Why Bachelor of International Relations?
Make sense of our global landscape while immersing yourself in Japanese culture.
Our world is more connected now than ever before. Strong, collaborative relationships between countries keep our world economy turning and are key to addressing the global challenges that impact us all – no matter where we live.
Japan is known worldwide for its innovative high-tech culture, stunning scenery and rich traditions. The birthplace of major industry giants including Sony, Toyota and Nintendo, Japan has established itself as a global leader in technology, robotics and manufacturing. As the world’s fourth-largest economy, exciting business and career opportunities abound.
Examine the factors that drive change on an international scale, while immersing yourself in Japanese language and culture.
Overview
Explore the political and societal forces that drive change in our shared world, with our Bachelor of International Relations.
Have you ever wondered how an event in one part of the world can cause supply chain issues elsewhere? Or how international cooperation can address common challenges, like climate change? International relations seek to answer questions like these by examining global politics from a range of competing perspectives.
With particular focus on key players, geopolitics and the effects of globalisation, you’ll gain an understanding of Australia’s foreign and security policies and the crucial discussions that influence their development. Critically analyse how international organisations and countries respond to pressing humanitarian and environmental issues and how these responses impact global peace and development.
With a major in Japanese Studies, you’ll dive deep into a culture known for its remarkable ability to achieve harmony between tradition and innovation. From the bright, neon lights of ultramodern Tokyo to the serene, historical districts of Kyoto – Japan captivates through contrast. Whether you’re looking to improve your fluency or starting from scratch, you’ll learn to speak, write and read Japanese with confidence.
Explore the fascinating world of global politics and international relations. Improve your communication skills and immerse yourself in different cultures. This degree can open doors for you to a career in foreign affairs, international business or diplomacy.
Key features
Understand the global landscape by examining politics, economics, sociology and more from competing perspectives. - Learn how to speak, read and write Japanese fluently, boosting your employment prospects.
- Immerse yourself in Japanese culture through in-country and study-abroad programs.
- Be taught by world-leading researchers and scholars.
- Develop the cross-cultural competence crucial for success in diplomatic roles and international partnerships.
- Tailor your studies to your career goals through an industry internship.
What you'll learn
Taught over three years, our Bachelor of International Relations provides you with a comprehensive understanding of world affairs and the skills to succeed in today’s globalised environment. The Japanese Studies major equips you with additional expertise and career opportunities, as you develop fluency in the Japanese language alongside cultural awareness and understanding.
Core courses will introduce you to topics covering international relations, international security, global governance, comparative politics, geopolitics and international development. You’ll also develop your analytical and critical thinking and extend your research and writing skills. You’ll be prepared for careers in diplomacy, international organisations, non-government organisations and the private sector.
The Japanese Studies major will immerse you in Japanese language, film, media and literature. Develop your proficiency and intercultural expertise, ready to confidently write, speak and negotiate in Japanese in a range of contexts. You’ll build a firm grasp of modern Japanese, including a broad vocabulary and solid grammatical understanding for spoken and written forms. You'll be able to communicate effectively in Japanese, recognise and use hiragana, katakana and a significant number of kanji characters. You can start with a Beginners stream if you have little or no prior experience, or join a Continuers stream if your Japanese skills are more advanced.
Depending on your starting level, you’ll take courses in:
- Beginners Japanese
- Intermediate Japanese
- Upper-Intermediate Japanese
- Advanced Japanese
- Asia: Culture and Identities
- Asia Beyond Climate Change.
Throughout your degree, you’ll have the chance to research and explore various career paths. In your final year, you'll undertake an internship with a relevant organisation, where you’ll receive mentorship and build your professional network through 5–10 days of hands-on placement.
Graduate with a global outlook and the passport to a truly international career. Regardless of what path you take, you’ll emerge with the expertise to help create a more informed, peaceful and interconnected world.
Majors
The Bachelor of International Relations is also available with majors in:
- Environmental Management
- History
- International Development
- International Security
- Politics
- Population and Migration Studies
Or, with a major in another language, such as:
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 66 units for Core courses, and
- 48 units for one Major from Majors, and
- 12 units for all Work integrated learning, and
- 18 units for all Electives
Complete 66 units comprising:
- 18 units from Common core, and
- 48 units for all Program Core
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
An Ethically Rich Life
|
Course code
COREX001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone
|
Course code
COREX002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igniting Change: Ideas to Action
|
Course code
COREX003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Proppa Ways, Future Practice
|
Course code
COREX004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry
|
Course code
COREX005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ways of Being, Ways of Seeing
|
Course code
COREX006
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Comparative Politics
|
Course code
POLI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Australia’s Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
The State of the World: Post Covid-19
|
Course code
POLI1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Approaches in International Relations
|
Course code
POLI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Global Political Economy
|
Course code
POLI3012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ethics of War and Peace
|
Course code
POLI3013
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
 |
Course name
Introduction to Comparative Politics
|
Course code
POLI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Australia’s Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI1003
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
The State of the World: Post Covid-19
|
Course code
POLI1004
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Approaches in International Relations
|
Course code
POLI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Global Political Economy
|
Course code
POLI3012
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Ethics of War and Peace
|
Course code
POLI3013
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
Complete 12 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Introduction to Comparative Politics
|
Course code
POLI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Australia’s Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI1003
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
The State of the World: Post Covid-19
|
Course code
POLI1004
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Approaches in International Relations
|
Course code
POLI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Global Political Economy
|
Course code
POLI3012
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Ethics of War and Peace
|
Course code
POLI3013
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
Complete 18 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Elective 1
|
Course code
AUXX1011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Elective 2
|
Course code
AUXX1012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Elective 3
|
Course code
AUXX1013
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Introduction to Comparative Politics
|
Course code
POLI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Australia’s Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI1003
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
The State of the World: Post Covid-19
|
Course code
POLI1004
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Approaches in International Relations
|
Course code
POLI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Global Political Economy
|
Course code
POLI3012
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Ethics of War and Peace
|
Course code
POLI3013
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
Complete 48 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Japanese IA
|
Course code
LANG1501
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Japanese IB
|
Course code
LANG1502
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Japanese IIA
|
Course code
LANG1503
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Japanese IIB
|
Course code
LANG1504
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Asia and the World
|
Course code
LANG1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Asian Cultures
|
Course code
LANG1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Asia: Cultures & Identities
|
Course code
LANG2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Asia Beyond Climate Change
|
Course code
POLI3011
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Introduction to Comparative Politics
|
Course code
POLI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Australia’s Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI1003
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
The State of the World: Post Covid-19
|
Course code
POLI1004
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Approaches in International Relations
|
Course code
POLI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Global Political Economy
|
Course code
POLI3012
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Ethics of War and Peace
|
Course code
POLI3013
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
Complete 48 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Japanese IIA
|
Course code
LANG1503
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Japanese IIB
|
Course code
LANG1504
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Japanese IIIA
|
Course code
LANG2501
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Japanese IIIB
|
Course code
LANG2502
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Asia and the World
|
Course code
LANG1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Asian Cultures
|
Course code
LANG1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Asia: Cultures & Identities
|
Course code
LANG2002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Asia Beyond Climate Change
|
Course code
POLI3011
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Introduction to Comparative Politics
|
Course code
POLI1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Australia’s Foreign Policy in the Indo-Pacific
|
Course code
POLI1003
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Global Politics
|
Course code
POLI1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
The State of the World: Post Covid-19
|
Course code
POLI1004
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Approaches in International Relations
|
Course code
POLI2002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Global Environmental Politics
|
Course code
POLI1005
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Global Political Economy
|
Course code
POLI3012
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Ethics of War and Peace
|
Course code
POLI3013
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
Career outcomes
As a Bachelor of International Relations graduate majoring in Japanese Studies, you’ll have a variety of exciting career paths to choose from.
You could become a diplomatic officer, representing your country in a foreign embassy or consulate in Japan. Maybe you’ll work as an international business consultant, helping Australian companies understand and succeed in Japanese markets. Or perhaps you’ll use your language skills as an interpreter at the United Nations, translating during crucial global meetings and negotiations.
Other career paths may include:
- Diplomat
- Interpreter
- Market research analyst
- NGO policy officer
- Community development officer
- Community outreach worker
- Policy developer
- Cultural heritage officer
- UN human rights officer
- Journalist
- Ministerial adviser
- Foreign correspondent.
Adelaide University graduates have secured prestigious positions at the Embassy of Japan, Consulate General of Japan, Australian Embassy in Tokyo, Australian & New Zealand Chamber of Commerce in Tokyo, DFAT, Australian Signals Directorate, Austrade, Lowy Institute and the American Air Force.
Industry trends
Rising geopolitical tensions and competition are reshaping the field of international relations. Ongoing conflicts, natural disasters and economic instability are creating humanitarian crises and driving migration trends. At the same time, regional trade agreements and economic partnerships are becoming increasingly important as nations look to bolster their economic resilience. With a degree in international relations, you’ll have the skills to contribute to major world issues and devise strategies to address critical emerging challenges.
Japan is a major global player in technology, business and innovation. Your language skills will be highly valuable in sectors like robotics, AI, and gaming, where Japanese companies are big players. The proliferation of digital media is also creating high demand for skilled translators and localisers who can adapt content for Japanese audiences.
The economic and trade relationship between Australia and Japan is only expected to grow, making your comprehensive understanding of Japan's language and culture a real asset in our globalised future (Australian Government, 2024).
Ready to apply?
Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
