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.
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.
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.
- develop, apply, integrate and generate scientific knowledge in educational and professional contexts;
- use a range of skills and methods to identify, analyse and respond to problems and issues;
- convey and relate professional and disciplinary information and ideas to diverse audiences in effective and appropriate ways;
- work in both independent and collaborative ways with others to encompass diverse abilities and perspectives; and
- exercise personal, professional and social responsibility as a global citizen.
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
Prerequisites
ACT: Chemistry (Major)
NSW: Chemistry or equivalent
VIC: Chemistry
QLD: Chemistry
TAS: Chemistry
SA / NT: Chemistry
WA: Chemistry
IB: Chemistry SL or HL
- More information about interstate subject equivalencies can be found here .
- Students who do not meet the chemistry requirement are advised to seek academic advice by contacting students.cos@anu.edu.au. A Chemistry bridging course is available in February through the ANU Research School of Chemistry - contact rsc.teaching@anu.edu.au for more information.
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 Medical Science - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees
- Annual indicative fee for international students
- $53,700.00
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 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
A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving
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:
BIOL2001 Introduction to Quantitative Biology (6 units)
BIOL2202 Experimental Design and Analysis in Biology (6 units)
A maximum of 12 units from completion of courses from the following list:
BIOL1008 Human Biology (6 units)
BIOL2117 Cell Biology (6 units)
BIOL2151 Genetics (6 units)
BIOL2174 Cell Physiology in Health and Disease (6 units)
A minimum of 24 units from completion of 3000- level courses from the following lists:
A minimum of 12 units of core biomedical courses from the following list:
BIOL3107 Advances in Medical and Plant Biochemistry (6 units)
BIOL3108 Hallmarks of Cancer (6 units)
BIOL3141 Infection and Immunity (6 units)
BIOL3142 Biomedical Parasitology (6 units)
BIOL3144 Advanced and Applied Immunology (6 units)
BIOL3161 Genomics and its Applications (6 units)
MEDN3186 Human Anatomy (6 units)
MEDN3820 Biomedical Imaging: Principles, Technologies and Applications in Health Sciences (6 units)
NEUR3101 Cellular Neuroscience (6 units)
NEUR3112 Systems Neuroscience (6 units)
POPH3000 Introduction to Population Health (6 units)
A maximum of 12 units from completion of research project/topics courses from the following list, in which the project/topic must be in the field of Medical Science:
BIOL3023 Special Topics in Biology (6 units)
BIOL3208 Biology Research Project (6 units)
BIOL3209 Biology Research Project (12 units)
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 | CHEM1101 Chemistry 1 6 units | BIOL1003 Biology 1: Evolution, Ecology and Genetics 6 units |
| ASIA1030 Asia and the Pacific in Motion 6 units | Language course | CHEM1201 Chemistry 2 6 units | BIOL1004 Biology 2: Molecular and Cell Biology 6 units | |
| Year 2 | Major course | Language course | BIOL2161 Genes: Replication and Expression 6 units | BIOL2171 Biochemistry and Nutrition 6 units |
| Major course | Language course | BIOL2142 General Microbiology 6 units | BMEDS or ANU elective 6 units | |
| Year 3 | Major course | Transdisciplinary course | MEDN2001 Health and Medical Physiology 6 units | BMEDS or ANU elective 6 units |
| Major course | Transdisciplinary course | BIOL2001 Introduction to Quantitative Biology 6 units | BIOL3190 Medical Science in the Workplace 6 units | |
| Year 4 | Major course or Elective | Major course or Elective | 3000 level BMEDS Course 6 units | 3000 level BMEDS Course 6 units |
| Major course or Elective | Major course or Elective | 3000 level BMEDS Course 6 units | 3000 level BMEDS Course 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 Medical Science page
Do you want to know how the human body works?
The ANU Bachelor of Medical Science brings the disciplines of genetics, immunology, nutrition, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry and anatomy into a single degree.
Our well-regarded program will provide you with a fundamental knowledge of the medical sciences -giving you a platform from which to undertake further study in medicine, pharmacology, physiotherapy, nutrition, dietetics or forensic science.
This flexible degree also lets you choose additional subjects in complementary disciplines such as neuroscience, psychology, molecular biology and ethics in order to develop your interests further.
You will learn about the real applications of medical science by having the opportunity to interact with various health professionals through seminars, work place visits and interviews
This program is not available for Semester 2 commencement.
Note: Advice on this page is indicative only. Where a number of courses has been identified, it assumes that all of your courses are 6-units. If you take a course worth 12-units please refer to the unit-load in the study requirements in the program orders.This degree can be taken as a single degree or combined with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD). When the Bachelor of Medical Science 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.
Single degree
The Bachelor of Medical Science requires 144 units (24 courses), including:
- A maximum of 10 x 1000-level courses
- A minimum of 5 x 3000-level courses from courses listed in the core requirements of the BMEDS
- 9 x compulsory courses
- A minimum of 2 transdisciplinary problem-solving (TD) courses
- 1 x quantitative skills course
- A maximum of 2 x courses from the BMEDS electives list
- A maximum of 10 courses from the lists in the BMEDS not previously taken or other ANU electives
Double degree
The total number of overall units in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD) depends on the FDD combination eg.
- 4050: 192 units
- 4350, 4569, 4750: 240 units
Of which a minimum of 2 courses must be tagged as transdisciplinary problem-solving. These courses may be taken in either component of the FDD.
The Bachelor of Medical Science component of an FDD requires 96 units, including:
- A maximum of 6 x 1000-level courses
- A minimum of 5 x 3000-level courses from courses listed in the core requirements of the BMEDS
- 9 x compulsory courses
- A minimum of 2 transdisciplinary problem-solving (TD) courses
- 1 x quantitative skills course
- A maximum of 2 x courses from the BMEDS electives list
- A maximum of 2 courses from the lists in the BMEDS not previously taken or other ANU electives
About this degree
Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving courses
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.
Enrolment Status
Duration
The Bachelor of Medical Science typically takes three years to complete on a full-time basis. Students will usually take 24-units (four 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 Biotechnology. 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 Medical Science 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 .
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 Medical Science degree is ten years from the date of first enrolment in the program. This ten years includes any periods of leave.
- The maximum period for completion of a flexible double degree is ten 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
There are 4 compulsory 1000 level courses you must take in your first year:
You may take 1000-level courses later in your program. But remember you can’t count more than ten 1000-level courses (60 units) towards your single degree or six 1000-level courses (36 units) towards your Medical Science half of the double degree.
Electives
Remember you can choose up to 10 courses from another
ANU College at the University if you are undertaking the single Bachelor of Medical
Science program. How do I use my 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).
Study Options
Bachelor of Medical Science - single degree
This is a typical study pattern for the first year of a student undertaking a Bachelor of Medical Science.Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | CHEM1101 Chemistry 1 6 units | BIOL1003 Biology 1: Evolution, Ecology and Genetics 6 units | Science or non-science course 6 units | Science or non-science course 6 units |
| CHEM1201 Chemistry 2 6 units | BIOL1004 Biology 2: Molecular and Cell Biology 6 units | Science or non-science course 6 units | Science or non-science course 6 units |
Bachelor of Medical Science - double degree
This is a typical study pattern for the first year of a student undertaking a Bachelor of Medical Science with another three year degree, such as the Bachelor of Arts. Please note that for some double degrees (e.g. with Bachelor of Engineering) you may only be able to take one course in semester 1 for your science degree. In these circumstances it is recommended that in your first year you take CHEM1101, CHEM1201 and BIOL1004. You can then take BIOL1003 in your second year of study.Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | CHEM1101 Chemistry 1 6 units | BIOL1003 Biology 1: Evolution, Ecology and Genetics 6 units | Degree B course 6 units | Degree B course 6 units |
| CHEM1201 Chemistry 2 6 units | BIOL1004 Biology 2: Molecular and Cell Biology 6 units | Degree B course 6 units | Degree B course 6 units |
Academic Advice
For further information, you can:
If you need help on any aspect of university life, our "Need Help" webpage is a good place to start and can link you to services across the University.