single degree

Bachelor of International Security Studies

A single three year undergraduate award offered by the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific

BINSS
  • Length 3 year full-time
  • Minimum 144 Units
Admission requirements
  • Field of Education
    • Political Science and Policy S
  • Length 3 year full-time
  • Minimum 144 Units
Admission requirements
  • Field of Education
    • Political Science and Policy S

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of International Security Studies requires completion of 144 units, of which:

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

The 144 units must consist of:

30 units from completion of the following compulsory course list:

STST1001 Introduction to International Security Studies
STST1003 Coping with Crisis: The Practice of International Security
STST2001 International Security issues in the Asia Pacific
POLS2132 Current Issues in International Security
STST3002 Australia's Security in the Asian Century
 

18 units from completion of courses from the following list (List A):

ASIA2060 Southeast Asian Security
ASIA2093 Natural Resource Conflicts in Asia and the Pacific
ASIA2110 International Affairs Internship
ASIA2111 Indonesian Foreign and Security Policy
DIPL2000 Leadership and Diplomacy
HIST2141 The Cold War: 1945-1989
INTR2012 Chinese Foreign and Security Policy
INTR2014 Indian Foreign and Security Policy
INTR2016 US Foreign and Security Policy in Asia
INTR2018 Japanese Foreign and Security Policy
INTR2020 (In)Stability on the Korean Peninsula
INTR2024 Nuclear Politics in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities
MEAS2001 New States of Eurasia: Emerging Issues in Politics and Security
POLS3033 Environment, Human Security and Conflict
POLS3036 International Terrorism
STST2124 Politics of Nuclear Weapons
STST2131 Security Communities from War to Peace
STST2003 Australia and Security in the Pacific Islands
STST2004 Special Topic in International Security
STST3003 Honeypots and Overcoats: Australian Intelligence in the World
STST3004 Advanced Study in Asia-Pacific Security
 

24 units from completion of one of the following minors (List B):

Advanced Arabic
Advanced French Studies
Advanced Japanese Language
Advanced Korean Language
Advanced Chinese Language
Advanced Sanskrit Language
Advanced Spanish Studies
Arabic Language
Asia-Pacific Security Studies
Burmese Language
Chinese Language
French Language and Culture
German Language and Culture
Hindi Language
Historical International Security
Indonesian Language
International Relations
Italian Language and Culture
Japanese Language
Korean Language
Mongolian Language
Peace and Conflict Studies
Persian
Russian
Spanish
Tetum Language
Thai Language
Vietnamese Language
War Studies

 

72 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

Minors

Elective Study

Once you have met the program requirements of your degree, you may have enough electives to complete an additional elective majorminor or specialisation.

Study Options

Year 1 48 units STST1001 Introduction to International Security Studies 6 units Course toward completion of minor from list B Elective Elective
STST1003 Coping with Crisis: The Practice of International Security 6 units Elective Elective Elective
Year 2 48 units STST2001 International Security issues in the Asia Pacific 6 units Course toward completion of minor from list B Course toward completion of 18 unit requirement of list A Elective
POLS2132 Current Issues in International Security 6 units Course toward completion of minor from list B Course toward completion of 18 unit requirement of list A Elective
Year 3 48 units STST3002 Australia's Security in the Asian Century 6 units Course toward completion of minor from list B Course toward completion of 18 unit requirement of list A Elective
Elective Elective Elective Elective

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 National Register of higher education providers is an authoritative source of information that will help you confirm your institution of choice is registered to deliver higher education in Australia.

The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) website is HERE. Based on surveys done by thousands of students across Australia you can find out about universities that interest you, doing side-by-side comparisons.

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 an ATAR 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.

ATAR:
90
QLD Band:
6
International Baccalaureate:
33

Adjustment Factors

ANU offers rank adjustments for a number of adjustment factors, including for high achievement in nationally strategic senior secondary subjects and for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. Rank adjustments are applied to Bachelor degree applicants with an ATAR at or above 70. Points are awarded in accordance with the approved schedules, and no more than 15 points (maximum 5 subject/performance-based adjustments, maximum 10 equity-based adjustments and maximum 5 Elite Athlete adjustments) will be awarded. Subject and performance-based adjustments do not apply to programs with a minimum selection rank of 98 or higher. Visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.

Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)

For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees

Annual indicative fee for international students
$40,416.00

For further information on International Tuition Fees see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments/international-tuition-fees

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.

Do you see yourself shaping Australia's foreign policy decisions? Or working with elite international organisations like the United Nations or our top spy agencies? The Bachelor of International Security Studies can help you make your dream career a reality.

When you study the Bachelor of International Security Studies you will delve deeply into the contemporary security threats facing nations, international organisations and businesses around the world – including the threat of military power, civil war, terrorism, cybercrime, environmental degradation and food security to name just a few. Read more about this degree on our website.

Career Options

Graduates from ANU have been rated as Australia's most employable graduates and among the most sought after by employers worldwide.

The latest Global Employability University Ranking, published by the Times Higher Education, rated ANU as Australia's top university for getting a job for the fourth year in a row.

Employment Opportunities

From instability in the Middle East, to the rising occurrences of computer hacking or global warming and its impact on human populations, there’s a whole range of global security challenges which face business, government and international organisations today. As a result, employers across industry have begun to seek out graduates who have the confidence to provide advice on these issues and how to minimise their impacts.

The Bachelor of International Security Studies gives you the practical skills and knowledge that will set you apart as a leader in this field and graduates from this degree can expect to find themselves working in a range of fields including business analysts, defence policy, foreign affairs, intelligence agencies, journalism and media. Recent graduates of security studies are currently working with organisations like the Attorney Generals Department, United Nations, Telstra, Boeing, the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. More information can be found here.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will have the skills and knowledge to:

• Identify and explain the key concepts, ideas and principal actors in international security.
• Evaluate the major theoretical frameworks for understanding the complexities of contemporary international security challenges.
• Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the historical and contemporary dimensions of international, internal and transnational security, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Analyse the key challenges facing Australian security and defence policy in the ‘Asian Century’.
• Reflect critically on the principal factors that determine the security policies of Australia and the major Asia-Pacific powers.
• Employ communication and presentation skills (oral, written and electronic).
• Demonstrate teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• Exhibit the ability to write for both academic and professional audience

Further Information

Domestic student may be eligible to apply for the Coral Bell Scholarship. Applications close 31 December each year for commencement in the following year.

Back to the Bachelor of International Security Studies page

When you study the Bachelor of International Security Studies  you will delve deeply into the contemporary security threats facing nations, international organisations and businesses around the world - including the threat of military power, civil war, terrorism, cybercrime, environmental degradation and food security to name just a few. Read more about this degree on our website.

Single degree

As a single degree program, BINSS requires the completion of 144 units:

·  A maximum of 60 units of 1000 level courses is allowed

·  30 units must come from completion of the compulsory course list

·  18 units must come from completion of courses in list A

·  24 units must come from completion of a minor in list B

·  72 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU



Double degree

As part of a double degree program, BINSS requires the completion of 96 units:

·  A maximum of 36 units of 1000 level courses is allowed

·  30 units must come from completion of the compulsory course list

·  18 units must come from completion of courses in list A

·  24 units must come from completion of a minor in list B

·  24 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU



Enrolment Status

It is possible to enrol in fewer courses per semester, but it will take you longer to finish your program and get your degree. If you are an international student you must always be enrolled full-time in 24 units each semester.


Remember you will need to enrol in courses for both First Semester and Second Semester.  You will be able to change your enrolment in courses up until the end of week 2 of each semester without penalty.  Other things to be aware of:

  • A course can only be counted towards one major or minor.

  • You can’t study more than 4 courses (24 units) per semester.

  • You may need to enrol in courses for your major and/or your minor, particularly if you are completing a double degree.

  • If you are intending to enrol in language courses and have previous experience with the language you wish to study, you need to sit a placement test to ensure you are enrolled at the most appropriate level of language study.  Further information is available here

Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses

When you enrol for the first time you will study ‘1000-level’ courses. These courses have ‘1’ as the first number in their course code, such as ASIA1234.

Majors and Minors

See available majors and minors for this program

Students in this degree must complete a minor from list B, which is listed under the 'study' tab.

Electives

You can use your electives to enrol in any courses that you like, provided you meet prerequisite requirements.

To find 1000-level courses, search Programs and Courses.

Remember, though, that if you are a single-degree student you cannot count more than 60 units of 1000-level courses towards the completion of your degree.  If you are a double-degree student, you cannot count more than 36 units of 1000-level courses towards the completion of the 96 units allocated to the BINSS half of your degree.


Study Options

Single Degree example

This is an example only - you need to plan your degree carefully to ensure that you are on track to fulfil the requirements of the BINSS program orders. You may, for example, wish to leave a substantial number (24) of elective units free so that you can study overseas for a semester.

Study Options

Year 1 48 units STST1001 Introduction to International Security Studies 6 units 1000-level course toward completion of minor in List B 1000-level elective course 1000-level elective course
STST1003 Coping with Crisis: The Practice of International Security 6 units 1000-level elective course 1000-level elective course 1000-level elective course

Double Degree example

This is an example only - you need to plan your degree carefully to ensure that you are on track to fulfil the requirements of both degrees.

Study Options

Year 1 48 units STST1001 Introduction to International Security Studies 6 units 1000-level course toward completion of minor in List B Course from second degree Course from second degree
STST1003 Coping with Crisis: The Practice of International Security 6 units 1000-level elective course Course from second degree Course from second degree
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