Asia-Pacific Studies (Year in Asia)

The Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Studies (Year in Asia) is the perfect degree to establish yourself as a future leader in the Asian Century. You will combine study at ANU with one year at a university in an Asian location like Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul or Bangkok.

Your Year in Asia will build on the strengths of your three-year Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Studies degree. You will develop an advanced level of language proficiency and an exceptional capacity to understand the societies and cultures of our region. You will study with world-class teachers at ANU and then put your learning into practice on the ground in Asia.

As part of our new Flexible Double Degrees scheme you can combine the Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Studies (Year in Asia) many other undergraduate degrees at ANU, including Law, Science, Commerce and International Relations, giving you the perfect opportunity to gain an Asia-ready qualification. 

Learning Outcomes

A graduate of the Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Studies (Year in Asia) will be able to: 

• Communicate at an advanced level in one of the languages of the region (graduates' language ability will vary, depending on their level of graduation). 

• Speak and write about theories, factual content and research approaches relevant to at least one of the countries, sub-regions or thematic issues within the Asia-Pacific region. 

• Critically analyse relevant regional and international literature relevant to at least one of the countries, sub-regions or thematic issues within the Asia-Pacific region. 

• Determine the processes through which current knowledge about the Asia-Pacific region was developed.

• Contextualise abstract and concrete issues of at least one of the countries or sub-regions within the Asia-Pacific region. 

The Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Studies requires the completion of 192 units, of which:

A maximum of 60 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

A minimum of 132 units must come from the completion of 2000-level, 3000-level and 4000-level courses.

The 192 units must include:

Either

48 units from completion of one of the following Asia-Pacific language majors:

Arabic Language Major

Chinese Language Major

French Language and Culture Major 

Hindi Language Major 

Indonesian Language Major 

Japanese Language Major 

Korean Language Major 

Sanskrit Language Major 

Spanish Language and Culture Major 

Thai Language Major 

Urdu Language Major 

Vietnamese Language Major

24 units from completion of one of the following contextual minors:

Applied Japanese Linguistics Minor

Asian History Minor

Asia-Pacific Politics Minor

Asia-Pacific Security Studies Minor

Chinese Studies Minor

Indonesian Studies Minor

Inter-Asia Cultural Studies Minor

Japanese Linguistics Minor

Japanese Studies Minor

Literatures of Asia Minor

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Minor

Northeast Asian Studies Minor

Pacific Studies Minor

Peace, Conflict and War Studies Minor

South Asian Studies Minor

Southeast Asian Studies Minor

48 units from completion of the Year in Asia major

72 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

Or

48 units from completion of one of the following contextual majors:

Asian Art History Major

Asian History Major

Asia-Pacific Politics Major 

Asia-Pacific Security Studies Major

Chinese Studies Major

Indonesian Studies Major

Japanese Linguistics Major

Japanese Studies Major

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Major

Northeast Asian Studies Major

Pacific Studies Major

Peace, Conflict and War Studies Major 

South Asian Studies Major

Southeast Asian Studies Major

24 units from completion of one of the following Asia-Pacific language minors:

Arabic Language Minor

Chinese Language Minor

Classical Chinese Minor

French Language and Culture Minor 

Hindi Language Minor 

Indonesian Language Minor 

Japanese Language Minor 

Korean Language Minor

Sanskrit Language Minor 

Spanish Language and Culture Minor 

Thai Language Minor 

Urdu Language Minor

Vietnamese Language Minor

48 units from completion of the Year in Asia major

72 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

Or

48 units from completion of one of the following Asia-Pacific language majors:

Arabic Language Major

Chinese Language Major

French Language and Culture Major 

Hindi Language Major 

Indonesian Language Major 

Japanese Language Major 

Korean Language Major 

Sanskrit Language Major 

Spanish Language and Culture Major 

Thai Language Major 

Urdu Language Major 

Vietnamese Language Major

48 units from completion of one of the following contextual majors:

Asian Art History Major

Asian History Major

Asia-Pacific Politics Major 

Asia-Pacific Security Studies Major

Chinese Studies Major

Indonesian Studies Major

Japanese Linguistics Major

Japanese Studies Major

Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies Major

Northeast Asian Studies Major

Pacific Studies Major

Peace, Conflict and War Studies Major 

South Asian Studies Major

Southeast Asian Studies Major

48 units from completion of the Year in Asia major

48 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

The Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Studies (Year in Asia) is an AQF Level 7 qualification consisting of 192 units which is typically 4 years of full-time study or part-time equivalent. It is taught primarily in 

English but also requires students to undertake study in a target Asian language. The program requires the completion of both compulsory and elective courses.

Admission requirements are normally based on secondary and/or tertiary education academic results

This program provides the opportunity for students to undertake various international experiences, including intensive courses, internships and a 12 month Year in Asia experience.

Majors

• Arabic
• Asian Art History
• Asian History
• Asia-Pacific Politics
• Asia-Pacific Security Studies
• Chinese Language
• Chinese Studies
• French Language and Culture
• Hindi Language

• Indonesian Language
• Indonesian Studies
• Japanese Language
• Japanese Linguistics
• Japanese Studies
• Korean Language
• Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
• Northeast Asian Studies
• Pacific Languages

• Peace, Conflict & War Studies
• Sanskrit Language
• South Asian Studies
• Southeast Asian Studies
• Spanish
• Thai Language
• Urdu Language
• Vietnamese Language
• Year in Asia

Minors

• Applied Japanese Linguistics
• Arabic
• Asian History
• Asia-Pacific Politics
• Asia-Pacific Security Studies
• Chinese Language
• Chinese Studies
• Classical Chinese
• French Language and Culture
• Hindi Language

• Indonesian Language
• Indonesian Studies
• Inter-Asia Cultural Studies
• Japanese Language
• Japanese Linguistics
• Japanese Studies
• Korean Language
• Literatures of Asia
• Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
• Northeast Asian Studies

• Pacific Studies
• Peace, Conflict & War Studies
• Sanskrit Language
• South Asian Studies
• Southeast Asian Studies
• Spanish
• Thai Language
• Urdu Language
• Vietnamese Language

Admission to this program is only available through internal transfer from another Award, such as the Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Studies single or double degree. Admission is on a competitive basis, taking into account all relevant academic qualifications.  Places may be limited from country to country. Where places are limited, students will be selected on academic merit.

Students must have already completed 48 units of study, with a high credit average (65%) or above, including:

• Minimum completion of 24 units in the target language with a high credit average or above and demonstrated target language proficiency of Common European Framework of Reference for Languages level B1 or above.

• Minimum completion of 24 units in a contextual major or minor with a high credit average or above.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to current and future students to assist with the cost of their studies. The University is committed to enabling all students, regardless of their background, to achieve their best at ANU and realise their potential. 

Eligibility 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.

ANU offers bonus points for nationally strategic senior secondary subjects, and in recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. 

Bonus points are applied to all applicants with an ATAR at or above 70. Points are awarded in accordance with the approved schedule, and no more than 10 points (maximum 5 academic points and maximum 5 equity points) will be awarded.

Bonus points do not apply to programs with an ATAR cutoff of 98 or higher.

Bonus Points are only awarded to domestic applicants applying for admission through UAC who have not previously attempted tertiary study.