The Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Affairs provides students with an in-depth exploration of Asia-Pacific regional affairs drawing on the strength of ANU in four different subject and disciplinary areas including politics and government; international relations and security; conflict and peacebuilding; history and cultural identity. 

This innovative program will give students a unique opportunity to understand the transnational forces and contemporary challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region, and to deepen their understanding and appreciation of different Asia-Pacific cultures.

The program will facilitate a cross-crediting arrangement with Ritsumeikan University (RU) in Japan that will allow for student mobility in both directions. Students who study at both ANU and RU will, upon successful completion (and with cross-crediting), be eligible for the Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Affairs (ANU) and the Bachelor of Global Liberal Arts (RU). 

Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Affairs (BAPAF) students commencing study at ANU will be required to undertake two years of study at ANU and two years of study at RU. This program is only open to domestic students and will admit up to 10 students per year to begin studies at ANU.

Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Affairs (Ritsumeikan) students must apply directly to RU and not through ANU. Students will commence study at RU and undertake three years of study at RU and one year of study at ANU. This program will admit up to 90 students per year to begin studies at RU’s Osaka Ibaraki campus.

Career Options

ANU ranks among the world's very finest universities. Our nearly 100,000 alumni include political, business, government, and academic leaders around the world.

We have graduated remarkable people from every part of our continent, our region and all walks of life.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the historical and contemporary dimensions of politics and government, international relations and security, conflict and peacebuilding, and history and cultural identity in the Asia-Pacific region

2. Use concepts and methods from the social sciences and humanities to develop, review, analyse, and synthesise knowledge about the Asia-Pacific region and its roles in the world

3. Reflect critically on the principal factors that determine the major political, security, diplomatic, and historical issues in the Asia-Pacific region

4. Engage with the Asia-Pacific region’s diversity in meaningful ways

5. Critically apply theoretical frameworks and research techniques to understanding key issues in the Asia-Pacific region