As Australia’s engagement with the Pacific increases, so too does the need for graduates with Pacific expertise.

The Bachelor of Pacific Studies will provide you with a deep understanding of the diversity, history and contemporary issues of Oceania, so you can take a leading role in Pacific policy and development.

You will also have the opportunity to engage in internship and immersion programs in Oceania, boosting your language skills and expertise in the region.

What makes the human brain tick?

Find out with the Bachelor of Science (Psychology), which provides you with a great base in six different areas of psychology: developmental, social, personality, methods, cognition and biological.

In your later year courses, you’ll apply this knowledge and your skills in more specialised areas such as neuroscience, counselling, health and organisational (business) psychology.

Once you’ve completed your third year, you can apply to undertake an Honours year and pursue further postgraduate study. This will allow you to practice as a clinical psychologist.

Find out more about psychology, the degree structure, the university experience, career opportunities and student stories on our website.

Get the inside story on what it’s like to be an ANU student by visiting our student blog.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically apply theoretical frameworks and research techniques to understand the global significance of Oceania as a region of diverse societies, cultures and languages;
   
2. Demonstrate an understanding of diverse disciplinary approaches and methods drawn from the humanities, social sciences and environmental studies, to synthesize knowledge about Oceania and its place in the
       world;
   
3. Demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the diversity of indigenous, popular culture, policy and scholarly perspectives on and within Oceania;
   
4. Evaluate knowledge and ideas and debate issues using academic and other approaches addressing a variety of scholarly, policy and public audiences;
   
5. Exercise critical thinking and judgement in identifying and solving problems individually as well as collaboratively.

Upon successful completion of this program Science graduates will be able to:

• Plan and engage in an independent and sustained critical investigation and evaluation of a chosen research topic
• Systematically identify relevant theory and concepts, relate these to appropriate methodologies and evidence, and draw appropriate conclusions
• Engage in critical review of appropriate and relevant information sources
• Communicate concepts and results clearly and effectively both in writing and orally
• Record original data and apply statistical or other evaluation processes to original data when appropriate

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 Pacific 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 include:

  24 units from the following compulsory courses:

  PASI1011           Pacific Encounters: An introduction to Pacific Studies

  PASI1012           Pacific Worlds: critical inquiry in Oceania

  PASI2001           Pacific Studies in a Globalising World

  PASI3001           The Contemporary Pacific: Society, Politics and Development

  A minimum of 6 units from the following 3000 level PASI-coded courses:

  PASI3002           Gender and Sexuality in the Pacific

  PASI3012           Readings in Indigenous Studies

  PASI3005           Pacific Islands Field School

  PASI3010           Pacific Engagement Project

PASI3013 Environment and Development in the Pacific

  A minimum of 12 units from the following thematic lists:

  History and Archaeology

  ASIA2301           Human migration and expansion in the rise of the Asia-Pacific

  ARCH2005         Archaeology of the Pacific Islanders

  PASI2006           War in the Islands: The Second World War in the Pacific

  PASI2002           Australia in Oceania in the 19th and 20th centuries

  HIST2231           Exploration: Columbus to the Moon

  Politics, international relations and security

  INTR2010           International Relations in the Asia-Pacific

  STST2001           International Security issues in the Asia Pacific

  ASIA2087           Peace Building in the Pacific and Asia

  ASIA2093           Natural Resource Conflicts in Asia and the Pacific

  POLS2055          Pacific Politics

  STST2003           Australia and Security in the Pacific

  PASI3002           Gender and Sexuality in the Pacific

  PASI2030           Study Tour: Regional Policymaking for Pacific Development

  Environment and resources

  ASIA2301           Human Migration and Expansion in the Rse of the Asia-Pacific

  ENVS2005         Islands Sustainable Development: Fiji Field School

  ASIA2093           Natural Resource Conflicts in Asia and the Pacific

  PASI3013           Environmentand Development in the Pacific

  PASI2030           Study Tour: Regional Policymaking for Pacific Development

  Culture, literature and language

  ASIA2001          Language in Asia and the Pacific

  ASIA2308          Linguistic Histories in Asia and the Pacific

  ASIA3053           The Death of God in the Asia-Pacific

  PASI3002           Gender and Sexuality in the Pacific

  PASI3005           Pacific Islands Field School

  A maximum of 24 units from one of the following minors of languages spoken in the Pacific:

  French Language and Culture Minor

  Tetum Language Minor

  Tok Pisin Language Minor

   24 units from completion of one of the following minors:

Languages spoken in the Pacific or of historical and community importance:

Chinese language

 French Language and Culture

 German Language and Culture

 Indonesian language

 Japanese language

 Tetum Language

 Tok Pisin Language 

 Spanish

  Disciplinary and regional studies minors of relevance to the study of the Pacific Islands:

  Archaeology

  Art History and Theory

  Asia-Pacific International Relations

  Asian history  

  Asian Art History

  Asian and Pacific Anthropology

  Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender

  Anthropology

  Australian Indigenous Studies

  Biodiversity and Conservation Management

  Climate Science and Policy

  Comparative Politics

  Demography

  Development Studies

  Digital Humanities

  Economic Studies

  Environmental Policy

  Environmental Studies

  Gender and Sexuality

  Geography

  Heritage and Museum Studies

  History

  Human Rights

  Indonesian Studies

  International Relations

  Linguistics

  Peace and Conflict Studies

  Philosophy

  Political Science

  Political Theory

  Popular Music

  Social Research Methods

  Sociology 

  Sustainable Development

  Visual Arts Practice

  War Studies

  A maximum of 6 units 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 Science (Psychology) 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 include:

60 units from the completion of the following compulsory courses:

PSYC1003 Psychology 1: Understanding Mind, Brain and Behaviour

PSYC1004 Psychology 2: Understanding People in Context

PSYC2001 Social Psychology

PSYC2002 Developmental Psychology

PSYC2007 Biological Basis of Behaviour

PSYC2008 Cognition

PSYC2009 Quantitative Methods in Psychology

PSYC3018 Advanced Research Methods

PSYC3025 Psychopathology Across the Lifespan

PSYC3026 Personality Psychology

18 units from completion of 3000-level courses in the subject area PSYC Psychology

12 units from completion of further 1000-level courses from the Science Course List

6 units from completion of further courses from the Science Course List

A maximum of 12 units from completion of 1000-level courses may contribute towards meeting the requirements of two Science majors with common 1000-level course requirements.

Minors

Bachelor of Pacific Studies Minors

Study Options

Honours

If you attain a sufficient standard in the pass degree, you may be admitted to the Honours year to become a candidate for the degree with Honours. For more information please see the Bachelor of Science (Psychology) (Honours) entry in the Programs and Courses catalogue.