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.

Can you see yourself jet-setting the globe with a career in trade, foreign affairs, journalism, international business or research? You have found the right degree.

ANU is a leader in the field of International Relations.

Our program will introduce you to International Relations, initially via the broad historical and intellectual framework which has framed the modern world of states since the 17th century. It will then concentrate on the 20th century, the age of World Wars and the Cold War, before addressing contemporary issues, the age of global political economy, global culture and communication, global environmental concerns and post-Cold war political conflict, including the 'War on Terror'.

With our flexible program you can extend your chosen language subject into a major, and have the opportunity to go on exchange or an international/national internship.

Employment Opportunities

In today's globalised world success for business, government and international organisations depends heavily on strong relationships with Asia. This means that employers across the globe now actively recruit graduates who can demonstrate a deep understanding of the region.

From the Kitchen Ninja on TV to Human Rights Lawyer, the global skills our students develop mean our graduates are found all over the world in exciting and challenging jobs across many fields including international relations or trade, development, government and policy, banking and finance, tourism, media, education, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, marketing and many other fields.

In today's globalised world success for business, government and international organisations depends heavily on strong relationships with Asia. This means that employers across the globe now actively recruit graduates who can demonstrate a deep understanding of the region.

From the Kitchen Ninja on TV to Human Rights Lawyer, the global skills our students develop mean our graduates are found all over the world in exciting and challenging jobs across many fields including international relations or trade, development, government and policy, banking and finance, tourism, media, education, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, marketing and many other fields.

Learning Outcomes

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.

1. identify the principal theoretical approaches to the study of international relations, and the relationships between them;

2. have a thorough understanding of the historical development of the global system;

3. demonstrate an understanding of the principal actors in contemporary global politics and the challenges they face;

4. understand the principal factors that determine the foreign policies of major powers and of Australia; and

5. reflect critically on the knowledge and skills developed in their study of International Relations.

Further Information

Admission Requirements

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 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 completion of courses in 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 Asian Economies

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 listed in one of the following majors and minors: 

Burmese (BURM)

Chinese (CHIN)

Hindi (HIND)

Indonesian (INDN)

Japanese (JPNS)

Korean (KORE)

Literary Chinese (CHIN)

Mongolian (MNGL)

Sanskrit (SKRT)

Tetum (TETM)

Thai (THAI)

Tibetan (TIBN)

Tok Pisin (TOKP)

Vietnamese (VIET)

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 may be taken from the experiential course list or from VCUG Vice Chancellor’s Undergraduate Courses.

Area Studies 

Asian and Pacific Anthropology minor 

Asian and Pacific Archaeology minor 

Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender major 

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 

Chinese Studies major 

Indian and South Asian Studies major 

Indonesian Studies major 

Japanese Linguistics major 

Japanese Studies major 

Korean Studies major 

Northeast Asian Studies major 

Pacific Studies major 

Russian and Central Asian Studies minor 

Southeast Asian Studies major 

Languages 

Arabic Language major 

Burmese Language minor 

Chinese Language major 

French Language and Culture major 

Hindi Language major 

Indonesian Language major 

Japanese Language major 

Korean Language major 

Literary Chinese minor 

Mongolian Language minor 

Portuguese Language (PORT)

Sanskrit Language major 

Spanish Language major 

Tetum Language minor 

Thai Language major 

Tibetan Language minor

Tok Pisin Language minor 

Vietnamese Language major 

Disciplines  

Anthropology major 

Archaeology major 

Linguistics major 

Peace and Conflict 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 

The Bachelor of International Relations 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:

24 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

POLS1005 Introduction to International Relations: Foundations and Concepts

POLS1006 Introduction to International Relations: Contemporary Global Issues

POLS2094 Issues in International Political Economy

POLS3001 Foreign Policy Analysis

A minimum of 6 units from the following theory courses:

POLS2063 Contemporary Political Theory

POLS2102 Political Belief and Deceit

POLS2119 Ideas in Politics

POLS3017 International Relations Theory

POLS3032 The Politics of Empire

A minimum of 6 units from the following methods courses:

POLS1009 Research and Writing in Political Science

POLS2044 Contemporary Political Analysis

POLS2125 Game Theory and Social Sciences

POLS2137 Meaning in Politics: Interpretation, Method and Critique

POLS3045 Qualitative Research Methods in Political Science Research

SOCY2043 Introduction to Qualitative Research Methods

A minimum of 12 units from the following area studies courses:

ASIA1035 Introduction to Asian Politics

ASIA1999 The Origins of Political Order in Asia

EURO1004 Europe in the Modern Era

EURO2012 Uniting Europe: History, Politics, Theory

EURO3002 Comparative European Politics

INTR2010 International Relations in the Asia-Pacific

MEAS1001 Introduction to the Modern Middle East

MEAS2001 New States of Eurasia: Emerging Issues in Politics and Security

MEAS2004 Turkish Politics and Foreign Policy

MEAS2105 The Political Economy of the Middle East

MEAS3004 Iran in World Politics

POLS2031 Politics in the Middle East

POLS2055 Pacific Politics

POLS2095 Politics in Latin America

POLS3040 Conflict and Change in Sub-Saharan Africa

A minimum of 12 units from the following security courses:

ASIA2111 Indonesian Foreign and Security Policy

INTR2012 Chinese Foreign and Security Policy

INTR2014 Indian Foreign and Security Policy

INTR2016 US Foreign and Security Policy in Asia

INTR2018 Japanese Foreign and Security Policy

INTR2020 (In)Stability on the Korean Peninsula

INTR2024 Nuclear Politics in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities

POLS2123 Peace and Conflict Studies

POLS2136 Power and Influence in World Politics

POLS3033 Environment, Human Security and Conflict

POLS3036 International Terrorism

STST1001 Introduction to International Security Studies

STST2001 Security Concepts in the Asia-Pacific

STST2003 Australia and Security in the Pacific Islands

STST2124 Politics of Nuclear Weapons

STST3002 Australia's Security in the Asian Century

A minimum of 6 units from the following global politics courses:

DEMO2003 Migration in the Modern World

DIPL2000 Leadership and Diplomacy

INTR3001 Humanitarianism: Principles, Politics and Practice

PHIL2113 Global Justice

POLS2011 Development and Change

POLS2100 Genocide in the Modern World

POLS2101 Refugee Politics: Displacement and Exclusion in the 20th and 21st Centuries

POLS2113 Human Rights

POLS2133 International Organisations in World Politics

POLS2135 Race, Ethnicity and Representation

POLS3004 Emotions in International Politics

POLS3035 The Politics of International Law

SOCY2030 Social Inequalities and Development

A minimum of 6 units and a maximum of 12 units from the following cognate list:

DEMO1001 Global Population Challenges 

DEMO2003 Migration in the Modern World

HIST1209 Terror to Terrorism: A History

HIST1210 Environment and History from 1945

HIST2136 World at War, 1939-1945

HIST2141 The Cold War: 1945-1989*

HIST2240 Democracy and Dissent: Europe Since 1945*

HIST2226 Nazi Germany*

HIST2228 The Enlightenment: Europe and the World 1660-1800

HIST2242 The Soviet Union: From the Russian Revolution to the Collapse of Communism*

HIST2238 Human Rights in History*

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

MEAS3008 Egypt: Social and Political Dynamics in a Changing Middle East

*Please note that courses with asterisks are usually offered every second year.

A maximum of 12 units from the following internships and Vice-Chancellor's courses:

ANIP3003 Australian National Internships Program A

ANIP3005 Australian National Internships Program B

VCUG2002 Leadership and Influence in a Complex World

VCUG3001 Unravelling Complexity

A maximum of 24 units from courses in the following language minors:

Advanced Chinese Language 

Advanced French Studies

Advanced German Studies

Advanced Italian Studies

Advanced Japanese Language

Advanced Korean Language 

Advanced Spanish Studies

Arabic

Burmese Language

Chinese Language

French Language and Culture

German Language and Culture

Hindi Language

Indonesian Language

Italian Language and Culture

Japanese Language

Japanese Linguistics

Korean Language

Mongolian Language

Russian

Persian

Spanish

Tetum Language

Thai Language

Vietnamese Language

Majors

Bachelor of Asian Studies Majors

Minors

Bachelor of International Relations Minors

Bachelor of Asian Studies Minors