Bachelor of Arts

Expand Your Horizons

Take the lead and broaden your career prospects in the Australian Defence Force by studying a Bachelor of Arts at UNSW Canberra at ADFA. This undergraduate degree will enrich your understanding of the world and challenge you to think outside the box. Whether you want to learn a new language, study a new culture, or discover the past, studying a Bachelor of Arts will prepare you for a multifaceted career in a wide range of industries.

Learn to Lead

A UNSW Canberra at ADFA Bachelor of Arts degree gives you strong communication and research skills - essential attributes of effective leaders in the Australian Defence Force. This degree enriches your understanding of how human beings make and debate life’s meaning and values. Students develop their capacity for critical analysis and argument as well as an awareness of the value of language as a political, intellectual, creative and communicative tool. The diverse range of courses and electives form pathways for majors in:

Business
English and Media Studies
Geography
History
Indonesian Studies

International and Political Studies (IPS).

World-Class Teaching & Facilities

The UNSW Canberra School of Humanities and Social Sciences is recognised for its academic excellence in both research and teaching. We offer an outstanding higher education experience for our unique and diverse student population, with the best university teacher-to-student ratio in Australia. Our researchers and teaching staff are experts in their fields and are dedicated to developing future global leaders in defence and industry. 

UNSW Canberra at ADFA is home to several unique state-of-the-art facilities. When you study with us, you’ll have exclusive access to the UNSW Canberra Academy Library Special Collections. Items of national significance include more than 300 manuscript collections, 13,000 rare items and papers of the former Prime Minister John Howard.

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What Our Students Say

“Studying at UNSW Canberra as a Trainee Officer has provided me with an amazing opportunity to study with world-class lecturers. The small class sizes have helped me to gain a more thorough understanding of course content.”

Jade Burton, Bachelor of Arts Student

Arts & Humanities in an ADF Career

Arts degrees are flexible, allowing you to choose from a variety of study areas and keep your options open. The skills you develop in critical thinking, leadership, and management are transferable and will equip you for an exciting and fulfilling career in the Australian Defence Force within the Navy, Army or Air Force.

Business

The study of business broadly covers economics, accounting, management, and human resources, setting you up with fundamental skills to propel you into a successful career. By studying business, you’ll explore various key management skills and develop practical knowledge of strategy, leadership, effective decision-making, and other fundamental managerial concepts.

English & Media Studies

English and Media Studies sets you up with sophisticated knowledge of the world’s literary heritage and contemporary culture, spanning across classical heroic epics to contemporary social media. Throughout this major, you’ll ask yourself questions such as ‘how does language persuade and move us?’ and ‘how does culture respond to or imagine war?’.

Geography

Geography is the study of both the physical and human environments that we live in, encompassing the interactions we experience day-to-day with nature and other people. Through the use of techniques like Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing, geography enables us to analyse our environment and society, bridging the gap between social and natural sciences.

History

History seeks to understand individual and group behaviour and explain the forces that have shaped human civilisation through social change, wars, revolutions, and popular movements. Historical analysis examines the relationships between past events and the present, providing you with fundamental skills in how to assimilate and weight evidence, analyse problems, and balance different points of view.

Indonesian Studies

Indonesia is one of Australia’s most important neighbouring countries. Indonesian studies will help you develop the ability to read, write, speak, and understand the standard Indonesian language, while also exposing you to a broad overview of Indonesian society and culture. No prior Indonesian knowledge is required.

International & Political Studies

International & Political Studies (IPS) involves the study of power and norms in a dynamic and rapidly changing global environment. IPS aims to cover the major factors, ideas and key issues of domestic, regional, and global politics, international relations, and ethical thought, all of which have a profound impact on Australia’s national security and place in the world.

Next Steps