Immerse yourself in a remarkable and complex part of the world.

The Middle Eastern and Central Asian regions of the World are rich in history, geographical wonders, political turmoil, and socio-cultural influence. They are areas of constant domestic and international interest as events often unfold which have global relevance and significance.

This program will take you through the topics, debates and developments in the Middle East and Central Asia. You will study the socio-cultural, political, historical and economic structures of these regions and develop a comprehensive knowledge of their relationship to global socio-cultural, political and economic trends.

To fully engage with the history and culture of the regions, you can also study a Middle Eastern or Central Asian language.

Statistics opens the door to understanding our world through the exploration of data and the modelling of uncertainty. The need for statistics is growing rapidly as our ability to collect massive amounts of data outruns our ability to understand and use the data we collect. Hal Varian, Chief Economist at Google, declared that “the sexy job in the next ten years will be statisticians”, as the challenge of understanding large, complex data structures mounts. It is estimated that 2.5 exabytes of data is generated every single day, with the accumulated amount of data doubling every 18 months, and that 90% of all data ever gathered was produced within the last two years. What’s more, statistics is critical for every discipline for which data play a role, and in responding to the world’s biggest challenges such as climate change, terrorism, health and medicine, and global economic conditions. Some of the world’s largest employers of statisticians include Google and Facebook as well as governments, financial institutions, medical and pharmaceutical industries, universities and many other sectors. By completing a BStat at ANU, you stand ready to meet humanity’s biggest challenges by understanding the world we observe through the eyes of data and statistical and probability modelling.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates may find work in policy development, foreign affairs, government, private business, tourism, trade, journalism and many other fields.

Graduates may find work in policy development, foreign affairs, government, private business, tourism, trade, journalism and many other fields.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

1. Understand and evaluate historical and current events and developments that have shaped the Middle East and Central Asia,

2. Identify and critique the contemporary socio-cultural and political systems of the Middle East and Central Asia,

3. Analyse current debates relating to regional cooperation and unity in the context of tensions in traditions,

4. Analyse the global significance of events and developments in the Middle East and Central Asia, and

5. Communicate in a Middle Eastern or Central Asian language. 

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

1. Review and synthesise a broad range of statistical knowledge in their major

2. Demonstrate the ability to use R statistical computing language

3. Carry out model selection in a multiple linear regression modelling context

4. Describe the concepts of stochastic processes in discrete and continuous time

5. Describe and interpret probability theory, continuous random variables, and sampling distributions and the central limit theorem

6. Analyse programming problems to suggest, design and implement appropriate modular program structures, based on a data-directed approach.

Admission Requirements

Admission to all programs is on a competitive basis. Admission to undergraduate degrees is based on meeting the ATAR requirement or an equivalent rank derived from the following qualifications:

• An Australian year 12 qualification or international equivalent; OR
• A completed Associate Diploma, Associate Degree, AQF Diploma, Diploma, AQF Advanced Diploma, Graduate Certificate or international equivalent; OR
• At least one standard full-time year (1.0 FTE) in a single program of degree level study at an Australian higher education institution or international equivalent; OR
• An approved tertiary preparation course unless subsequent study is undertaken.

Click HERE for further information about domestic admission.

More information about ATAR requirements for individual programs can be found HERE.

The table below is a guide to the entry level required for domestic applicants. Exact entry level will be set at time of offer.

Domestic applicant entry requirements

Queensland Band equivalents are a guide only - selection is made on a UAI equivalent that is not available to students.

International applicant entry requirements

International applicants may view further information on admissions requirements at Entry Requirements for International Undergraduate Applicants

The University reserves the right to alter or discontinue its programs as required.

Prerequisites

ACT: Specialist Mathematics (major/minor) (160+) Recommended Studies:  Specialist Mathematics (double major)
NSW: HSC Mathematics Extension 1 with a minimum performance band of E3 Recommended Studies: HSC Mathematics Extensions 2
QLD: Mathematics B and Mathematics C, with a grade of 'H' in each
SA/NT: Mathematics 1 (Double) and Mathematics 2 with a score of at least 15/20 in both subjects
TAS: Mathematics Stage 2 and Mathematics Stage 3 with a score of at least 15/20 in both subjects
VIC: Mathematical Methods 3&4 and Specialist Mathematics 3/4 with at least 36/50 in each subject
WA: Applicable Mathematics and Calculus with a score of at least 72/100
IB: Mathematics (HL) with at least 6

Adjustment Factors

The National Access Scheme 2014

ANU offers bonus points for nationally strategic senior secondary subjects, and in recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. 

Bonus points are applied to all applicants with an ATAR at or above 70. Points are awarded in accordance with the approved schedule, and no more than 10 points (maximum 5 academic points and maximum 5 equity points) will be awarded.

Bonus points do not apply to programs with an ATAR cutoff of 98 or higher.

Bonus Points are only awarded to domestic applicants applying for admission through UAC who have not previously attempted tertiary study.

How to apply

Academic Bonus Points: senior secondary students do not need to apply for ANU academic bonus points. They are automatically added in accordance with the schedule.

Educational Access Scheme: senior secondary students do not need to apply if their school is part of the Priority School Funding Program or Country Areas Program. All other applicants should refer to http://www.uac.edu.au/eas/  for more information.

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are.  Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:

A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 96 units must include:

12 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

MEAS1001 Introduction to the Modern Middle East 

MEAS1002 Islam : History and Institutions 

36 units from completion of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies courses from the following list:

BUSI2024 Dynamics of Business in the Middle East

MEAS2000 Iranian History and Culture

MEAS2001 New States of Eurasia: Emerging Issues in Politics and Security

MEAS2002 Turkish History: Ottoman State to Modern Turkey

MEAS2003 Modern Turkey: History, Culture and Regional Relations

MEAS2004 Turkish Politics and Foreign Policy

MEAS2105 The Political Economy of the Middle East

MEAS2107 Gender and Culture in Iran and the Middle East

MEAS2108 Gallipoli: History and National Imagination

POLS2031 Politics in the Middle East

POLS2069 Politics in Russia

POLS2070 Politics in Central Asia

Either:

48 units from completion of one of the following language majors:

Arabic

Persian

Or:

Either:

24 units from completion of one of the following language minors 

Arabic

Persian

24 units from completion of one of the following:

an in-country study abroad component/exchange in the same language as the minor

an internship undertaken in the same language as the minor

Or:

24 units from completion of one of the following advanced language minors: 

Advanced Arabic

Advanced Persian 

24 units from completion of courses from the following majors, minors and courses:

Advanced Ancient Greek Minor

Advanced Arabic Minor

Advanced French Studies Minor

Advanced German Studies Minor

Advanced Hispanic Culture Minor

Advanced Hispanic Linguistics Minor

Advanced Hispanic Studies Specialisation

Advanced Italian Studies Minor

Advanced Latin Minor

Advanced Persian Minor

Advanced Spanish Studies Minor

Advanced Studies Minor

American Studies Minor

Ancient Greek Major

Ancient Greek Minor

Ancient History Major

Ancient History Minor

Anthropology Major

Anthropology Minor

ANU Leadership and Research Minor

Applied Linguistics Minor

Arabic Major

Arabic Minor

Archaeology Major

Archaeology Minor

Art History Major

Art History Minor

Art Theory Major

Art Theory Minor

Asian Art History Minor

Asian Studies Major

Asian Studies Minor

Australian Indigenous Studies Major

Australian Indigenous Studies Minor

Australian Politics Minor

Biological Anthropology Major

Biological Anthropology Minor

Chinese Language Major

Chinese Language Minor

Classical Chinese Minor

Climate Science and Policy Minor

Comparative Politics Minor

Contemporary Europe Major

Contemporary Europe Minor

Criminology Major

Criminology Minor

Demography Minor

Development Studies Major

Development Studies Minor

Digital Humanities Major

Digital Humanities Minor

Economic Studies Major

Economic Studies Minor

English Major

English Minor

Environmental Policy Minor

Environmental Studies Major

Environmental Studies Minor

European History Major

European History Minor

Film Minor

Forensic Anthropology Minor

Forensic Linguistics Minor

French Language and Culture Major

French Language and Culture Minor

Gender and Sexuality Minor

Gender, Sexuality and Culture Major

Geography Major

Geography Minor

German Language and Culture Major

German Language and Culture Minor

Health, Medicine and the Body Minor

Heritage and Museum Studies Minor

Hindi Language Major

Hindi Language Minor

History Major

History Minor

Human Ecology Minor

Human Evolutionary Biology Major

Human Evolutionary Biology Minor

Human Rights Major

Human Rights Minor

Indonesian Language Major

Indonesian Language Minor

International Communication Major

International Communication Minor

International Relations Major

International Relations Minor

Italian Language and Culture Major

Italian Language and Culture Minor

Japanese Language Major

Japanese Language Minor

Korean Language Major

Korean Language Minor

Latin American Studies Major

Latin American Studies Minor

Latin Major

Latin Minor

Linguistics Major

Linguistics Minor

Mathematics Major

Mathematics Minor

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Major

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Minor

Music Major

Music Minor

Music Technology Minor

Pacific Studies Major

Pacific Studies Minor

Persian Major

Persian Minor

Philosophy and Science Minor

Philosophy Major

Philosophy Minor

Political Science Major

Political Science Minor

Political Theory Minor

Popular Music

Psychology Major

Russian Minor

Sanskrit Language Major

Sanskrit Language Minor

Social Psychology Minor

Social Research Methods Minor

Sociology Major

Sociology Minor

Spanish Major

Spanish Minor

Sustainable Development Minor

Thai Language Major

Thai Language Minor

Urdu Language Major

Urdu Language Minor

Vietnamese Language Major

Vietnamese Language Minor

Visual Arts Practice Minor

TURK1001 Elementary Turkish A

TURK1002 Elementary Turkish B

TURK2001 Intermediate Turkish A

TURK2002 Intermediate Turkish B

The Bachelor of Statistics flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:

A maximum of 48 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 96 units must consist of:

48 units from the completion of one of the following statistics majors:

Applied Statistics

Probability and Stochastic Processes

Statistical Data Analytics

Theoretical Statistics

18 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

STAT2001 Introductory Mathematical Statistics

STAT2005 Introduction to Stochastic Processes

STAT2008 Regression Modelling

6 units from completion of an introductory statistics course from the following list:

STAT1003 Statistical Techniques

STAT1008 Quantitative Research Methods

6 units from completion of an introductory computing course from the following list:

COMP1040 The Craft of Computing

COMP1100 Programming as Problem Solving

12 units from completion of an introductory mathematics courses from the following list:

MATH1013 Mathematics and Applications 1

MATH1014 Mathematics and Applications 2

MATH1115 Advanced Mathematics and Applications 1

MATH1116 Advanced Mathematics and Applications 2

6 units from completion of a discrete mathematics course from the following list:

MATH2301 Games, Graphs and Machines

MATH3511 Scientific Computing

If your flexible double degree is within the College of Business and Economics (for example Commerce and Economics), the below study plan may show the same course twice. If this is the case, you must only do the course once and replace the other course with a CBE List 1 elective.

Students enrolled in Bachelor of Statistics/Bachelor of Advanced Computing (Hons) degree will need to enrol in MATH1115 and MATH1116, instead of MATH1013 and MATH1014. Also, in the Bachelor of Statistics, these students should replace COMP1100 with an elective, as they will completing COMP1130 in the BAC (Hons) degree, which is an incompatible course

For majors and minors offered by the ANU College of Business and Economics, students may count a course towards multiple majors and minors. If a minor is a subset of all stated courses and/or prerequisites for a major, then completion of the major overrides completion of the minor, and only the major is regarded as having been completed. If all courses in a major and/or minor are compulsory courses in the degree, the major and/or minor will not be listed on the transcript.

Majors

Bachelor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Majors

Bachelor of Statistics Majors

Minors

Bachelor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Minors

Bachelor of Statistics Minors

Specialisations

Bachelor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Specialisations

Study Options

Honours

For information about honours, please see Bachelor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies (Honours)

Students may proceed to the fourth honours year in Statistics. Entry to the honours year program is subject to an appropriately high average grade (generally distinction level or above) in the 3000-level compulsory subjects described in the course listings and requires the approval of College. Other conditions may also apply. Students who are interested in the honours program should seek further advice from the Convenor of the Program in the Research School of Finance, Actuarial Studies and Applied Statistics.