Our regional & global context

ANU has a strong historical and emerging focus in Northern Australia, partnering with communities to build knowledge of environmental and cultural assets, and provide a crucial intellectual voice to inform and respond to the government agenda. The North Australia Research Unit in Darwin helps facilitate research in the region.

ANU seeks a global perspective on the biggest issues facing society, engaging in wide-ranging scholarship and collaborative projects. Complementing our emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region, our centres and schools host expertise in regions important to Australian development, culture and economy.

ANU is a powerhouse of business research and policy impact in Australia, with deep connection to Government and international institutions. ANU boasts strengths in macroeconomics and global finance, development and corporate strategy, among other disciplines.

ANU has a strong research culture exemplified by high-profile scholarship across multiple fields, including legal systems and governance, Australian, international and public law, social justice, human rights and criminology.

Currently ranked seventh in the world by the QS World University Rankings by Subject (Politics and International Studies), ANU has long been a leading institution in international relations and Australian and international political studies, consistent with our mission as Australia’s national university.

Development studies have been a strength of ANU for many years, with engagement across multiple disciplines. Research undertaken here employs innovative methodologies together with a solid grounding in theory. Creative interdisciplinary approaches are encouraged.

ANU hosts the largest assembly of scholars dedicated to working on Asia and the Pacific in the English-speaking world. This unrivaled concentration, and our extensive collections, make us the foremost centre in Australia, encompassing expertise on various countries’ cultures and languages.