥 $78,000 to $131,000
  • 鈥 $86,000 to $104,000
  • 鈥 $25 to $40 per hour

Salary ranges disclaimer

Indicative pay rates are:

  • in New Zealand dollars
  • based on data.

Which languages and linguistics qualification?

Examples of where our qualifications may take you.

Table showing jobs and what you could study to enter them.
Qualification Jobs
Bachelor of Arts (Linguistics)
Bachelor of Communication
Communications professional for business or government
Bachelor of Arts (Linguistics) Policy analyst
Bachelor of Arts specialising in your chosen language Diplomat
Bachelor of Arts specialising in your chosen language Interpreter or translator
Bachelor of Communication Technical writer
Master of Speech and Language Therapy Speech-language therapist
Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics
Master of Applied Linguistics (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
TESOL teacher

Get an information guide

Download our guide to find out more about studying languages and linguistics at Massey.