Program Overview

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Asian Studies

Course Overview

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, Japan and Korea. 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. Students develop critical knowledge of contemporary Asia and the social, cultural, political and economic forces which are shaping modern societies in this dynamic region.

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.

Level 1

• Core
  • ASIA1001 Asian Societies and Cultures (6)
  • ASIA1002 Asia from Colonial to Modern (6)

Level 2

• Option
  • Take unit(s) to the value of 12 points:
    • ASIA2001 Culture, Society and the State in Asia (6)
    • ASIA2002 Australia and Asia (6)
    • ASIA2004 Popular Culture in Asia (6)

Level 3

• Option
  • Take unit(s) to the value of 24 points:
    • ASIA3001 Indonesian Politics and Culture (6)
    • ASIA3002 Issues in Japanese Society and Culture (6)
    • ASIA3003 Social Issues in Contemporary China (6)
    • ASIA3004 Gender and Power in Asia (6)
    • ASIA3005 Autocracy and Democracy in Asia (6)
    • ASIA3006 Contemporary Korean Society (6)

Admission Requirements

The University of Western Australia welcomes applications from international and domestic school-leavers. If you’re interested in studying one of these majors, find out the admission details below.

Minimum Entry Requirements

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

• All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE): 9
• Canadian High School (except Quebec): 68
• French Baccalaureate: 10
• Gao Kao (PR China NCEE)/750: 507
• GCE A-Levels: 8
• German Abitur: 3.6
• Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education: 14
• Indian Senior School Certificate (CISCE): 45
• Indonesian Sekolah Menengah Atas (SMA) - Pass of 65: 75.5
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB): 24
• Malaysian STPM: 10
• Monash University Foundation Year: 254
• NCUK Foundation Program: 8
• Norwegian Vitnemål: 3.5
• Singapore - Cambridge A Levels: 6.5
• South African National Senior Certificate: 4
• South Korean College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT): 324
• Sweden Slutbetyg: 14.5
• Trinity College Foundation: 280
• Unified Examination Certificate (UEC): 14
• University of Western Australia College (UWAC) Foundation Program: 61
• US College Board Advanced Placements: 7
• US College Board SAT: 1130
• Western Australian Universities' Foundation Program (WAUFP): 56
• Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) 2016 onwards: 75

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.

Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

Fees and Scholarships

Learn more about the fees that apply to you for this course. 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 this course.

Domestic Student Fees

For Commonwealth-supported places, student contribution amounts are charged by unit, based on area of study. For a fee estimate, go to the Fee Calculator and select “I want to price my units”. Fees are subject to annual indexation. Refer to the Handbook to identify the units required.

International Student Fees

Annual course fee

• 2025: $48,300.00

Onshore international students are charged an annual course fee, charged per credit point at a rate dependent on the course in which the student is enrolled. Annual course fees are calculated based on an annual study load. Check the handbook to confirm the annual study load for your course.

Careers and Further Study

This course opens up a world of future study pathways and career opportunities.

Career Pathways

As an Asian Studies graduate, you'll 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.

Potential career opportunities include:

• Diplomat
• Foreign Correspondent
• Trade Representative
• International Lawyer
• Policy Advisor

Further Study

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

You may be interested in:

• Master of International Relations
• Master of International Development
• Master of Strategic Communication
• Master of Translation Studies

Why Study This Course?

• Asian Studies at UWA offers the most comprehensive menu of Asia-focused units.
• UWA’s Asian Studies lecturers hold strong institutional, interdisciplinary and international research and teaching links.
• Generous in-country study opportunities in China, Japan, Korea and Indonesia provide life-changing experiences and make you stand out from the crowd.

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.
• 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 school 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.