Choose a speciality to explore your study options
Start understanding our world—so you can help change it
Studying the humanities gives you a rich appreciation of the world and how it works, across social, historical, economic, and political realms.
Whether you’re interested in languages, history, politics or literature, a humanities course will help you become a keen critical thinker and set you up for a range of rewarding career pathways.
Popular humanities & social science degrees
Undergraduate UNE-MDL-DIP
Available majors
- Chinese Language Major
- French Language Major
- German Language Major
- Indonesian Language Major
- Italian Language Major
- Japanese Language Major
Undergraduate GRF-ART-DEG
Available majors
- Major in Art History
- Major in Creative Writing
- Major in Criminal Justice
- Major in History
- Major in Journalism
- Major in Literature
- Major in Public Relations
- Major in Screen and Media Studies
- Major in Sociology
Postgraduate MAQ-HIS-GCE
Postgraduate FLI-WGS-MAS
Popular humanities & social science subjects
Undergraduate MUR-COD301
Related degrees
Postgraduate CUR-GPH510
Undergraduate GRF-LTR110
Related degrees
Undergraduate LTU-BUS1SBY
Why study humanities & social science online through us?
Access quality university courses without needing an ATAR
Enjoy your pick of courses from across the country, no matter where you’re based
Study more flexibly with single subjects, short courses and degrees available to start throughout the year
How Open Universities Australia (OUA) works
We partner with leading universities to make higher education easier for everyone to access. We're here to:
- offer you guidance on your course choices.
- unlock more flexible study options for you with your university.
- ease your mental load by supporting you with your student admin.
Humanities & social science careers
Studying the humanities gives you a breadth of knowledge that comes in handy for many different career paths.
Where do humanities graduates work?
You may want to advance social change by working in policy, apply your love of languages to a career as a translator, interpreter or communications professional, or dedicate yourself to a life of learning and teaching as an academic in your chosen field. These are just some of the possibilities open to graduates.
Can you actually get a job with an arts degree?
Some people may try to deter you from studying the arts because it doesn’t lead to a clear career pathway. However, this can actually be a strength of an arts course—it allows you to learn about a range of fascinating areas, before deciding what you want to specialise in based on your own genuine interests.
You might also be interested in these study areas:
Read our career guides
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"Open Universities Australia's student advisors have been extremely useful. They've really had my back in this whole scenario. From helping me enrol, helping me find the course, helping put the course into perspective and what order I should study it...
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What to read before choosing your course
Help! What degree should I study?
You know you want to go to uni, but you have no clue what course to study. First of all, don’t panic. This is a very, very common problem, and one we’re known for solving. The following advice should help you narrow down your choices.
Student allowances explained: What payments can you get?
If you’re studying full-time, you may be eligible for income support. Find out about the three main types of Centrelink payments for students, Austudy, ABSTUDY and Youth Allowance.
University entry requirements explained
Learn more about how admission criteria works when you're applying for university—and what to do if you don’t meet the requirements.
Why single subject study could be perfect for you
Did you know you can take a single university subject without committing to the whole qualification? It’s a great way to upskill—or to give your degree a test run.
Find out more about how to get started
Speak to a student advisor for:
- free, impartial advice
- expert knowledge about courses and unis
- personalised recommendations
Looking for other ways to start the conversation? Contact us.