The University is an important hub of teaching and research links with countries and institutions in Asia, and the Asian Studies Institute with the Chair of Malay Studies adds a new component to those linkages. Being located in Wellington the Institute can also take advantage of the many connections with Asia that have been forged by New Zealand's capital city in the fields of politics, business, culture, education and tourism. The requirements for an Asian Studies major Students taking an Asian Studies major are required to take five courses. Two of these are compulsory, and three chosen from a list of almost fifty courses approved for the degree. This list is wideranging.
Study centres around two core courses.
From 1999 on these will be a first year course, ASIA 101, Introduction to Asia, and a third year course, ASIA 301, Selected Topics in the Study of Asia. To complete the requirements for the major students must take one more approved course, making three approved courses in all. One of the three approved courses must be at the 300 level.