History and Classical Studies

Everything has a history. From a national constitution to modern consumer culture, from the rise of empires to global environmental crises, from the human species to your family: history interrogates the forces that have made the world in which you live. It helps you to understand the present by understanding the past. Beyond exploring societies of years gone by, history teaches students how to investigate the more abstract elements of studies of the past by questioning how history has been produced, and how it informs our approach to the challenges of the future.

History and Classical Studies at ANU encompasses History (North American history; Australian history; biography; British history; and European history), as well as Classical Studies (the history, culture, literature, and languages of Ancient Greece and Rome). History at ANU explores the evolution of modern nations including Australia, the United States, Asia and Europe, tracing themes such as empire, terrorism, revolution, war, gender, race, technology and the environment. Classical Studies explores topics such as Greek and Roman mythology, politics, imperialism, gender, slavery, material culture, religion, and memory, allowing students to engage with the fascinating and complicated societies of Greece and Rome and their impact on the contemporary world. Students can also study Ancient Greek and Latin at all levels, from beginner's to advanced.

Check the School of History website for more information on the faculty, research, projects, latest news, upcoming events and more.

*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024

^Times Higher Education - Global University Employability Ranking 2023-24

Key facts

1 in Australia
13 for History in World*

#1 in Australia for graduate employability^

Degree programs

Bachelor of Arts

Key facts

3 in Australia
38 for Arts and Humanities in World*

3 year full-time
Semester 1 & 2 intake

#1 in Australia for graduate employability^

UAC Code: 131003
CRICOS Code: 074016B
Graduate Certificate of Studies

Key facts

0.5 Year FT or 3 Years PT
Semester 1 & 2 intake

#1 in Australia for graduate employability^

UAC Code: 830584
CRICOS Code: 082261M
Graduate Certificate of the Repatriation of Ancestral Remains and Cultural Objects

Key facts

0.5 Year
Semester 1 intake

#1 in Australia for graduate employability^

Master of Art History and Curatorial Studies

Key facts

3 in Australia
38 for Arts & Humanities in World*

1 year full-time
Semester 1 & 2 intake

#1 in Australia for graduate employability^

UAC Code: 830041
CRICOS Code: 108306G
Master of History

Key facts

1 in Australia
13 for History in World*

1 year full-time
Semester 1 & 2 intake

#1 in Australia for graduate employability^

UAC Code: 830035
CRICOS Code: 108325D
PhD & MPhil

Key facts

2-4 Year FT or 4-8 Year PT
Semester 1 & 2 intake

#1 in Australia for graduate employability^

Hear from our students

The most surprising thing about my course is the fantastic lecturers – they’re all top experts in the field and enormously friendly, accessible, and helpful. My average day as a student involves going to classes, studying, talking to my classmates and lecturers, working out at the gym, and sometimes going to public lectures and academic seminars.
Abel , Bachelor of Arts

My brilliant career

<p>"I always liked the sense of community within the school [of History]; tutorial rooms filled with puffer jacketed undergrads in old Coombs, a small pile of us reading in the quads when the sun was out and the magpies were friendly, corridors of decorated staff doors as you hunted for a printer, or the shared looks of confusion as a microfiche was explained.”&nbsp;</p>
Madalyn Grant , Bachelor of Arts (Honours) / Bachelor of Archaeological Practice

Watch the video

View discipline flyers

Ancient Greek (major/minor)
Ancient Greek discipline flyer
(PDF, 3.09 MB )
Art History and Curatorial Studies (major/minor)
Art History and Curatorial Studies flyer
(PDF, 616.62 KB )
Bachelor of Arts
 Bachelor of Arts flyer
(PDF, 3.99 MB )
Classical Studies
Classical Studies discipline flyer
(PDF, 1.21 MB )
Graduate Certificate of Studies
Graduate Certificate of Studies flyer
(PDF, 5.06 MB )
Graduate Certificate of the Repatriation of Ancestral Remains and Cultural Objects
Graduate Certificate of the Repatriation of Ancestral Remains and Cultural Objects
(PDF, 123.95 KB )
History (major/minor)
History flyer
(PDF, 2.29 MB )
Latin (major/minor)
Latin discipline flyer
(PDF, 1.19 MB )
Master of Art History and Curatorial Studies
Master of Art History and Curatorial Studies flyer
(PDF, 2.11 MB )
Master of History
Master of History flyer
(PDF, 3.27 MB )

Learn more

Check our series of videos about degree programs, majors and disciplines, and research strengths for your enjoyment.

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