Temple in Indonesia

Facts & figures

Modern Languages

#1 in NSW
2024 QS World University Rankings

Indonesian Studies

Immerse yourself in the language and culture of Indonesia

Indonesia is a complex and exciting country, inextricably linked through geography and common regional interests with Australia.

Drawing on our extensive links in Indonesia and with the Indonesian community in Australia, we offer a highly integrated and contemporary program covering Indonesian history, politics, geography, anthropology and culture.

Our study offerings

Indonesian Studies

Undergraduate

*Available in the shared pool of majors and minors

Research

Our research

Our strengths in research cover the following areas:

Contemporary culture
History
Labour studies
Linguistics
Literature and stylistics
Politics

Learn more: Languages and cultures research

Our people

Academic staff

Associate Professor Dwi Noverini Djenar
Professor Adrian Vickers

Key academic contact

For Undergraduate coursework, language level assessment postgraduate research, Honours and exchange please email novi.djenar@sydney.edu.au

Honorary Associates

Dr Keith Foulcher
Dr Elisabeth Kramer
Dr Wayne Palmer
Professor Peter Gregory Riddell
Emeritus Professor Peter Worsley

Research affiliates

Dr Jarrah Sastrawan
Dr David Wijaya

Indonesian Studies

Diploma of Language Studies

Flexible pathway program

Chair

Associate Professor Novi Djenar

Visit Associate Professor Djenar's profile

Contact

Phone

1800 SYD UNI (1800 793 864) (in Australia)
+61 2 8627 1444 (outside Australia)

Email

slc.enquiries@sydney.edu.au

Address

School of Languages and Cultures, Room 506, Brennan MacCallum Building A18, The University of Sydney NSW 2006

Social media

Connect with us

Scholarships

Opportunities from the School of Languages and Cultures

Featured news

/content/corporateGroup photo at the 2024 School of Languages and Cultures Awards Ceremony

Awarding student excellence in languages and cultures

The School of Languages and Cultures hosted its 2024 Awards Ceremony to recognise 61 students for their outstanding performance in language and culture studies with special guests, donors and officials from around the world.

Penglipuran is a traditional oldest bali village at Bangli Regency - Bali, Indonesia

Discover a world of possibilities with a Diploma of Language Studies

Alexander Meekin shares his experience of learning a new language and how it has shaped his academic and professional journey.

11 December 2023

Sally Andrews hiking up Mount Merapi on the border of Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Unlock global opportunities with language skills

Indonesian Studies graduate Sally Andrews demonstrates the importance of language skills for graduates seeking to find their path in the modern workplace, as she leverages her linguistic and cultural expertise to shape a career in international policy.

Lecturers from Indonesian Studies, keynote speakers, presenters and event co-organisers of Indonesia in Action Day 2023 held at the University of Sydney.

Indonesian Studies in action: enriching local and global engagement

For over 65 years, the study of Indonesia at Sydney has led to partnerships with the local Indonesian community and Indonesia. National, bilateral and international connections continue today – including with the Consulate General of Indonesia and UNESCO.

Typed letter in Indonesian from the early 1950s, collected at the National Archives of Australia

Re-imagining Australia using a multilingual lens

'Opening the Multilingual Archives of Australia' project hopes to mobilise under-utilised non-English resources from over 50 languages to highlight the multilingual nature of Australian history.

Seated guests and presenters in the MacLaurin Hall watching a mezzo-soprano singer and pianist performing

Community celebration of student excellence in languages and cultures

With special guests including benefactors and official representatives from various countries, the School of Languages and Cultures held its 2023 Awards Ceremony in recognition of 94 high-achieving students for their academic performance.

24 January 2023

Arts graduate Jennifer Yang leading her curatorial walk-through with University of Sydney students at 16albermarle gallery

How languages enrich interdisciplinary learning: curating Asian art

Shortly after completing her undergraduate studies, Arts graduate and University Medallist Jennifer Yang curated her first exhibition at a Sydney gallery. She shares how language and cross-cultural skills unlocked doors to new career possibilities.

13 December 2022

Frame of world globe lit against blue evening sky

5 reasons to get the Diploma of Language Studies

Gain sought-after skillsets from the state’s leading institution for Modern Languages.* Our flexible pathway program allows you to learn a language (or more) during or after your degree at your own pace.

05 December 2022

Indonesian Consul General Mr Vedi Kurnia Buana with Indonesian Studies students, Associate Professor Novi Djenar and Consulate staff at the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney

Indonesian Studies at the Consulate: students share cultural research

In a first, Indonesian Studies students presented their research projects on language and culture at the Indonesian Consulate General in Sydney.

10 November 2022

Collage of Sydney academics newly elected as Fellows to the Academy of the Social Sciences

Sydney academics elected Fellows of the Academy of the Social Sciences

Five University of Sydney academics have been appointed as Fellows of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.

13 October 2021

Magnifying glass over the land of Australia on a globe

Rethinking Australia in many languages

Understanding Australia requires more than knowledge of the English language. Professor Adrian Vickers highlights the wealth of non-English sources and cross-cultural exchanges that can reorient our perspective on the Australian story.

27 September 2021

Anastasia speaking on a stage

From an arts degree to connecting global cultures

Who says an arts degree doesn’t get you a job in tech? Anastasia Pavlovic is an arts graduate with an Indonesian Studies major and a big remit to connect brands in every language in the world.

Stained glass window in the Great Hall

Celebrating student success in languages and cultures

The School of Languages and Cultures hosted its 2021 Awards Ceremony to recognise 136 students for their outstanding performance in the academic years of 2019 and 2020.

16 December 2020

Bird's eye view of the University's Quadrangle and surrounding buildings on campus

Recognising high-achieving students in language and culture studies

The School of Languages and Cultures congratulates 75 students who have received scholarships and prizes in 2020.

16 November 2020

Reflection of Quadrangle on the New Law School Building.

ARC success for University of Sydney researchers

The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced University of Sydney researchers will receive funding for more than 50 new Linkage and Discovery projects.

11 November 2020

Collage of language graduates

How languages help you stand out from the crowd

From law to tech, public health to environmental policy, meet some of our language graduates who are making an impact across various fields in Australia and beyond.

09 September 2020

Collage of eight language students from the University of Sydney

Learning languages at Sydney

At the University of Sydney, we teach languages through cultures. From extracurricular enrichment to scholarship support, our students share some highlights and key opportunities from their language learning experience.

Indonesian Studies alumna, Anastasia Palovic, speaking on stage at a conference

Arts grad at work: Living in Singapore, working at Facebook

Two weeks after graduating, Anastasia Pavlovic moved to Singapore to begin a graduate role at Facebook. Although she may have arrived at university unsure which path to take, choosing Indonesian Studies became “the best decision” Anastasia ever made.

24 January 2023

Arts graduate Jennifer Yang leading a group of students through an exhibition at an art gallery

How languages enrich interdisciplinary learning: curating Asian art

Shortly after completing her undergraduate studies, Arts graduate and University Medallist Jennifer Yang curated her first exhibition at a Sydney gallery. She shares how language and cross-cultural skills unlocked doors to new career possibilities.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Michael Spence and students in the University's Quadrangle

Learning languages opens our minds

Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the University of Sydney, Dr Michael Spence, recently graduated with a Diploma of Languages (Korean Studies) at the very university he leads.

Colourful assortment of world flags with poles stuck into a sun-lit concrete bluish-grey wall

How studying languages can expand your world

In this interconnected era, cross-cultural and multilingual skills are integral to navigating the world around us. We talk with two of our former students who are making their mark through languages.

16 January 2020

Carole Muller in Indonesia

Carole Muller’s million-dollar bequest to support research on Bali

In memory of the former University of Sydney student, two scholarships have been established for postgraduate research and overseas fieldwork on Balinese culture.

Slums along a river

Is relocating Indonesia's capital feasible?

Jakarta has a population of 10 million and is rapidly sinking. The Indonesian Government announced plans to relocate the country's capital to the island of Borneo, but will it improve living and environmental conditions?

Lily of the Nile or African lily plant (Agapanthus) flowers in front of The Quadrangle at the University of Sydney

Five minutes with Yixu Lu

In the lead up to the University's first multilingual conference on world literature, we speak with Professor Yixu Lu, convenor of the World Literatures and Global South Conference, about the cultural and linguistic diversity of international literary works.

University of Sydney research shines in ERA results

All 22 broad fields of research undertaken at the University of Sydney have been rated as above or well above world standard by the Australian Research Council in a report released today.

05 November 2018

Sydney ranks in top 50 for arts and humanities

The University of Sydney has risen to 47th in the world for arts and humanities in the 2019 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by subject.