Notable programs
Master of Public Policy (Crawford School)
Australia's premier policy degree, taught by former DFAT secretaries and World Bank directors. Runs applied projects with real government clients. APSIA member alongside Harvard Kennedy School and LSE. Direct pipeline to APS graduate programs starting at AUD 72,000-85,000.
Bachelor of International Relations / Asian Studies
Ranked eighth globally in politics and international studies. Designed explicitly to feed DFAT's cadet program, which selects roughly 48 graduates annually from 2,300 applicants. ANU dominates this intake through proximity, internship placements, and dedicated recruitment events.
Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
ANU's elite undergraduate research degree offering a 5:1 faculty ratio, guaranteed research placements, and a pathway to PhD candidacy. Produces 49 Rhodes Scholars among alumni. Requires top academic performance for admission.
Master of Strategic Studies (Strategic & Defence Studies Centre)
Australia's leading program for defence and security policy, drawing students from military and intelligence backgrounds across the Indo-Pacific. Graduates enter ASIO, ASIS, Defence Intelligence, and allied nation security agencies. Canberra location provides classified-level access impossible elsewhere.
PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics (Research School of Astronomy)
Home to Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt's research group. Operates Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring observatories. Ranked in the global top twenty for physics and astronomy. The research school maintains the highest per-capita publication rate in Australian astronomy.
Master of Laws (ANU College of Law)
Specialises in international law, environmental law, and government regulation — leveraging proximity to the High Court, Attorney-General's Department, and federal judiciary. Smaller than Melbourne or Sydney law schools but with unmatched access to constitutional and administrative law practice.
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