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Studies & Degrees in Aboriginal Studies

Aboriginal studies is the study of the histories, cultures, knowledge systems and present-day situation of Indigenous peoples. In Australia it centres on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who numbered 983,700 at 30 June 2021, or 3.8% of the Australian population, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian universities now mostly use the names Indigenous studies or Australian Indigenous studies. In Canada the name Aboriginal studies has been used for the study of that country's Indigenous peoples.

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) explains that the field emerged in the second half of the twentieth century and that it organises enquiry around the perspectives and interests of Indigenous peoples themselves. That is the main difference from older approaches in anthropology or history, where Indigenous people were the object of study and not its authors.

What students learn

The subject is interdisciplinary. At UNSW, students learn about Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing, about the ongoing dilemmas brought by colonisation, and about how Indigenous peoples assert cultural and political identities today. The university adds that its coursework features Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives and also connects with global First Nations movements.

The course list of the Australian Indigenous Studies major at the Australian National University (ANU) shows the range:

  • an introductory course on the diversity of First Peoples' perspectives, knowledges, experiences and places
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history
  • First Nations peoples, the state and public policy in Australia
  • Gamilaraay, an introduction to an Australian Indigenous language
  • research methods and a final research project

ANU also runs field schools, in which students learn from Country with the people of that Country. Classes are open to everyone: UNSW states that its classes are designed to suit diverse Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.

Qualifications and levels

  • Major or minor in a bachelor's degree. This is the usual route. At ANU the major requires 48 units inside the Bachelor of Arts, a degree of 144 units that takes 3 years full-time. At UNSW the Indigenous Studies major is available in the Bachelor of Arts, which lasts 3 years, in the Bachelor of Social Sciences and in a long list of double degrees with fields such as law, science, commerce, education and social work. A minor is available in several other degrees, and single courses can be taken as electives.
  • Honours. At UNSW, honours is an extra year of study in which students develop research skills.
  • Doctorate. UNSW offers PhD supervision in Indigenous research areas, including Indigenous studies, Indigenous history, Indigenous education, cultural studies and museum studies.
  • Study abroad. Study Australia, the government portal, explains that study abroad programmes let students spend one or two semesters at an Australian university, and it gives on-country Australian Indigenous studies as an example of a course to take. ANU allows its own students to count Indigenous studies taken on exchange towards the major, and gives Sami studies, Hawaiian studies, Aboriginal studies in Canada and Maori studies as examples.

Where to study it

The SpainExchange directory lists 2 schools for Aboriginal studies, both in Australia: UNSW in Sydney and ANU in Canberra. Teaching is in English and, in the introductory ANU course, in person. International applicants should check the English language requirement of each university; UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.

When comparing programmes, look at who teaches the courses, whether fieldwork on Country is included, whether an Indigenous language is offered and which other major or degree can be combined with the subject.

Careers

Because the subject is usually one half of a broader degree, graduates enter many sectors. UNSW mentions social justice careers in Indigenous communities and Indigenous education, and work where First Nations and non-Indigenous interests meet in government, non-government organisations and business. It lists graduates working in advocacy, arts and media, community development, cultural heritage, environmental management, healthcare, law, public policy, research, social work, urban planning and youth work.

No official employment statistics are published for this field on its own. Ask each university for the outcomes of its graduates.

Frequently asked questions

Is Aboriginal studies only for Indigenous students?

No. UNSW states that its Indigenous studies classes are designed to suit diverse Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.

Can I take a full degree in Aboriginal studies?

At the two universities listed here it is a major or minor inside a broader degree. At ANU the major takes 48 of the 144 units of the Bachelor of Arts. Further specialisation comes with an honours year or a PhD.

What is the difference between Aboriginal studies and Indigenous studies?

They cover the same field. UNSW and ANU now use Indigenous studies and Australian Indigenous studies, and their courses place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives at the centre while connecting with Indigenous peoples in other countries.

Can international students take these courses for one semester?

Yes. According to Study Australia, study abroad programmes last one or two semesters and can include Australian Indigenous studies. UNSW notes that individual Indigenous studies courses can be taken as electives.