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.

A Master of Translation will equip you with the highly-developed analytical and written communication skills in English and a language of focus, which you need to succeed in professional translation, as well as intercultural competence and transferable skills that will prepare you to succeed in increasingly global, multilingual work environments. It is designed to provide students with a focused qualification in the fields of literary and technical translation, along with an understanding of the history of translation and an appreciation of many critical issues in the field.

The ANU is home to a team of world-renowned intercultural specialists and language specialists who are also experienced translators. ANU offers the greatest variety of specialised language expertise available in Australia and is the ideal location for your study of translation.

The Master of Translation is a professional degree endorsed by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI). Upon successful completion of the Program, students are eligible for the Certified Translator testing level subject to the availability of the NAATI certification tests for each language.

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, students will have the skills and knowledge to:

1. demonstrate a thorough knowledge of translation theory and practice specific to English and the language of focus;
2. evaluate theories concerning the nature and use of translation and the practical application of those theories to specific areas of interest to the student;
3. demonstrate an awareness of fundamental issues in translation including the processes of translation, assessing translations, the place of register and genre, and the questions of pragmatic and cultural interpretation;
4. critically apply theoretical frameworks to the creation of translations;
5. show analytic skills and creative thinking in translating between English and the language of focus.

Additional 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 requires completion of 144 units, of which:

A maximum of 60 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 144 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 
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
JPNS3001 Japanese 5
JPNS3002 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 4 times in a different topic in each instance with permission of the Course Convenor.

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

Major
Archaeology major
Anthropology major
Arabic major
Asian History major
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
Asian and Pacific Archaeology minor
Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender minor
Asian and Pacific Linguistics minor
Asian and Pacific Literature and Film minor
Burmese Language minor
Literary Chinese minor
Mongolian Language minor
Tetum Language minor
Tok Pisin Language minor

Portuguese Language (PORT)
Tibetan Language (TIBN)

A maximum of 6 units of experiential courses 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

24 units from completion of introductory courses in any of the following lists:

Ancient Greek
GREK6125 Advanced Ancient Greek

Arabic
ARAB6503 Advanced Arabic A
ARAB6504 Advanced Arabic B

Chinese
CHIN6522 Modern Chinese 5
CHIN6523 Modern Chinese 6
CHIN6524 Advanced Modern Chinese A
CHIN6525 Advanced Modern Chinese B

English
CLAS6001 Traditional Grammar
ENGL6015 Introduction to Creative Writing
ESEN6101 Extended University English
LING6001 Introduction to the Study of Language
LING6020 The Structure of English

French
FREN6010 Advanced French I
FREN6011 Advanced French II

German
GERM6507 German Studies - Advanced 1
GERM6508 German Studies: Advanced German 2

Hindi
HIND6600 Hindi 6

Indonesian
INDN6503 Indonesian 6

Italian
ITAL3015 Advanced Italian Topics in Language, Culture and Society
ITAL3016 Advanced Italian Topics in Language and Literary Studies

Japanese
JPNS6014 Japanese 5
JPNS6015 Japanese 6

Korean
KORE6513 Korean 6

Latin
LATN6125 Advanced Latin

Literary Chinese
CHIN6530 Literary Chinese 1
CHIN6531 Literary Chinese 2

Persian
PERS6005 Advanced Persian A
PERS6006 Advanced Persian B

Sanskrit
SKRT6106 Sanskrit 6

Spanish
SPAN6509 Advanced Spanish Topics in Language and Linguistics
SPAN6510 Advanced Spanish Topics in Language and Culture

Thai
THAI6008 Thai 6

Vietnamese
VIET6503 Vietnamese 6

24 units from completion of elective courses from ANU

Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 5.0 in the first 96 units attempted to commence the 24 units of Masters courses in their Bachelor degree. Students who do not achieve this GPA will be able to complete and graduate from their Bachelor degree but will not be able to undertake Masters courses.

If the total number of units attempted exceeds 96 in the same teaching period in which the 96^th unit is attempted, all courses attempted will be used in the calculation of the GPA.

Students must complete the Bachelor degree with a minimum GPA of 5.0 in order to commence the Master degree.

The Master of Translation requires completion of 96 units, of which:

96 units must come from 6000-level, 7000-level and 8000-level courses

The 96 units must consist of:

24 units of specified credit from graduate courses completed in the Bachelor degree

24 units of unspecified credit

24 units from the following Research component:

18 units from completion of the following compulsory research training courses

LANG6001 Translation across Languages: The Translation of Literary Texts
LANG6002 Translation across Languages: Specialised Materials
LING6015 Language, Culture and Translation

6 units from one of the following research project courses

ANIP6503 Australian National Internships Program Internship A (Graduate)
LANG8016 Translation Project

Maximum 24 units from completion of contextual courses in any of the following lists:

Cross Cultural Communication
LING6021 Cross Cultural Communication
ASIA8051 Language and Power in Asia and the Pacific

Communication Genres
COMP8705 Communication for Computing Professionals II
ENGL6026  Creative Writing 3 Advanced Fiction
HIST8011 Biography and History
HUMN8026 Writing in the Public Sphere
INTR8065  Writing International Relations
MGMT7001  Business Communication
POGO8037  Writing Public Policy
SCOM8014  Communicating Science with the Public

Maximum 24 units from completion of courses on one of the following lists:

Arabic
ARAB6505 Introductory Course to Arabic Linguistics
ARAB6506 Research Project (Arabic)
ARAB6507  Introductory Course to Arabic Literature
ARAB6508 Special Topics in Arabic
ARAB6509 Directed Study Project (Arabic)
ARAB6510  Arab Current Affairs and Media Arabic

Australian Indigenous Languages and Society
ANTH6005 Traditional Australian Indigenous Cultures, Societies and Environment
LING6016 Language and Society in Indigenous Australia

Chinese
CHIN6015 Advanced Literary Chinese*
CHIN6041 Chinese-English Translation
CHST6211 Reading China: Past and Present
CHST6212 Reading Chinese Literature: Theory and Criticism
CHIN6216 Chinese-English Interpreting: Methodology and Practice
CHIN6530 Literary Chinese 1
CHIN6531 Literary Chinese 2
LING6017 Chinese Linguistics

    *CHIN6015 may be completed more than once if the topic is different.

English
LING6008 Semantics
LING6023 Dictionaries and Dictionary-Making
LING6030 Advanced Academic English
LING6529 The History of the English Language
LING8026 Qualitative Research Methods in Language Studies
ENGL6008 Introduction to Literary Theory
ENGL6025 Contemporary Australian Writing
ENGL6117 The Politics of Comedy from the Globe to The Office

French
FREN6012 Global Paris: Culture, History and Identity in the French Capital
FREN6510 Selected Topics in French Studies*
FREN6515 The sounds of French: phonetics and pronunciation
FREN6513 Current Affairs and the French Press (Advanced)
FREN6514 Imagining the French Empire: French Colonialism on Film
*FREN6510 Selected Topics in French Studies may be completed more than once if the topic is different.

German
GERM6051 German Literature and Culture Today
GERM6510 Berlin Stories: Places, Words, Images
GERM6511 Gender in German Culture: From Goethe to Trans*
GERM6513 German Film Since the Wall: Identity, History and Belonging

Hindi
ASIA6083 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages A
ASIA6108 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages B
HIND6525 Learning Language Locally: India

Indonesian
ASIA6083 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages A
ASIA6108 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages B
INDN6015 Advanced Indonesian: Translation into English
INDN6104 Advanced Indonesian: History and Development of the Language
INDN6525 Learning Language Locally: Indonesia

Italian
ITAL6509 Advanced Italian Topics in Language, Culture and Society
ITAL6510 Advanced Italian Topics in Language and Literary Studies

Japanese
JPNS6023 Research Topics in Japanese: History & Society
JPNS6025 Research Topics in Japanese: International Relations & Politics
JPNS6102 Debating Japan: Contemporary Intellectual Debate
JPNS6505 Advanced Japanese: Issues in Contemporary Japan
JPNS6506 Advanced Japanese: Language in Context
JPNS6507 Advanced Japanese: Readings in Culture and Society
JPNS6508 Advanced Japanese: Readings in Literature
JPNS6512 Teaching Japanese: Content
JPNS6513 Japanese - English Translation
JPNS6514 Teaching Japanese Method
JPNS6525 Learning Language Locally: Japan

Korean
KORE6017 Advanced Korean: Film and Society
KORE6018 Advanced Korean: Literature and Media

Literary Chinese
CHIN6015 Advanced Literary Chinese*

* CHIN6015 may be completed more than once if the topic is different.

Sanskrit
SKRT6002 Advanced Sanskrit Literature A
SKRT6003 Advanced Sanskrit Literature B
ASIA6083 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages A
ASIA6108 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages B

Spanish
SPAN6511 Music and Society in the Spanish-Speaking World
SPAN6513 Current Affairs in the Spanish-Speaking World
SPAN6514 The Structure of Spanish
SPAN6517 Cinema from the Spanish-speaking World
SPAN6518 The Sounds of Spanish
SPAN6604 Multilingualism and indigenous people in the America
LANG6004 Language and Society in Latin America

Thai
THAI6525 Learning Language Locally: Thailand
ASIA6083 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages A
ASIA6108 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages B

Vietnamese
VIET6525 Learning Language Locally: Vietnam
VIET6015 Vietnamese-English Translation
ASIA6083 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages A
ASIA6108 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages B

Majors

Bachelor of Asian Studies Majors

Minors

Bachelor of Asian Studies Minors