The Bachelor of Arts is the most diverse, most flexible, and most popular degree at The Australian National University. Each of its more than forty majors, in fields throughout the arts, humanities and social sciences, is taught by truly outstanding scholars to ensure that each student receives the very best education, is engaged with cutting-edge research, and learns to think like a researcher. These majors can be coupled with more than seventy minors and specialisations to broaden or deepen your study. Regardless of your choices, your Arts degree will provide you with core skills in critical analysis and in written and oral communication, while developing your adaptability and ability to help shape change and prepare you for a multifaceted career or further study.

The Bachelor of Arts can be combined with all other ANU undergraduate degrees except the PhB as a Flexible Double Degree.

The ANU JD is a distinctive program for graduates of non-law disciplines (or non-Australian law degrees). The program consists of compulsory and elective courses. Graduates complete all the academic courses required by Australian Legal Practitioners Admission Boards for admission to legal practice following completion of additional practical training. Students have access to dedicated JD courses and other courses offered as part of the LLM program. A small number of LLB electives can also be included in the program of study. The program can be studied either full or part-time with entry points in Semester 1 and Second semester.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts may find work in publishing, policy, education, international development, politics, media, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, advertising, art conservation, government and many other fields.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts may find work in publishing, policy, education, international development, politics, media, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, advertising, art conservation, government and many other fields.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of a Bachelor of Arts, graduates will be able to:

1. critically apply theoretical frameworks and research techniques to understanding national and international issues and problems;
2. identify, including through interrogation of databases, relevant sources of information from across a variety of media (print and digital, written and audio-visual) and judge the importance and reliability of those sources;
3. evaluate ideas and develop creative solutions to problems, including through independent pursuit of knowledge and making connections between different disciplinary approaches and methods;
4. communicate and debate both orally and in writing, and work with others, using a variety of media; and
5. understand the ethical implications of ideas, communications, and actions.

Upon successful completion of the Juris Doctor, graduates will be able to:

1. apply an advanced body of legal knowledge in a range of contexts for professional practice in law, and as a pathway for further legal learning
2. apply a body of legal knowledge that includes an extended understanding of recent developments in the discipline and professional legal practice
3. apply knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to law and its professional practice
4. exhibit cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory and professional practice in law
5. exhibit cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of legal knowledge or practice
6. exhibit cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex legal ideas and concepts at an abstract level
7. exhibit communication and technical legal research skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences
8. exhibit technical and communication legal skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to legal professional practice
9. demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills with creativity and initiative to new situations in legal professional practice and/or further learning
10. demonstrate application of knowledge and skills with high level personal autonomy and accountability
11. demonstrate application of knowledge and skills to plan and execute a substantial research-based legal project, capstone experience and/or professionally focussed project.

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.

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 Arts requires completion of 144 units, of which:

A maximum of 60 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

A minimum of 84 units must come from completion of 2000- and 3000- level courses

The 144 units must include:

48 units from the completion of one Arts major

Ancient Greek Major

Ancient History Major

Anthropology Major

Arabic Major

Archaeology Major

Art History Major

Art Theory Major

Asian Studies Major

Australian Indigenous Studies Major

Biological Anthropology Major

Chinese Language Major

Contemporary Europe Major

Criminology Major

Digital Humanities Major

Development Studies Major

Economic Studies Major

English Major

Environmental Studies Major

European History Major

French Language and Culture Major

Gender, Sexuality and Culture Major

Geography Major

German Language and Culture Major

Hindi Language Major

History Major

Human Evolutionary Biology Major

Human Rights Major

Indonesian Language Major

International Communication Major

International Relations Major

Italian Language and Culture Major

Japanese Language Major

Korean Language Major

Latin Major

Latin American Studies Major

Linguistics Major

Mathematics Major

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Major

Music Major

Pacific Studies Major

Persian Major

Philosophy Major

Political Science Major

Psychology Major

Sanskrit Language Major

Sociology Major

Spanish Major

Thai Language Major

Urdu Language Major

Vietnamese Language Major

Either:

24 units from the completion of one Arts minor or specialisation:

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 Minor

Ancient History Minor

Anthropology Minor

ANU Leadership and Research Minor

Applied Linguistics Minor

Arabic Minor

Archaeology Minor

Art History Minor

Art Theory Minor

Asian Art History Minor

Asian Studies Minor

Australian Indigenous Studies Minor

Australian Politics Minor

Biological Anthropology Minor

Chinese Language Minor

Classical Chinese Minor

Climate Science and Policy Minor

Comparative Politics Minor

Contemporary Europe Minor

Criminology Minor

Demography Minor

Development Studies Minor

Digital Humanities Minor

Economic Studies Minor

English Minor

Environmental Policy Minor

Environmental Studies Minor

European History Minor

Film Minor

Forensic Anthropology Minor

Forensic Linguistics Minor

French Language and Culture Minor

Gender and Sexuality Minor

Geography Minor

German Language and Culture Minor

Health, Medicine and the Body Minor

Heritage and Museum Studies Minor

Hindi Language Minor

History Minor

Human Ecology Minor

Human Evolutionary Biology

Human Rights Minor

Indonesian Language Minor

International Communication Minor

International Relations Minor

Italian Language and Culture Minor

Japanese Language Minor

Korean Language Minor

Latin Minor

Latin American Studies Minor

Linguistics Minor

Mathematics Minor

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Minor

Music Minor

Music Technology Minor

Pacific Studies Minor

Persian Minor

Philosophy Minor

Philosophy and Science Minor

Political Science Minor

Political Theory Minor

Popular Music

Russian Minor

Sanskrit Language Minor

Social Psychology Minor

Social Research Methods Minor

Sociology Minor

Spanish Minor

Sustainable Development Minor

Thai Language Minor

Urdu Language Minor

Vietnamese Language Minor

Visual Arts Practice Minor

24 units from completion of courses listed in any Arts major, minor, or specialisation and the following list:

ESEN1101 Essential University English

Or:

24 units from completion of ANIP3007 Australian National Internships Program D

24 units from completion of courses listed in any Arts major, minor, or specialisation and the following list:

ESEN1101 Essential University English.

Or:

48 units from completion of a second Arts major

24 units from completion of courses from the following list:

LAWS6101 Foundations of Australian Law

LAWS6102 Lawyers, Justice and Ethics

LAWS6103 Torts

LAWS6105 Australian Public Law

24 units from completion of elective courses from ANU

Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 5.0 in the first 96 units attempted to commence the 24 units of Masters courses in their Bachelor degree. Students who do not achieve this GPA will be able to complete and graduate from their Bachelor degree but will not be able to undertake Masters courses.

If the total number of units attempted exceeds 96 in the same teaching period in which the 96^th unit is attempted, all courses attempted will be used in the calculation of the GPA.

Students must complete the Bachelor degree with a minimum GPA of 4.5 in order to commence the Master degree.

The Juris Doctor requires the completion of 144 units, of which:

144 units must come from completion of courses from the subject area LAWS Law

A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 2000-, 3000- and 4000-level courses

24 units of specified credit from graduate courses completed in the Bachelor degree

24 units of unspecified credit

66 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

LAWS6105 Australian Public Law

LAWS6106 Criminal Law and Procedure

LAWS6201 Administrative Law

LAWS6202 Commonwealth Constitutional Law

LAWS6203 Corporations Law

LAWS6204 Property

LAWS6205 Equity and Trusts

LAWS6207 Evidence

LAWS6244 Litigation and Dispute Management

LAWS6249 Legal Theory

LAWS6250 International Law
 

A minimum of 18 units from completion of 7000- and 8000-level courses in the subject area LAWS Law

A minimum of 6 units from completion of one capstone course from the following list:

LAWS4010 Jessup Moot

LAWS4230 Law Internship

LAWS4240 Special Law Elective 4: International Social Justice Clinic

LAWS4267 Clinical Youth Law Program

LAWS4268 Community Law Clinical Program

LAWS8301 Graduate Research Unit

Majors

Bachelor of Arts Majors

Minors

Bachelor of Arts Minors

Specialisations

Bachelor of Arts Specialisations

Honours

For information about honours, please see Bachelor of Arts (Honours)