Engaging with Asia as a part of Asia is a strategic imperative for Australia. The Bachelor of Asian Studies provides a pathway for ambitious and adventurous people in all fields of study to gain the language skills and cultural-historical expertise critical to leading that engagement. Graduates emerge with a nuanced understanding of the Asian region and its complex national and subnational parts.
Watch our video to find out how the Bachelor of Asian Studies can help you make a difference where it matters in Asia and beyond.
The Bachelor of Asian Studies provides a firm footing in how to study and engage with Asia with both language and discipline/area studies to create a unique and world class experience.
The College of Asia and the Pacific's (CAP's) breadth of Asia and Pacific language offerings is unmatched anywhere in Australia is globally recognised. All students in the Bachelor of Asian Studies must complete at least four course/a minor in an Asian language, and 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 competitive job market. Placement testing allows students with existing expertise in a language to enter at their current proficiency level and develop their language skills from that point.
CAP offers a world-leading concentration of disciplinary expertise in regionally-focused and globally-aware Security Studies, Linguistics, Politics, Anthropology, and History. Our focused discipline and area studies majors communicate this expertise to students. You can focus your studies in disciplines or choose instead to study a particular geographic region within Asia and bring a range of disciplinary perspectives to bear on exploring and understanding that area.
Our majors incorporate experiential and independent research courses that equip graduates with critical thinking skills that are contextualised with regional understandings and the capacity to communicate that across cultures. A sequence of transdisciplinary problem solving courses grants students the opportunity to develop and articulate creative solutions to emerging global and regional challenges.
Graduates from the Bachelor of Asian Studies at ANU will define Australia’s productive and peaceful engagement with the region through the 21st century.
Can you see yourself jet-setting the globe with a career in analytics, trade, foreign affairs, journalism, international business or research? You have found the right degree. ANU is a leader in the field of International Relations. The Bachelor of International Relations will give you world-class training in International Relations, providing the skills and background you need to understand the complex and exciting world of international affairs. Our program:
- provides an overview of the historical and intellectual background of international relations which focuses on the interaction of state and non-state actors globally across many dimensions – cultural, economic, environmental, and military to name a few;
- gives you an in-depth understanding of contemporary debates and challenges in international relations, as well as hands-on experience in policy analysis and data literacy which will prove highly useful in the workplace of tomorrow; and
- offers opportunities to study more specialised topics such as geopolitics and great power rivalry, international organisations, empire, terrorism, and human rights.
Bachelor of International Relations students can pursue many additional options, including language study, going on exchange or doing an international/national internship.
Career Options
ANU ranks among the world's very finest universities. Our nearly 100,000 alumni include political, business, government, and academic leaders around the world.
We have graduated remarkable people from every part of our continent, our region and all walks of life.
Employment Opportunities
Bachelor of Asian Studies graduates develop language skills and disciplinary sophistication within a nuanced understanding of the Asian region and its complex national and subnational parts.
Employer recruitment priorities show that Bachelor of Asian Studies graduates’ critical intercultural skills provide a competitive edge in career fields including international relations or trade, aid and development, government and policy, banking and finance, tourism, media, education, information technology, marketing, journalism, and corporate communications.
Bachelor of Asian Studies graduates develop language skills and disciplinary sophistication within a nuanced understanding of the Asian region and its complex national and subnational parts.
Employer recruitment priorities show that Bachelor of Asian Studies graduates’ critical intercultural skills provide a competitive edge in career fields including international relations or trade, aid and development, government and policy, banking and finance, tourism, media, education, information technology, marketing, journalism, and corporate communications.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of different disciplinary approaches and methods drawn from the humanities and social sciences, to synthesise knowledge about Asia, its regions, and its place in the world.
- Demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the regional diversity of the societies, cultures, and life-systems perspectives across Asia and Oceania.
- Develop, refine, and apply the skills to recognise transdisciplinary opportunities and collaborate to solve complex transdisciplinary problems.
- Evaluate ideas and debate issues in both English and an Asian language, using academic style for written work.
- 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.
- Exercise critical thinking and judgment in identifying and solving problems, individually and in groups.
- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the international system's historical development and contemporary status: its principal events, actors, ideas, institutions, and outcomes of interest;
- apply the key international relations theories and concepts to historical and contemporary cases, across multiple issue-areas;
- demonstrate knowledge of a specific region/historical era of relevance to international relations; apply international relations theories and concepts to that region/era; reflect critically on the theories' applicability and explanatory power;
- apply analytical tools from political science and other social sciences to the evaluation of international phenomena across of a wide variety of issue-areas that are relevant to scholars and policymakers; and
- communicate and debate both orally and in writing, and work with others, using a wide variety of media.
Further Information
http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/students/undergrad/asian-studies#.VEBTAVcjOPUhttp://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/students/undergrad/asian-studies#.VEBTAVcjOPUAdmission Requirements
- ATAR:
- 85
- International Baccalaureate:
- 32
Adjustment Factors
Adjustment factors are combined with an applicant's secondary education results to determine their Selection Rank. ANU offers adjustment factors based on equity, diversity, and/or performance principles, such as for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies.
To be eligible for adjustment factors, you must have:
- achieved a Selection Rank of 70 or more before adjustment factors are applied
- if you have undertaken higher education, completed less than one year full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) of a higher education program
- applied for an eligible ANU bachelor degree program
Please visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.
Indicative fees
Bachelor of Asian Studies - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
Bachelor of International Relations - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees
- Annual indicative fee for international students
- $50,500.00
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
A minimum of 18 units must come from completion of 3000-level courses
A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving
The 96 units must consist of:
96 units as follows:
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
48 units from completion of one of the following majors:
Asian and Pacific Culture, Media, and Gender
Asian History
Chinese Studies
South Asian Studies
Japanese Linguistics
Japanese Studies
Korean Studies
Northeast Asian Studies
Southeast Asian Studies
Chinese Language
Hindi Language
Indonesian Language
Japanese Language
Korean Language
Sanskrit Language
Thai Language
Vietnamese Language
A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving
A minimum of 12 and maximum of 24 units from completion of courses:
in an Asian Language minor to meet the Asian Language requirements
in one or more of the majors listed above
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
48 units from completion of one of the following majors:
Asian and Pacific Culture, Media, and Gender
Asian History
Chinese Studies
South Asian Studies
Japanese Linguistics
Japanese Studies
Korean Studies
Northeast Asian Studies
Southeast Asian Studies
Chinese Language
Hindi Language
Indonesian Language
Japanese Language
Korean Language
Sanskrit Language
Thai Language
Vietnamese Language
A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving
A minimum of 12 and maximum of 24 units from completion of courses:
in an Asian Language minor to meet the Asian Language requirements
in one or more of the majors listed above.
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
A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving
The 96 units must include:
18 units from completion of the following compulsory introductory and methods courses:
POLS1002 Introduction to Politics
POLS1005 Introduction to International Relations
POLS1009 Introduction to Data and Methods for Political Science and International Relations
A minimum of 18 and a maximum of 24 units from the completion of courses in the following list:
POLS2017 International Relations Theory
POLS2094 International Political Economy
POLS2132 War and International Relations
POLS2133 Global Cooperation and Institutions
A minimum of 6 units from the completion of courses in the following list:
POLS2044 Quantitative Methods in Politics and International Relations
POLS2045 Qualitative Methods in Politics and International Relations
POLS2137 Meaning in Politics: Interpretation, Method and Critique
A maximum of 6 units from the completion of the following International Relations and Social Science Breadth courses:
ECON1101 Microeconomics 1
ENVS1003 Introduction to Environmental and Social Research
HIST2110 Approaches to History
STAT1003 Statistical Techniques
STST1001 Introduction to Strategic Studies
SOCR1001 Foundations of Social Research
Or any other 2000-level POLS course with permission
24 units from the completion of the following 3000 level courses, of which:
A minimum of 12 units must come from the completion of courses on the following International Relations Depth list:
POLS3001 Foreign Policy
POLS3032 The Politics of Empire
POLS3035 Norms and International Law in World Politics
POLS3036 Terrorism
POLS3113 Human Rights
POLS3136 Power and Influence in World Politics
A maximum of 12 units from the completion of courses on the following Social Science Depth list:
ENVS3033 International Environmental Policy
INTR3001 Humanitarianism: Principles, Politics, Practice
INTR3002 Global Institutions in the Asia-Pacific
STST3002 Australia’s Security in the Asian Century
STST3003 Honeypots and Overcoats: Australian Intelligence in the World
Or any other POLS 3000-level course
6 units from the completion of a course from the following Area Expertise list:
ASIA2041 Mainland Southeast Asia: Colonial and Postcolonial Predicaments
ASIA2067 Asian Economies
ASIA2093 Natural Resource Conflicts in Asia and the Pacific
ASIA2301 Human Migration and Expansion in the Rise of the Asia-Pacific
DEMO2003 Migration in the Modern World
HIST1209 Terror to Terrorism
HIST1214 Empires in Global History
HIST2136 World at War, 1939-1945
HIST2141 The Cold War: 1945-1989
HIST2214 The Great War: The Conflict that Changed the World
INTR2010 International Relations in the Asia-Pacific
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
MEAS2004 Turkish Politics and Foreign Policy
MEAS2105 The Political Economy of the Middle East
MEAS3009 Modern Arabian Peninsula: Society, Politics and Security
PASI2001 Pacific Studies in a Globalising World
PASI2002 Australia in Oceania in the 19th and 20th centuries
PASI3013 Environment and Development in the Pacific
STST2001 Security Concepts in the Asia-Pacific
STST2003 Australia and Security in the Pacific Islands
STST2020 Study Tour: Southeast Asia’s Security Choices
WARS2004: The Second World War in the Pacific
Majors
Bachelor of Asian Studies Majors
Minors
Bachelor of Asian Studies Minors
Study Options
| Year 1 | ASIA1025 Asia and the Pacific: Power, diversity and change 6 units | Language course | POLS1006 | 1000 level course from the Area Studies or Security Lists or Minor 6 units |
| ASIA1030 Asia and the Pacific in Motion 6 units | Language course | POLS1005 Introduction to International Relations Foundations and Concepts 6 units | 1000 level course from the Area Studies or Security Lists or Minor 6 units | |
| Year 2 | Major course | Language course | 2000/3000 level course from the designated lists 6 units | 2000/3000 level course from the designated lists 6 units |
| Major course | Language course | POLS2094 International Political Economy 6 units | 2000/3000 level course from the designated lists 6 units | |
| Year 3 | Major course | Transdisciplinary course | POLS3001 Foreign Policy Analysis 6 units | 2000/3000 level course from the designated lists 6 units |
| Major course | Transdisciplinary course | 2000/3000 level course from the designated lists 6 units | 2000/3000 level course from the designated lists 6 units | |
| Year 4 | Major course or Elective | Major course or Elective | 2000/3000 level course from the designated lists 6 units | 2000/3000 level course from the designated lists 6 units |
| Major course or Elective | Major course or Elective | 2000/3000 level course from the designated lists 6 units | 2000/3000 level course from the designated lists 6 units |
Back to the Bachelor of Asian Studies page
A single three year undergraduate degree offered by the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific 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 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.
Single degree
This degree requires the completion of 144 units, comprising of:
A maximum of 60 units of 1000 level courses
12 units of compulsory courses (ASIA1025 and ASIA1030)
24 units from the designated language core courses
12 units of discipline core courses
48 units from the completion of majors, minors and courses offered by the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific
48 units from the completion of elective courses offered by the ANU
Double degree
This degree requires the completion of 96 units, comprising of:
A maximum of 36 units of 1000 level courses
12 units of compulsory courses
24 units from the designated language core courses
12 units of discipline core courses
48 units from the completion of majors, minors and courses offered by the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific
Enrolment Status
While it's possible to enrol in fewer courses per semester, which is called studying part-time, it will take you longer to finish your program and get your degree. If you are an international student you must always be full-time.
Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses
When you enrol for the first time you will study ‘1000-level’ courses. These courses have ‘1’ as the first number in their course code, such as ASIA1234.
You need to enrol in courses for both First Semester and Second Semester. You can’t study more than four courses (24 units) per semester, eight for the year. You need to enrol in courses to meet the requirements of the program, including ASIA1025, ASIA1030, courses for the language requirement and electives. But remember you can’t count more than ten 1000-level courses (60 units) towards your single degree program.
Majors and Minors
See available majors and minors for this program
While you only need to enrol in courses to complete the requirements of your degree, you can use your core and compulsory courses to enrol in 1000-level courses for a major or minor. That way you keep your options open. Once you've selected courses for a major, and/or a minor or second major, you should choose electives to make up the balance of your courses.
Electives
While you only need to enrol in courses to complete the requirements of your degree, you can use your elective courses to enrol in 1000-level courses for a major
or minor. That way you keep your options open. Once you've selected
courses for a major, and/or a minor or second major, you should choose
electives to make up the balance of your courses.
To find 1000-level courses, search
Programs and Courses. Remember you can choose up to 8 courses from another
ANU College at the University if you are undertaking the single Bachelor of
Asian Studies program.
Study Options
Bachelor of Asian Studies Single Degree Study Plan
This is only an example of how you may plan your degree. Depending on how you structure your degree or if you undertake learning abroad, this may be different. Please contact your College for degree planning assistance.Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | ASIA1025 Asia and the Pacific: Power, diversity and change 6 units | Language Course 6 units | Elective 6 units | Elective 6 units |
| ASIA1030 Asia and the Pacific in Motion 6 units | Language Course 6 units | Elective 6 units | Elective 6 units |
Bachelor of Asian Studies Double Degree Study Plan
This is only an example of how you may plan your degree. Depending on how you structure your degree or if you undertake learning abroad, this may be different. Please contact your College for degree planning assistance.Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | ASIA1025 Asia and the Pacific: Power, diversity and change 6 units | Language Course 6 units | Course from other Degree 6 units | Course from other Degree 6 units |
| ASIA1030 Asia and the Pacific in Motion 6 units | Language Course 6 units | Course from other Degree 6 units | Course from other Degree 6 units |
Back to the Bachelor of International Relations page
Enrolling for the first time can be overwhelming. Below, you will find information that will assist. Please note that advice on this page is indicative, and you are encouraged to contact the CASS Student office at students.cass@anu.edu.au or visit the the CASS student office website if you require tailored information.
Important items to note:
- We recommend you start a CASS Program Plan. This is a way to track how the courses you take fit within the overall structure of your degree and will help you plan for your later year courses.
- The Bachelor of International Relations can be taken as a single degree or combined with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD). When the Bachelor of International Relations is combined with another undergraduate degree through a Flexible Double Degree, 48 units of ANU electives units are replaced with the core requirements of the other degree and the total program duration is expanded to 192 units (4 years Full-Time) or 240 units (5 years Full-Time) depending on the duration of the other program.
Semester 2 commencers
Please note that if you are commencing your studies in Semester 2 there may be restrictions on the courses available for enrolment. If you have concerns, please contact?students.cass@anu.edu.au
Single degree
The Bachelor of International Relations requires 144 units (24 courses), including:
- A maximum of 60 units from 1000-level courses (i.e. 10 x 6 unit courses)
- A minimum of 18 units from completion of 3000-level courses (i.e. 3 x 6 unit courses)
- Three compulsory courses
- A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (i.e. 2 x 6 unit courses)
Double degree
The total number of overall units in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD) depends on the FDD combination e.g. Of which a minimum of 12 units (i.e. 2 x 6 unit courses) must be tagged as transdisciplinary problem-solving. These courses may be taken in either component of the FDD. The Bachelor of International Relations component of an FDD requires 96 units, including:
- A maximum of 36 units from 1000-level courses (i.e. 6 x 6 unit courses)
- A minimum of 18 units from completion of 3000-level courses (i.e. 3 x 6 unit courses)
- Three compulsory courses
- A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (i.e. 2 x 6 unit courses)
Enrolment Status
Duration
The Bachelor of International Relations typically takes three years to complete on a full-time basis. Students will usually take 24-units (four x six-unit courses) each semester and there are two semesters each year. One course is typically worth six-units.
In total, students need to complete 144 units of study towards the Bachelor of International Relations. This will be 24 courses if all courses are worth six-units, but may be fewer if one or more courses of 12-units or more are taken.
If you combine the Bachelor of International Relations with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree, you will need to complete a total of 192 units (32 six-unit courses) or 240 units (40 six-unit courses) depending on the combination. This will typically take four years for a 192-unit degree or five years for a 240-unit degree on a full-time basis.
Domestic students may choose to enrol in fewer than 24-units in any semester or half-year study period. Students studying 18 or more units in a half year (January – June or July – December) are considered full-time. Students studying less than this are considered part-time.
If you take fewer than 24-units in any half year period, then your degree is likely to take longer than three years to complete.
International students on a student visa are required to enrol in a full-time study load of 24-units in each half year study period (Summer, Semester 1, Autumn or Winter, Semester 2, Spring) unless they have been approved for Reduced Study Load or program leave.
Maximum time for completion
- The maximum period for completion of the single Bachelor of International Relations degree is 10 years from the date of first enrolment in the program. This 10 years includes any periods of leave.
- The maximum period for completion of a flexible double degree is 10 years for a 192-unit degree or 11 years for a 240-unit degree from the date of first enrolment in the program. The maximum period includes periods of leave.
A transfer of credit (status) from previous studies will reduce the total amount of time remaining to complete the balance of your degree. When you are assessed for credit, you will be notified of the new maximum end date for your degree in your credit offer.
Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses
In your first year, you will typically enrol in 1000-level courses – these courses have ‘1’ as the first number in their course code. E.g. POLS1002, POLS1005. Many 2000 and 3000 level courses build upon the specific knowledge achieved through 1000-level courses.
You may take 1000-level courses later in your program. But remember you can’t count more than 10 x 1000-level courses (60 units) towards your single degree or 6 x 1000-level courses (36 units) towards your International Relations half of the double degree.
Electives
Electives are courses that provide freedom for you to select subjects that align to your personal interests and career aspirations in a more individualised way than is possible through general major or degree requirements. An ANU elective is a course that you can select without restriction, beyond the global requirements of your program (e.g. limits on 1000-level courses, etc).
In the Bachelor of International Relations, you can select a minimum of 48 units and a maximum of 72 units of electives.? You can try a range of courses such as computing, history, or marketing. The choice is yours.
We also recommend holding some ANU electives in reserve to keep other opportunities open, such as international exchange, internships, and meeting the transdisciplinary requirements of your degree.
Study Options
Bachelor of International Relations - single degree
For study plans, please visit cass.anu.edu.au/current-students/degrees-and-program-plansStudy Options
| Year 1 48 units | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
FDD
For study plans, please visit cass.anu.edu.au/current-students/degrees-and-program-plansStudy Options
| Year 1 48 units | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
Disciplines
Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving Courses (TD)
Transdisciplinary courses at the ANU are?courses that encourage students to collaborate across different disciplines and perspectives to solve complex problems. These courses help students develop skills to synthesise knowledge from different fields.
In this degree, you will have to complete 12 units of courses flagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (TD). TD courses can be identified using the Programs and Courses search engine.
You can satisfy this requirement through a course/s listed in the program or through the ANU electives it all depends on how you structure your degree and your other enrolment choices.
Academic Advice
Course credit
If you have undertaken previous study that is relevant to your current academic program, you can request to receive course credit. For more information and how to apply, see the CASS credit application webpage, or contact the CASS Student Office.
For further information on prerequisites and Arts and Social Science disciplines you can:
- Email us at students.cass@anu.edu.au, or
- Come and talk to someone - you can attend a drop in session with an academic advisor here