Best universities in Australia for arts and humanities degrees 2024

Top 8 universities in Australia for arts and humanities degrees

Scroll down for the full list of best universities for arts and humanities in Australia

Choosing an arts or humanities degree is a good choice if you're still unsure if which career you want to pursue. An arts or humanities degree allows you to continue to study a subject you enjoy while developing key analytical and communication skills that can be applied to a wide range of careers. 

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A popular student destination, Australia not only offers exciting career prospects, but a fulfilling, sunny and world-class education. Departments at Australian universities have been delivering world-class research for decades.

Below are the top Australian universities for arts and humanities degrees, according to data from the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024.

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4. Monash University

Monash University Arts is divided into five academic schools across the Caulfield and Clayton campuses, including the school of languages, literatures, cultures and linguistics, school of media, film and journalism, school of philosophical, historical and international studies, school of social sciences and the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance. There is also a school of arts and social sciences at the Monash University in Malaysia.

There are a range of degrees available for undergraduate students and courses are flexible and customisable, Students can graduate with a bachelor of arts, bachelor of criminology, bachelor of global studies, bachelor of media communication, bachelor of music, or a bachelor of politics, philosophy and economics.

There are a number of research centres and institutes within Monash Arts including the Centre for Ancient Cultures, the Migration, Identity and Translation Network and the Music Archive of Monash University.

3. Australian National University 

The Australian National University’s college of arts and social sciences is one of seven colleges at ANU. It offers undergraduate students the choice of over 40 majors within the bachelor of arts degree.

There are also flexible double degree programmes available for students looking to combine an arts degree with another bachelor's degree of their choice. Postgraduate coursework degrees are offered in over 20 disciplines within the arts, humanities and social sciences.

Research is carried out in a range of areas across the arts and humanities including anthropology, Australian Indigenous studies, history, languages and philosophy. It is divided into two main areas: the research school of humanities and arts, and the research school of social sciences.

The university also partners with the public and private sector and engages with both the local community and government organisations to shape Australian society.

2. University of Sydney

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney has seven academic schools: the school of economics, school of philosophical and historical inquiry, Sydney college of art, school of languages and cultures, school of social and political sciences, school of literature, art and media, and the Sydney school of education and social work.

The faculty offers a range of undergraduate courses that students can major or minor in. There are also a variety of postgraduate coursework degrees on offers including master’s degrees, graduate diplomas and graduate certificates.

The school of literature, art and media specialises in art history, English, linguistics, media and communications, religion, theatre and performance studies, creative and indigenous studies. The school also offers one of the largest internship programmes in the university, providing students with the opportunity to work with galleries, public relations firms, theatre companies and media outlets in Australia and overseas.  

1. University of Melbourne

Founded in 1853, the University of Melbourne is Australia’s second oldest university.

The university’s faculty of arts is organised into four academic schools: culture and communication, historical and philosophical studies, languages and linguistics and social and political sciences.

The school of culture and communication offers undergraduate courses in a range of subject areas including art history, cinema and performance, media and communication, literary and cultural studies and Australian indigenous studies. The school is home to a number of centres and institutes such as the Australian institute of art history and the research unit in public culture.

The graduate school of humanities and social sciences is a diverse learning and research community. Students are taught the ways in which the humanities and social sciences can contribute to the well-being of individuals and societies. The school offers students the opportunity to acquire a graduate degree, to participate in an industry placement and to take on an extensive research project.

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Top universities in Australia for arts and humanities degrees 2024

Click each institution to view its World University Rankings 2024 profile