Program Requirements

The Masters of Strategic Studies requires completion of 72 units which must consist of:

18 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

STST8001 Strategic Studies 

STST8010 Strategic Concepts and Asia Pacific Conflict

STST8052 The Resort to Force: Understanding Military Power

A minimum of 18 units from the following strategic studies courses:

STST8002 The New Power Politics of Asia

STST8004 Australian Strategic and Defence Policy

STST8026 Nuclear Strategy in the Asian Century 

STST8054 Building a defence force: Defence force structure planning and acquisition

STST8066 Strategy, Statecraft and Diplomacy for the 21st Century

STST8068 Asian Strategy and Security: History, Theory and Practice

A maximum of 36 units from the following strategy and security thematic course lists:

Strategy, and Security in Asia

INTR8040 Ethnicity and Conflict in the Asia-Pacific

INTR8067 U.S. Security Policy in the Asia-Pacific

NSPO8032 Geoeconomics and National Security

STST8013 China’s Defence and Strategic Challenges

STST8021 Intelligence and Security

STST8053 Alliances in Asia: Theory, History and Practice

STST8055 Making Grand Strategy

STST8056 Strategy and Southeast Asia: Defence and Security Dynamics

War Studies, Conflict and Global Security

INTR8053 Ethics of Peace and War

MEAS8111 Islam, The West and International Terrorism

MEAS8112 Dynamics of Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

MEAS8113 The Gulf Strategic Environment

NSPO8028 History for Policymakers

STST8027 Insurgency and counterinsurgency

WARS6001 Walking the Ground: War Studies in the Field

National Security and Policymaking

DIPL8044 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

NSPO8009 Cyber and Emerging Technologies in National Security

NSPO8012 Leadership, Risk and National Security Crisis Management 

NSPO8028 History for Security Policymakers 

NSPO8032 Geoeconomics and National Security

NSPO8033 Climate, the Environment and National Security

NSPO8036 Australian National Security Law: Introduction for Policymakers

STST8021 Intelligence and Security

STST8066 Strategic Diplomacy in the 21st Century: Rethinking Strategy and Statecraft

Special topics

STST8017 Special Topics in Strategic Studies 

STST8057 Defence Leadership in ASEAN A

STST8058 Defence Leadership in ASEAN B

A maximum of 6 units from the following experiential courses:

ANIP6503 Australian National Internships Program Internship A (Graduate)

STST8059 Strategic Studies Internship

STST8064 Strategic Studies Experience (0 units)

VCPG6001 Unravelling Complexity

VCPG6003 Leadership and Influence in a Complex World

VCPG6004 Creating Impact

Hurdle Requirements

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 automatically guarantee entry. 

• Bachelor or international equivalent with GPA 5/7; or
• Bachelor or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or
• Bachelor or international equivalent with GPA 4/7 and a Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7; or
• Graduate Diploma or international equivalent with a GPA 4/7; or
• 48 units of courses in a postgraduate program with a GPA of 4/7; or
• Graduate Certificate or international equivalent with a GPA of 4/7 and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or
•  Graduate Records Examination (GRE) General test, completed no more than 5 years before the time of application, with a minimum score of 155 for Verbal Reasoning, 155 for Quantitative Reasoning and 4.0 in Analytical Writing and a minimum of 3 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to the program; or
• A minimum of 10 years full-time equivalent work experience at ANZSCO Skill Level 1 in a field related to 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. 

Academic achievement & English language proficiency

The minimum academic requirement for full entry and enrolment is a Bachelor degree or international equivalent with a minimum GPA of 5.0/7.0. 

However, applicants will first be ranked on a GPA ('GPA1') that is calculated using all but the last semester (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes. 

If required, ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of: 

• a GPA ('GPA2') calculated on the penultimate and antepenultimate semesters (or equivalent) of the Bachelor degree used for admission purposes; and/or

• demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency. 

Prior to enrolment in this ANU program, all students who gain entry will have their Bachelor degree reassessed, to confirm minimum requirements were met.

Further information: English Language Requirements for Admission 

Diversity factors

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.

Assessment of qualifications

Unless otherwise indicated, ANU will accept all Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications or international equivalents that meet or exceed the published admission requirements of our programs, provided all other admission requirements are also met.

 Where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will base assessment on the qualification that best meets the admission requirements for the program. Find out more about the Australian Qualifications Framework: www.aqf.edu.au

ANU uses a 7-point Grade Point Average (GPA) scale. All qualifications submitted for admission at ANU will be converted to this common scale, which will determine if an applicant meets our published admission requirements. Find out more about how a 7-point GPA is calculated for Australian universities: www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/tertiary-qualifications

Unless otherwise indicated, where an applicant has more than one completed tertiary qualification, ANU will calculate the GPA for each qualification separately. ANU will base assessment on the best GPA of all completed tertiary qualifications of the same level or higher. 

Applications for course credit

Applicants who have completed a degree in a cognate discipline from a recognised university may be eligible to receive coursework credit towards this degree, in line with the ANU Recognition of prior and external learning policy

Cognate Disciplines

International relations and diplomacy; public policy and administration; strategic and security studies; political science; history; sociology; economics and development; social science; law; and regional studies

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.

Study with the best. 

Study Strategic Studies at ANU with internationally recognised experts in Australian strategic policy, Asia-Pacific security and global strategic issues.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate in-depth knowledge and cognitive skills in strategic and defence studies.

2. Possess an integrated understanding of the conduct of strategy, military operations, and its relationship to policy

3. Undertake strategic and policy analysis and be able to critically analyse, reflect on and synthesise complex information relating to the conduct of strategy and military operations

4. Possess the technical skills needed to access the academic literature in the fields of study associated with strategic and defence studies

5. Research and apply established theories and concepts and exercise expert judgement in military, defence or policy contexts as they apply to Australian, Asian and Global settings.

6. Apply strategic concepts and knowledge to practical, contemporary problems using case studies from Australia, Asia and global environments

7. Conduct scholarly research, express ideas and construct evidence-based arguments in both written and oral form.