This unique and highly regarded ANU graduate program opens the right doors for students seeking a successful career. Our program offers advanced coursework and research opportunities in strategic studies.

You will develop strong analytical frameworks and practical skills for understanding the leading challenges in strategy and security policy. These approaches are explored in the context of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre’s main research and teaching concentrations of Australian defence and security issues, Asia-Pacific security and global strategic issues.

Graduates from ANU have been rated as Australia's most employable graduates and among the most sought after by employers worldwide.

The latest Global Employability University Ranking, published by the Times Higher Education, rated ANU as Australia's top university for getting a job for the fourth year in a row.

Learning Outcomes

1. demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and cognitive skills in strategic and defence studies;
2. possess an integrated understanding of the conduct of strategy, military operations, and its relationship to policy;
3. be capable of undertaking strategic and policy analysis and be able to analyse critically, reflect on and synthesise complex information relating to the conduct of strategy and military operations;
4. possess the technical skills needed to access the academic literature in the fields of study associated with strategic and defence studies;
5. demonstrative high levels of independent research and apply established theories and concepts and exercise expert judgement in military, defence or policy contexts as relevant to both Australian and international settings;
6. apply strategic concepts and knowledge to practical, contemporary problems using case studies from a range of global environments and circumstances;
7. demonstrate high levels of written and oral communication in the field of strategic and defence studies;
8. Design and undertake a substantial research-based project in a way that makes a contribution to knowledge in the field of strategic and defence studies.