Undergraduate

Asian Studies

What does modern Asia look like? From cultures, history and politics, through to religion, gender and environmental issues, you can explore the issues facing Australia's nearest neighbours.
3
Years Full Time
Course Details Careers & further study Fees & Scholarships Admission requirements How to apply Contact us
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Address

Student Central

The University of Western Australia(M355) 35 Stirling Highway Perth Western Australia 6009

Telephone

(+61 8) 6488 3939

International

1800 653 050

Email

future-students@uwa.edu.au

Hours

8.30am – 5pm AWST, Monday – Friday

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Careers and further study

This major opens up a world of future study pathways and career options.

Career Pathways

Graduates have excellent employment prospects in Australia and in the rising economies of Asia. Many employers in Australia and Asia – including human rights, education, tourism and media organisations, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the World Bank, and the United Nations – give priority to the employment of graduates with an Asia-related academic background.
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Career Pathways

Graduates have excellent employment prospects in Australia and in the rising economies of Asia. Many employers in Australia and Asia – including human rights, education, tourism and media organisations, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the World Bank, and the United Nations – give priority to the employment of graduates with an Asia-related academic background.
This course could lead to these

Career Opportunities

Further Study

This major lays the foundation for further study options at honours and postgraduate level.
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Further Study

This major lays the foundation for further study options at honours and postgraduate level.
Postgraduate study at UWA

Master of Asian Studies

Master of Asian Studies

Asia is home to four of Australia's five major trading partners, and boasts some of the oldest and most vibrant cultures in the world. Learn how to make the most of it.

Fees and scholarships

Learn more about the fees that apply to you for this major. For fee type definitions and further assistance, see the Fee Calculator Help page. You can also search our database for scholarships that are relevant to you or your desired course.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

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Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.

Cost of living

International Fees

Undergraduate – onshore students

Annual course fees are calculated based on a standard annual study load of 48 credit points.

Course Credit Points
144
Total Course Fee - 2020
$95,100.00
Fee calculator

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Search Scholarships

Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.

Cost of living

Admission requirements

The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from international and domestic school-leavers, mature-age applicants and those with previous tertiary study. If you’re interested in studying this major, find out the admission details below.

Minimum entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements

Below you’ll find a list of admission equivalencies for this course's Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).

Indonesian Secondary School Leaving Certificate (STTB SMA)
  • 8
International Baccalaureate
  • 27
Singapore-Cambridge A-Levels
  • 8
UWA Foundation Programme (UWAFP)
  • 66
Western Australian Universities Foundation Program (WAUFP)
  • 60
Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY)
  • 270
Trinity College Foundation Program
  • 75
Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards
  • 80
Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT)
  • 320
Below you’ll find a list of admission equivalencies for this course's Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).
Indonesian Secondary School Leaving Certificate (STTB SMA)
  • 8
International Baccalaureate
  • 27
Singapore-Cambridge A-Levels
  • 8
UWA Foundation Programme (UWAFP)
  • 66
Western Australian Universities Foundation Program (WAUFP)
  • 60
Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY)
  • 270
Trinity College Foundation Program
  • 75
Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards
  • 80
Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT)
  • 320
View full details

Admission requirements

For applicants with recent secondary education, information on admission criteria is available on our entry standards page.

Admission requirements

English competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.

English competency

How to apply

Ready to apply for this major? Follow the steps and you’ll be on your way to joining us at UWA.

Course details

Asian Studies provides knowledge and a solid basis for critically understanding the great diversity of cultures, societies and political systems 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. You’ll develop critical knowledge of contemporary Asia and the social, cultural, political and economic forces that are shaping modern societies in the region.

About the course

Asia is home to two-thirds of the world’s population and some of the most dynamic and fascinating societies on the planet. From cultures, history and politics, through to religion, gender and environmental issues, you can explore the issues facing Australia’s nearest neighbours.
View full details

About the course

Asia is home to two-thirds of the world’s population and some of the most dynamic and fascinating societies on the planet. From cultures, history and politics, through to religion, gender and environmental issues, you can explore the issues facing Australia’s nearest neighbours.

This major provides knowledge and a solid basis for critically understanding the great diversity of cultures, societies and political systems of Asia, including China, Indonesia and Japan. It explores the impacts of the great religious and philosophical traditions of the region such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam, and investigates the dramatic changes colonialism, revolutions and modernisation have brought to the region. You’ll examine topics as diverse as popular culture, gender relations, environmental issues, political transformations, the media and Australia’s relations with the region. This major does not require you to learn an Asian language. 

Asian Studies

Quick details

Status
  • Available 2020/2021
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1, Semester 2
Weekly contact time
  • 12-15 contact hours, plus at least twice as much of your own study time
Level of study
  • Undergraduate
Course Code
  • MJD-ASSTD
Full time/part time duration
  • 3 years (BA); 4 years (BPhil [Hons])
View full details
Asian Studies

Quick details

Status
  • Available 2020/2021
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1, Semester 2
Weekly contact time
  • 12-15 contact hours, plus at least twice as much of your own study time
Level of study
  • Undergraduate
Course Code
  • MJD-ASSTD
Full time/part time duration
  • 3 years (BA); 4 years (BPhil [Hons])
TISC Codes
  • UWART
Honours Available
  • Yes
Degrees course is available in
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
Faculty
  • Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Education - Arts

Georgia Watterson

Georgia Watterson
Find out more

Georgia Watterson

Georgia Watterson
Having the ability to diversify my study with electives and broadening units is definitely an added positive of studying at UWA. I appreciate the ability UWA gives me to choose units I may not have otherwise chosen or learnt about. Originally I chose an Asian Studies unit as an elective to complement my other study areas. I found looking into the cultural aspects of societies and studying the reasons why people interact in specific ways due to their cultural backgrounds fascinating. I decided to continue studying Asian Studies because of this reason. 

Looking into the interests and social thoughts of one of Australia’s closest neighbours intrigues me, but what has really got me most interested in the course units is definitely the lecturers. Enjoying the content is as important as having a lecturer who can interact with you and the course material the same; Asian Studies offers me an equal balance of the two.
 

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Student Exchange & Study Abroad

Eberhard-Karls University, Tubingen

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Tubingen, Germany
Europe

"The best part of exchange is the people you meet from all over the world. The second best thing is learning to live in a new country with a foreign culture. If you're a language student, it's particularly rewarding that, after all those years, you get to put it into practice and communicate with people. My perspectives have been broadened by my exchange, living in a new country and meeting people from all different cultures; you realise the world's a much bigger place. I can't say anything bad about Tübingen. It was a fantastic place to be on exchange and experience a student town where everything revolves around the students, because we don't have that in Australia." Rosie Blood, Bachelor of Arts - German and Psychology, 2011-2012
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The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Founded in 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong is a forward-looking comprehensive research university with a global vision and a mission to combine tradition with modernity, and to bring together China and the West. Teachers and students hail from all around the world, and it has a total of 61 departments under the faculties of arts, business administration, education, engineering, law, medicine, science, and social science. Currently, it has about 21,000 students undertaking undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programs.

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University of Leeds

The University continues to appear in the top 100 of the QS world rankings. Leeds is a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities as well as the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), which comprises 16 research-intensive institutions spanning six continents. In the 2015 National Student Survey, 90 per cent of Leeds students said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of their course.

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"Studying abroad has become one of the most amazing experiences of my life. In the beginning it was tough, but once I found my feet, everything fell in to place and I enjoyed the best consecutive six months of my life. I have made amazing friends from all walks of life and found my passion for medieval history and found many skills I possess that I had never known about. I grew up as an individual and came to realise how capable I was to fulfil many tasks and face situations." Abby Donkin, Bachelor of Arts, 2013
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Visit Global Studio for more details and to apply to study abroad.

Visit Global Studio

Course Structure

Our undergraduate degrees offer you a broad range of options allowing you to combine subjects in a way that matches your career goals and personal interests.

Popular combinations

History Indonesian Studies Japanese Studies
Course structure details

You'll learn to

  • demonstrate critical knowledge of debates and discourses surrounding contemporary issues in Asia
  • understand the complexities of sociocultural, political, economic and environmental transformations and interactions in postcolonial Asia
  • demonstrate ethical sensitivity towards our diverse and globalised world
  • express original arguments in oral and written forms, and engage with theoretical and academic literature
  • conduct independent research
  • demonstrate excellent cross-cultural understanding and communication

You'll learn to

Facilities & equipment

Facilities and equipment
Facilities and equipment

Arts building and libraries

Arts building and libraries
UWA students have access to the University's libraries, which house more than 850,000 books and over 230,000 non-print items in a wide range of formats, from manuscripts to electronic databases. In addition, there are study spaces around the campus, including by the picturesque Swan River.

Put theory into practice

Current UWA students are eligible to take one of our professional experience units. These units bridge the gap between university and the workplace by providing opportunities to gain hands-on, practical experience. You can master new skills, make connections and network, get a taste of the opportunities in the workforce and add experience to your resume, all before graduating.

Find out more about Work Integrated Learning.

Put theory into practice

Your degree options

This major is offered as a degree-specific, or first, major for these degrees. It is also offered as a second major in our other bachelor's degrees.

Why study this course?

  • Gain cross-cultural skills and exciting opportunities to work and travel in the region
  • UWA’s Asian Studies lecturers hold strong institutional, interdisciplinary and international research and teaching links

Why study this course?

Why take a second major

  • Expand your skills - Taking a second major either in a complementary area or in something like Economics or Business Law will show you have developed transferable skills such as, teamwork, critical thinking, digital literacy and presentation skills – which are highly sought after in the workforce.
  • Add it to your resume – Employers are looking for graduates who have skills in a variety of areas. Two majors will expand your career prospects and help you stand out amongst the crowd.
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Why take a second major

  • Expand your skills - Taking a second major either in a complementary area or in something like Economics or Business Law will show you have developed skills such as, teamwork, critical thinking, digital literacy and presentation skills – which are highly sought after in the workforce.
  • Add it to your resume – Employers are looking for graduates who have skills in a variety of areas. Two majors will expand your career prospects and help you stand out amongst the crowd.
  • Study your passion alongside your interests – Do you love Marketing? Law? History of Art? Pursue a career while studying something else you love! Your second major can be from any other faculty across the university.
  • No additional time – Choosing two majors instead of one won’t add any additional time to your undergraduate degree. A standard bachelor degree consists of the same amount of units either way.
  • Discover what you want to do while you’re doing it – Not sure what career you want when you graduate? It’s very common for undergraduate students to be unsure. Choosing two majors in different areas will give you the opportunity to explore multiple interests and see what fits best. Majors can be switched until the end of your first year without adding any time onto your degree.

Check out the popular combinations for this major to get some inspiration on complementary areas to study.

School of Social Sciences

The School of Social Sciences looks at understanding the human experience and exploring how and why society works.
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