2021 Changes for the Bachelor of International Studies
We have recently completed a review of the Bachelor of International Studies (BIntSt) and some changes have been made to this program for students commencing in Semester 1, 2021.
As a continuing student, you will note changes to the course lists for some BIntSt majors, but please be assured that you will be able to complete your current majors and you will not be affected by any substantive change to the structure of the program as a whole.
We are here to provide you with some further detail that will be helpful to you in planning your enrolment.
3. Frequently asked questions
How can I view the course lists from previous years, and for 2021?
When viewing the 2020 BIntSt course list on the Programs and Courses website, you can change which year you are viewing using the dropdown box near the top right of the list to compare the 2021 BIntSt with the pre-2021 program.
My plan (e.g. French) now has a new title, how does this affect me?
If you have declared the old plan, you can complete with this title. Alternatively, you can change to the French Advanced or Japanese Advanced major if the courses you have completed are appropriate for these plan course lists.
My major course list has changed. Do I follow the old or new course list?
You can choose courses from either list but you must ensure you are completing the required compulsory courses and sufficient Level 2 and Level 3 courses.
A compulsory course/s in my major is no longer offered, can I still complete my major?
Yes. In the majority of situations we have listed the approved alternative course/s here.
The approved replacement course for my compulsory course/s does not work in my situation, what do I do now?
If the recommended replacement course/s do not work in your situation (e.g. the replacement course won’t be offered again before you are due to graduate, or you are unable to meet the prerequisites), please contact our Student Admin team so we can find an alternative solution for you (such as a variation request). See more contact options in section 4.
What if there are ‘leftover’ courses when I try to fit my old courses in the new course list?
If a course fits into your old list, we will try to make sure it fits into your new list. If it isn’t clear where a course should be counted, please contact the Student Administration team, or use another contact method in section 4.
There is a new course that seems very similar to a discontinued course, why is that?
Some courses that have been discontinued have been redesigned – perhaps to be offered at a different year level than before, or to incorporate content from another discontinued course. If the old and new courses are very similar, they will be marked as incompatible (Inc) meaning you cannot take both. Sometimes the redesigned course is the approved replacement for the discontinued course, sometimes it isn’t – please check the plan-specific Faculty advice further down this webpage to be sure.
My compulsory course/s is now offered in a different semester and I can’t fit it in before I expect to graduate, what are my options?
Sometimes there is more than one alternative course, including at least one course in each semester. If there is only one alternative course, but taking it would affect your expected graduation semester, please apply for a variation to your program/plan. Refer to section 4 for advice on how to contact the team.
What kind of program design changes have been made?
Some of the changes were made to standardise UQ programs, view the full Program Design Policy. Other changes were made to ensure that we have a sustainable suite of program, plan and course offerings.
Will any of the discontinued courses/plans ever be offered again?
Possibly. The popularity of fields of study vary over time. If demand for a particular study area or plan increases, the School that teaches in that area can propose to (re)introduce plans/courses.