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
Meet Harry, who is living his dream
"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...
I feel very confident about what I'm doing and very excited about what the future holds."
Frequently asked questions about humanities & social science
What types of humanities & social science courses are available through Open Universities Australia?
Humanities and social sciences is a broad field, so it makes sense to determine which area specifically interests you before you explore the courses available through Open Universities Australia.
| If you're interested in | Consider studying |
| People |
None of these right for you? Consider other people-focused study areas like education and teaching or business and management. |
| The environment |
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| Communities |
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What are the entry requirements for health and medical science?
Entry requirements for humanities and social science courses vary. Generally, undergraduate courses require you to have achieved a certain ATAR or have relevant work experience. Postgraduate courses usually require you to have completed a relevant undergraduate course.
But entry requirements aren't everything, especially through Open Universities Australia. If you don't meet the requirements for your dream course, we can help you unlock a pathway in.
How can you help me get into a course without entry requirements?
We’re committed to making education accessible to everyone, regardless of their academic history. As part of that commitment, we have a unique arrangement with our university partners that allows students studying through us to access certain undergraduate degrees even if they don’t have the required ATAR or academic history.
To access these courses, you’ll enrol in 2-4 introductory subjects from the degree. Once you’ve successfully completed these, you can enrol in the full qualification.
Book a consultation with a student advisor to find out how this arrangement can help you enter a humanities and social science degree.
How flexible can my studies be?
When you study through us, you have the freedom to:
- start at multiple points during the year, instead of observing the traditional uni calendar
- control your study load by deciding how many subjects to take at once
- study subjects across multiple universities and multiple study areas
And those are only some of the flexible options available. To learn more, visit our study planning page or contact a student advisor.
Will I have opportunities to go on internships or gain practical experience?
How much does it cost to study humanities & social science through Open Universities Australia?
It costs exactly the same as studying on campus with your chosen university. As a not-for-profit, we do not charge you to use our services.
Your course fee will be dictated by a few things, including the level of study, the number of subjects, and the university itself. You’ll find an indicative cost on each course page.
All courses available through Open Universities Australia, including single subjects, can be covered by a government HELP loan, provided you’re eligible.
To understand more, visit our fees page.
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.