Non-language Asian Studies courses deal with the modern and early history of the societies of Asia, as well as the religions, politics, societies, economies, linguistics, literature and arts of the region. Students are guided to select courses which firstly, support their study of a chosen Asian society, and secondly, give exposure to theoretical or disciplinary approaches. Students have flexibility in constructing their programs in non-language Asian studies.

An Asian Studies degree must include a cognitive (non-language) major, totaling in 48 points, of which at least 36 points must be come from courses offered by the Faculty. The Faculty’s non-language courses are also open to students from other faculties. Most of the Faculty’s non-language courses are offered through the Centre for Asian Societies and Histories.

Students have great flexibility in constructing their cognitive major.
The major may focus on the following fields:

Asian History
Asian Politics and International Relations
Asian Religions
Contemporary Asian Societies
Pacific Studies *New in 2008!* (For information, please contact Dr Katerina Teaiwa)
Security Studies

NB. Degree rules allow that students taking the Asian Language Major (Japanese) may also take the Japanese Linguistics Major in lieu of the Cognitive Major.

The Major serves two broad aims; to enable students to study a chosen Asian Society, and also to become familiar with theoretical and disciplinary approaches to understanding society and history.

Asian Languages

There are some 200 Asian specialists at the ANU. The programs are backed up by library resources, which provide more than 70% of Australia's total Asian Studies resource material within the University Library and the National Library of Australia. The Faculty of Asian Studies cooperates with the Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, the Asia Pacific School of Economics and Management, the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Economics and Commerce, Faculty of Law, and the National Institute of the Arts to offer the widest range of Asian Studies available in Australia, both at undergraduate and graduate levels. The ANU offers Asian regional language programs in:

It is also possible to study the classical or traditional forms of languages of the region including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Malay and Javanese.

The Faculty also periodically delivers short programs in Burmese, Cantonese and Tetum.

Further information

Detailed information about Faculty of Asian Studies programs, including admission requirements, prerequisites, career possibilities, program requirements, Majors and Specialisations, and degree structure and courses, is published in the ANU online handbook, which also provides authoritative information concerning the programs and courses available in any particular year.
You are encouraged to seek specific guidance on these matters from the Sub-Dean of the Faculty. Please email Enquiries.AsianStudies@anu.edu.au or phone 6125 0515 to arrange an appointment.