Choosing the unconventional path: How one degree took Sarah Meera across two countries and changed how she sees the world

 

When Sarah Meera finished high school in India in 2021, she had a choice to make. She could wait at home for delayed university offers because of the COVID-19 pandemic or take a leap into the unknown and begin a bachelor’s degree in Japan.

She chose the second option.

"I did not expect to move and study this degree when I first applied," she says. "But what seemed like a fever dream ended up changing me to the core."

Sarah enrolled in the Bachelor of Asia Pacific Affairs and Bachelor of Global Liberal Arts, a dual degree program delivered across the Australian National University (ANU) and the Ritsumeikan University. The program allows students to graduate with two separate university degrees. 

Few people around her had heard of the program, but that was part of what attracted her.

"Despite the number of people discouraging me from applying to such an unconventional degree, I went ahead with it exactly because of that."

Interested in the social sciences but unsure which discipline to pursue, Sarah liked that the degree gave her the flexibility to explore a broad range of subjects before specialising. That decision took her on a journey few undergraduate students experience.

She spent her first three semesters at Ritsumeikan University in Osaka, studying subjects including statistics, political theory, historical methods and philosophy. Arriving in Japan in September 2022, just a year after finishing high school, she also had to adjust to living independently in a country where she did not yet speak the language. While learning Japanese became part of her experience, the dual degree is taught entirely in English, allowing her to begin her studies from day one.

"The demanding schedule at Ritsumeikan was a challenging yet inspiring shift from my Indian high school experience," she reflects. "The liberal arts studies gave me the opportunity to gain the foundations of social science research while simultaneously studying various fields."

Studying overseas also meant maintaining the grades needed to keep her scholarships. Sarah's hard work paid off, earning multiple merit-based scholarships that reduced her tuition fees by up to 100 per cent.

In February 2024, she moved to Canberra, Australia, to spend two semesters at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs in the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific (CAP). She then returned to Japan in April 2025 to complete the final stage of her degree.

By the time she graduates in July 2026, Sarah will have lived and studied independently across two countries in four years, building a life each time from scratch.

The experience changed her personally, but it also reshaped the way she thinks about the world.

"The Bachelor of Asia Pacific Affairs at CAP is a slap in the face to the heavily euro-centric approaches that International Relations and Humanities are typically centred around," she says.

Studying at the College gave Sarah the opportunity to explore the Asia Pacific through perspectives rooted in the region, encouraging her to question assumptions and think more critically about global issues. The flexibility of the Bachelor of Asia Pacific Affairs also allowed her to tailor her studies by choosing courses across politics and government, international relations and security, conflict and peacebuilding, and history and cultural identity, giving her the freedom to explore the areas that interested her most.

"A balance between a highly specialised degree and liberal arts is what makes this program a good challenge," she says. "The rigour of both universities pushes you to improve and polish academically."

For Sarah, the degree was not only about what she learned in the classroom. Living independently in Japan and Australia taught her how to navigate new cultures, build friendships, manage everyday responsibilities and adapt to unfamiliar environments, all while studying full-time.

Looking back, she says those experiences were just as valuable as her academic studies.

"Don't be afraid of choosing something unconventional. That unconventional nature is exactly what made this degree and experience so rewarding."

Sarah also encourages prospective students to embrace the challenges that come with studying across two countries.

"If you are open-minded, curious, and willing to embrace new experiences, the Bachelor of Asia Pacific Affairs and Bachelor of Global Liberal Arts can be a truly transformative experience that shapes both your academic interests and your outlook on the world," she says.

Sarah graduates this July after four years studying across Japan and Australia. Along the way, she has earned merit scholarships, developed lifelong friendships and gained an international perspective that will stay with her long after graduation. As she embarks on her next chapter, everyone at the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific wishes her every success.

For students looking for an undergraduate degree that combines international study, academic flexibility and a deeper understanding of the Asia Pacific, Sarah's journey shows what is possible when you choose a different path.

Find out more about your study options at CAP today.