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Program

International Studies - 3424

Program Summary

Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Contact: bis@unsw.edu.au

Campus: Sydney

Career: Undergraduate

Typical Duration: 4 Years  

Typical UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC Per Semester: 6

Max UOC Per Semester: 24

Min UOC For Award: 192

UAC Code: 422200

Domestic Entry Requirements: See Domestic Entry Requirements

International Entry Requirements: See International Entry Requirements

Award(s):

Bachelor of International Studies (Major)

View program information for previous years

Program Description
The Bachelor of International Studies (UNSW BInSt) is an innovative and practical program in which you will develop a comprehensive understanding of the contemporary world, pick up a useful second language, and experience one year of study overseas. The program satisfies a growing demand in Australia and globally for graduates who are highly skilled, well informed and professionally equipped to meet the challenges of work in a rapidly changing global environment.

The program examines the interactions of nations, economies, institutions, peoples, cultures, technologies and ideas against a background of increasing international integration and changing modernity. The program challenges students to: examine the dynamics of global and regional change; explore key issues and challenges in global change, evaluate the importance of globalisation, and debate key questions centred on nationalism, sovereignty, social change, development, and transnational interaction. Students specialize in an area of study, complete language study and a one year Overseas Study Program (OSP) at one of the more than 200 approved partner universities around the world.

The UNSW BInSt can be completed full-time in Single mode (normally 4 years), in Dual Mode (the equivalent of 3 years full-time) or part-time. The basic requirements of the program are simple. The BInSt has a depth component and a breadth component. Students enrolled in Single mode do both the depth and breadth component while students enrolled in Dual Mode only complete the depth component.

The Depth component (Blue Zone) is:

  1. The completion of an International Studies core (18 UOC – 3 courses)
  2. The completion of a Language Study core (24 UOC – 4 courses)
  3. The completion of a major stream (54 UOC – 9 courses) selected from the list of UNSW BInst approved major streams
  4. The completion of an Overseas Study Program (48 UOC – 2 semesters)
The Breadth component (for students completing the program in Single mode) (Green Zone) is:
  1. The completion of UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives (12 UOC - 2 courses)
  2. The completion of Free Electives (24 UOC - 4 courses)
  3. The completion of General Education (12 UOC - 2 courses)

Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
The Program Objectives of UNSW BInSt are:
  1. To satisfy a growing demand, in Australia and abroad, for graduates who are highly skilled, well informed and professionally equipped to meet the challenges of work in a rapidly changing global environment.
  2. To give students a thorough preparation for further study and employment in areas vital to Australia’s increasing participation in the international arena.
  3. To examine and develop a better understanding of the interactions of nations, economies, institutions, peoples, cultures, technologies and ideas against a background of increasing international integration and changing modernity.
  4. To promote competence in a major language or languages relevant and useful for the global economy in which we live in (viz. French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Indonesian).
  5. To provide students with the invaluable experience of other cultures, languages and peoples - experience greatly valued by employers internationally – through the completion of a one-year Overseas Study Program.
The Graduate Attributes for this Program are as follows:
  1. Research, Inquiry and Analytic Abilities
  2. Personal and Intellectual Autonomy
  3. Ethical, Social and Professional Understanding
  4. Communication Skills
  5. Information Literacy
  6. Professional and Intellectual Development
  7. Global Outlook

Program Structure
The basic requirements for the degree are:

Single Mode (192 UOC) made up of:

  1. International Studies Core (18 UOC)
  2. Language Study Core (24 UOC )
  3. A Major Stream (54 UOC)
  4. Overseas Study Program (48 UOC)
  5. UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives (12 UOC)
  6. Free Electives (24 UOC )
  7. General Education (12 UOC )
Dual Mode (144 UOC) made up of:
  1. International Studies core (18 UOC)
  2. Language Study Core (24 UOC )
  3. A Major Stream (54 UOC)
  4. Overseas Study Program (48 UOC)

Core

International Studies

Compulsory International Studies courses (18 UOC) made up of:

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3


NOTE 1: Students in the Development Studies Major Stream are allowed to count ARTS2240 towards their major. This will leave 6 UOC (1 course) to be covered by a Prescribed International Studies Elective. However, students can only take gateway courses from other major streams, not their own.

NOTE 2: Students in the Asian Studies Major or the European Studies Major must complete a sequence of 24 UOC in an Asian or European language stream as appropriate.

The Prescribed International Studies Elective list consists of:

Language Study

Compulsory Language courses (24 UOC) in one of the following Languages:
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish
  • Chinese
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Indonesian
  • Greek
  • Italian

Streams

54 UOC from any of the "Internal Stream" or "External Stream" listed below
Asian Studies European Studies German Studies Japanese Studies
Chinese Studies French Studies International Business (External Stream 48 UOC) Korean Studies
Development Studies International Relations Spanish and Latin American Studies

External Stream UOC Requirement — International Business
The External Stream requirement for the award of the major stream in International Business is 48 UOC. Students completing this stream, however, will undertake one (6 UOC) UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Elective to meet the depth requirement.

Core Language Study and Language Stream
Students choosing to complete a Stream in a Language must complete that study in a Language other than the Language which they chose for the Core requirement.

Overseas Study Program

Students undertake two semesters of approved study at an overseas university. The Overseas Study Program (OSP) provides invaluable experience of other cultures, languages and peoples – experience greatly valued by employers internationally. UNSW manages a large and active exchange program with more than 180 different student exchange opportunities at prestigious partner universities in Asia, Europe and the Americas. To proceed on the Bachelor of International Studies Overseas Study Program (OSP) students must have achieved satisfactory academic progress in their first and second years of study and must fulfil the requirements of the University's Exchange Program. For details see Student Exchange

Overseas Study Program and Dual Mode

The Overseas Study Program is full-time overseas for two semesters. Students enrolled in the program in Dual Mode would suspend study in their other degree program during this period of exchange.

UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives

UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives are any courses chosen from the offerings of UNSW Arts and Social Sciences. Students can add depth to their major or minor stream (above the minimum requirements) or undertake other courses from other areas of study within UNSW Arts and Social Sciences. Indigenous Studies courses (ATSIxxxx) cannot be studied as UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives.

Free Electives

Students completing the program in Single mode have a 24 UOC free elective breadth requirement. Students may complete any courses for which they are eligible to enrol either within or outside UNSW Arts and Social Sciences.

ARTS2050 Academic Writing for the Humanities

This course is available as a UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Elective or Free Elective for students wishing to develop their academic writing skills. Click here for further details about the course.

General Education

General Education is the completion of two courses (12 UOC) offered outside UNSW Arts and Social Sciences. This requirement is met if an external major or minor (for example, Economics) is completed. Indigenous Studies courses (ATSIxxxx) can be studied as General Education only if students are not following a major or minor in Indigenous Studies within the BA program.

Award with Distinction

High achieving students who secure a WAM of 75 across their program and who have completed at least 48 UOC of their program at UNSW are eligible for the award of their Pass Degree "with Distinction".

Honours

High achieving Bachelor of International Studies students (in Single or Dual mode) who have successfully completed all program requirements may apply for admission to honours in the Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences (Honours) program 4504. Entry to Honours requires a WAM of 70 or higher in the stream(s) seeking to be further studied.

Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences (Honours) program 4504

Sample Program

 
Bachelor of International Studies - Asian Studies Stream
Single Mode - Example only
 
 
International Studies
Core
Language
Core
Asian Studies
Breadth
 UOC
LEVEL 1
S1
Asian Language
(6 UOC)
(6 UOC)
Free Elective
(6 UOC)
24
S2
Asian Language
(6 UOC)
Free Elective
(6 UOC)

Free Elective
(6 UOC)
 24
LEVEL 2
S1
Asian Language
(6 UOC)
Asian Studies
Level 2 (6 UOC)
Gen Ed
(6 UOC)
 24
S2
  
Asian Language
(6 UOC)
Asian Studies
Level 2 (6 UOC)

Asian Studies
Level 2 (6 UOC)
Gen Ed
(6 UOC)
 24
LEVEL 3
S1
    
Asian Studies
Level 2 or 3
(6 UOC)

Asian Studies
Level 3 (6 UOC)
UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Elective
(6 UOC)

UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Elective
(6 UOC)
24
S2
                                      Overseas Study Program (24 UOC)
24
LEVEL 4
S1
                                      Overseas Study Program (24 UOC)
24
S2
  
Asian Studies
Level 3 (6 UOC)
Free Elective
(6 UOC)
24
UOC
 18
 24
 54
 48
192


Academic Rules

Single Mode

To qualify for the award of the degree at pass level, a student must:
  1. enrol in the Bachelor of International Studies and complete 192 UOC;
  2. complete the requirements for the core
  3. complete the requirements for one stream
  4. complete the requirements for the Overseas Study Program
  5. complete 12 UOC of UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Prescribed Electives
  6. complete 24 UOC of Free Electives
  7. complete 12 UOC of General Education
  8. complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
  9. specify their major stream at the time of enrolment into the program
  10. complete at least 24 UOC in their stream before enrolling in Level 3 courses
  11. complete at least 168 UOC overall before enrolling in their stream Capstone course

Dual Mode

To qualify for the award of the degree at pass level, a student must:
  1. enrol in the Bachelor of International Studies and complete 144 UOC;
  2. complete the requirements for the core
  3. complete the requirements for one stream
  4. complete the requirements for the Overseas Study Program
  5. complete at least 30 UOC of Level 1 courses before enrolling in Level 2 courses
  6. specify their major stream at the time of enrolment into the program
  7. complete at least 24 UOC in their stream before enrolling in Level 3 courses
  8. complete at least 120 UOC overall before enrolling in their stream Capstone course

Fees
For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  UNSW Fee Website.

Important Information
The Academic Rules for the UNSW BInSt and the online enrolment facility provide students with a wide range of course choices. The online enrolment facility checks that students meet the enrolment requirements for individual courses but not that a course complies with Program Rules. Students are responsible for ensuring they are enrolling in accordance with the Academic Rules outlined above. Students should not assume that because they have enrolled in a course online that the course is automatically credited to their degree program.

Further Information
Contact the UNSW Arts and Social Sciences Student Centre for advice.
Tel: + 61 2 9385 2289
Email: arts@unsw.edu.au
Location: Room G1 Ground Floor, Morven Brown building (C20)
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm
Frequently asked questions

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