Immerse yourself in a remarkable and complex part of the world.

The Middle East and Central Asia, predominately Muslim States and Societies, are rich in history, geographical wonders, political turmoil, and socio-cultural influence. The Middle East ranges from Turkey and Iran in West Asia to the Arab heartland as far as Morocco in North Africa. Central Asia is comprised of Afghanistan and the former Muslim republics of the Soviet.

They are areas of constant domestic and international interest as events often unfold which have global relevance and significance.

This program will take you through the topics, debates and developments in the Middle East and Central Asia. You will study the socio-cultural, political, historical and economic structures of these regions and develop a comprehensive knowledge of their relationship to global socio-cultural, political and economic trends.

To fully engage with the history and culture of the regions, you can also study a Middle Eastern or Central Asian language. There is also the opportunity to undertake a highly competitive research project through the Australian National Internships Program (ANIP).

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 may find work in policy development, foreign affairs, government, private business, tourism, trade, journalism and many other fields.

Graduates may find work in policy development, foreign affairs, government, private business, tourism, trade, journalism and many other fields.

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand and evaluate historical and current events and developments that have shaped the Middle East and Central Asia,

2. Identify and critique the contemporary socio-cultural and political systems of the Middle East and Central Asia,

3. Analyse current debates relating to regional cooperation and unity in the context of tensions in traditions,

4. Analyse the global significance of events and developments in the Middle East and Central Asia, and

5. Communicate in a Middle Eastern or Central Asian language. 

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

Prerequisites

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. 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 Middle Eastern and Central Asian 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 completion of the following compulsory courses:

MEAS1001 Introduction to the Modern Middle East 

MEAS1002 Islam: History and Institutions 

MEAS3001 Gallipoli: History and National Imagination 

MEAS3002 Gender and Culture in Iran and the Middle East

24 units from completion of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies courses from the following list:

ANIP3003 Australian National Internships Program Internship A

BUSI2024 Dynamics of Business in the Middle East

MEAS2000 Iranian History and Culture

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

MEAS2002 Turkish History: Ottoman State to Modern Turkey

MEAS2003 Modern Turkey: History, Culture and Regional Relations

MEAS2004 Turkish Politics and Foreign Policy

MEAS2105 The Political Economy of the Middle East

POLS2031 Politics in the Middle East

POLS2069 Politics in Russia

POLS2070 Politics in Central Asia

Either:

48 units from completion of one of the following language majors:

Arabic

Persian

Or:

24 units from completion of one of the following language minors 

Arabic

Persian

24 units from completion of one of the following:

an in-country study abroad component/exchange in the same language as the minor

an internship undertaken in the same language as the minor

Or:

24 units from completion of one of the following advanced language minors: 

Advanced Arabic Minor

Advanced Persian Minor

24 units from completion of courses from the following majors, minors and courses:

Advanced Arabic Minor

Advanced Persian Minor

ANU Leadership and Research Minor

Applied Linguistics Minor

Arabic Major

Asian Studies Major

Forensic Linguistics Minor

History Major

Human Rights Major

International Communication Major

International Relations Major

Linguistics Major

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Major

Persian Major

Political Science Major

Russian Minor

Social Research Methods Minor

TURK1001 Elementary Turkish A

TURK1002 Elementary Turkish B

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 Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Majors

Minors

Bachelor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Minors

Study Options