The Bachelor of Arts is the most diverse, most flexible, and most popular degree at The Australian National University. Each of its some fifty majors, in fields throughout the arts, humanities and social sciences, is taught by truly outstanding scholars to ensure that each student receives the very best education, is engaged with cutting-edge research, and learns to think like a researcher. These majors can be coupled with more than seventy minors and specialisations to broaden or deepen your study. Regardless of your choices, your Arts degree will provide you with core skills in critical analysis and in written and oral communication, while developing your adaptability and ability to help shape change and prepare you for a multifaceted career or further study.

Follow in the footsteps of Nobel Prize winner Howard Florey and kick-start your career in medical research with the Bachelor of Medical Science.

You’ll delve into genetics, immunology, nutrition, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry and anatomy to understand how the human body works.

Learn directly from biomedical scientists and health professionals, who are working to develop new cancer vaccines or ground-breaking treatments for autoimmune diseases.

Find out more about medical science, 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.

This program is not available for Semester 2 commencement.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts may find work in publishing, policy, education, international development, politics, media, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, advertising, art conservation, government and many other fields.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts may find work in publishing, policy, education, international development, politics, media, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, advertising, art conservation, government and many other fields.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of a Bachelor of Arts, graduates will be able to:

1. critically apply theoretical frameworks and research techniques to understanding national and international issues and problems;
2. identify, including through interrogation of databases, relevant sources of information from across a variety of media (print and digital, written and audio-visual) and judge the importance and reliability of those sources;
3. evaluate ideas and develop creative solutions to problems, including through independent pursuit of knowledge and making connections between different disciplinary approaches and methods;
4. communicate and debate both orally and in writing, and work with others, using a variety of media; and
5. understand the ethical implications of ideas, communications, and actions.

Learning outcome Bachelor of Medical Science

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• develop, apply, integrate and generate scientific knowledge in educational and professional contexts;
• use a range of skills and methods to identify, analyse and respond to problems and issues;
• convey and relate professional and disciplinary information and ideas to diverse audiences in effective and appropriate ways;
• work in both independent and collaborative ways with others to encompass diverse abilities and perspectives; and
• exercise personal, professional and social responsibility as a global citizen.

Learning outcomes Bachelor of Medical Science Honours Year

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Specific learning outcomes will depend on the nature of the research project. In general, on satisfactory completion of the program students will have the knowledge and skills to:
• Plan and engage in an independent and sustained critical investigation and evaluation of a research topic in the field of biomedical sciences
• Systematically identify relevant theory and concepts in the field of biomedical sciences, relate these to appropriate methodologies and evidence, and draw appropriate conclusions
• Engage in critical review of appropriate and relevant information sources
• Understand and apply principles of laboratory safety and relevant laboratory techniques.
• 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.

Prerequisites

Students who successfully complete the below program will be admitted to the Bachelor of Arts:
ELIBS Diploma of Liberal Studies (offered by the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences)
 

ACT: Chemistry (Major); NSW:  Chemistry or equivalent. More information about interstate subject equivalencies can be found here.

Students who do not meet the chemistry requirement may be admitted into the program via a different pathway. Students who:

• Have an ATAR score of 90 or higher, and

• Commence the Bachelor of Science program after completion of the chemistry bridging course available in February through the ANU Research School of Chemistry (or equivalent) and complete CHEM1101 and BIOL1003 with a minimum average of 65%, may then apply to transfer to the Bachelor of the Medical Science program.

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 Arts 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:

48 units from the completion of one Arts major from any of the following lists:

Disciplines and Fields
Ancient History
Anthropology
Archaeology
Art History and Theory
Australian Indigenous Studies
Biological Anthropology
Criminology
Development Studies
Digital Humanities
Economic Studies
English
Environmental Studies
Gender, Sexuality and Culture
Geography
Global Security
History
Human Evolutionary Biology
Human Rights
International Communication
International Relations
Linguistics
Mathematics
Music
Music Technology
Peace and Conflict Studies
Philosophy
Political Science
Psychology
Screen Studies
Sociology
Technology, Networks and Society
War Studies

Languages
Ancient Greek
Arabic
Chinese Language
French Language and Culture
German Language and Culture
Hindi Language
Indonesian Language
Italian Language and Culture
Japanese Language
Japanese Linguistics
Korean Language
Latin
Persian
Sanskrit Language
Spanish
Thai Language
Vietnamese Language

Geographically Defined Area Studies
Asian Studies
Asian History
Asia and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
Chinese Studies
Contemporary Europe
India Studies
Indonesian Studies
Japanese Studies
Korean Studies
Latin American Studies
Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
Northeast Asian Studies
Pacific Studies
Southeast Asian Studies

Either:

24 units from the completion of one Arts minor, which must have a different name to the Major on any of the following lists:

Disciplines and Fields
Advanced Studies
Ancient History
Anthropology
ANU Leadership and Research
Applied Linguistics
Archaeology
Art History and Theory
Australian Indigenous Studies
Biological Anthropology
Climate Science and Policy
Criminology
Demography
Design
Development Studies
Digital Humanities
Economic Studies
English
Environmental Policy
Environmental Studies
Forensic Anthropology
Forensic Linguistics
Gender and Sexuality
Geography
Global Security
Health, Medicine and the Body
Heritage and Museum Studies
History
Human Ecology
Human Evolutionary Biology
Human Rights
International Communication
International Relations
Linguistics
Mathematics
Music
Music Technology
Peace and Conflict Studies
Philosophy and Science
Philosophy
Political Science
Popular Music
Screen Studies
Social Psychology
Social Research Methods
Sociology
Sustainable Development
Technology, Networks and Society
Visual Arts Practice
War Studies

Languages
Advanced Ancient Greek
Advanced Arabic
Advanced Chinese Language
Advanced English Language
Advanced French Studies
Advanced German Studies
Advanced Hispanic Culture
Advanced Hispanic Linguistics
Advanced Italian Studies
Advanced Japanese Language
Advanced Korean Language
Advanced Latin
Advanced Persian
Advanced Sanskrit Language
Advanced Spanish Studies
Ancient Greek
Arabic
Burmese Language 
Chinese Language 
French Language and Culture
German Language and Culture
Hindi Language
Indonesian Language
Italian Language and Culture
Japanese Language
Japanese Linguistics
Korean Language
Latin
Literary Chinese
Mongolian Language
Persian
Russian
Sanskrit Language
Spanish
Tetum Language
Thai Language
Tok Pisin Language
Vietnamese Language

Geographically Defined Area Studies
American Studies
Asian and Pacific Anthropology
Asian and Pacific Linguistics 
Asian Art History
Asian History
Asian Studies
Asia and Pacific Archaeology
Asia and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
Asia-Pacific International Relations
Asia and Pacific Literature and Film
Asia-Pacific Politics
Australian Politics
Chinese Studies
Contemporary Europe
India Studies
Indonesian Studies
Japanese Studies
Korean Studies
Latin American Studies
Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
Northeast Asian Studies
Pacific Studies
Southeast Asian Studies

24 units from completion of courses listed in any Arts major, minor and the following list:

ESEN1101 Essential University English

Or:

24 units from completion of ANIP3007 Australian National Internships Program D
 

24 units from completion of courses listed in any Arts major, minor and the following list:

ESEN1101 Essential University English.

Or:

48 units from completion of a second Arts major
 

The Bachelor of Medical Science flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:

A maximum of 30 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 96 units must include:

48 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

BIOL1003 Evolution, Ecology & Genetics
BIOL1004 Molecular and Cell Biology
BIOL2142 General Microbiology
BIOL2161 Genes: Replication and Expression
BIOL2171 Biochemistry and Nutrition
BIOL3190 Medical Science in the Workplace
CHEM1101 Chemistry 1
CHEM1201 Chemistry 2

6 units of physiology from completion of courses from the following list:

BIOL3006 Human Physiology
MEDN2001 Medical Physiology and Pharmacology

6 units from completion of courses from the following list:

BIAN3014 Research Design and Analysis in Biological Anthropology
BIOL2001 Introduction to Quantitative Biology
BIOL2202 Experimental Design and Analysis in Biology
ENVS1003 Introduction to Environmental and Social Research
PSYC2009 Quantitative Methods in Psychology

12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

BIOL2117 Cell Biology
BIOL2151 Genetics
BIOL2162 Molecular Gene Technology
BIOL2174 Cell Physiology in Health and Disease

 24 units from completion of courses from the following lists:

A minimum of 12 units of core biomedical courses from the following list:

BIOL3108 Hallmarks of Cancer
BIOL3141 Infection and Immunity
BIOL3142 Parasitology
BIOL3144 Advanced and Applied Immunology
BIOL3186 Human Anatomy
BIOL3204 Genetics of Human Disease 1
BIOL3205 Genetics of Human Disease 2
NEUR3101 Cellular Neuroscience
NEUR3112 Systems Neuroscience

A maximum of 12 units of biomedical electives from the following list:

BIOL3107 Advances in Medical and Plant Biochemistry
BIOL3161 Genomics and its Applications
BIOL3191 Biology, Society and Ethics
BIOL3193 Bacteria and Health: An Ecological and Evolutionary Perspective
BIOL3203 Advanced Microscopy in Biosciences
BIOL3208 Biology Research Project
BIOL3209 Biology Research Project (12u)
POPH3000 Introduction to Population Health

Students must achieve a minimum 65% weighted average mark across all compulsory courses in the Bachelor of Medical Science component undertaken in each period (Summer/First Semester/Autumn and Winter/Second Semester/Spring) in order to continue in the Bachelor of Medical Science.

Students who do not achieve a minimum of 65% weighted average mark will be transferred from the Bachelor of Medical Science double degree to the equivalent Bachelor of Science double degree.

Majors

Bachelor of Arts Majors

Minors

Bachelor of Arts Minors

Study Options

Honours

For information about honours, please see Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

The minimum requirements for admission to Honours program are:

1. the successful completion of 144 units including a minimum of 48 units of 2000 level science or 3000 level science courses relevant to the proposed field of Honours study, of which a minimum of 24 units must be 3000 level science courses

2. the attainment of an average of 2 for the 48 units, where HD = 4, D = 3, CR = 2, P = 0

3. the recommendation of the Head of School concerned, in the light of availability of resources and appropriate supervision.

Schools may have additional entry requirements and intending Honours students should contact the relevant Honours convener.

The work of the Honours year consists of advanced work in a selected field of study, details of which are provided by the individual Schools. The Honours program has specific dates which are advertised in the Honours Handbook. If you complete the requirements for the pass degree at the end of the first semester it is possible, subject to the approval of the School concerned, to commence the Honours program mid-year.

Graduates of other universities may be accepted for admission to Honours candidature provided that the undergraduate program and performance in the program are of a standard comparable to that applying in the relevant School.