Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Development 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 include:

A maximum of 24 units from completion of undergraduate introductory courses from the following list:

ANTH1002 Culture and Human Diversity: Introducing Anthropology (6 units)

ANTH1003 Global Citizen: Culture, Development and Inequality (6 units)

ASIA1025 Asia and the Pacific: Power, Diversity and Change (6 units)

ASIA1030 Asia and the Pacific in Motion (6 units)

ENVS1003 Introduction to Environmental and Social Research (6 units)

POLS1005 Introduction to International Relations: Foundations and Concepts (6 units)

POLS1006 Introduction to International Relations: Contemporary Global Issues (6 units)

SOCY1002 Self and Society (6 units)

SOCY1004 Analysing the Social World: An Introduction to Social Psychology (6 units)

18 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

ANTH2009 Culture and Development (6 units)

POLS2011 Development and Change (6 units)

SOCY2030 Social Inequalities and Development (6 units)

A minimum of 24 units from completion of Development Studies courses from the following list:

ANTH2017 Culture, Social Justice and Aboriginal Society Today (6 units)

ANTH2026 Medicine, Healing and the Body (6 units)

ANTH2129 Crossing Borders: Migration, Identity and Livelihood (6 units)

ANTH2134 States and Citizens: Anthropological Perspectives (6 units)

ANTH3014 Indonesia Field School: Contemporary Change in Indonesia (6 units)

ANTH3017 Indigenous Worlds: Challenges of Emergence, Recognition, and Change (6 units)

ASIA2067 Economies of Emerging Asia (6 units)

ASIA2090 Study Tour: The Political Economy of Myanmar (6 units)

ASIA2516 Indonesia: Politics, Society and Development (6 units)

BIAN2120 Culture, Biology and Population Dynamics (6 units)

ECHI2006 The World Economy Since 1800 (P)

ECON2900 Development Poverty and Famine (6 units)

ENVS2005 Island Sustainable Development: Fiji Field School (6 units)

ENVS2017 Vietnam Field School (6 units)

ENVS2023 Sustainable Agricultural Systems (6 units)

ENVS2025 Indigenous Cultural and Natural Resource Management (6 units)

ENVS3007 Participatory Resource Management: Working with Communities and Stakeholders (6 units)

ENVS3033 International Environmental Policy (6 units)

INDG3001 First Nations Peoples, the State and Public Policy in Australia (6 units)

MEAS2105 The Political Economy of the Middle East (6 units)

PASI3001 Politics and Development in the Contemporary Pacific (6 units)

PASI3005 Pacific Islands Field School (6 units)

POLS2055 Pacific Politics (6 units)

POLS2094 Issues in International Political Economy (6 units)

POLS2095 Politics in Latin America (6 units)

POLS2101 Refugee Politics: Displacement and Exclusion in the 20th and 21st Centuries (6 units)

POLS2113 Human Rights (6 units)

POLS3070 Politics in Central Asia (6 units)

SOCY2022 Environmental Sociology (6 units)

SOCY2055 Social Inequality in Comparative Perspective (6 units)

SOCY2162 Sociology of Health and Illness (6 units)

A minimum of 6 units from completion of advanced-level courses from the following list:

ANTH3014 Indonesia Field School: Contemporary Change in Indonesia (6 units)

ANTH3017 Indigenous Worlds: Challenges of Emergence, Recognition, and Change (6 units)

ENVS3007 Participatory Resource Management: Working with Communities and Stakeholders (6 units)

ENVS3033 International Environmental Policy (6 units)

INDG3001 First Nations Peoples, the State and Public Policy in Australia (6 units)

PASI3001 Politics and Development in the Contemporary Pacific (6 units)

PASI3005 Pacific Islands Field School (6 units)

Either:

24 units from completion of one of the following complementary minors:

Advanced Arabic

Advanced Chinese Language

Advanced French Studies

Advanced German Studies

Advanced Italian Studies

Advanced Japanese Language

Advanced Korean Language

Advanced Persian

Advanced Spanish Studies

Anthropology

Arabic

Burmese Language

Chinese Language

Environmental Studies

French Language and Culture

Geography

German Language and Culture

Hindi Language

Human Ecology

Indonesian Language

Italian Language and Culture

Japanese Language

Korean Language

Mongolian Language

Persian

Political Science

Russian

Sociology

Spanish

Tetum Language

Thai Language

Tok Pisin Language

Vietnamese Language

Or:

24 units from completion of an internship

48 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

Unless otherwise stated, a course used to satisfy the requirements of one list may not be double counted towards satisfying the requirements of another list.

Minors

Elective Study

Once you have met the program requirements of your degree, you may have enough electives to complete an additional elective major, minor or specialisation.

Study Options

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.

Fee Information

All students are required to pay the Services and amenities fee (SA Fee)

The annual indicative fee provides an estimate of the program tuition fees for international students and domestic students (where applicable). The annual indicative fee for a program is based on the standard full-time enrolment load of 48 units per year (unless the program duration is less than 48 units). Fees for courses vary by discipline meaning that the fees for a program can vary depending on the courses selected. Course fees are reviewed on an annual basis and typically will increase from year to year. The tuition fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and the courses selected and are subject to increase during the period of study.

For further information on Fees and Payment please see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments

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.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates have opportunities to work in a broad range of sectors. Some of these include aid agencies, multi-national companies, non-government organisations, government departments and international bodies, such as the United Nations.

Learning Outcomes

1. identify the theory and principles of development;

2. analyse the practice of development through multilateral, bilateral, government and non-government agencies;

3. recall critical development issues in particular regions of the South; and

4. engage in one of the social science disciplines or a language other than English.