Graduate with a personalised portfolio
Global experiences built into the degree
Study overseas for a trimester or more
Why choose international studies at Deakin
Dive into international cultures and build a global career by studying Deakin’s Bachelor of International Studies. If you are interested in different perspectives and cultures beyond your own, this experience-rich course gives you a deep understanding of the global forces shaping the world.
Gain an understanding of globalisation and development, power and capitalism and build intercultural communication skills through core units. Choose from five majors, from Middle East studies to Anthropology, and take advantage of international experiences built into your degree. Pursue overseas study options, intern internationally or complete a study tour.
Graduate confident in analysing and interpreting the international forces shaping government, business and community life in contemporary Australia, and impress employers with strong intercultural skills and experience.
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Global experience built in
Complete an international experience through an exchange, an international internship, a study tour or a language program.
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Five majors to shape your path
Choose from anthropology, Indigenous studies, international relations, Middle East studies or politics and policy studies.
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Global career outcomes
Graduates have gone on to work at the United Nations and World Vision, with pathways in diplomacy, communications, NGOs, trade and aid.
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Employability edge
Finish with a capstone portfolio that showcases your skills, from the #1 Victorian university for course satisfaction.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Build intercultural, analytical and communication skills for careers across government, international business, communications, diplomacy, immigration, NGOs, trade and aid.
Communications officer
Develop content and support communication strategies that help organisations connect with their audiences, stakeholders and communities across government, business and not-for-profit sectors.
- $90k
Typical annual salary in Australia
- 3.8/5
Job satisfaction
Policy analyst
Work with the government or other large organisations to assist in the planning and development of policies. Review current policies and analyse data to assist with policy creation and modification.
- $110k
Typical annual salary in Australia
- 1,893
Jobs advertised
Other industries
- Diplomacy
- Defence
- Education
- NGOs
- Trade and aid
Key dates
Direct applications
Trimester 1 2027 applications close 7 February 2027
VTAC
FAQs
Yes – every Deakin student can access work-integrated learning (WIL) in their degree. Each year, more than 30,000+ students complete a placement or internship with partners including Microsoft, KPMG, EY and the National Australia Bank. You can access WIL through placements, industry projects, field-based experiences, simulations and global programs, helping you apply your skills and graduate with the experience and confidence employers value.
DeakinTALENT is Deakin's award-winning career service, and you can access it for life – not just while you're studying. From personalised career coaching sessions and AI-enhanced resume support to a jobs and internships board with employment opportunities, it’s designed to give you the career management skills and connections you need to stand out. Every Deakin degree is built with input from employers, so your course is designed around real workplace needs, now and into the future.
Entry requirements and the minimum ATAR vary by degree and are detailed on the degree page, but if your ATAR is below the cut-off, you still have options. Use the pathway finder tool to find the opportunities available to you, including associate degrees and Deakin Guaranteed ATAR, which offers eligible students a guaranteed entry score that's on average 10 points below the lowest selection rank. If you don't have an ATAR, Deakin Uni Ready is a free, supported program designed to build your skills and confidence and open doors to degrees in arts, health, science and business. Access programs and equity schemes are also available.
At Deakin, employability isn't an add-on – it's built in. Our degrees are designed with industry input, so your skills are aligned to what employers actually need. Every Deakin student can access work-integrated learning through opportunities such as placements, internships and industry projects, helping you build your professional network and practical experience before you even graduate. It's an approach that works: nine out of 10 Deakin graduates get a job within four to six months of finishing their degree.
Yes. Most eligible undergraduate students are offered a Commonwealth Supported Place meaning the government subsidises part of your tuition fees. If eligible, you can pay your student contribution using a HECS-HELP loan that you only start repaying once your income is above the repayment threshold. Deakin has scholarships that cater to our diverse student community, ranging from $5,000 per year for high ATAR achievers to $10,000 per year for students facing financial or personal hardship. The University also offers support services including financial counselling, budgeting help and access to short-term, interest-free loans to help you stay on track.
Deakin is the #1 Victorian university for student support and that starts the moment you accept your offer. Orientation is designed to help you feel welcome and get to know your community of classmates and teachers from day one. Across all campuses, there's a vibrant student community with clubs, events and opportunities to build real friendships. Deakin offers a range of services to help students stay healthy and safe, including sport and fitness facilities, free counselling, on-campus medical services and around-the-clock security.
Yes, and it's straightforward. You can transfer to Deakin in a few steps and apply for credit through recognition of prior learning (RPL), so you won't necessarily repeat subjects you've already completed. If you're coming from a TAFE partner, you may get guaranteed entry into second year with guaranteed RPL. Deakin's three-trimester system also means you may be able to start mid-year rather than waiting until March.
Most Deakin courses run across three trimesters per year instead of the traditional two semesters. Trimester 1 begins around March, Trimester 2 around July and Trimester 3 around November, each with roughly 12 weeks of teaching followed by an exam period. This means you can usually start your degree at three different points in the year and have more flexibility to manage your study load. Check the intakes by location section on the course page for details.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Bachelor of International Studies?
Build core international studies knowledge first, deepen your major and electives next, then bring everything together through advanced study, international experience and a capstone portfolio.
Build your foundation
Explore your international lens
Examine culture, communication and intercultural understanding across borders.
Start shaping your study path
Begin your major early so you can build depth over time, while still having the flexibility to explore different interests.
Keep choice in your degree
Broaden your studies with electives or add complementary areas of study.
Deepen your direction
Ask global questions
Examine power, development and social change in more depth, and learn to analyse issues that connect politics, culture and community life.
Advance your chosen specialisation
Continue your major through intermediate and advanced study, building stronger discipline knowledge.
Add breadth with clear purpose
Use electives to connect your international studies learning with other interests, industries or complementary skills.
Bring it all together
Finalise your studies
Complete your degree and explore emerging international issues, connecting ideas, perspectives and methods.
Show employers what you can do
Finish with a capstone portfolio that helps you reflect on your growth and present your skills, experience and professional strengths with confidence.
Choose experience that travels
Take part in an international experience and put theory into practice.
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of International Studies, you must pass 24 credit points.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
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Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
Units
All students must complete at least 2 credit points of international experience, selected from one or more of the following:
- trimester of study at an overseas university exchange partner
- international internship (AIS330)
- approved study abroad program or approved study tour (AIS203* or other)
- approved onshore internship with an international organisation (available for AIS330 only).
- 2 credit points of consecutive language units other than in-country language program can be taken to achieve one credit point of the international experience requirement
Note: It is envisaged that students would complete the international experience in the third or fourth year of their course.
AIS203 Immersion Program: Japanese Politics, Society and Culture [No longer available for enrolment, AWL203 replaces this unit]
AIS330 - Internship units are normally undertaken in third year (or equivalent) and are subject to completion of specified prerequisite units and special application requirements, including Unit Chair approval of their planned placement.
For further information on the international student experience and on previous students' overseas internships, explore Arts and Education WIL opportunities.
Refer to the details of each major sequence for availability.
Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian, Spanish majors only available to students who commenced prior to 2027
Minors
Refer to the minor sequence availability.
Languages (Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian, Spanish)
~ The Indigenous Studies minor/major sequence is offered in the online mode only. International on-campus students must first seek approval from Student Central with a course map plan to ensure they do not exceed one-third (or equivalent) of their course completed online and meet all other course and enrolment rules.
What to expect while studying
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
Elective units may be selected that include work-based training or community-based learning. Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.
Open elective units may provide additional opportunities for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Review, analyse and apply key concepts in International Studies relating to international politics and society, globalisation and development, intercultural competency, global citizenship and professional development with reference to one or more Social Science disciplinary perspectives and appropriate theories and technical knowledge. |
| Apply learnings from personal and professional development in diverse organizational contexts to effectively communicate cross-cultural ideas, arguments and analyses to diverse audiences using a range of different mediums. |
| Employ a range of digital technologies and platforms to conduct research, engage in discussion and debate, document personal and professional skills and attributes, communicate effectively with and deliver reports and presentations to a diverse range of audiences within and outside the field of International Studies. |
| Analyse and critically evaluate conceptual and theoretical approaches to issues of international politics and society, intercultural competency, global citizenship, and professional development in the context of an increasingly complex globalised world that requires appreciation of local, national, regional and international dynamics and their interactions. |
| Employ initiative and creativity in conjunction with appropriate Social Science methods of research and analysis to systematically investigate and generate context-sensitive and pragmatic solutions to complex real-world problems. |
| Exercise autonomy, responsibility, accountability and a sustained and ongoing commitment to learning and skill development in International Studies contexts including but not limited to communities of practice and scholarship. |
| Work and learn collaboratively and productively with others in the field of International Studies and with stakeholders from other disciplines and backgrounds to achieve shared goals. |
| Analyse and respond appropriately to issues of cultural, social and political inequity; the transferability of knowledge and skills in different geographic, knowledge and organisational contexts as a reflective scholar and practitioner, taking into consideration cultural and socio-economic diversity, social and environmental responsibility and adherence to professional and academic ethical standards. |
Approved by Faculty Board November 2020
- Award granted
- Bachelor of International Studies
- Year
2027 course information
- VTAC code
International Studies: 1400411201 - Regional Access Scheme - Waterfront (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
International Studies: 1400414031 - Waterfront (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
International Studies: 1400514031 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
International Studies: 1400614031 - Online, Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)International Studies (Anthropology major): 1400412191 - Waterfront (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
International Studies (Anthropology major): 1400512191 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
International Studies (Anthropology major): 1400612191 - Online, Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
International Studies (International Relations major): 1400412231 - Waterfront (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
International Studies (International Relations major): 1400512231 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
International Studies (International Relations major): 1400612231 - Online, Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
International Studies (Middle East Studies major): 1400412241 - Waterfront (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
International Studies (Middle East Studies major): 1400512241 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
International Studies (Middle East Studies major): 1400612241 - Online, Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
International Studies (Politics and Policy Studies major): 1400412251 - Waterfront (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
International Studies (Politics and Policy Studies major): 1400512251 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
International Studies (Politics and Policy Studies major): 1400612251 - Online, Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)- Deakin code
- A326
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7
Fees
Estimated tuition fee
$16,771
for 1 yr full-time - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
The estimated tuition (student contribution) fee above is based on a typical first-year full-time enrolment of 8 credit points and is provided as a guide only. Your student contribution is determined by the units you enrol in and will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning. You may also be eligible for a HECS-HELP loan to defer payment of all or part of your student contribution.
Check your eligibility or learn more about CSP or HECS-HELP.
Scholarships
We want to help you excel at Deakin. Our scholarships recognise your dedication and achievements, providing financial support that can ease the cost of living and studying. With less pressure, you'll have more freedom to focus on what matters most – your education and future success.
Applications for 2027 are open
Ready to take the next step? Apply now to start your journey at Deakin and get ready for what’s next.
Key dates
Direct applications
Trimester 1 2027 applications close 7 February 2027
VTAC
Apply now
Apply direct
Simply create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal and educational details, upload your supporting documents and submit your application.
Apply through VTAC
Applications are open. Apply through VTAC if you're:
- currently in Year 12 and applying for Trimester 1 or Semester 1
- applying for multiple undergraduate courses
Need help? Follow our step-by-step undergraduate guide to prepare and submit your application.
Indigenous Access Scheme
If you’re an Indigenous student, you can apply for this course through the Indigenous Access Scheme. We recognise achievements beyond your ATAR and academic results, considering your skills, experience and community work as preparation for university study.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.
Not sure if you'll meet entry requirements?
Deakin offers a range of pathways into the Bachelor of International Studies to suit your background and goals. Explore the pathways finder to see how previous study, diplomas or alternative qualifications can lead you into the course.
Alternate exits
- Diploma of Arts (A215)