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.

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.

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.

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.

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)
 

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 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

Majors

Bachelor of Arts Majors

Minors

Bachelor of Arts Minors

Bachelor of Pacific Studies Minors

Study Options

Honours

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