School of Humanities

Welcome to the School of Humanities at the University of Tasmania, located in the vibrant city of Hobart, Australia. As an establishment and point of interest, we are dedicated to providing a rich educational experience that encourages our students to Read, Watch, Think, and Write. With English as your ticket, you can explore, examine, and create new worlds.

In today's world, the Humanities disciplines offer the knowledge and skills that are in high demand. Through analytical and critical thinking, complex problem-solving, creativity, persuasiveness and communication, and continual and meaningful learning, our students and academics in the Humanities are able to examine and illuminate complex phenomena from diverse perspectives. They make and share discoveries about our history, influence and drive contemporary cultural and social debates, leading to positive change. With their knowledge and creativity, they have the ability to envision better futures.

English at the University of Tasmania brings together literary studies and creative writing, with a dream of a better world through reading, writing, and critique. Novels, poems, plays, and screen texts not only tell us who we are but also allow us to imagine what we could be. Through our English program, you will discover the many ways to read, write, and imagine, while developing the skills and ideas that will allow you to become the best thinker, writer, and critic you can be.

In addition to English, the University of Tasmania offers dynamic programs in five modern languages. We believe that languages are central to truly appreciating the perspectives, histories, and cultures of the places where they are spoken. Cross-cultural communication fosters a more tolerant and plural society, contributing to an outlook that is open to the wider world and welcoming of differences.

Our History and Classics program encompasses ancient and modern histories and cultures. Our researchers and students are like detectives, studying evidence from the past to find new answers. The work of History and Classics will never be complete, as old questions will return for future generations. Experience the joy of discovering the unexpected and unknown while sharpening your research and reasoning skills.

Philosophy and Gender Studies at the University of Tasmania includes analytic, continental, and non-Western traditions. Philosophy empowers us to understand ourselves and our intersectional location in a diverse world. Take on the critical ethical, social, environmental, and political problems facing the world today.

Humanities graduates benefit from an education in the broadest possible sense. They are equipped with the cultural understanding, knowledge of social dynamics, and language proficiency to lead individuals, communities, organizations, and nations to a brighter future. They are capable of governing their own thinking and actions, engaging effectively with the world around them. They appreciate the ways our differences have shaped history and contribute to the creativity and adaptability of any workforce. That's why our graduates are pursuing the most exciting diversity of careers imaginable.

But don't just take our word for it. Bridget Hickey, a graduate from our institution, studied across disciplines, including Asian Studies and English, picking subjects that she loved. Lisa Singh believes that studies that allow you to understand who we are as a people, such as Philosophy, are integral to finding solutions to important social issues.

Our School of Humanities is committed to critical and creative research that reframes and advances key human problems from the ancient world until today. Our researchers are leaders in the environmental humanities, history and heritage studies, book history and culture, social inclusion, and the scholarship of learning and teaching. Much of our research connects to Tasmania's rich natural and cultural heritage, including its Wilderness World Heritage- and UNESCO-listed heritage sites, its innovative cultural institutions, its unique indigenous culture, and its role as an Antarctic Gateway. Our mission is to use our research to build strong partnerships and develop resilient communities for and from Tasmania.

One of our esteemed faculty members, Dr. Hannah Stark, is a chief investigator on the Australian Research Council Discovery Project called Beyond Extinction: Reconstructing the Global Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) Archive. She describes the thylacine's extinction as a story of "Tasmania in the world".

We acknowledge the palawa/pakana peoples of lutruwita upon whose lands the University of Tasmania stands. Join us at the School of Humanities and embark on a journey of knowledge, creativity, and critical thinking that will shape your future and contribute to a better world.