Study area
Humanities and Social Sciences
By studying Humanities and Social Sciences, you’ll gain a critical understanding of how society shapes, and is shaped by, culture, politics, geography, economics, media, history, language, the environment and more. You will develop the knowledge and skills to define complex problems, and identify and design solutions, while being supported in your passion to drive and implement change.
With our collaborations across industry, government and community, you’ll apply knowledge and expertise to respond to major societal opportunities, challenges and injustices, such as achieving sustainable development, addressing climate change, eliminating poverty, strengthening global communications and improving the mental health of communities.
Within the humanities, through the study of culture, language, literature, history and philosophy, you will examine the human experience and gain a deep understanding of the connections that tie us all together.
Within the social sciences, which bridges the social, physical and environmental sciences, you will use a scientific approach to understanding the development and operations of societies and their influence on the world.
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1st in WA for full-time employment
for undergraduates in Communication, Media and Journalism (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020). -
Get practical training
through internships, hands-on learning with industry and business partners, and overseas study opportunities. -
83.6% for skills development, 87.9% for teaching quality
satisfaction rate for Undergraduate Humanities and Social Sciences (Good Universities Guide). -
#1 in WA
for Arts and Humanities, Psychology, and Social Sciences and Management (QS WUR by Subject 2020). -
WA’s largest language hub
with four European languages, four Asian languages and two Classical languages taught.
Where our graduates go

Bachelor of Arts '19
Education worker, and mentoring and enrichment coordinator, INTOUNIVERSITY

Bachelor of Science '18, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) ’19 (Archaeology)
Assistant Curator, Western Australian Museum
Bachelor of International Relations
Challenge yourself with WA’s only Bachelor of International Relations. Develop the knowledge and real-world experience to tackle our most pressing global challenges.
Preparing you for a successful career
Connecting you with industry
Gain a critical edge with our global research collaborations and strong links with industry leaders.
Our established network of connections spans the creative and public sectors, including Perth Fashion Festival, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, City of Perth, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Department of Commerce.
Our corporate supporters ensure you stay at the forefront of industry trends by providing guest lectures, case studies, mentoring and a suite of scholarships and prizes to help you achieve at the highest level.
Skills for the future
Graduates are now required to hold a bank of transferable skills. These skills can never be automated or replicated by artificial intelligence, ensuring you’re well equipped for the jobs of the future.
Emerging skills:
- Creativity, originality and initiative
- Analytical thinking
- Complex problem-solving
- Critical thinking and analysis
- Leadership and social influence
- Emotional intelligence
Source: Australian Government, Department of Jobs and Small Business, Australian Jobs 2019
Industry snapshot
Study in this area will provide you with a range of skills you can use in different careers locally, nationally and internationally. You could apply your expertise to sectors and industries such as government, non-government, higher education, media and communications organisations, advertising or arts and cultural organisations. Languages too are deemed a national priority under the Australian Government’s 2021 Job-ready Graduates Package, which encourages students to consider studying for jobs of the future.
Potential jobs
- Arts administrator/manager
- Business administration manager
- Communications adviser
- Editor or journalist
- Foreign affairs and trade officer
- Historian
- Intelligence analyst
- Media producer
- Parliamentarian
- Policy manager/adviser
- Public relations manager
- Translator or interpreter
Job growth in this industry
Sources: Australian Government, Department of Jobs and Small Business, Australian Jobs 2019; National Skills Commission
Full-time employment outcomes of graduates who studied Humanities, culture and social sciences:
- 87% – Undergraduate
- 90.5% – Postgraduate coursework
- 87.1% – Postgraduate research
Source: 2020 Graduate Outcomes Survey Longitudinal
World-class facilities
The Archaeology Lab is a research and analysis facility used by UWA undergraduates, postgraduates, student volunteers, honours students, staff and visiting researchers. It is an essential working space to examine artefacts, botanical and faunal specimens and other material brought back from excavations. The lab is used to analyse materials such as seeds, animal bones, shells, eggshells, stone artefacts and charcoal collected during fieldwork.
Undergraduate courses
To find out more about our range of undergraduate courses, visit Our courses explained.
- Majors
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- Anthropology
- Applied Human Geography
- Archaeology
- Asian Studies
- Chinese Studies
- Classics and Ancient History
- Communication and Media Studies
- Criminology
- English and Literary Studies
- Fine Arts
- French Studies
- Gender Studies
- German Studies
- History
- History of Art
- Indigenous Knowledge, History and Heritage
- Indonesian Studies
- Italian Studies
- Japanese Studies
- Korean Studies
- Law and Society
- Linguistics
- Music: Electronic Music and Sound Design
- Music: General Studies
- Music: Music Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science and International Relations
- Psychological and Behavioural Sciences
- Science and Technology in Society
- Spanish Studies
- Work and Employment Relations
- Minors
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- Active Citizenship
- Chinese Language and Culture
- Creative Writing Studies
- Cross Cultural Communication
- Digital Citizenship
- French
- German
- Indonesian Language and Culture
- Italian
- Japanese Language and Culture
- Korean Language and Culture
- Ocean Innovation
- Spanish
- Science and Policy: Climate Change, Environmental Planning and Urban Environments
- Bachelor's degrees
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- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Human Rights
- Bachelor of International Relations
- Bachelor of Modern Languages
- Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
- Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability
- Integrated honours
- Honours
Postgraduate courses
- Graduate certificates
- Graduate diplomas
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- Master's degrees
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- Commerce and Translation Studies
- Environmental Planning
- Forensic Anthropology
- International Development
- International Law and International Relations
- International Relations
- Public Policy
- Science Communication
- Social Work
- Strategic Communication
- Translation Studies
- Urban and Regional Planning
- Research degrees
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Have a question? Get in touch with us

- Domestic students
- Online enquiry
131 UWA (131 892)
8.30am–5.00pm (AWST), Monday to Friday - International students
- Online enquiry
+61 8 6488 1000
8.30am–5.00pm (AWST), Monday to Friday - Online consultation
- Book a virtual consultation