Program Requirements

The Masters of Strategic Studies (Advanced) requires the completion of 96 units which must consist of:

36 units from completion of the following initial component:

30 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

STST8001 Strategic Studies

STST8002 The New Power Politics of Asia

STST8052 Strategy in Action: Orchestrating the Elements of National Power

STST8010 Strategic Studies Concepts and Methods

6 units from completion of one of course from the following list: 

STST8004 Australian Strategic and Defence Policy

STST8051 Great and Powerful Friends: Strategic alliances and Australian security

36 units from completion of the following concluding component:

36 units from completion of courses from the following list:

INTR8067 U.S. Security Policy in the Asia-Pacific

INTR8053 Ethics of Peace and War

MEAS8112 Dynamics of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

MEAS8113 The Gulf Strategic Environment

NSPO8010 Civil-Military Relations

NSPO8013 Disease, Security and Biological Weapons

NSPO8014 Ethics and Technologies of War

STST8004 Australian Strategic and Defence Policy

STST8013 China's Defence and Strategic Challenges

STST8017 Special Topics in Strategic Studies

STST8021 Intelligence and Security

STST8026 Nuclear Strategy in the Asian Century

STST8027 Insurgency & Counterinsurgency in an Age of Terror

STST8032 Why and How We Fight: Understanding War and Conflict

STST8033 Contemporary Issues in Australian Defence Policy

STST8051 Great and Powerful Friends: Strategic alliances and Australian security

24 units from the completion of following research component:

24 units from completion of courses from the following list:

STST7001 Strategic Studies Sub-thesis - Full-time

STST7002 Strategic Studies Sub-thesis - Part-time

Students must complete all courses in the initial component to continue to the concluding component.

Students must achieve a minimum of 70% weighted average mark in the initial and concluding coursework components to continue to the research component. 

Students who do not achieve a minimum 70% weighted average mark in the initial and concluding coursework components will be transferred to the Master of Strategic Studies.

Study Options

Admission Requirements

A Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 6/7.

Students must achieve a minimum 70% weighted average mark in the first 72 units of courses attempted in order to remain enrolled in the Master of Strategic Studies (Advanced).

English Language Requirements

All applicants must meet the University’s English Language Admission Requirements for Students.

Assessment of Qualifications

Unless otherwise indicated, ANU will accept all Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications or international equivalents that meet or exceed the published admission requirements of our programs, provided all other admission requirements are also met. Where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will base assessment on the qualification that best meets the admission requirements for the program. Find out more about the Australian Qualifications Framework: www.aqf.edu.au

ANU uses a 7-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale. All qualifications submitted for admission at ANU will be converted to this common scale, which will determine if an applicant meets our published admission requirements. Find out more about how a 7-point GPA is calculated for Australian universities: www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/tertiary-qualifications

Unless otherwise indicated, where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will calculate the GPA for each qualification separately. ANU will base assessment on the best GPA of all completed tertiary qualifications of the same level or higher.

Applications for course credit

Applicants with a Bachelor Degree or Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 24 units (one semester) of credit.

Applicants with a Graduate Diploma or Honours in a cognate discipline may be eligible for 48 units (one year) of credit.

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.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will be able to:

1. demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and cognitive skills in strategic and defence studies;
2. possess an integrated understanding of the conduct of strategy, military operations, and its relationship to policy;
3. be capable of undertaking strategic and policy analysis and be able to analyse critically, reflect on and synthesise complex information relating to the conduct of strategy and military operations;
4. possess the technical skills needed to access the academic literature in the fields of study associated with strategic and defence studies;
5. demonstrative high levels of independent research and apply established theories and concepts and exercise expert judgement in military, defence or policy contexts as relevant to both Australian and international settings;
6. apply strategic concepts and knowledge to practical, contemporary problems using case studies from a range of global environments and circumstances;
7. demonstrate high levels of written and oral communication in the field of strategic and defence studies;
8. Design and undertake a substantial research-based project in a way that makes a contribution to knowledge in the field of strategic and defence studies. 

Cognate disciplines

International relations and diplomacy; Public policy and administration; Strategic and security studies; Political science; History; Sociology; Economics and development; Social science; Law; and Regional studies