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.

Are you a leader? The Australian National University is a leader too, especially in the fields of philosophy, politics and economics. This progressive and well-regarded degree will arm you with the moral, economic and political perspectives you need to make a real impact. You will moreover have opportunities to engage with other leading Universities around the world.

You will develop exceptional problem solving skills and critical and conceptual thinking, all while gaining a passport to some of the world’s most promising careers.

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.

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

Upon successful completion of a Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics, graduates will be able to:

Identify the principal theoretical approaches to the study of PPE, and the relationships between them;

Identify main currents in the three disciplines of PPE and their theoretical bases;

Define, critically discuss and apply:

1. major philosophical theories and approaches to the evaluation of social institutions;

2. the methods of economics to the study of political institutions and processes;

3. the methods of economics to questions within political philosophy;

4. the assumptions, ‘tools’ and limitations of political economy;

5. the core arguments and principles of public choice and rational choice theory.

Describe and evaluate how the core arguments and principles of public choice and rational choice theory affect and influence political situations, institutions and complex political processes in liberal democracies;

Recognise and analyse the different actors, processes and stages involved in formulating public policies; and

Analyse practical dilemmas that arise in politics using the theories, approaches and methods of the three main disciplines of PPE.

Further Information

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.

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.

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 International Security 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 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

24 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics 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 include:

48 units from the completion of the following compulsory courses:

ECON1101 Microeconomics 1

ECON2101 Microeconomics 2(P)

ECON3056 PPE Integrative Seminar Year 3: Classic Literature in PPE

PHIL1005 Logic and Critical Thinking

PHIL2116 PPE Integrative Seminar Year 2

POLS1002 Introduction to Politics

POLS1008 PPE Integrative Seminar Year 1: Puzzles in Politics, Philosophy and Economics

POLS1009 Research and Writing in Political Science
 

6 units from completion of the following courses:

PHIL1004 Fundamental Ideas in Philosophy: An Introduction

PHIL1008 Introduction to Ethics

A minimum of 6 units from completion of courses from the following list, which must also be counted towards completion of any other requirements for the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics:

ECON2141 Strategic Thinking: An introduction to Game Theory

POLS2125 Game Theory and Social Sciences

POLS2130 Public Choice and Politics

12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

POLS2043 Pressure Groups and Political Lobbying

POLS2063 Contemporary Political Theory

POLS2094 Issues in International Political Economy

POLS2105 Political Leadership and Executive Government

POLS2111 Elections, Political Behaviour and Public Opinion in Australia

POLS2114 Australian Political Institutions

POLS2120 Foundations of Political Theory

POLS2125 Game Theory and Social Sciences

POLS2126 Democracy: Its Causes and Consequences

POLS2127 U.S. Politics

POLS2130 Public Choice and Politics

POLS3029 Sharing Power: Federalism in Comparative Perspective

POLS3031 Comparative Judicial Politics

POLS3034 Comparative Political Parties and Party Systems
 

12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

PHIL2020 Theories of Social Justice

PHIL2057 Philosophy of Science

PHIL2080 Logic

PHIL2082 Sex and Death: the Philosophy of Biology

PHIL2113 Global Justice

PHIL2121 Philosophical Logic

PHIL2122 Philosophy and Public Policy

PHIL2124 Philosophy of Cognitive Science

PHIL2125 Rationality and Social Cooperation

PHIL2126 Science in Society: Ethics, Public Policy and Scientific Practice

PHIL3073 Advanced Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy

12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

CRIM2000 The Illicit Economy

ECHI1006 The Australian Economy: Past and Present

ECHI3008 History of Economic Thought(P)

ECON1102 Macroeconomics 1

ECON2013 Behavioral Economics

ECON2014 Managerial Economics

ECON2026 Money and Banking

ECON2091 The Economy, Politics and the State

ECON2120 Law and Economics(P)

ECON2141 Strategic Thinking: An introduction to Game Theory

EMET1001 Foundations of Economic and Financial Models

INDG3003 The Indigenous Economy

6 units from the completion of 2000- and 3000-level courses from the following subject areas and courses:

ANIP Australian National Internships Program

ECON Economics

PHIL Philosophy

POLS Political Science

ASIA2090 The Political Economy of Myanmar

POLS3022 Washington DC Internship

Minors

Bachelor of International Security Studies Minors

Study Options

Honours

For information about honours, please see Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (Honours) and Bachelor of Economics (Honours)