Faculty of Asian Studies, The Australian National University

The Chinese world is undergoing profound and dramatic changes. Rapid economic growth is leading to many other transformations as China becomes a major power and an important factor in Australia's future. Those who will be dealing with the China, Taiwan and Korea of the 21st century will need advanced language competence, a deep knowledge of China's social and cultural transformations and first-hand experience of Chinese life.

Degree Programs

The China Centre in the Faculty of Asian Studies offers a three-year degree, Bachelor of Asian Studies, and a special four-year degree, Bachelor of Asian Studies (Chinese) which includes the Year-in-China program. Qualified students may switch between the three-year and the four-year degree, normally after the first two years, which are academically the same.

In the four-year Bachelor of Asian Studies (Chinese) students spend the year in universities or equivalent institutions in China or Taiwan, undertaking advanced language study and studying in their field of specialisation through Chinese. Year four of the Bachelor of Asian Studies (Chinese) is spent back at ANU taking advanced courses in disciplinary, language and area studies. Our aim is to equip students with the linguistic and cultural competence needed to function effectively in China and Taiwan, and the education to enable them to understand these countries in depth.

The purpose of the four-year specialist degrees is to enable students to greatly extend their language and specialist studies and their understanding of the Chinese world. The three-year Asian Studies program will continue to be offered for those who do not wish to make so heavy a commitment.

The three and four year degrees in Asian Studies may be combined with degrees in arts, commerce, economics, engineering, law, science and visual arts.

The China Centre courses are open to students taking Asian Studies degrees as well as to students enrolled in other Faculties.

Chinese language

For the undergraduate program on China, the core language is Modern Chinese. The language and pronunciation taught are those of Modern Standard Chinese or Putonghua (or more commonly called Mandarin), the national language of China. Classical Chinese and Cantonese are also offered to more advanced students.

Chinese language courses

In order to enable students beginning Chinese to make a flying start in the language, the basic major in Modern Chinese consists of double-value one-semester units in the first year, Modern Chinese 1 and 2, followed by four semester units in later years, Modern Chinese 3-6. The major in Modern Chinese is designed to allow students to give first-year Chinese twice as much time as they normally can to first-year units. The advantage of the high-intensity double-weighted first-year Modern Chinese course is the students can afford to give it one-half their study time instead of only one-quarter, as would be the case with a standard weighting.

In Modern Chinese 1 and 2 a solid foundation in the spoken and the written language is laid, so that by the end of the first year of study students starting from scratch will reach basic all-round proficiency. (First-year Chinese is taught on the assumption that students are starting from scratch. Those who have studied enough of the language before may be allowed to begin at a higher level). The second-year Modern Chinese 3-6 build on this to reach more fluency in reading, speech and writing. The emphasis is on introducing varieties of living Chinese and developing the ability to function independently in Chinese. . Introductory courses in Cantonese are available to later-year students.

Students wishing to bring their language skills up to an even higher standard may continue with more advanced courses in Modern Chinese, including interpreting and translation.

Students who have passed the first-year program in Chinese at the University of Canberra may be admitted to Modern Chinese 2 in second semester, and may be granted credit for Modern Chinese 1.

Classical Chinese is taught in a four-semester sequence. Some Classical Chinese is essential for students wishing to pursue serious studies in Chinese culture or in any aspect of China before the early 20th century.

The Undergraduate Handbook provides a comprehensive list of courses offered by the Faculty of Asian Studies.

Other China-related courses

A wide range of courses on contemporary, modern and traditional Chinese art, history, linguistics, literature, politics, and society are offered in the Faculties of Asian Studies and Arts. Some include readings in Chinese texts, others require only readings in English. Other courses include the study of China within a wider Asian context.

The Centre for Asian Societies and Histories in the Faculty teaches non-language courses in Chinese history, religion and society. Courses in Chinese politics, economics and law are available in other Faculties.

Graduate studies in Chinese

Chinese studies may be undertaken for the Graduate Diploma, Master of Asian Studies, Master of Arts (Asian Studies), the MPhil and PhD.

Graduate programs at the ANU are administered by the Graduate School. Please refer to the Faculty Graduate Programs page for more information about the specialised graduate programs in Asian Studies.