Study@CAP

Dean's Welcome

Welcome. Please spend a little time on our website at the College of Asia and the Pacific. We think we're different in a rather special way. Our College captures a wealth of disciplines and specialities with a focus on the study of Asia and the Pacific from an informed Australian perspective . Please look at what we do and decide for yourself.

Our College has perhaps the richest collection in the world of researchers and teachers about the Asia-Pacific region. They range in their interests from archaeologists to international relations and security specialists. We're interested in everything from 10,000 years ago till 100 years into the future.

Geographically, our scholars work on countries from central Asia to the eastern Pacific – from Tajikistan to Tahiti.

Our staff engage in various activities with an Asia-Pacific orientation – from broad to specific. We teach undergraduates, and we teach languages – Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Thai and Vietnamese, all to Bachelor degree level.

We have been training PhD scholars for nearly 60 years. At the moment, there are more than 280 studying in the College.

The College runs a number of Masters programs aimed at curious people, often in the middle of their careers, who want to improve their knowledge and prospects. These courses provide avenues for acquiring specific skills in a variety of disciplines or specialities.

And we do research – into virtually every aspect of human activity, wherever our scholars sense there are important questions to be asked.

Canberra provides us with a wonderful base. It is a small city, easy to move around in; and it has outstanding national institutions – our own ANU libraries, to begin with. Together with the National Library of Australia, you'll have access to very substantial holdings on Asia and the Pacific to enhance your studies. Then there's national cultural institutions such as the National Museum, the National Gallery, the High Court, the Australian War Memorial, the national Parliament and the resources of the government agencies like the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – all within a few minutes by car or on a bike.

If you're a high school student enjoying an Asian language, please consider furthering your study with us. If you're an undergraduate completing a good degree and with a special interest in Asia or the Pacific, please consider us as you plan your future. And if you are a person engaged in a career that is taking you into the Asia-Pacific, we may have programs that will offer you both intellectual stimulation and professional advancement.

We'd welcome your comments. If you have questions, please get back to us and we'll try to help. Thank you for spending some time with us.

Professor Robin Jeffrey
Dean of the College of Asia and the Pacific