CHL Area Studies: Pacific and Oceania Studies

The Pacific covers a third of the Earth’s surface and is home to about 15 million people. It features 20 per cent of all the world’s languages. And it hosts around 25 nations, states and territories in an ocean of 25,000 islands. So, needless to say, the significance of Pacific and Oceania Studies cannot be understated, and we at CHL enjoy a long legacy in the study of the region.

Schools and Centres Pages

Pacific and Oceania Studies

The ANU has a long tradition of intensive engagement with the Pacific and Oceania region. Since its inception in 1946, the Research School of Pacific Studies, now the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific (CAP), has been the leading centre for Pacific Studies in Australia.

CAP offers the only Bachelor of Pacific Studies degree in Australia. This three-year program affords students the opportunity to strengthen their understanding of the Pacific Islands by pursuing a diverse program of study. The ANU also offers a major in Pacific Languages for undergraduate students pursuing a Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Studies or a Bachelor of Asian Studies.

Moreover, we are the only university in Australia that offers Tetum, providing a program with a specialised and flexible approach. We also offer the first Tok Pisin program worldwide to be offered entirely online. The programs are fully online, offering a supportive and interactive learning environment in which students can communicate and practise with the teacher and their peers. A wide range of written and multimedia materials supports students’ learning activities.