Undergraduate Major

Asian Studies

As the pace of social, political and economic change increases, Asia has never been more important in the shaping of our global future.  

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MJ-ASNS
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Overview

Deepening Australia’s engagement with southeast Asia is a national priority. Through trade, education, business, tourism and family connections, Australia’s relationship with the region is of enormous importance. 

At a global level, Asia is a transformative power. 

This three-year degree offers you the opportunity to study the politics, history, societies, economies, media and religions of the Asian region. It's possible to combine an Asian Studies major with a second major (or minor) in Indonesian or Japanese language.  

If you love to travel, you can study with our international partners in southeast Asia and gain credit for your Murdoch degree. 

Asian Studies helps you resolve complex issues in Australian and Asian contexts.  Working with world-leading scholars of the Asia region, you’ll develop important cross-cultural skills, knowledge and analytical proficiency that are valued by government and other employers. 

3 reasons to study Asian Studies at Murdoch 

  1. Study in-country programs in Indonesia, Japan and elsewhere, which are often supported by scholarships. 
  2. Learn with world-leading academics in anthropology, sociology, politics, language, history, development and other disciplines. 
  3. Gain high-priority professional and cultural skills that can shape your future career. 

What you’ll learn 

  • How Asia has shaped the global present and will influence the world’s future. 
  • Interpret representations of Asia, and why they matter. 
  • Research skills to evaluate competing sources of knowledge and analyse complex issues.
  • Effectively communicate ideas and persuade others.  
  • Design and manage sophisticated projects.  
  • Diverse skills to work with people from a range of cultural backgrounds. 

Your career 

An Asian Studies major gives you important knowledge, as well as cross-cultural, analytical and  communication skills, that gets you noticed by employers.  Our graduates are valued in a wide range of professional sectors, including government, business, trade, education, media, and international development. 

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Structure

To help plan the structure of your course, search for our suggested course plans.

Total credit points: 24

Unit code Unit name Credit points
Major24 credit points
Required Units15 credit points
AST100Anthropology, Society and Culture3
AST102Asian Centuries3
AST250Society, Culture and Ecology in Asia3
AST281Contemporary Asia: Media, Politics and Popular Culture3
AST288Gender and Development in Asian Societies3

Elective Units

Students complete up to 9cp of the following units
9 credit points
AST384Asian Studies Project3
OR
HIS205The Vietnam Wars3
OR
HIS207The Silk Roads: Europe and Asia in the Middle Ages3
OR
HIS211Modern Japan: From Samurai to the 21st Century3
OR
IND101Indonesian 13
OR
JPN101Japanese 13
OR
EGL204Bollywood: Imagined Asian Worlds3
OR
POL338Politics and Human Security in Southeast Asia3
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Entry requirements

Select which option best describes your path to university :

English Requirements

You must meet a minimum standard in English to study at Murdoch, which for most courses can be demonstrated by providing evidence that you have completed Year 11 and 12 in Australia at any level if you are a domestic student, or through either English proficiency tests, university preparation courses, English language courses, previous tertiary study or vocational education.

Advanced Standing

Everyone has a different path to university so if you’ve already completed formal or informal learning, you could receive advanced standing. Also known as recognition of prior learning, advanced standing can reduce the amount of study needed to complete your degree by giving you credit for certain units.

Formal learning can include previous study in higher education vocational education or adult and community education. Informal learning can include on the job learning, various kinds of work and life experience.

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This information applies to courses offered at our Australian campuses only. Courses offered at our Dubai  and Singapore campuses or delivered by Open Universities Australia may have different requirements.

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Fees and scholarships

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Scholarships

Make the most of your university experience by reducing the financial costs with a scholarship.

Whether you’re a high achiever or have experienced hardship, we offer a wide range of scholarships and awards to students from all walks of life. Explore our scholarships to find the ones you could be eligible for as a new Murdoch student as well as what's available throughout your degree.

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How much will it cost?

Instead of paying an overall course fee, you pay for the individual units you enrol in. The total course cost will vary depending on the units you choose.

Following your successful application, you’ll receive a Letter of Offer which will contain specific course and fee information.

If you are applying for an undergraduate course, you may be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place. Postgraduate programs are full fee paying, unless indicated otherwise in your Letter of Offer.

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