Indigenous studies courses

Indigenous studies is an academic field that explores areas of significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. There are two ways you can study this discipline—you can enrol in a straight Indigenous studies course, or select Indigenous Studies as your major in a Bachelor of Arts. In either case, you will focus on a combination of history, art, politics, sociology and health so that you have a well-rounded view of Indigenous Australian experiences.     

You can expect to unpack settler colonialism and the historical events that have shaped Indigenous Australian life. You will also learn about the cultural traditions and knowledge systems that are upheld today—and how they may influence how we tackle modern issues such as conservation and climate change.

Some courses will explore topics that are relevant to a specific industry. For example, you could learn about Indigenous Australian contributions to pop culture, or examine culturally safe social work practices. You may also have the opportunity to go on a work placement in a professional context.  

The knowledge that you gain in an Indigenous studies course can inform your work and life in many ways. Your cultural awareness will help you to build more respectful relationships with those from diverse backgrounds, including colleagues, clients and prospective employers. 

You will also have the understanding you need to work directly with those from Indigenous Australian communities, to connect with them more constructively and advocate for their needs. This can be particularly powerful if you work (or want to work) in healthcare, social justice, journalism, community development or education. 

You should consider completing your course online if you want a more flexible study experience. You will have the freedom to build your cultural competency on your own schedule, because online students aren’t required to attend lectures or tutorials at set times on campus. Instead, you get to study when it suits you. Many people choose to earn their Indigenous studies qualification online so they have the availability to volunteer or work in their field during the day. This added work experience often helps them stand out in the job market.  

There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.

• You can enrol without entry requirements 
  We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don’t meet the entry requirements for a degree, we’ll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
• You have total control over how you study
  Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We’ll introduce you to flexible study options you didn’t even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.
• You’ll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
  Once you enrol through us, you’ll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you’ll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.
• We’ll help you navigate the university world
  Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.

Your Indigenous studies course can lead to a range of rewarding job opportunities.

Graduates commonly work in areas such as:

• Community development 
• Social welfare 
• Public policy
• Health services
• Social justice
• Environmental management
• Education
• Journalism and media

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.

Chat with us to find out more.

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.