Want to make positive changes and help the Third World? The ANU Bachelor of Development Studies is the right degree for you.

ANU is a leader in the field of Development Studies and has established relationships with Australian and international aid and development organisations.

You will gain an inter-disciplinary understanding of theory and practice concerning the processes of development in the Third World, with special competence concerning one or two of four areas: Central Asia and the Middle East, China, Oceania, South and Southeast Asia, together with a solid background in one of the relevant social science disciplines.

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 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.

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.

1. develop, apply, integrate and generate scientific knowledge in educational and professional contexts;
2. use a range of skills and methods to identify, analyse and respond to problems and issues;
3. convey and relate professional and disciplinary information and ideas to diverse audiences in effective and appropriate ways;
4. work in both independent and collaborative ways with others to encompass diverse abilities and perspectives; and
5. exercise personal, professional and social responsibility as a global citizen.

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

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

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 Development 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:

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

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:

54 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

BIOL1003 Evolution, Ecology & Genetics (6 units)

BIOL1004 Molecular and Cell Biology (6 units)

BIOL2142 General Microbiology (6 units)

BIOL2161 Genes: Replication and Expression (6 units)

BIOL2171 Biochemistry and Nutrition (6 units)

BIOL3190 Medical Science in the Workplace (6 units)

CHEM1101 Chemistry 1 (6 units)

CHEM1201 Chemistry 2 (6 units)

MEDN2001 Medical Physiology and Pharmacology (6 units)

6 units from completion of courses from the following list:

BIAN3014 Research Design and Analysis in Biological Anthropology (6 units)

BIOL2001 Introduction to Quantitative Biology (6 units)

BIOL2202 Experimental Design and Analysis in Biology (6 units)

ENVS1003 Introduction to Environmental and Social Research (6 units)

PSYC2009 Quantitative Methods in Psychology (6 units)

12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

BIOL2117 Cell Biology (6 units)

BIOL2151 Genetics (6 units)

BIOL2162 Molecular Gene Technology (6 units)

BIOL2174 Cell Physiology in Health and Disease (6 units)

 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 (6 units)

BIOL3141 Infection and Immunity (6 units)

BIOL3142 Biomedical Parasitology (6 units)

BIOL3144 Advanced and Applied Immunology (6 units)

MEDN3186 Human Anatomy (6 units)

BIOL3204 Genetics of Human Disease 1 (6 units)

BIOL3205 Genetics of Human Disease 2 (6 units)

NEUR3101 Cellular Neuroscience (6 units)

NEUR3112 Systems Neuroscience (6 units)

A maximum of 12 units of biomedical electives from the following list:

BIOL3107 Advances in Medical and Plant Biochemistry (6 units)

BIOL3161 Genomics and its Applications (6 units)

BIOL3191 Biology, Society and Ethics (6 units)

BIOL3193 Bacteria and Health: An Ecological and Evolutionary Perspective (6 units)

BIOL3203 Advanced Microscopy in Biosciences (6 units)

BIOL3208 Biology Research Project (6 units)

BIOL3209 Biology Research Project (12 units)

POPH3000 Introduction to Population Health (6 units)

Students must achieve a minimum 65% weighted average mark across all science courses in the Bachelor of Medical Science 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 to a different Science program.

Minors

Bachelor of Development Studies Minors

Study Options