Major 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 also possible to combine an Asian Studies major with a second major (or minor) in Indonesian or Japanese language to broaden your horizons even further!
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 University
- Study in-country programs in Indonesia, Japan and elsewhere, which are often supported by scholarships.
- Learn with world-leading academics in anthropology, sociology, politics, language, history, development and other disciplines.
- 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.
Having completed three semesters and my honours research in Indonesia, I was able to get a much better idea of development on the ground. I found that when I graduated, I had a more realistic idea of what to expect in the workplace.
Karis Erceg, Bachelor of Arts
Your future 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.
Start dates
| Starting period | Location | Face to Face | Online | Mixed mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 1, 2026 | Murdoch | Yes | No | Yes |
| Semester 2, 2026 | Murdoch | Yes | No | Yes |
| Semester 1, 2027 | Murdoch | Yes | No | Yes |
| Semester 2, 2027 | Murdoch | Yes | No | Yes |
View the dates for our teaching periods or find out more about attendance modes.
Major Structure
Visit the Course Handbook - Get detailed information on units, prerequisites, and pathways.
To help plan the structure of your course, search for our suggested course plans.
| Unit code | Unit name | Credit points |
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How to Apply
Majors are part of a degree and can't be applied on their own. Apply for a related degree first, then choose your major once enrolled.
Your arts degree could take you in any direction you choose. Build your professional skills and creative prospects even further by adding a postgraduate qualification to your Bachelor of Arts.