Study Humanities and Social Sciences in Australia

If you are reading this, you’re most probably looking for an alternative course that revolves anywhere BUT around the highly technical science, technology, and mathematics spectrum.

Luckily, humanities and social sciences is a more enjoyable option for students who don’t prefer cracking formulas and codes, dissecting the human anatomy, and many other things. It is also an interesting course as it helps students to push the boundaries of knowledge through creativity.

Fascinatingly, humanities and social sciences come at a close second after business and management in Australia. With that being said, the second largest study field is not any less complicated despite what stereotypes say as it deals with the human mind and behavior.

This field of study also comes with specializations within its respective courses, as well as various future career opportunities. In most careers, people would only use one side of their brains. It’s either logic or creative, reason or imagination, or even analytical or insightful.

Why Australia?

One of the top study English-speaking country destination

International students from around the world choose Australia as their study hub as it is a place of cultural diversity with friendly natives, as well as high quality of education.

Plenty of Scholarship Options for International Students

Being the third largest country in the world after the United Kingdom and the United States, Australia has managed to attract international students from different parts of the world due to its excellent academic performance. The Australian government annually invests a whopping $200,000,000 for scholarships alone to be given to eligible international students. With the country’s high cost of living and expenses, international students can be assured that there are many special incentives to have their studies well taken care of.

Become a permanent resident

In addition, Australia also grants opportunities for international students to apply for permanent residency (PR) in the country. This is simply great for those who are planning to further their studies or start working here. Under Australia’s Skill Select visa points system, international students who meet the Australian Study Requirement will be able to gain additional points. This, in turn, will be advantageous to international students who want to be qualified for a permanent residency in Australia.

Bye-bye to language barriers

Most Australians speak fluent English and it’s easier for most international students to communicate with one another. However, the variety of slangs spoken by the Australians might be an issue as it’s hard for international students to master. But not to worry as sooner or later, you will get a hang of it!

Working With a Student Visa

Here’s good news for students who want to work while studying in Australia. We understand that the cost of living and tuition fees in Australia can be very restrictive. But we’re telling you that with a student visa, you can lighten up your finance with a job. You can work for up to 40 hours every two weeks. It will look good on your resume as well!

The field of humanities and social science is a vast one and as a student, it’s completely okay to feel a little taken aback with the amount of information you’ll find on this topic. To make things much simpler for you, keep scrolling down to some specially curated important bits just for you!

1. What is Humanities and Social Sciences about?

2. What subjects will I be studying?

3. What are the important skills do I need in this field?

4. How long will I be studying in this programme?

5. What are the entry requirements and qualifications?

6. How much are the average tuition fees?

7. What are the job opportunities in Humanities and Social Sciences?

8. Universities in Australia offering Humanities & Social Sciences programmes

What is Humanities and Social Sciences about?

Humanities and social sciences is a unique field all on its own. It teaches you about yourself as a human being and the relationship each individual has to one another in society as well as the things in our environment. To make things simple: it’s a study field about YOUR experiences.

Of course, just to be more technical so that you have the real idea of what it’s all about, humanities and social sciences include studies involving our behavior and interaction to different contexts such as social, culture, economy and many more. It also relates our experiences on different levels as well, exposing us to current issues from a global perspective and discussing probable solutions for future generations to benefit from.

Whether you’re specifically interested in areas connected to education, policy, law, languages or the arts, this field generally comes with several benefits. We’re not talking just about assisting to level up your career opportunities but also yourself as a person - enhancing creativity, empathy, critical thinking and to be more understanding towards the diversity in our environment.

As a prospective student (or perhaps a current student if you have studied in this area before), humanities and social science is a great option to gain more human experiences.

What are the major fields in humanities and social sciences?

In Australia alone, there are perhaps dozens if not hundreds of recognized and quality programmes of all qualification levels relating to humanities and social sciences. Below is just a tiny chunk of the list of field areas that make up of some of the major fields in this discipline. Do you see anything that interests you?

• Communication, journalism and related studies

In this area, students are given an exclusive opportunity to get familiarised working in a range of media and communication industries. This particular field is relevant to today’s circumstance as the need for communication experts are in high demand by many organizations and institutions.

• Law

The study in law involves defining relationships, understanding the rights of individuals and institutions, and knowing how to uphold order in society. Students are trained to read and interpret eligible sources, evaluate and propose what course of action should be taken to solve problems.  

• Languages, linguistics and literature

If you love languages and study how communication works, then maybe this field is your first destination! Here, you are given opportunities to learn about the properties of languages, how and why they are structured the way they are, and most interestingly, observe the changes that they go through. At the end of the day, you gain a new perspective towards cultures through language and also communicate more effectively.

• Political science

In political science, you can deepen your knowledge on power and how it influences people, communities and organizations from a national level and the world. You can also learn more about how the government works, understand and question current laws and policies as well.

• Psychology

As a student of psychology, you gain not only a closer insight into people’s behavior and motivations, but also a self-rewarding experience at understanding yourself too. You won’t necessarily learn every interaction that occurs between people, but you will gain a better perspective of people.

• Visual arts

In visual arts which in itself is a wide study field, students have a medium to express their creativity and imagination. You’ll learn more than creating simple doodles but receive proper technical training in arts. Studying in visual arts also grants you invaluable chances to showcase your work at art exhibitions and meet art critiques.

What are the important skills I need in this field?

Committing your studies here would teach you a few to help you in your career. You can also take note that these skills are also specifically sought after from employers towards prospective Humanities and Social Sciences candidates. Here are just the three important skills you will be taking away from this field:

• Strong written and oral communication skills

Although this may sound nothing out of the ordinary, but as graduates of this field, possessing strong communication skills is crucial. You need to be able to convey your thoughts both verbally and in written form. Adding a dash of confidence can also help you in comfortably voicing out your ideas.

• Good critical thinking and problem-solving skills

Becoming a member of Humanities and Social Sciences would mean you are prepared to take on the process of evaluating and providing views on critical issues. To have strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, you must be willing to step out of your comfort zone and challenge such issues. At the end of the day, you’ll gain a more diverse perspective from possible answers to the problem.

• Possess cross-cultural understanding

Unlike any other study field areas, Humanities and Social Sciences require its students to be open to possible opportunities to communicate, negotiate and exchange information with people of various cultural backgrounds. However, in order to ensure successful interactions with people, students need to appreciate cultural diversity and sensitive to other people’s differences and needs.

How long will I be studying in this programme?

Since Humanities and Social Sciences has many branches of study areas and programmes, the study duration may differ from one another. This also depends on the respective institutions as well.

We have compiled a general estimated look towards study levels according to different qualification levels. However, just to be on the safe side, we highly advise you to keep in touch with the institution to find out more.

What are the entry requirements and qualifications?

The prospects of studying in this course can get you a little excited to sign up and begin. But hold your horses for just a little bit and first tick off several general requirements before you start applying.

However, you may need to refer to the specific institution of your choice to get more details.

Foundation/A-Levels in Humanities and Social Sciences

• Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities and Social SciencesSPM 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

Completed any relevant Australian bachelor degree or international equivalent with minimum GPA of 2.0 (or equivalent),Master’s Degree/ PhD in Humanities and Social Science

• 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

English language requirements:

• IELTS score of 5.5 (not less than 5.0)

• TOEFL overall score of 55

• Pearson Test of English (PTE) overall score of 42-49 (no section score less than 40)

• 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

How much are the average tuition fees?

The average tuition fees in Humanities and Social Sciences can vary across the many spectrum of courses available. Not only that, different Australian institutions can set different tuition fees as well. Check out the estimated fees below:

What are the job opportunities in Humanities and Social Sciences?

In Humanities and Social Sciences, you don’t have to become a lawyer or writer just because you have done the respective degrees in university. Each of these courses, although they do teach you certain specialized knowledge and skills, still gives you the freedom to choose from many other career paths.

Below are just some of the many careers you can consider to commit after you have graduated from university:

Universities in Australia offering Humanities & Social Sciences programmes

Humanities and Social Sciences is highly trendy in many of Australia’s universities and colleges. Below are the top Australian universities in the QA Global World’s Rankings offering courses in this field:

1. Australian National University (ANU)

The Australian National University (ANU) holds a reputable rank as a recognized institution for education and research. It is also known for possessing an impressive record for student satisfaction as well as graduate employability year after year. As of 2018-2019, it becomes Australia’s top university and ranked #33 in the QS Global World University Rankings.

2. University of Melbourne

Ranked #44 in the 2018-2019 Global World Rankings, the University of Melbourne has become a top trending study destination for many international students today. In fact, it also supports an open learning environment where students are encouraged to spend a year exploring different subjects before having to settle down with a suitable major. Not only that, students are exposed to other disciplines as well to get an all round learning experience.

3. Monash University

Monash University is the largest higher education institution in the country with a steady rank in being the world’s top 100. It serves to provide education and encourage consistent research projects among its academician and students, especially in collaboration with the local and global community. Other than collaborative research, Monash University also actively conduct student exchange programmes and maintaining an advantageous connection with its alumni.

4. Macquarie University

Macquarie University belongs in the top 1% world universities according to 2019 QS World University Rankings. The institution has a high focus on learning, teaching and researches.