Faculty of Asian Studies, The Australian National University

The Bachelor of Philosophy is a new research-focused undergraduate degree offered by the Faculty of Asian Studies at The Australian National University. The Bachelor of Philosophy is designed for intellectually ambitious students who want to study in depth and at the highest level. This will involve working closely with a member of the academic staff as a mentor and academic advisor. Entry is restricted and competitive quotas apply.

The Bachelor of Philosophy degree is flexible in its structure, with a student’s program being determined each year in collaboration with the Program Convener. One quarter of studies in the first three years consists of individually tailored Advance studies courses, specifically designed to provide students with a strong base in research.

Through the Bachelor of Philosophy, students will acquire advanced Asian language skills or enhance those they already possess. Students can specialise in areas such as Asian History, Contemporary Asian Societies, Asian Politics & International Relations, Asian Religions or Security Studies. Students studying Japanese may specialise in Japanese Linguistics. With the agreement of their academic advisor, students may choose to specialise in a cognate discipline from other Faculties.

All Bachelor of Philosophy students will have automatic access to seminars presented by candidates in the Faculty of Asian Studies Honours School and the Postgraduate and Research students area. Degree Outline

To qualify for this degree students need to complete all of the course requirements – normally at High Distinction level – and must also complete the Honours year at First Class level. After completion of the equivalent of 8 courses (48 units) of the degree, the Faculty will determine whether the student’s level of performance is sufficient to remain in the degree program. It will be possible to transfer to another undergraduate degree in the Faculty and receive credit for work successfully completed towards the PhB. .

Entry Requirements and Content

• A minimum UAI/ENTER of 99 or an equivalent (for example, success in another high-quality degree or an exceptional performance (normally all High Distinction grades) for at least one complete year of study at an Australian university).
• The Faculty of Asian Studies will impose an annual quota on the number of enrolments.
• Selection will involve a detailed consideration of the academic record to ensure that the student will be able to cope with the demands of the compulsory Advanced Studies courses. Interviews and school recommendations may be used as selection instruments.
• The academic program will be designed in consultation with a staff member who will act as a research advisor throughout the degree. Course content will be delivered by experts from any ANU faculty, center or research school.
• The program consists of 192 units, which is the equivalent of four years of full-time study.
• The program includes a fully integrated Honours year.

For information about specific language and non-language cognitive majors offered by the Faculty of Asian Studies please see: courses offered by the Faculty of Asian Studies.

Degree with Honours

The Bachelor of Philosophy program includes a fully integrated Honours year.

Honours in Asian Studies pages provide comprehensive information about the Honours Program at the Faculty

Careers

The Bachelor of Philosophy is an ideal path to take for students aiming at a career in research. It is equally advantageous for students entering the workforce directly. The Bachelor of Philosophy graduate will have demonstrated the highest levels of achievement in the development of such sought after skills as mastery of an Asian language, independent and team-based research, analysis of complex social issues informed by an understanding of the diverse cultural traditions of the Asian region, and oral and written communication.

You might also be interested to read a message from the Dean of the Faculty of Asian Studies in which he explains why Asian Studies is important, why study Asian Studies at ANU, and what are Asian Studies graduates' career prospects.

In Current and Past Students' Stories and Graduate Highlights students and graduates of the Faculty of Asian Studies reflect on the experience of being a student in the Faculty and write about many interesting opportunities they encountered in their professional career.

For further information on careers, please refer to ANU Careers Centre website.

Scholarships

The students will be eligible for a wide range of entrance and continuing scholarships, many of which favour interstate applicants.

Please refer to scholarships, awards, and prizes offered by the Faculty of Asian Studies for information about Faculty specific scholarships.

For further information on ANU scholarships, please refer to Study@ANU website.