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.

The Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies (CAIS) at ANU is the only academic institution in Australia to offer the Bachelor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies. The courses offered are interdisciplinary, drawing from international relations, sociology, history, political economy, security, cultural studies and cognate disciplines. The breadth of disciplines and approaches used in CAIS’s teaching offers a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the Middle East and Central Asia regions. 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. 

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.

Further Information

Students enrolled in BMECA will be assigned an academic mentor from the pool of academic staff at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies. The mentoring program ensures that academic support is provided to every student enrolled in the program. It is designed to provide academic support to BMECA students and include them in CAIS’ intellectual community through academic and social gatherings. This is an optional form of assistance and students can opt out at any point of their degree.

Students enrolled in BMECA will be assigned an academic mentor from the pool of academic staff at the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies. The mentoring program ensures that academic support is provided to every student enrolled in the program. It is designed to provide academic support to BMECA students and include them in CAIS’ intellectual community through academic and social gatherings. This is an optional form of assistance and students can opt out at any point of their degree.

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 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:

12 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

MEAS1001 Introduction to the Modern Middle East 

MEAS1002 Islam: History and Institutions 

12 units from the completion of two courses from the following list:

MEAS3003 Critical Perspectives on Arabic culture

MEAS3004 Iran in World Politics

POLS3070 Politics in Central Asia

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

ANIP3003 Australian National Internships Program 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

MEAS2003 Modern Turkey: History, Politics and Culture 

MEAS2105 The Political Economy of the Middle East

MEAS2004 Turkish Politics and Foreign Policy

MEAS2005 Gender and Culture in Iran and the Middle East

MEAS2006 Gallipoli: A transnational history

MEAS2105 The Political Economy of the Middle East

MEAS3005 Modern Iraq: State, Politics and Society 

MEAS3006 Turkish History: Ottoman State to Modern Turkey

MEAS3007 Syria in the Levant: State, Society, and the Current Turmoil

MEAS3008 Egypt: Social and Political Dynamics

POLS2031 Politics in the Middle East

POLS2069 Politics in Russia

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 History Minor

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 and Central Asian Minor

Russian Minor

Social Research Methods Minor

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 quantitative research skills 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 Bioethics and Society (6 units)

BIOL3203 Advanced Microscopy in Biosciences (6 units)

BIOL3208 Biology Research Project (6 units)

BIOL3209 Biology Research Project (12 units)

MEDN3820 Biomedical Imaging: Principles, Technologies and Applications in Health Sciences (6 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.

Majors

Bachelor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Majors

Minors

Bachelor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Minors

Study Options