The Graduate Diploma of Arts at the University of Melbourne builds a solid foundation for your further studies and research. Develop the analytical and critical capacities you need to apply to contemporary contexts, and understand the important issues and conceptual frameworks relating to your area of study. Examine contemporary modules like anthropology, gender studies, and creative writing, or opt to major or minor in languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian, or French. Tailor your study through a range of electives and benefit from flexible study options, including evening classes.<br><br>French is one of the world's major international languages: it is spoken by over 200 million people in 43 countries, on five continents. A knowledge of French may increase access to careers in international relations, development studies, business, science and the arts. The overall objective of the French Studies program is to teach students to process information from a wide variety of materials in French, both written and spoken, and to produce accounts and discussions of that information in a variety of forms. In subjects at all levels, you will be guided towards undertaking independent research projects into areas including language, literature, politics, cinema, theatre, travel writing, food and wine, immigration and identity. The core subjects in French are organised in a progressive sequence from French 1 through to French 7. Entry and exit points are determined by the French Program based on the student's background in the language, placement testing or prerequisites. Students normally progress through the subjects in consecutive order. Mid-year entry is also possible into subjects with even numbers, subject to appropriate prior experience and approval from the head of the French program. Accelerated progression is possible on advice from the French Program.