Archaeology unlocks the mysteries of humanity’s past. Archaeologists discover and excavate archaeological sites and interpret the material recovered from them.

Our well-regarded degree is specifically designed to prepare you for a successful career in archaeology, either as a researcher or heritage consultant.

You will be trained in methods of archaeological investigation and develop both skills, experience and knowledge of fieldwork, museums and heritage and community engagement. Unique to Australia, this degree takes a global outlook on the practice of archaeology and the production of knowledge about past societies.

Throughout the ANU Bachelor of Archaeological Practice you will have exciting opportunities to participate in local or international fieldwork experiences.

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.

Employment Opportunities

The technical and analytical skills learned through this program provide highly practical knowledge, skills and training in the methods of archaeological investigation. Graduates may find work in Commonwealth heritage agencies, national parks, mining companies, as independent consultants, advisors to Aboriginal Land councils and many other fields.

The technical and analytical skills learned through this program provide highly practical knowledge, skills and training in the methods of archaeological investigation. Graduates may find work in Commonwealth heritage agencies, national parks, mining companies, as independent consultants, advisors to Aboriginal Land councils and many other fields.

Learning Outcomes

1. undertake archaeological fieldwork using different techniques and approaches to locate, map, record, collect and excavate archaeological materials by determining the conditions in which those techniques and approaches are optimal;

2. critically analyse archaeological materials, including the examination of human remains, artefacts, archaeo-fauna and archaeo-flora, archaeological sediments and other materials;

3. apply interpretative approaches and skills including archaeological theory and quantitative analysis;

4. design ethical research frameworks and practise their application, including Indigenous community and stakeholder consultation and collaboration; and

5. reconstruct humanity’s evolutionary history, archaeological sequences, past human practices, culture histories, and palaeoenvironments.

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.

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 Archaeological Practice 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:The Bachelor of Archaeological Practice 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:

12 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

ARCH1111 Archaeology Uncovered

ARCH1112 From Origins to Civilizations

A maximum of 30 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ARCH2004 Australian Archaeology

ARCH2007 Archaeological Laboratory Methods

ARCH2022 Study Tour: Cultural Landscapes and Environmental Change

ARCH2037 Post-Roman Archaeology of Britain: From Arthur to the Black Death 

ARCH2041 Introduction to Environmental Archaeology

ARCH2050 Archaeology of Southeast Asia

ARCH2052 Archaeology in Film and Fiction

ARCH2056 Britons and Romans: Archaeology of the Western Roman Empire 

ARCH2058 European Prehistory from Cultivation to the Celts

ARCH2060 International Archaeological Field School Extension

ARCH2061 Archaeological Field Methods

ASIA2203 Archaeology of China

ASIA2301 Human Migration and Expansion in the Rise of the Asia-Pacific

BIAN2015 Human Skeletal Analysis

BIAN2128 Forensic Anthropology and Archaeology

HUMN2051 Introduction to Cultural Heritage Management

INDG2001 Indigenous Cultural and Natural Resource Management

A maximum of 12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

ARCH2055 Archaeological Fieldschools and Fieldwork Practice

ARCH2059 International Archaeological Field School

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

ARCH3023 Thinking Through the Past: Archaeological Theory from 1950

ARCH3026 History of Archaeology: Discovering the Past

ARCH3028 Archaeology of Death and Mortuary Practices

ARCH3030 Archaeology of Ritual and Religion

ARCH3108 Animal and Plant Domestication

ASIA3051 Study Tour: Archaeology in Asia

BIAN3010 Scientific Dating in Archaeology and Palaeoenvironmental Studies

BIAN3113 Human Evolution

BIAN3125 Ancient Health and Disease

ENVS3029 Palaeo-Environmental Reconstruction

48 units from completion of the two following minors:

Advanced Environmental Archaeology

Archaeology of Aboriginal Australia in its Regional and Cultural Context

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 following list:

ASIA2001 Language in Asia and the Pacific

ASIA2018 Maps and Mapping 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 Security Concepts 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)

ASIA3108 Research Topics in Asian and Pacific Languages (L)

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)

ASIA3108 Research Topics in Asian and Pacific Languages (L)

INDN1002 Indonesian 1

INDN1003 Indonesian 2

INDN2002 Indonesian 3

INDN2003 Indonesian 4

INDN3002 Indonesian 5

INDN3003 Indonesian 6

INDN2525 Learning Language Locally: Indonesia

INDN3015 Advanced Indonesian: Translation into English

LING3104 Indonesian and Interdisciplinary Linguistics (L)

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

JPNS3013 Japanese - English Translation

JPNS3014 Teaching Japanese: Method

JPNS3023 Research Topics in Japanese: History & Society

JPNS3024 Research Topics in Japanese: International Relations & Politics

JPNS3102 Debating Japan: Contemporary Intellectual Debates

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: Culture and History

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)

ASIA3108 Research Topics in Asian and Pacific Languages (L)

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)

ASIA3108 Research Topics in Asian and Pacific Languages (L)

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)

ASIA3108 Research Topics in Asian and Pacific Languages (L)

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.  A maximum of 6 units maybe taken from the experiential course list or from VCUG Vice Chancellor’s Undergraduate 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

Indian and South Asian Studies major

Indonesian Studies major

Japanese Linguistics major

Korean Studies major

Northeast Asian Studies major

Pacific Studies major

Russian and Central Asian Studies minor

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 A

ASIA2098 Asian and Pacific Studies Internship

ASIA2110 International Affairs Internship

ASIA3023 Asia Pacific Week Internship

LING2107 Advanced Academic English

Majors

Bachelor of Asian Studies Majors

Minors

Bachelor of Archaeological Practice Minors

Bachelor of Asian Studies Minors

Study Options