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.

The Bachelor of Political Science is the only dedicated Political Science degree in Australia. The ANU has some of the world’s finest political scientists, and was the only Australian university to receive a 5 (“well above world class”) in both of the Excellence in Research for Australia’s reports. Located in the national capital, the ANU is the only university with a right to place interns in Australian Parliament House. The Bachelor of Political Science will give you the knowledge, theoretical understandings, and practical skills that underpin a successful career that engages with politics.

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

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 a nuanced understanding of the regional diversity of the societies and cultures that make up Asia;

3. Exercise critical thinking and judgment in identifying and solving problems, individually and in groups.

1. apply concepts and theories used in the study of political science to the analysis of interests, ideas, institutions and behaviour and to the evaluation of political phenomena;

2. apply a range of research methods to the investigation of political phenomena;

3. demonstrate understanding of differences in political systems and the contexts in which they operate; and

4. communicate and debate both orally and in writing, and work with others, using a variety of media.

Further Information

Admission Requirements

At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not guarantee entry into the program.

In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors.

The University reserves the right to alter or discontinue its programs and change admission requirements as needed.

Domestic applicants

Before applying for a program, you should review the general information about domestic undergraduate admission to ANU programs and how to apply, and the program-specific information below.

• Applicants with recent secondary education are assessed on:
  • completion of Australian Year 12 or equivalent, and the minimum Selection Rank (from their academic qualifications, plus any adjustment factors) requirement for this program; and
  • co-curricular or service requirement (applies to applicants who complete secondary education in the year prior to commencing at ANU); and
  • English language proficiency; and
  • any program-specific requirements listed below.
• Applicants with higher education study are assessed on:
  • previous higher education studies; or secondary education results if completed less than one full-time equivalent year (1.0 FTE) of a degree; or the result from a bridging or preparatory course; and
  • English language proficiency; and
  • any program-specific requirements listed below.
• Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are assessed on:
  • previously completed VET qualifications at AQF level 5 or higher (i.e. a Diploma or above); or secondary education results if the VET qualification is not completed; and
  • English language proficiency; and
  • any program-specific requirements listed below.
• Applicants with work and life experience are assessed on:
  • ATAR or equivalent if secondary education was completed; or the Special Adult Entry Scheme (SAES); or work experience; and
  • English language proficiency; and
  • any program-specific requirements listed below.

International applicants

Applicants who complete a recognised secondary/senior secondary/post-secondary/tertiary sequence of study will be assessed on the basis of an equivalent selection rank that is calculated upon application. A list of commonly observed international qualifications and corresponding admission requirements can be found here. Applicants must also meet any program specific requirements that are listed below.

Diversity factors & English language proficiency  
As Australia's national university, ANU is global representative of Australian research and education. ANU endeavours to recruit and maintain a diverse and deliberate student cohort representative not only of Australia, but the world. In order to achieve these outcomes, competitive ranking of applicants may be adjusted to ensure access to ANU is a reality for brilliant students from countries across the globe. If required, competitive ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency.

Further information is available for English Language Requirements for Admission

Adjustment Factors

Adjustment factors are additional points added to an applicant's Selection Rank (for example an applicant's ATAR). ANU offers adjustment factors based on performance and equity principles, such as for high achievement in nationally strategic senior secondary subjects and for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. 

Selection Rank adjustments are granted in accordance with the approved schedules, and no more than 15 (maximum 5 subject/performance-based adjustment factors and maximum 10 equity-based adjustment factors) can be awarded. 

You may be considered for adjustment factors if you have:

• applied for an eligible ANU Bachelor degree program
• undertaken Australian Year 12 or the International Baccalaureate
• achieved an ATAR or equivalent at or above 70
• not previously attempted tertiary study.

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 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 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:

ASIA2001 Language in Asia and the Pacific

ASIA2065 Asian Politics: From Concepts to Causes

ASIA2067 Economies of Emerging Asia

ASIA2120 Colonialism and the Rule of Law

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

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

ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)

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

Hindi Language

ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)

ASIA3083 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages A

ASIA3108 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages B

HIND1100 Hindi 1

HIND1200 Hindi 2

HIND2300 Hindi 3

HIND2400 Hindi 4

HIND3500 Hindi 5

HIND3600 Hindi 6

HIND2525 Learning Language Locally: India

Indonesian Language

ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)

ASIA3083 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages A

ASIA3108 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages B

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

Japanese Language

ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)

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

Korean Language

ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)

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

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

ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)

ASIA3083 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages A

ASIA3108 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages B

SKRT1002 Sanskrit 1

SKRT1003 Sanskrit 2

SKRT2103 Sanskrit 3

SKRT2104 Sanskrit 4

SKRT3004 Sanskrit 5

SKRT3005 Sanskrit 6

SKRT3002 Sanskrit 7

SKRT3003 Sanskrit 8

Tetum Language

TETM1002 Tetum 1

TETM1003 Tetum 2

TETM2004 Tetum 3

TETM2005 Tetum 4

 Thai Language

ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)

ASIA3083 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages A

ASIA3108 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages B

THAI1002 Thai 1

THAI1003 Thai 2

THAI2002 Thai 3

THAI2003 Thai 4

THAI3002 Thai 5

THAI3008 Thai 6

Vietnamese Language

ASIA2103 Language in Asia and the Pacific (L)

ASIA3083 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages A

ASIA3108 Research Topics in South and Southeast Asian Languages B

VIET1002 Vietnamese 1

VIET1003 Vietnamese 2

VIET2002 Vietnamese 3

VIET2003 Vietnamese 4

VIET3002 Vietnamese 5

VIET3003 Vietnamese 6 

VIET3015 Vietnamese–English Translation

 *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.    

Languages

Arabic major

Burmese Language minor

Chinese Language major

Chinese Studies major

French Language and Culture major

Hindi Language major

Indonesian Language major

Japanese Language major

Japanese Studies major

Korean Language major

Literary Chinese minor

Mongolian Language minor

Sanskrit Language major

Spanish major

Tetum Language minor

Thai Language major

Tok Pisin Language minor

Vietnamese Language major

Portuguese Language (PORT)

Tibetan Language (TIBN)

Disciplines

Anthropology major

Archaeology major

Linguistics major

Peace and Conflict Studies major

Area Studies

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

Asian History major

Asia-Pacific International Relations major

Asia-Pacific Politics major

Asia-Pacific Security Studies major

India Studies major

Indonesian Studies major

Japanese Linguistics major

Korean Studies major

Northeast Asian Studies major

Pacific Studies major

Southeast Asian Studies major

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

ASIA2098 Asian and Pacific Studies Internship

ASIA2110 International Affairs Internship

ASIA3023 Asia Pacific Week Internship

ASIA3024 Editor’s practicum: online public engagement, academic blogging and digital disruption

ESEN1101 Essential University English

HIST1250 Big History

LING2107 Advanced Academic English

The Bachelor of Political Science flexible double degree component 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:

24 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

POLS1002 Introduction to Politics

POLS1009 Research and Writing in Political Science

POLS2044 Contemporary Political Analysis

POLS2119 Ideas in Politics

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

EURO3002 Comparative European Politics

POLS3022 Washington DC Internship

POLS3029 Sharing Power: Federalism in Comparative Perspective

POLS3031 Comparative Judicial Politics

POLS3033 Environment, Human Security and Conflict

POLS3036 International Terrorism

POLS3038 Media and Politics

POLS3039 Political Leadership and Executive Government

POLS3040 Conflict and Change in Sub-Saharan Africa

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

PHIL1004 Fundamental Ideas in Philosophy: An Introduction

PHIL2020 Theories of Social Justice

PHIL2113 Global Justice

POLS2063 Contemporary Political Theory

POLS2102 Political Belief and Deceit

POLS2120 Foundations of Political Theory

A minimum of 12 units from completion of methodology courses from the following list:

ECON2141 Strategic Thinking: An Introduction to Game Theory

POLS2125 Game Theory and Social Sciences

POLS2130 Public Choice and Politics

POLS2137 Meaning in Politics: Interpretation, Method and Critique

POLS3045 Qualitative Methods in Political Science Research

SOCY2043 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods

A minimum of 12 units from completion of Australian politics courses from the following list:

POLS2002 Public Policy: Theory and Practice

POLS2009 Bureaucracy, Politics and Power

POLS2111 Elections, Political Behaviour and Public Opinion in Australia

POLS2114 Australian Political Institutions

POLS2121 Ideas in Australian Politics

A maximum of 6 units from completion of Australian political history courses from the following list:

HIST2022 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History

HIST2227 Australian Political History

A minimum of 12 units from completion of comparative politics courses from the following list:

ASIA2065 Asian Politics: From Concepts to Causes

POLS2043 Pressure Groups and Political Lobbying

POLS2126 Democracy and Dictatorship

POLS2134 Gender and Politics

POLS2135 Race, Ethnicity and Representation

POLS3037 Globalisation: Communications, Culture and Democracy

A maximum of 6 units from completion of area studies courses from the following list:

ASIA2026 The Politics of China

ASIA2031 Japanese Politics

ASIA2049 Politics and Society in Contemporary Korea

ASIA2070 Democracy in Southeast Asia

ASIA2109 Violence, Poverty, and Politics in India

ASIA2516 Indonesia: Politics, Society and Development

EURO2012 Uniting Europe: History, Politics, Theory

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

POLS2025 Politics in Britain

POLS2031 Politics in the Middle East

POLS2055 Pacific Politics

POLS2069 Politics in Russia

POLS2095 Politics in Latin America

POLS2127 U.S. Politics

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

ASIA2090 Study Tour: The Political Economy of Myanmar

ECON2013 Behavioural Economics

ECON2060 Economic Reasoning for Government

MEAS2105 The Political Economy of the Middle East

POLS2011 Development and Change

POLS2094 Issues in International Political Economy

A maximum of 12 units from completion of internship/Vice-Chancellors courses from the following list:

ANIP3003 Australian National Internships Program A

ANIP3005 Australian National Internships Program B

VCUG2001 Creating Knowledge

VCUG2002 Leadership and Influence in a Complex World

VCUG3001 Unravelling Complexity

VCUG3002 Mobilising Research

Majors

Bachelor of Asian Studies Majors

Minors

Bachelor of Asian Studies Minors