Bachelor of International Studies

The three majors are: Development and Social Equity (building skills for careers in development and humanitarian sectors, addressing global challenges like poverty, gender equality, migration and climate instability); Global Politics (preparing you for a career in international politics and security, studying world politics, international relations theories, and global governance); and Language and Intercultural Communication (developing advanced communication skills and bilingualism for international careers in language-related fields, with language options including Japanese, Chinese, French and Spanish).

Yes. Students have the opportunity to participate in a professional internship with an international organisation in Australia or overseas (previous students have completed internships at the United Nations in Geneva, Australian overseas missions, UN Development Programme offices in Lebanon and the Philippines, the International Organisation for Migration in Vietnam, Egypt and Colombia, and various NGOs). Students can also undertake overseas exchange at one of RMIT's 165+ partner universities worldwide, participate in study tours, and take advantage of a 2+1 articulation partnership with University Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, where eligible students can spend their third year abroad and receive two awards.

In the Language and Intercultural Communication major, students can build bilingualism and advanced written and verbal communication skills in Japanese or the official United Nations languages of Chinese, French and Spanish. Students also gain social and cultural knowledge of the countries where the target language is spoken, as well as enhanced intercultural competence.

Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this course, meaning tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. In 2026, the annual student contribution amount for a standard full-time study load ranges from AU$4,738 to AU$17,399 depending on the discipline band of enrolled subjects. The maximum Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) for 2026 is AU$373. Eligible students may defer payment of tuition fees through a HECS-HELP loan and the SSAF through SA-HELP.

The degree is delivered in a range of formats including large and small classes, tutorials, intensive blocks and online study. Most courses do not include passive large-scale lectures; instead, content is made available online through readings, videos and on-demand materials that support interactive on-campus learning. Assessment methods include policy briefs, professional communication documents, industry-relevant reports, articles, projects, class presentations, independent and group work, online discussion and activities, case studies, problem solving and analysis, industry-informed assessment, exams, an international internship, and a 5,000-word independent research project.