The Bachelor of Arts is the most diverse, most flexible, and most popular degree at The Australian National University. Each of its some fifty majors, in fields throughout the arts, humanities and social sciences, is taught by truly outstanding scholars to ensure that each student receives the very best education, is engaged with cutting-edge research, and learns to think like a researcher. These majors can be coupled with more than seventy minors and specialisations to broaden or deepen your study. Regardless of your choices, your Arts degree will provide you with core skills in critical analysis and in written and oral communication, while developing your adaptability and ability to help shape change and prepare you for a multifaceted career or further study.

The ANU Bachelor of Music nurtures outstanding musical artistry through the intersection of performance, composition and technology. We believe that discovery lies at the heart of both creativity and excellence. We foster artistry through offering a diversity of musical experiences in an environment that encourages excellence, passion and entrepreneurship.

Our program provides students with a unique 21st Century musical experience which includes classical, jazz and contemporary performance, multimedia composition and audio engineering and recording. 

Students can specialise in one or more of five majors: performance; composition for film and video games, composition, music technology; and musicology.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts may find work in publishing, policy, education, international development, politics, media, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, advertising, art conservation, government and many other fields.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts may find work in publishing, policy, education, international development, politics, media, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, advertising, art conservation, government and many other fields.

Learning Outcomes

1. critically apply theoretical frameworks and research techniques to understanding national and international issues and problems;
2. identify, including through interrogation of databases, relevant sources of information from across a variety of media (print and digital, written and audio-visual) and judge the importance and reliability of those sources;
3. evaluate ideas and develop creative solutions to problems, including through independent pursuit of knowledge and making connections between different disciplinary approaches and methods;
4. communicate and debate both orally and in writing, and work with others, using a variety of media; and
5. understand the ethical implications of ideas, communications, and actions.

1. understand the practices, languages, forms, materials, technologies and techniques of a broad range of musics;
2. demonstrate deep knowledge of and proficiency in one or more areas of musical performance, composition arranging and sound design, musicology, or music technology by applying specialist cognitive and technical skills;
3. evaluate and interpret musical ideas and concepts by engaging with relevant research of others, and thinking creatively, critically, ethically, and independently to solve research questions through words and/or creative practice such as performance or composition;
4. communicate ideas, problems and arguments to do with music and the arts, through words and/or creative practice such as performance or composition, clearly and coherently in modes suited to a range of audiences; and
5. work independently and collaboratively in response to authentic music project demands.

Further Information

APAC accreditation and pathway to Honours in Psychology

This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) when students complete the accredited sequence of psychology courses. At ANU this includes minimum required learning achieved by successful completion of PSYC1003, PSYC1004, PSYC2001, PSYC2002, PSYC2007, PSYC2008, PSYC2009, PSYC3018, PSYC3025, PSYC3026 and an additional 2 x 3000 level PSYC courses. Students in an ANU BA who wish to be eligible for Honours in psychology must complete the specific set of courses that satisfy the APAC accreditation requirements.

APAC accreditation and pathway to Honours in Psychology

This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) when students complete the accredited sequence of psychology courses. At ANU this includes minimum required learning achieved by successful completion of PSYC1003, PSYC1004, PSYC2001, PSYC2002, PSYC2007, PSYC2008, PSYC2009, PSYC3018, PSYC3025, PSYC3026 and an additional 2 x 3000 level PSYC courses. Students in an ANU BA who wish to be eligible for Honours in psychology must complete the specific set of courses that satisfy the APAC accreditation requirements.

Admission Requirements

Pathways

Students who successfully complete the below program will be admitted to the Bachelor of Music:

DP-BD72 Diploma of Music (CUA50820), offered by the Canberra Institute of Technology

Prerequisites

Entry to Performance courses is by audition. Applicants undertaking an audition will be expected to have pre-existing musical knowledge obtained through secondary studies, or equivalent qualifications or experience.

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 Arts 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:

48 units from the completion of one of the following majors

MAJORS

Disciplines and Fields

Ancient History

Anthropology

Archaeology

Art History and Theory

Australian Indigenous Studies

Biological Anthropology

Criminology

Demography

Development Studies

Digital Humanities

Economic Studies

English

Environmental Studies

Gender, Sexuality and Culture

Geography

Global Security

History

Human Evolutionary Biology

Human Rights

International Communication

International Relations

Linguistics

Mathematics

Music

Music Technology

Peace and Conflict Studies

Philosophy

Political Science

Psychology

Screen Studies

Sociology

Technology, Networks and Society

War Studies

Languages

Ancient Greek

Arabic

Chinese Language

French Language and Culture

German Language and Culture

Hindi Language

Indonesian Language

Italian Language and Culture

Japanese Language

Japanese Linguistics

Korean Language

Latin

Persian

Sanskrit Language

Spanish

Thai Language

Vietnamese Language

Geographically Defined Area Studies

Asian Studies

Asian History

Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender

Chinese Studies

Contemporary Europe

Indian and South Asian Studies

Indonesian Studies

Japanese Studies

Korean Studies

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies

Northeast Asian Studies

Pacific Studies

Southeast Asian Studies

EITHER:

48 units from completion of a second major from the list above

OR

24 units from completion of one of the following minors, which must have a different name to the major

MINORS

Disciplines and Fields

Advanced Studies

Ancient History

Anthropology

Applied Linguistics

Archaeology

Art History and Theory

Australian Indigenous Studies

Biological Anthropology

Climate Science and Policy

Criminology

Demography

Design

Development Studies

Digital Humanities

Economic Studies

English

Environmental Policy

Environmental Studies

Forensic Anthropology

Forensic Linguistics

Gender and Sexuality

Geography

Global Security

Health, Medicine and the Body

Heritage and Museum Studies

History

Human Ecology

Human Evolutionary Biology

Human Rights

International Communication

International Relations

Linguistics

Mathematics

Music

Music Technology

Peace and Conflict Studies

Philosophy and Science

Philosophy

Political Science

Popular Music

Screen Studies

Social Psychology

Social Research Methods

Sociology

Sustainable Development

Technology, Networks and Society

Visual Arts Practice

War Studies

Languages

Advanced Ancient Greek

Advanced Arabic

Advanced Chinese Language

Advanced French Studies

Advanced German Studies

Advanced Italian Studies

Advanced Japanese Language

Advanced Korean Language

Advanced Latin

Advanced Persian

Advanced Sanskrit Language

Advanced Spanish Studies

Ancient Greek

Arabic

Burmese Language 

Chinese Language 

English Language

French Language and Culture

German Language and Culture

Hindi Language

Indonesian Language

Italian Language and Culture

Japanese Language

Japanese Linguistics

Korean Language

Latin

Literary Chinese

Mongolian Language

Persian

Russian

Sanskrit Language

Spanish

Tetum Language

Thai Language

Tok Pisin Language

Vietnamese Language

Geographically Defined Area Studies

Asian and Pacific Anthropology

Asian and Pacific Linguistics 

Asian Art History

Asian History

Asian Studies

Asian and Pacific Archaeology

Asia and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender

Asian-Pacific International Relations

Asian and Pacific Literature and Film

Asia-Pacific Politics

Australian Politics

Chinese Studies

Contemporary Europe

Indian and South Asian Studies

Indonesian Studies

Japanese Studies

Korean Studies

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies

Northeast Asian Studies

Pacific Studies

Southeast Asian Studies

ANIP

ANIP3007 Australian National Internships Program D *

And 24 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

OR

48 units from completion of two of the above minors, which must have different names to the major

The Bachelor of Music flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:

A maximum of 36 units can come from completion of 1000 level courses.

A minimum of 84 units must come from completion of courses from the subject area MUSI Music and courses from any majors listed in the Bachelor of Music.

The 96 units must consist of:

12 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

MUSI1501 Aural Skills and Music Theory 1

MUSI1502 Aural Skills and Music Theory 2

12 units from completion of courses on the following list:

MUSI2503 Aural Skills and Music Theory 3

MUSI2504 Aural Skills and Music Theory 4

MUSI2507 Advanced Jazz Studies 1

MUSI2508 Advanced Jazz Studies 2

A minimum of 6 units must come from completion of courses on the following list, which may be double counted towards one major or minor in which they are listed:

INDG2002 Contemporary Australian Indigenous Music Studies

MUSI2222 Music in the Long 19th Century: From Classicism to Modernism

MUSI2228 Music from 1900 to the Present: A Century of Crisis and Change

MUSI1113 Introduction to Ethnomusicology

12 units from completion of the following compulsory courses, which may be double counted towards one major or minor in which it is listed:

MUSI1110 Introduction to Music Technology

MUSI2211 Writing about Music 1: Styles and Theories

48 units from completion of one of the following majors:

Composition for Film and Video Games

Composition

Music Technology

Musicology

Performance

A maximum of 24 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU.

Majors

Bachelor of Arts Majors

Bachelor of Music Majors

Minors

Bachelor of Arts Minors

Bachelor of Music Minors

Study Options