Facts & figures
- Top 20 university globally (QS World University Rankings 2024)
- #24 in the world for Arts and Humanities*
- #45 in the world for Social Sciences*
- *2023 QS World University Rankings
Facts & figures
Say you want to continue studying a subject you’ve enjoyed during your final years of high school, like English or History or Languages. You’ve probably discovered that it isn’t quite as simple as enrolling in a Bachelor of English, or History or Languages, because… those degrees don’t exist.
But fear not - you can of course study these subjects and develop some serious knowledge by enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts, a broad degree that offers you heaps of subject areas to specialise in (45 in fact).
The first thing you’ve got to know when you enrol in a Bachelor of Arts, is that you’ll study a major and a minor.
The technical answer: “A defined sequence of units of study that deepens your experience in a field of study.”
But in plain terms, a major is a group of related subjects you’ll take in order to gain specialised knowledge in a specific area.
Each subject (what we call a “unit of study”) is assigned credit points.
To achieve a major, you need to complete a required 48 credit points and specific units of study within one subject area. Usually this is made up of 8 units of study, taken across the duration of your degree.
Minors are very similar to majors: think of them as a smaller group of related subjects that you’ll take to gain knowledge in a specific area.
A minor requires fewer credit points than a major - 36 to be exact. Usually this is made up of 6 units of study, taken across the duration of your degree.
All of our liberal studies degrees (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Commerce) and the specialist degree Bachelor of Economics require you to complete a major, and a minor (or second major).
We’re glad you asked! Click on a HSC subject below to see our related Arts and Social Sciences majors (and minors). From there, click through to learn about the overall aims of each major and their specific units of study.
One last thing: this is a guide! You don't need to have studied these specific HSC subjects to undertake the listed majors and minors, they're just suggestions to get you started. You can study all of the below without any prior experience or study.
Visit our events for prospective students page for HSC tips, webinars and Q&A sessions. Unsure of university terminology? Visit our online glossary.