About the School of European Languages and Literatures

We offer a wide range of exciting study opportunities. We also encourage students to study abroad and take advantage of our links with overseas institutions.

You can study:
 

• Comparative Literature
• European Studies
• French
• German
• Italian
• Languages and Literature
• Latin American Studies
• Russian
• Spanish

There are also separate postgraduate programmes in Translation and Interpreting.
 

We combine innovative approaches to teaching with interdisciplinary perspectives on research. The School has 27 full-time academic staff with expertise in most of the major European cultural and literary traditions.

We also host specialised research centres.
 

• Research in the School of European Languages and Literatures 
• The New Zealand Centre for Latin American Studies
• The Pacific French Research Centre
• The Research Centre for Germanic Connections with New Zealand and the Pacific
   

The School of European Languages and Literatures fosters relationships with academic institutions and organizations world-wide. On this page you will find links to SELL related journals, organizations and associations.

The Europe Institute is a multi-disciplinary research institute that brings together researchers to promote research, scholarship and teaching on contemporary Europe and EU-related issues and collaboration on shared Europe-New Zealand concerns.

Visit the website.

The European Connection publishes essays in European Language Studies by students at New Zealand universities.

Find out more about The European Connection

The School of European Languages and Literatures expects its graduates to have attributes in a variety of areas such as specialist knowledge, general intellectual skills and personal qualities.

The languages you can study

• You can study French, German, Italian and Spanish at all levels from beginners to PhD, and Russian at Stage 1 level.
• Whether you’re a beginner or you’ve studied a language before you can pick up a language at the appropriate level at University.

More than just “learning a language”

• Studying with us does not just involve learning a language. It allows you to encounter another people, country, culture, history and way of living with courses in literature (contemporary and from the past), film, linguistics and cultural history.
• You may be able to study overseas as part of your degree. The University has exchange agreements with many European and Latin American universities, and assists with scholarships.
• In addition to majors in single languages, The School of European Languages and Literatures (SELL) offers a minor and major in European Studies, for which you may include courses in many departments, including History, Politics, Classics, Art History and Music. We offer a minor in Latin American Studies.
• Courses in Comparative Literature allow you to study literature across national boundaries.
• Translation Studies is offered at postgraduate level.

Your learning experience

• We use up-to-date, integrative, communicative texts and teaching methods. The texts we use include face-to-face conversation and multi-media, treating the language as a living entity, embodying both the everyday realities and the cultural inheritance of whole peoples.

Why study a European language?

• It opens up jobs, friendships, travel, new ways of thinking and expressing yourself. It is easy to assume that English-speakers don’t need to learn another language because of its popularity. Monolingual English-speakers are at a disadvantage when surrounded by people who speak two (or more) languages.
• Many young people in English-speaking countries have resisted learning another language. Therefore knowledge of a European language can be an advantage for employment in business, trade, international relations, cultural affairs and the media.

Careers using languages and subjects to take with a language

• A second language can be useful for a career in international trade, teaching, police, customs,  diplomacy, government service, aid and development work, NGOs,  journalism, the media and museums.
• If you are interested in cultural studies, you could combine a European language with  European Studies, Comparative Literature, English, Film TV and Media Studies, History, Music, Women’s Studies.
• If you are interested in working in international trade, international law, development or aid work, you could consider a conjoint degree such as a BA/BCom or BA/LLB.
• If you are interested in international communications, international relations, foreign affairs or politics then you could combine a European language with European Studies, Film TV and Media Studies, History, Political Studies or Sociology.

To find out more about European language courses

• See our different subjects on the SELL website
• Contact the Undergraduate or Postgraduate Adviser for the subject area that interests you. Visit SELL Key contacts.