The Graduate Certificate in Asian Governance is an 18-unit program which is part of the Graduate Program in Asian Governance. It is offered by the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.

It requires one semester of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time). It articulates with the 36-unit Graduate Diploma in Asian Governance and the 72-unit Master of Asian Governance and the sequentially developed topics allow progression through the three awards.

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution. The Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature, and may take into account relevant work experience.

Credit may be granted, on application, for comparable prior studies.

Course aims

The Graduate Certificate in Asian Governance aims to:

  • introduce contemporary theories and practical examples of social, economic and political change in Asia
  • develop an understanding of conceptual skills and regional knowledge concerned with governance in the Asian region
  • provide a political economy approach of Asia to provide a capacity to deal with diverse interests and organisational cultures.

Learning outcomes

Graduates are expected to:

  • demonstrate a knowledge of multidisciplinary approaches to governance which include political economy, Asian studies and public policy
  • be prepared for more advanced studies through the Graduate Diploma in Asian Governance and the Master of Asian Governance
  • apply further developed skills in academic research, verbal argument and professional writing.  

Program of study

A student's program of study must be approved by the Director of Studies.

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Asian Governance a student must complete 18 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study as set out below.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Core - Year 1 topics


 ASST9017  Seminar on Asian Governance  (4.5 units)

plus 13.5 units selected from the following, of which at least two topics must be selected from Group A, and no more than one topic selected from Group B.

Option - Group A topics


 ASST9015  Political Development and Change in Southeast Asia  (4.5 units)
 ASST9018  Democracy and Asian Governance  (4.5 units)
 ASST9019  Environmental Governance in Asia  (4.5 units)
 ASST9021  Religious and Ethnic Nationalism in Asia  (4.5 units)
 INTR9061  Governance and the new Political Economy of East Asia  (4.5 units)

Option - Group B topics


 DVST8010  Development Problems, Policies and Programs  (4.5 units)
 POAD9014  Public Policy  (4.5 units)
 POAD9119  Regionalism, Decentralisation and Governance  (4.5 units)
 POAD9131  Development Administration  (4.5 units)
 POAD9138  Governance and Public Policy  (4.5 units)