Do you see yourself shaping Australia's foreign policy decisions? Or working with elite international organisations like the United Nations or our top spy agencies? The Bachelor of International Security Studies can help you make your dream career a reality.

When you study the Bachelor of International Security Studies you will delve deeply into the contemporary security threats facing nations, international organisations and businesses around the world – including the threat of military power, civil war, terrorism, cybercrime, environmental degradation and food security to name just a few. Read more about this degree on our website.

Are you seeking a dynamic career in politics, the public service, advocacy organisations, not-for-profit social and community services or private industry?

The ANU Bachelor of Public Policy equips you with a comprehensive understanding of Australian public policies and related international policies.

This well-regarded education experience includes the Applied Policy Project, in which you will be engaged in an intensive student-led investigation of a policy issue or controversy relevant to your interests. You may also have the opportunity to attend the Australian National Internships Program.

Our program is designed to develop the skills and knowledge you need to gather and analyse a range of economic, demographic and social data, to evaluate public policies and programs, and to participate in policy design, advocacy and communication.

Employment Opportunities

From instability in the Middle East, to the rising occurrences of computer hacking or global warming and its impact on human populations, there's a whole range of global security challenges which face business, government and international organisations today. As a result, employers across industry have begun to seek out graduates who have the confidence to provide advice on these issues and how to minimise their impacts.

The Bachelor of International Security Studies gives you the practical skills and knowledge that will set you apart as a leader in this field and graduates from this degree can expect to find themselves working in a range of fields including business analysts, defence policy, foreign affairs, intelligence agencies, journalism and media. Recent graduates of security studies are currently working with organisations like the Attorney Generals Department, United Nations, Telstra, Boeing, the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. More information can be found here.

From instability in the Middle East, to the rising occurrences of computer hacking or global warming and its impact on human populations, there's a whole range of global security challenges which face business, government and international organisations today. As a result, employers across industry have begun to seek out graduates who have the confidence to provide advice on these issues and how to minimise their impacts.

The Bachelor of International Security Studies gives you the practical skills and knowledge that will set you apart as a leader in this field and graduates from this degree can expect to find themselves working in a range of fields including business analysts, defence policy, foreign affairs, intelligence agencies, journalism and media. Recent graduates of security studies are currently working with organisations like the Attorney Generals Department, United Nations, Telstra, Boeing, the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. More information can be found here.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify and explain the key concepts, ideas and principal actors in international security.

2. Evaluate the major theoretical frameworks for understanding the complexities of contemporary international security challenges.

3. • Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the historical and contemporary dimensions of international, internal and transnational security, especially in the Asia-Pacific region.

4. Analyse the key challenges facing Australian security and defence policy in the ‘Asian Century’.

5. Reflect critically on the principal factors that determine the security policies of Australia and the major Asia-Pacific powers

6. Employ communication and presentation skills (oral, written and electronic)

7. Demonstrate teamwork and interpersonal skills

8. Exhibit the ability to write for both academic and professional audience

Upon successful completion, students will have the skills and knowledge to:

1. demonstrate understanding of differences in political systems and the contexts in which public policy operates;
2. apply concepts and theories used in the study of public policy;
3. apply a range of research methods to the investigation of public policy;
4. gather, analyse, and interpret economic data, social data, and statistics related to Australian public policies; and
5. communicate and debate both orally and in writing, and work with others, using a variety of media.

Further Information

Admission Requirements

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. Please note that Adjustment Factors vary and do not apply to a select few programs,  please 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 International Security 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 consist of:

24 units from completion of the following compulsory course list:

STST1001 Introduction to International Security Studies

STST1003 Coping with Crisis: The Practice of International Security

STST2001 Concepts of Security in the Asia-Pacific

STST3002 Australia's Security in the Asian Century

Minimum of 6 units from completion of a course from the following concepts and methods course list:

HIST2110 Approaches to History

POLS2123 Peace and Conflict Studies

POLS2125 Game Theory and Social Sciences

SOCY2043 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods

POLS2044 Contemporary Political Analysis

WARS2001 Theories of War: An historical and global perspective

POLS3001 Foreign Policy Analysis

POLS3017 International Relations Theory

Minimum of 36 units from completion of courses from the following list of Security Studies courses:

Asia-Pacific Security

ASIA2060 Southeast Asian Security

ASIA2111 Indonesian Foreign and Security Policy

INTR2012 Chinese Foreign and Security Policy

INTR2014 Indian Foreign and Security Policy

INTR2016 US Foreign and Security Policy in Asia

INTR2018 Japanese Foreign and Security Policy

INTR2020 (In)Stability on the Korean Peninsula

INTR2024 Nuclear Politics in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities

STST2020 Study tour: Southeast Asia's Security Choices

Global Security

MEAS2001 New States of Eurasia: Emerging Issues in Politics and Security

HIST2240 Democracy and Dissent: Europe Since 1945

POLS2132 Current Issues in International Security

STST2124 Politics of Nuclear Weapons

Australian Security

STST2003 Australia and Security in the Pacific Islands

STST3003 Honeypots and Overcoats: Australian Intelligence in the World

Non-traditional Security

ASIA2093 Natural Resource Conflicts in Asia and the Pacific

DIPL2000 Leadership and Diplomacy

INTR2047 Human Security: Conflict, Displacement and Peace Building

POLS3004 Emotions in International Politics

POLS3033 Environment, Human Security and Conflict

POLS3036 International Terrorism

History and Security after 1945

HIST2141 The Cold War: 1945-1989

STST2004 Special Topic in International Security

STST3003 Honeypots and Overcoats: Australian Intelligence in the World

WARS2002 Vietnam Wars: 1941-1989

WARS2003 The Korean War

A maximum of 30 units from the completion of courses within the following Language, Security and Area Studies minors:

Language

Advanced Arabic

Advanced Chinese Language

Advanced French Studies

Advanced German Studies

Advanced Italian Studies

Advanced Japanese Language

Advanced Korean Language

Advanced Sanskrit Language

Advanced Spanish Studies

Arabic Language

Burmese Language

Chinese Language

French Language and Culture

German Language and Culture

Hindi Language

Indonesian Language

Italian Language and Culture

Japanese Language

Korean Language

Mongolian Language

Persian

Russian

Spanish

Tetum Language

Thai Language

Tok Pisin Language

Vietnamese Language

Area Studies and Methods

Asian Studies

Asia-Pacific International Relations

Contemporary Europe

Gender and Sexuality

International Communication

International Relations

Latin American Studies

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies

Northeast Asian Studies

Pacific Studies

Philosophy

Social Research Methods

Southeast Asian Studies

Sustainable Development

Security

Criminology

Historical International Security

Peace and Conflict Studies

Technology, Networks and Society

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

HIST1250 Big History

The Bachelor of Public Policy flexible double degree requires the 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:

36 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

ECON1101 Microeconomics 1
INDG3001 Public policy development and implementation and Indigenous Australians
POLS2009 Bureaucracy and Public Policy
SOCR3001 Data for Decision Making
SOCY2043 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods
SOCY2101 Social Policy: Principles and Practice

A minimum of 6 units from completion of introductory courses on the following list:

ECHI1006 The Australian Economy: Past and Present
ECON1100 Economics I (H)
ECON1102 Macroeconomics 1
POLS1009 Research and Writing in Political Science
SOCY1002 Self and Society

A minimum of 6 units from completion of ethics courses from the following list:

PHIL1008 Introduction to Ethics
PHIL2020 Theories of Social Justice

6 units from completion of empirical research courses from the following list:

POLS2044 Contemporary Political Analysis
SOCY2038 Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods

A minimum of 6 units and a maximum of 12 units from completion of capstone courses from the following list:

ANIP3003 Australian National Internships Program Internship A
ANIP3005 Australian National Internship B
POLS3022 Washington DC Internship
SOCY3001 Research Internship
POLS3041 Applied Policy Project

A minimum of 6 and a maximum 30 units from completion of applied public policy courses from the following list:

CRIM2001 Doing Criminology: Research and Practice in Crime and Criminal Justice
CRIM2003 Controversies in Crime Control
CRIM2004 Dimensions of Crime: Identifying and Controlling Offenders
DEMO2001  Population Studies
DEMO2002 Population Analysis
DEMO2003 Migration in the Modern World
ENVS3001 Climate Change Science & Policy in Practice
ENVS3020 Climate Change Science & Policy
ENVS3028 Environmental Policy
ENVS3033 International Environmental Policy
LING2022 Language Policy and Language Politics
POLS3031 Comparative Judicial Politics
POLS2043  Pressure Groups and Political Lobbying
POLS2111 Elections, Political Behaviour and Public Opinion in Australia
POLS2114 Australian Political Institutions
POLS2121 Ideas in Australian Politics
POLS2130 Public Choice and Politics
POLS3038 Media and Politics
POLS3039 Political Leadership and Executive Government
SOCY2021 Education and Society
SOCY2022 Environmental Sociology
SOCY2055 Social Inequality in Comparative Perspective
SOCY2057 Relationships, Marriage and Family
STST2001 International Security issues in the Asia-Pacific
STST2003 Australia and Security in the Pacific Islands
STST3002 Australia’s Security in the Asian Century
STST3003 Honeypots and Overcoats: Australian Intelligence in the World

A minimum of 6 and a maximum 12 units from completion of political theory and political philosophy courses from the following list:

PHIL2115 Political Philosophy from Hobbes to Mill
PHIL2122 Philosophy and Public Policy
POLS2063 Contemporary Political Theory
POLS2119 Ideas in Politics
POLS2120 Foundations of Political Theory

A maximum of 12 units from completion of Vice-Chancellor’s courses from the following list:

VCUG2001 Creating Knowledge
VCUG2002 Leadership and Influence in a Complex World
VCUG3001 Unravelling Complexity
VCUG3002 Mobilising Research

Minors

Bachelor of International Security Studies Minors

Study Options