Indigenous studies is a diverse, interdisciplinary area of study, drawing on a large body of global literature. This major is underpinned by two key principles: (1) Indigenous people as agents of their own destinies within the post-colonial era, and (2) the valuing of Indigenous perspectives and voices. There is also a strong focus on working effectively and ethically with Indigenous people and Indigenous research methodologies. This major is offered by the Department of Indigenous Studies, which offers units to students seeking greater knowledge of Australian and other Indigenous societies and cultures.

For students from overseas, Macquarie uses an international selection rank to determine the minimum eligibility requirement for each undergraduate course. This rank has been converted into equivalent scores for various recognised international high school qualifications and university entrance examinations, including global qualifications like the International Baccalaureate (IB) and GCE A-Levels. All applicants for undergraduate coursework studies at Macquarie University are required to provide evidence of proficiency in English.