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Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

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Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Leading teaching and research in 21st century humanities and social sciences

Driven by academic rigour, intellectual curiosity and social inclusion, we're committed to solving pressing global challenges.

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Study arts and social sciences

Realise your ambitions. Join our vibrant faculty.

Whether you’re fresh from high school, wanting to change career or upskill, or looking to delve into research, our reputation for world-class teaching and research makes us a leader for study in the arts and social sciences.

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Events and resources for prospective students

Discover where your passion lies

Whether you're a high school or university student, a graduate mid-career, in Sydney, interstate, overseas, or online: we'd love to meet you.

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Our research

From archaeological digs to artificial intelligence and legal ethics to language learning, we bring our love of knowledge and culture of excellence to the world's greatest challenges.

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Industry and community

Connect with us to meet our bright students, experience our lively events and hear from some of the best thinkers in Australia.

Faculties and schools_

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Schools

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is home to some of the world’s most outstanding scholars.

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Our people

We are committed to delivering an exceptional curriculum and supporting both our staff and students to maximise their professional and academic potential.

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COVID-19 updates

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Facts & figures

#22 in the world for Arts and Humanities (2020 QS World University Rankings)
#25 in the world for Social Sciences (2020 QS World University Rankings)
#2 globally, in Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings 2020
Est. 1852 Over 165 years of teaching and research excellence
6 schools Economics; Education and Social Work; Languages and Cultures; Literature, Art and Media; Philosophical and Historical Inquiry; Social and Political Sciences

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Latest news

Aboriginal artwork of echidna

Learning our country’s past for a better tomorrow

Through interdisciplinary partnership, students learn first-hand insights about language maintenance and cultural preservation.

The COVID Crisis: Lessons Learned, What Next?

Participants in the 2020 CISS Global Forum reflect on how COVID-19 is impacting geopolitics, fuelling online misinformation and sidelining the climate emergency.

Sydney harbor

ARC funding to investigate social impact of sociology in Australia

Associate Professor Fran Collyer has been awarded $601,647 from the Australian Research Council (ARC) to examine the history of Australian sociology and its impact on public discourse, policy and legislation.

Hatch Exchange co-founder Adam Jacobs.

The alum helping stood-down workers find employment

Hatch, co-founded by Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Commerce alum Adam Jacobs, has established a COVID-19 labour exchange to help Australian businesses hire workers who've been stood down.

2020 versus 1919: is COVID-19 as bad as the ‘Spanish’ flu?

Dr Peter Hobbins, a leading expert on the history of the 'Spanish' flu in Australia, reckons with pandemics past and present - including their silver linings.

Annie Clarke, Shirley, Amy and Gloria Yantarrnga and Ursula Frederick at the Angurugu field office: Photograph Ursula Frederick, 2018

Repatriating unexpected treasures in Arnhem Land

To mark National Reconciliation Week, we explore the unusual, fascinating career of University of Sydney archaeologist Professor Annie Clarke.

How universities came to rely on international students

International student fees have become part of the unofficial funding policy of consecutive federal governments, writes Associate Professor Julia Horne for The Conversation.

Books on shelf

Reading Beckett and Joyce with a French accent

Paris came to a corner of the University of Sydney when Professor Jean-Michel Rabaté visited to review an Australian colleague’s manuscript about Samuel Beckett, lecture on James Joyce, and give a masterclass on Jacques Derrida, who was his mentor and friend.

Arts and Social Sciences explained

With over 45 subject areas to choose from, we offer one of the widest ranges of arts and social sciences subjects in Australia. With so much choice, it can get a little overwhelming, so here’s a quick explainer of a few of our subjects.

Kelli Owen at her graduation

Scholarship supports education and teaching of Indigenous language

In life and death moments, clarity and purpose can be found. Kelli Owen's moment showed her that she wanted to help Aboriginal kids know their traditional language. A scholarship helped her do it.

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the country on which the University of Sydney campuses stand and our responsibility to respect and care for country, people and spirit.