Future Students

Asian Studies

But what do we really know about the region in which we live? Asian Studies introduces you to the many cultures, societies and politics of Asia, including China, Indonesia and Japan. It explores the impact of the great religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam and investigates the dramatic changes that colonialism and revolutions have brought to the people of the region.

The main focus though, is contemporary Asia. Asian Studies will give you an in-depth understanding of the forces that are shaping the Asian region now. It examines topics as diverse as popular culture in Japan, gender relations in Indonesia and the media boom in China. Terrorism and human rights issues are also explored, as is Australia''s increasingly important relationships with Asian nations.

The lecturers in Asian Studies all speak Asian languages and bring to their teaching a passion and deep understanding of Asian societies. Our approach is inter-disciplinary: it combines the insights of disciplines such as politics, economics, geography, anthropology and cultural studies. This equips students with the ability to think across boundaries - whether they be cultural, academic or linguistic.

Asian Studies may be studied as a major within a Bachelor of Arts. This is a good option for students who do not wish to study an Asian Language. You may be able to study individual Asian Studies units within other degrees. You can also study a Bachelor of Arts (Asian Studies). This degree requires you to also learn an Asian Language - either Chinese, Indonesian or Japanese. Asian Studies provides a wide choice of units that look behind issues such as the rise of ethnic and religious identities, democratisation and authoritarianism, and conflicts over the management of the environment.

There are also country specific units that examine the politics and societies of China, Indonesia and Japan. These are especially popular among students taking Chinese, Indonesian and Japanese language studies.

Career opportunities

Graduates with a good understanding of Asian cultures, societies and languages are in short supply. They have excellent employment prospects in Australia and in the rising economies of Asia. 

Our graduates have obtained fascinating and well-paid jobs from human rights organisations to the World Bank. Many employers, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, give priority to the employment of graduates with an Asia-related academic background.

The combination of Asian Studies with a major in a discipline (such as anthropology, economics, English, geography, history, industrial relations, politics) or an Asian language is becoming particularly attractive to employers in areas including:

• Commonwealth government (Foreign Affairs)
• State government (Premier and Cabinet)
• Business and Industry
• Education (primary, secondary and tertiary)
• Trade and Tourism
• The media