Australia is increasingly looking to Asia - strategically, economically, politically, and culturally - and all eyes are on the graduates of tomorrow to take us there. Watch our video to find out how this degree will prepare you for a successful career in the Asian Century.

With a Bachelor of Asian Studies you will master an Asian language, acquire in-depth contextual and regional knowledge, and graduate with the kind of Asian literacy that gets you noticed by employers.

And if you love adventure, we offer you a variety of study opportunities in the region so you can experience Asia first hand. Plus we’ll provide you with funding to help get you there.

Our community of scholars, policymakers, researchers and students is proudly interdisciplinary and interregional. Our teaching and research drives Australia’s engagement and understanding of its neighbouring regions. Majors and minors in the Bachelor of Asian Studies can be based on a language, a region or a discipline – for example, Modern Chinese Language, Asia-Pacific Politics, Japanese Studies and many others. We encourage students who begin the study of an Asian language at university to complete a full language major in order to graduate with the proficiency required to function as an Asia specialist in the increasingly competitive job market. Placement testing allows students with existing expertise in a language to enter at their current proficiency level.

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

In today’s globalised world success for business, government and international organisations depends heavily on strong relationships with Asia. This means that employers across the globe now actively recruit graduates who can demonstrate a deep understanding of the region.

From the “Kitchen Ninja” on TV to Human Rights Lawyer, the global skills our students develop  mean our graduates are found all over the world in exciting and challenging jobs across many fields including international relations or trade, development, government and policy, banking and finance, tourism, media, education, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, marketing and many other fields.

In today’s globalised world success for business, government and international organisations depends heavily on strong relationships with Asia. This means that employers across the globe now actively recruit graduates who can demonstrate a deep understanding of the region.

From the “Kitchen Ninja” on TV to Human Rights Lawyer, the global skills our students develop  mean our graduates are found all over the world in exciting and challenging jobs across many fields including international relations or trade, development, government and policy, banking and finance, tourism, media, education, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, marketing and many other fields.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

1. Critically apply theoretical frameworks and research techniques to understand the global significance of Asia as a region and as a composite of diverse societies and cultures;

2. Demonstrate an understanding of different disciplinary approaches and methods drawn from the humanities and social sciences, to synthesise knowledge about Asia, its regions, and its place in the world;

3. Demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the regional diversity of the societies and cultures that make up Asia;

4. Evaluate ideas and debate issues using academic and applied styles, in both English and an Asian language;

5. Exercise critical thinking and judgment in identifying and solving problems, individually and in groups.

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 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 consist of:

12 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

ASIA1025 Asia and the Pacific: Power, diversity and change
ASIA1030 Asia and the Pacific in Motion

12 units from the completion of discipline courses from the following list:

ASIA2065 Asian Politics: From Concepts to Causes
ASIA2067 Economies of Emerging Asia
ASIA2301 Human Migration and Expansion in the Rise of the Asia-Pacific
ASIA2302 Culture and Modernity in Asia: Anthropological Perspectives
ASIA2304 What is Literature? Asian Perspectives
ASIA2307 History of Empire in Asia
ASIA2001 Language in Asia and the Pacific
ASIA2311 Gender and Cultural Studies in Asia and the Pacific
INTR2010 International Relations in the Asia-Pacific
STST2001 International Security issues in the Asia Pacific
 

24 units from completion of language courses from one of the following lists :

Burmese Language
BURM1002 Burmese 1
BURM1003 Burmese 2
BURM2001 Burmese 3
BURM2002 Burmese 4
 
Chinese Language
CHIN1012 Modern Chinese 1: Spoken
CHIN1013 Modern Chinese 1: Written
CHIN2022 Modern Chinese 2: Spoken 
CHIN2023 Modern Chinese 2: Written 
CHIN2014 Modern Chinese 3
CHIN2017 Modern Chinese 4
CHIN3022 Modern Chinese 5
CHIN3023 Modern Chinese 6
CHIN2525 Learning Language Locally: China
CHIN3024 Advanced Modern Chinese A
CHIN3025 Advanced Modern Chinese B
CHIN3041 Chinese-English Translation 
CHIN3211 Chinese for Native Speakers A
CHIN3212 Chinese for Native Speakers B
CHIN3216 Chinese-English Interpreting
ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)

Hindi Language
HIND1100 Hindi 1
HIND1200 Hindi 2
HIND2300 Hindi 3
HIND2400 Hindi 4
HIND3500 Hindi 5
HIND3600 Hindi 6
HIND2525 Learning Language Locally: India
ASIA3083 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages A
ASIA3108 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages B
ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)

Indonesian Language
INDN1002 Indonesian 1
INDN1003 Indonesian 2
INDN2002 Indonesian 3
INDN2003 Indonesian 4
INDN3002 Indonesian 5
INDN3003 Indonesian 6
INDN2525 Learning Language Locally: Indonesia
INDN3104 Advanced Indonesian: History and Development of the Language
INDN3015 Advanced Indonesian: Translation into English
ASIA3083 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages A
ASIA3108 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages B
ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)

Japanese Language
JPNS1012 Japanese 1: Spoken
JPNS1014 Japanese 1: Written
JPNS2003 Japanese 2: Spoken
JPNS2005 Japanese 2: Written
JPNS2012 Japanese 3
JPNS2013 Japanese 4
JPNS3022 Japanese 5
JPNS3028 Japanese 6
JPNS2024 Japanese Grammar and Expressions 
JPNS2525 Learning Language Locally: Japan
JPNS3005 Advanced Japanese: Issues in Contemporary Japan
JPNS3006 Advanced Japanese: Language in Context
JPNS3007 Advanced Japanese: Readings in Culture and Society
JPNS3008 Advanced Japanese: Readings in Literature
JPNS3012 Teaching Japanese: Content
JPNS3014 Teaching Japanese: Method
JPNS3013 Japanese - English Translation
JPNS3102 Debating Japan: Contemporary Intellectual Debates
JPNS3023 Research Topics in Japanese A
JPNS3024 Research Topics in Japanese B
ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)

Korean Language
KORE1020 Korean 1
KORE1021 Korean 2
KORE2521 Korean 3
KORE2522 Korean 4
KORE3012 Korean 5
KORE3013 Korean 6
KORE3015 Advanced Korean: Film and Society
KORE3018 Advanced Korean: Literature and Media
ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)
 
Literary Chinese Language
CHIN2019 Literary Chinese 1
CHIN2021 Literary Chinese 2
CHIN3015 Advanced Literary Chinese*

Mongolian Language
MNGL1002 Mongolian 1
MNGL1003 Mongolian 2
MNGL2002 Mongolian 3
MNGL2003 Mongolian 4
 
Sanskrit Language
SKRT1002 Sanskrit 1
SKRT1003 Sanskrit 2
SKRT2103 Sanskrit 3
SKRT2104 Sanskrit 4
SKRT3004 Sanskrit 5
SKRT3005 Sanskrit 6
SKRT3002 Advanced Sanskrit Literature A
SKRT3003 Advanced Sanskrit Literature B
ASIA3083 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages A
ASIA3108 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages B
ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)
 
Tetum Language
TETM1002 Tetum 1
TETM1003 Tetum 2
TETM2004 Tetum 3
TETM2005 Tetum 4
 
Thai Language
THAI1002 Thai 1
THAI1003 Thai 2
THAI2002 Thai 3
THAI2003 Thai 4
THAI3002 Thai 5
THAI3008 Thai 6
ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)
THAI2525 Learning Language Locally: Thailand
ASIA3083 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages A
ASIA3108 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages B

Vietnamese Language
VIET1002 Vietnamese 1
VIET1003 Vietnamese 2
VIET2002 Vietnamese 3
VIET2003 Vietnamese 4
VIET3002 Vietnamese 5
VIET3003 Vietnamese 6 
VIET3015 Vietnamese–English Translation 
ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)
VIET2525 Learning Language Locally: Vietnam
ASIA3083 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages A
ASIA3108 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages B
 

*CHIN3015 Advanced Literary Chinese may be completed up to 3 times in a different topic in each instance with permission of the Course Convenor.

48 units from completion of courses from the following subject areas, majors and minors, of which a minimum of 6 units must come from completion of 3000-level courses.    

Major
Archaeology major
Anthropology major
Arabic major
Asian History major
Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
Asia-Pacific International Relations major
Asia-Pacific Politics major
Asia-Pacific Security Studies major
Chinese Language major
Chinese Studies major
French Language and Culture major
Hindi Language major
India Studies major
Indonesian Language major
Indonesian Studies major
Japanese Language major
Japanese Linguistics major
Japanese Studies major
Korean Language major
Korean Studies major
Linguistics major
Northeast Asian Studies major
Pacific Studies major
Peace and Conflict Studies major
Sanskrit Language major
Southeast Asian Studies major
Spanish major
Thai Language major
Vietnamese Language major

Minor
Asian and Pacific Anthropology minor
Asia-Pacific Archaeology minor
Asian and Pacific Literature and Film minor
Burmese Language minor
Mongolian Language minor 
Classical Chinese minor 
Tetum Language minor

Portuguese Language (PORT)
Tibetan Language (TIBN)

A maximum of 6 units may come from the completion of courses from VCUG Vice Chancellor’s Undergraduate Courses, or the following list:

ANIP3003 Australian National Internships Program Internship A
ASIA2110 International Affairs Internship
ASIA2098 Asian and Pacific Studies Internship
ASIA3023 Asia Pacific Week Internship
ASIA3024 Editor’s practicum: online public engagement, academic blogging and digital disruption
ESEN1101 Essential University English
LING2107 Advanced Academic English

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

Majors

Bachelor of Asian Studies Majors

Minors

Bachelor of Asian Studies Minors

Honours

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