Program Requirements

The Bachelor of International Relations requires completion of 144 units, of which:

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

A minimum of 18 units from completion of 3000 level courses, and

A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving

A minimum of 72 units must be selected from the following lists:

18 units from completion of the following compulsory introductory and methods courses:

POLS1002 Introduction to Politics

POLS1005 Introduction to International Relations

POLS1009 Introduction to Data and Methods for Political Science and International Relations

A minimum of 18 and a maximum of 24 units from the completion of courses in the following list:

POLS2017 International Relations Theory

POLS2094 International Political Economy

POLS2132 War and International Relations

POLS2133 Global Cooperation and Institutions

A minimum of 6 units from the completion of courses in the following list:

POLS2044 Quantitative Methods in Politics and International Relations

POLS2045 Qualitative Methods in Politics and International Relations

POLS2137 Meaning in Politics: Interpretation, Method and Critique

A maximum of 6 units from the completion of the following International Relations and Social Science Breadth courses:

ECON1101 Microeconomics 1

ENVS1003 Introduction to Environmental and Social Research

HIST2110 Approaches to History

STAT1003 Statistical Techniques

STST1001 Introduction to Strategic Studies

SOCR1001 Foundations of Social Research

Or any other 2000-level POLS course with permission

24 units from the completion of the following 3000 level courses, of which:

A minimum of 12 units must come from the completion of courses on the following International Relations Depth list:

POLS3001 Foreign Policy

POLS3032 The Politics of Empire

POLS3035 Norms and International Law in World Politics

POLS3036 Terrorism

POLS3113 Human Rights 

POLS3136 Power and Influence in World Politics

A maximum of 12 units from the completion of courses on the following Social Science Depth list:

ENVS3033 International Environmental Policy

INTR3001 Humanitarianism: Principles, Politics, Practice

INTR3002 Global Institutions in the Asia-Pacific

STST3002 Australia’s Security in the Asian Century

STST3003 Honeypots and Overcoats: Australian Intelligence in the World

Or any other POLS 3000-level course

6 units from the completion of a course from the following Area Expertise list:

ASIA2041 Mainland Southeast Asia: Colonial and Postcolonial Predicaments

ASIA2067 Asian Economies

ASIA2093 Natural Resource Conflicts in Asia and the Pacific

ASIA2301 Human Migration and Expansion in the Rise of the Asia-Pacific

DEMO2003 Migration in the Modern World

HIST1209 Terror to Terrorism

HIST1214 Empires in Global History

HIST2136 World at War, 1939-1945

HIST2141 The Cold War: 1945-1989

HIST2214 The Great War: The Conflict that Changed the World

INTR2010 International Relations in the Asia-Pacific

INTR2012 Chinese Foreign and Security Policy

INTR2014 Indian Foreign and Security Policy

INTR2016 US Foreign and Security Policy in Asia

INTR2018 Japanese Foreign and Security Policy

INTR2020 (In)Stability on the Korean Peninsula

INTR2024 Nuclear Politics in Asia

MEAS2004 Turkish Politics and Foreign Policy

MEAS2105 The Political Economy of the Middle East

MEAS3009 Modern Arabian Peninsula: Society, Politics and Security

PASI2001 Pacific Studies in a Globalising World

PASI2002 Australia in Oceania in the 19th and 20th centuries

PASI3013 Environment and Development in the Pacific

STST2001 Security Concepts in the Asia-Pacific

STST2003 Australia and Security in the Pacific Islands

STST2020 Study Tour: Southeast Asia’s Security Choices

WARS2004: The Second World War in the Pacific

A minimum of 48 units and a maximum of 72 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU.

Elective Study

Once you have met the program requirements of your degree, you may have enough electives to complete an additional elective major, minor or specialisation.

Study Options

Admission Requirements

At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not guarantee entry into the program.

In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors.

The University reserves the right to alter or discontinue its programs and change admission requirements as needed.

Domestic applicants

Before applying for a program, you should review the general information about domestic undergraduate admission to ANU programs and how to apply, and the program-specific information below.

• Applicants with recent secondary education are assessed on:
• completion of Australian Year 12 or equivalent, and the minimum Selection Rank (from their academic qualifications, plus any adjustment factors) requirement for this program; and
• co-curricular or service requirement (applies to applicants who complete secondary education in the year prior to commencing at ANU); and
• English language proficiency; and
• any program-specific requirements listed below.
• Applicants with higher education study are assessed on:
• previous higher education studies; or secondary education results if completed less than one full-time equivalent year (1.0 FTE) of a degree; or the result from a bridging or preparatory course; and
• English language proficiency; and
• any program-specific requirements listed below.
• Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are assessed on:
• previously completed VET qualifications at AQF level 5 or higher (i.e. a Diploma or above); or secondary education results if the VET qualification is not completed; and
• English language proficiency; and
• any program-specific requirements listed below.
• Applicants with work and life experience are assessed on:
• ATAR or equivalent if secondary education was completed; or the Special Adult Entry Scheme (SAES); or work experience; and
• English language proficiency; and
• any program-specific requirements listed below.

International applicants

Applicants who complete a recognised secondary/senior secondary/post-secondary/tertiary sequence of study will be assessed on the basis of an equivalent selection rank that is calculated upon application. A list of commonly observed international qualifications and corresponding admission requirements can be found here . Applicants must also meet any program specific requirements that are listed below.

Diversity factors & English language proficiency 

As Australia's national university, ANU is global representative of Australian research and education. ANU endeavours to recruit and maintain a diverse and deliberate student cohort representative not only of Australia, but the world. In order to achieve these outcomes, competitive ranking of applicants may be adjusted to ensure access to ANU is a reality for brilliant students from countries across the globe. If required, competitive ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency.

Further information is available for English Language Requirements for Admission 

Adjustment Factors

Adjustment factors are additional points added to an applicant’s Selection Rank (for example an applicant’s ATAR). ANU offers adjustment factors based on performance and equity principles, such as for high achievement in nationally strategic senior secondary subjects and for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. 

Selection Rank adjustments are granted in accordance with the approved schedules, and no more than 15 (maximum 5 subject/performance-based adjustment factors and maximum 10 equity-based adjustment factors) can be awarded. 

You may be considered for adjustment factors if you have:

• applied for an eligible ANU Bachelor degree program
• undertaken Australian Year 12 or the International Baccalaureate
• achieved an ATAR or equivalent at or above 70
• not previously attempted tertiary study.

Please visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.

Fee Information

All students are required to pay the Services and amenities fee (SA Fee)

The annual indicative fee provides an estimate of the program tuition fees for international students and domestic students (where applicable). The annual indicative fee for a program is based on the standard full-time enrolment load of 48 units per year (unless the program duration is less than 48 units). Fees for courses vary by discipline meaning that the fees for a program can vary depending on the courses selected. Course fees are reviewed on an annual basis and typically will increase from year to year. The tuition fees payable are dependent on the year of commencement and the courses selected and are subject to increase during the period of study.

For further information on Fees and Payment please see: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments

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.

Employment Opportunities

In an increasingly fast-paced, complex and analytics-focused world, this degree will provide the skills you need to excel in a variety of fields including government, business and the non-profit sector. Our students come from all walks of life, from every part of Australia and from all over the world.

Learning Outcomes

1. demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the international system's historical development and contemporary status: its principal events, actors, ideas, institutions, and outcomes of interest;
2. apply the key international relations theories and concepts to historical and contemporary cases, across multiple issue-areas;
3. demonstrate knowledge of a specific region/historical era of relevance to international relations; apply international relations theories and concepts to that region/era; reflect critically on the theories' applicability and explanatory power;
4. apply analytical tools from political science and other social sciences to the evaluation of international phenomena across of a wide variety of issue-areas that are relevant to scholars and policymakers; and
5. communicate and debate both orally and in writing, and work with others, using a wide variety of media.

Inherent Requirements

Information on inherent requirements is not currently available for this program.

Further Information

Completing the Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving Course Requirement

Students completing the Bachelor of International Relations are required to complete a minimum of 12 units of Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (TD) courses as part of their program. TD courses in the Bachelor of International Relations include:

MEAS3009 Modern Arabian Peninsula: Society, Politics and Security

PASI2001 Pacific Studies in a Globalising World

POLS2102 Political Belief and Deceit

POLS2119 Ideas in Politics

POLS2130 Public Choice and Politics

POLS3029 Comparative Federalism

POLS3032 Politics of Empire

If you would prefer to complete courses outside this list to fulfill the TD course requirement, you may use your electives to choose any other accredited TD course at ANU. To find a list of TD courses, please visit Programs and Courses and select the Transdisciplinary filter.