Introduction
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, students are able to start this program online and finish in Australia.
Fast facts
Australian students
UAC code: Newcastle - 482010, Central Coast - 482020, Online - 482040
Start dates:
Semester 1 - 22 February 2021
Semester 2 - 19 July 2021
Mode of delivery: Face to Face, Online
Duration: 3 years full-time or part-time equivalent up to 8 years maximum.
Programme code: 40096
International students
Location: Newcastle, Central Coast, Online
Start dates:
Semester 1 - 22 February 2021
Semester 2 - 19 July 2021
English language proficiency:
IELTS overall minimum - 6.0
IELTS section minimum - 6.0
Duration: 3 years full-time.
Mode of delivery: Face to Face, Online
International entry requirement: Admission to our undergraduate degree programmes usually requires successful completion of a senior secondary school qualification similar to the Higher School Certificate (HSC), the highest educational award in New South Wales schools.
Programme code: 40096
CRICOS code: 001602K
Study an arts degree
Enrich your mind, diversify your skills and safeguard your future with our new work-ready arts degree at the University of Newcastle.
Studying our new Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree at the University of Newcastle lets you forge your own path. Tailor your studies and gain core specialisations by choosing from 14 majors, 21 minors and 100s of courses in the arts and humanities, leading to diverse careers.
Study a range of courses to better understand and appreciate the world around you, and what it means to be human. Explore ideas, theories and records of how people process the human experience. You will learn about society, culture, history, language, media, politics and more. If you’re hungry for knowledge and enlightenment, an arts degree will allow you to turn your interests into meaningful careers.
Why study with us?
Safeguard your future with flexible and in-demand employability skills identified as critical for lasting success across a range of careers.
Enhance your career: You will learn about society, culture, history, language, media, politics and more. If you’re hungry for knowledge and enlightenment, an arts degree will allow you to turn your interests into meaningful careers.
Great career outcomes: Our new BA degree is designed to produce work-ready arts graduates. 86% of BA graduates are employed within four months (overall employment rate - 2019 Graduate Outcomes Survey).
Flexible study options: Choose from a range of majors/minors in the arts and humanities and four optional learning streams. A suite of majors, minors and courses are available online and via flexible delivery.
Benefit from online peer2peer learning support and enjoy learning circles mentored by an academic leader, with access to our new innovation lab.
Work Integrated Learning – gain real-world experience through industry placement opportunities and embedded authentic experiences throughout the programme including global experiences.
Graduate with honours – for one extra year of study at the end of your degree, you can refine your practical research skills and enhance your career prospects by completing the Honours programme.
World-leading research – our BA degree is built on world-leading research ensuring you are exposed to new ideas and fresh ways of thinking.
Education and Arts Scholarships – Find out about our scholarships for domestic and international students.
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Learn more about studying this degree
What you will study
Your core arts courses include practice-based projects and optional internships that further develop skills across digital literacy, problem-solving, innovative thinking and work-readiness.
Learning streams
In addition to choosing majors, minors and structured programme pathways, you can focus your studies through optional learning pathways:
Entrepreneurial stream - work readiness and specified WIL courses
Online stream - online and part-time study
Global stream - languages acquisition, global and cultural awareness, international mobility, ie. student exchange
Innovator stream - digital learning and topics of inquiry
Arts Majors and minors
Study diverse majors and minors to develop your core specialisation and take charge of your future. Choose from 14 majors in the arts and humanities, as well as 21 minors, and hundreds of courses.
Enjoy flexible degree options, choosing one of the following study pathways:
A single major
A single major and single minor
A single major and double minor
A double major
Double major and single minor.
This degree is offered face to face between the Callaghan and Central Coast (Ourimbah) campus locations. A suite of majors, minors and courses are available online and via flexible delivery (e.g. blended, intensive, online or a combination of these). From 2019, there is the option to complete the programme wholly online. Please refer to the programme handbook for the majors and minors that are available via online delivery.
21 arts majors and minors available in this degree:
Ancient History Minor
Chinese (minor)
Creative and Performing Arts Major
Education Major
English and Writing Major
Film, Media and Cultural Studies Major
French Major
Gender and Sexuality Studies (minor)
German Major
Global Indigenous Studies Major
History Major
Human Geography and the Environment Major
Information Technology (minor)
Japanese Major
Linguistics Major
Studies of Religion (minor only)
Politics and International Relations Major
Psychology Studies Major
Sociology and Anthropology Major
Violence Studies Minor
Writing Studies Minor
Career opportunities
As a Bachelor of Arts student, you will enjoy flexible pathways, develop in-demand skills1 and gain broad career outcomes.
Employment options for BA graduates are many and varied, with employability strengthened further by your chosen areas of specialisation. In fact, over 85% of recent Humanities graduates in Australia work full-time, casual or part-time. Specific Arts study areas also enjoyed similar employment outcomes: Languages and Psychology (84%), Visual/Performing Arts (82%), and Social Sciences (81%)2. Additionally, there is also a range of opportunities for graduates to complete further study or research.
Practical experience
Gain a stronger competitive advantage through practical experience and work-ready skills. The Bachelor of Arts programme allows you to undertake practical placements in your second and third years of study.
These opportunities will be designed to further develop the identified key employability skills that are useful to a range of careers. Opportunities exist to undertake Work Integrated Learning (WIL) courses, internship and placements to enhance your career goals.
Our Bachelor of Arts graduates develop specialist expertise and valuable job skills that are adaptable across various careers and industries in Australia and around the world.