I have a friend - well, I had a friend - doing both French and Italian. I don't really know what sort of level you'd be expected to know (I had no grasp of Economics when I began ... six months later I still don't), but one would assume they start from scratch. That said, some knowledge might be of use (and not just the ability to count to then, we're thinking more along the lines of having done it at school here). Check the entry prerequisites in the UAC Guide. Probably a much more reliable source than me or her.