Many institutions offer courses for the study of humanities & social sciences in Australia. There is a wide range of courses in this field, from the general Bachelor of Arts to specialized study areas, such as counseling and international studies.
Among the many specializations offered within arts degrees are anthropology, art history, Asian studies, gender studies, history, philosophy, political science, and sociology. Alternatively, students can study at the VET level through a diploma in arts or social science or continue their studies at the postgraduate level.
What are the benefits- Study Humanities & Social Sciences in Australia?
Do you enjoy learning about different cultures, societal structures, and how people interact with one another? Maybe you love art, history, language, Indigenous studies, politics, or religion. Humanities and social sciences offer a lot to explore, and there are also many career paths available.
About Humanities & Social Sciences
Humanities and social sciences cover a wide scope of subjects, including art, history, language, politics, and religion, as well as Indigenous studies, understanding and caring for human behavior. All aspects of society can benefit from the skills you’ll learn, from social work to citizenship and social justice to infrastructure to the environment and economy.
There is a lot of research involved with this degree. Examples include quantitative analysis and analysis of cultural societies.
Many students do not prefer cracking formulas, dissecting the human anatomy, or solving complex equations. Luckily, humanities and social sciences provide an alternative. Additionally, it is an interesting course since it helps students expand their knowledge through creativity.
Business and management are at the top of the list in Australia, followed closely by humanities and social sciences. Despite stereotypes, the second largest study field deals with human psychology and behavior, which makes it no less complex.
Furthermore, this field of study offers a variety of future career paths as well as specializations within its respective courses. Almost all careers require people to use only one side of their brains. But here, you can be logical or creative, rational or imaginative, or even insightful or analytical.
Why Study Humanities & Social Sciences in Australia?
One of the top English-speaking countries to study
As a culturally diverse country with friendly natives, Australia attracts international students from around the world who are looking for a high-quality education.
Plentiful Scholarships for international students
Approximately $200 million is invested each year by the Australian government in scholarships alone for international students. As the country has a high cost of living and expenses, international students have many special incentives to take care of their studies.
Immigrate permanently
Additionally, Australia offers opportunities for international students to apply for permanent residency (PR). If you plan to study or work here in the future, this is an excellent opportunity.
Say goodbye to language barriers
It’s easier for international students to communicate with Australians since most of them speak fluent English.
Getting a student visa and working
Australian students who wish to work while studying have good news to share. In Australia, tuition fees and the cost of living can be extremely high. The good news is that you can lighten up your finances with a student visa by getting a job. Every two weeks, you can work up to 40 hours. As a bonus, it will look great on your resume!
It’s perfectly okay for a student to feel overwhelmed by the amount of information available in the humanities and social sciences. Let’s simplify things for you by scrolling down to some important bits I’ve specially curated!
How to apply to Study Humanities & Social Sciences in Australia
Through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), applicants can apply for their desired degree online once they have selected it. There can be up to five-course preferences listed when applying through UAC.
Annually, there are two main intakes for undergraduate programs:
- All undergraduate programs have a major intake period during Semester 1 (usually February/March each year).
- Some programs are available during Semester 2 (or mid-year, which usually begins in late July each year).
The majority of Australian undergraduate applicants (both in enabling and undergraduate degrees) apply online through the University Admissions Centre (UAC). Each year, UAC opens applications in April. Check out UAC’s key dates. It’s a great idea to visit the Getting in pages and see the entry options, tips, and advice that applies to you.
Humanities & social sciences: what are their major fields?
It is estimated that there are at least dozens, if not hundreds, of recognized and quality humanities and social science programs in Australia alone. A few major fields in this discipline are listed below as just a small sample. Are there any items that interest you?
1. The study of communication, journalism, and related fields
The media and communication area offers students an opportunity to gain experience in a variety of industries. As many organizations and institutions require communication experts, this particular field is relevant to today’s situation.
2. Law
Studying law involves defining relationships, understanding rights and upholding society’s order. Students learn how to evaluate and propose solutions to problems by reading and interpreting relevant sources.
3. Literature, language, and linguistics
Perhaps this field is your first choice if you’re interested in languages and how communications work. Observing how and why languages are structured, as well as how and why they change, give you insight into the properties of languages. Ultimately, you gain a better understanding of cultures and also improve your communication skills.
4. Political science
Politics gives you an in-depth understanding of power and its effects on people, communities, and organizations at the national and international levels. In addition, you can better understand how the government functions, understand current laws and policies and question them.
5. Psychology
Students of psychology not only gain a deeper understanding of people’s behavior and motivations but also gain a self-rewarding experience in understanding themselves. Despite not learning every interaction between people, you will better understand them.
6. Visual arts
With visual arts, a wide field of study in itself, students can express their creativity and imagination through art. The program will teach you more than just how to draw simple doodles; it will also teach you how to carry out arts-related tasks properly. Besides showcasing your work at art exhibitions and meeting art critics, studying visual arts provides you with valuable opportunities.
List of Master’s degrees in Humanities in Australia
| Colleges | Name of the Course | Duration of the Course | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. University of Canberra | Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Foreign Language Teaching (FLT) | 2 Years | 29,000 AUD/Year |
| 2. University of Canberra | Applied Arts and Humanities (Research) | 2 Years | 29,000 AUD/Year |
| 3. University of Canberra | Creative and Cultural Futures | 2 Years | 33,500 AUD/Year |
| 4. The University of western Australia | Master of Heritages Studies | 2 Years | 33,500 AUD/Year |
| 5. Curtin University | Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages | 2 Years | 31,000 AUD/Year |
| 6. Monash University | Applied Linguistics | 1 Years | 37,900 AUD/Year |
| 7. Monash University | Interpreting and Translation Studies | 1.5 Years | 37,900 AUD/Year |
| 8. Curtin University | Professional Writing and Publishing | 2 Years | – |
| 9. Deakin University | Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies (Professional) | 2 Years | 33,200 AUD/Year |
| 10. RMIT University | Translation and Interpreting | 2 Years | 35,520 AUD/Year |
List of Master’s degrees in Social Sciences in Australia
| Colleges | Name of the Course | Duration of the Course | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. University of Canberra | Communication | 2 Years | 27,000 AUD/Year |
| 2. University of the Sunshine Coast | Information and Communication Technology | 2 Years | 27,400 AUD/Year |
| 3. University of Canberra | Counseling | 0.5 Years | – |
| 4. The University of Western Australia | Master of Business Analytics | 2 Years | 41,500 AUD/Year |
| 5. University of Canberra | Clinical Psychology | 2 Years | 42,200 AUD/Year |
| 6. University of Canberra | Human Resource Management | 2 Years | 35,600 AUD/Year |
| 7. University of Technology Sydney | Strategic Communication | 1.5 Years | 35,616 AUD/Year |
| 8. University of Technology Sydney | Clinical Psychology | 2 Years | 45,792 AUD/Year |
| 9. University of the Sunshine Coast | Psychology (Clinical) | 2 Years | 29,800 AUD/Year |
| 10. Curth University | Human Rights | 1.5 Years | 30,400 AUD/Year |
Specific Skills required in this field
Here, you can learn a few things to help you succeed in your career. Moreover, employers seek out these skills specifically when recruiting candidates for Humanities and Social Sciences. These are just three of the important skills you will acquire from this field:
- Communication skills, both written and oral
As graduates of this field, it is crucial for graduates to have strong communication skills. The ability to communicate verbally and in writing is essential. In addition to confidence, you can also express your ideas easily with a dash of self-assurance.
- Ability to think critically and solve problems
Taking part in Humanities and Social Sciences means evaluating critical issues and providing your opinion. The ability to think critically and solve problems requires the willingness to step outside of one’s comfort zone. After all, you’ll gain a broader perspective by exploring different possible solutions.
- Understanding of cross-cultural issues
The Humanities and Social Sciences require its students to be open to the possibility of communicating, negotiating, and exchanging information with people of different cultural backgrounds. However, students must acknowledge cultural diversity and be sensitive to other people’s differences and needs to interact successfully with others.
Duration of the study program
Due to the wide variety of study areas and programs in the Humanities and Social Sciences, the study duration may vary. The respective institutions are also responsible for this.
We have compiled a general estimate of study levels according to different qualification levels. To be safe, we highly recommend that you contact the institution directly if you have any questions.
| Study Levels | Duration |
|---|---|
| Foundation/A-Levels | 1 Year |
| Diploma | 1-3 Years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 3-4 Years |
| Master’s Degree, PhD | 1-4 Years |
Entry requirements and qualifications
It may seem exciting to sign up for this course and begin studying. But before you apply, hold your horses for a moment and tick off some general requirements first.
In order to find out more about a specific institution, you may need to contact them directly.
Foundation/A-Levels in Humanities and Social Sciences
- Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities and Social Sciences SPM with 5 passes in relevant subjects
- Financially stable to meet fees and living/travel expenses and has good character
- Pass 4 relevant subjects in STPM, including English
Graduated with a minimum GPA of 2.0 in a relevant Australian bachelor’s degree or international equivalent or Master’s Degree/Ph.D. in Humanities and Social Sciences.
- Possess a master’s degree from any recognized Australian university or equivalent institution in a relevant subject area,
- Have a substantial amount of working experience, whether full-time or professional employment experience in a relevant field
You must meet the following English requirements:
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) overall score of 42-49 (no section score less than 40)
- IELTS score of 5.5 (not less than 5.0)
- TOEFL overall score of 55
- University of Cambridge – Advanced (CAE) with an overall score of 162 (no section less than 154)
- VU English – English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Achieve Level 4
Job opportunities after Study of Humanities & Social Sciences in Australia
The degrees you earn in Humanities and Social Sciences do not necessarily lead to careers as lawyers or writers. In spite of the fact that these courses teach you some specialized knowledge and skills, they offer you many other career options as well.
A few of the many careers you can pursue after graduating from university are listed below:
- Lawyer
- Editor
- Interpreter and/or Translator
- Teacher
- Psychologist
Conclusion
Therefore, by studying Humanities and Social Sciences, you will gain critical knowledge of how society shapes and is shaped by culture, politics, geography, economics, media, history, language, and the environment. As you develop skills and knowledge to identify and design solutions to complex problems, you will also be supported in your passion.