Why Australia
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Global connections to complement your studies
Australian education providers have strong connections with universities and researchers around the world. They often support students to make important global connections and collaborate on projects. Major global collaborations are producing exciting research and projects to help solve critical social issues.
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Diverse study options
Society, culture and humanities is one of the biggest and most popular fields of study. There are hundreds of courses to choose from across Australia. Many courses will even allow you to mix and match your subjects, so you can study a course that fits your needs and interests perfectly.
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Opportunities to immerse yourself in Australian culture
Your studies could take you to many locations in Australia – from bustling cities to major regional centres, and rural and remote communities. Each place has its own unique culture, often made up of other cultures. With so many different places to experience, Australia provides an ideal setting to explore ideas in society, culture and humanities.
Study options
Society, culture and humanities courses explore the parts of society that make us human, reveal our histories and shape our future – our stories, languages, political ideas, religions, symbols and cultural objects. They teach us to record, look at, analyse, explain and share different parts of human culture.
Your studies could focus on things like:
- beliefs and value systems
- cultural expression (the way we express ideas)
- human development and behaviour
- human populations and their environments
- social organisation and structure
- social research methodology
- human interaction
- politics.
While some courses include specific practical skills, like in archaeology, many humanities courses teach you to think in theoretical ways. You’ll learn important skills in:
- research methods
- critical thinking
- problem-solving
- emotional intelligence
- analysing data in meaningful ways
- collaboration and project management
- communicating complex ideas to people in ways that are easier to understand.
If you are curious, you like exploring different viewpoints, and you want to gain knowledge and skills that will be valuable in any future career you have, then a humanities course could be what you are looking for.
Fast facts
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Quality education
6 Australian universities are ranked in the world's top 100 in Arts and Humanities and 6 in the top 100 for Social Sciences and Management. (Source: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024).
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The Australian National University in Canberra
Ranked 3rd in the world for Philosophy, 6th for Anthropology, and 11th for Politics and Archaeology.
Career options
Some study areas in society, culture and humanities may seem very specific, but they can open up a great variety of interesting careers. Large global companies are looking for more humanities graduates than ever before due to their ability to research, write well and find patterns in data.
With a qualification in this field, you will develop skills in communication, critical thinking, research and problem-solving. Your knowhow could be a great fit for different careers that range across:
- applying your skills and knowledge directly, and in a practical way – for example, as an archaeologist, translator or interpreter, art and museum curator, art preserver, aid worker, political diplomat or chaplain of religion
- giving advice or doing research behind the scenes – for example, as a government policy advisor, academic researcher or writer, career counsellor, religious guidance counsellor, political consultant, conservation or heritage advisor, or philosopher
- training or teaching others about your interest area – for example, as a history, cultural studies or language teacher in schools; cultural trainer in workplaces; or university tutor, lecturer or professor.
Society, culture and humanities graduates are well prepared to look at life from different angles, and have excellent critical thinking skills.
With a career in society, culture and humanities, you could help preserve important parts of our world cultures and have a positive influence on how society is shaped.
Jobs in demand
Society, culture and humanities graduates are needed across industries in Australia, and are also often hired by global companies like Google, Microsoft and Samsung. They are highly valued for their ‘transferable skills’, and ability to think critically and bring a human-centred perspective to their work.
The industries where most social professionals work are:
- professional, scientific and technical services
- education and training
- public administration and safety
- mining.
All of these are growth areas in Australia – which means more job opportunities for graduates in future. In fact, the demand for social professionals is rising, and is likely to grow by 18.9% (or 2,700 jobs) between 2021 and 2016.
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