School of Humanities, Creative Industries and Social Sciences
Unlock your potential and shape the future of culture, society, and the arts.
Advancing human understanding
We offer a wide range of subjects that help us understand people, cultures, and societies, and imagine the future.
We bring together a dynamic mix of subject, taught by a team of talented artists, musicians, designers, and creative professionals. Our facilities support learning, creativity, and hands-on experience and offer modern spaces for music production, performing arts, and design.
Visual Communication Design student piece at graduation showcase - Ally Ferris
Bachelor of Music and Performing Arts student performing in Chromatic Festival – Jack Chambers
Shooting student documentary film ‘Beyond the Break’
Bachelor of Communication and Media students hosting the Screen and Media graduate showcase event
National Higher Education Category winning animation ‘When Chickens Fly’ at 3Thirty Film Competition – UoN VisCom Club students.
Bachelor of Music and Performing Arts student performance at Tertiary Student Concert.
Bachelor of Music and Performing Arts student performance at Tertiary Student Concert.
Student work displayed at Chromatic Festival 2023
Student shooting content at Chromatic Festival – Jack Khoo
Student receiving award at annual film screening event “The Newbies”.
Grand opening of Visual Communication Design Exhibition.
Students working behind the scenes and producing “Chromatic Live TV” event
Bachelor of Music and Performing Arts students participate in live studio performance as part of “Chromatic Live TV”
Bachelor of Media and Communication student interviewing performers at opening of Chromatic Festival
Bachelor of Media and Communication students filming content at Chromatic Festival
Study with us
Our students develop in-demand skills that are transferrable across industries, while also having access to state-of-the-art facilities and the latest technologies. Our academic experts teach courses in the following discipline areas.
Research
Our research is grounded in the humanities, social sciences, and creative fields, and strengthened through collaboration with researchers across other Schools and Colleges.
Where will you study?
Find out more on Newcastle City campuses
Say Aahhhh: Health, Medicine and Everyday Care in Newcastle from 1945 to 2000
Come and explore Say Aahhhh: Health, Medicine and Everyday Care in Newcastle from 1945 to 2000, an exhibition exploring the unique and surprising history of health care in Newcastle.
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Feminisms from/of the Souths
Purai Global Indigenous History Centre will be hosting an intimate get together where Sara Motta, Luz Gamarra Caballero and Giselle Naidu will be talking about feminisms from the south
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Newcastle Youth Studies Centre Seminar Series: Class Diplomacy - Cross-Class Friendship and Social Mobility
Join this international seminar series featuring speakers from the University of Newcastle alongside some of the biggest international scholars in sociology, digital humanities, communications, media studies, and education, responding to key social issues of our time.
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Public Lecture: Australia, International Law and Armed Conflict
A briefing on international law and Australian state and territory international obligations on overseas conflicts and the environment.
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Draft a Course Plan with ChatGPT
The LDTI GenAI Tinker Sessions provide an opportunity for academic staff to try out different tools, experiment with their functionality, and think about how they could be used in day-to-day work.
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Newcastle Youth Studies Centre Seminar Series: Born to Rule
Join this international seminar series featuring speakers from the University of Newcastle alongside some of the biggest international scholars in sociology, digital humanities, communications, media studies, and education, responding to key social issues of our time.
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Globally recognised academic named 2026 Lake Mac Ambassador
Professor Tamara Blakemore honoured with Lake Macquarie’s top annual civic award for her tireless work as a global leader in community violence prevention.
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Exceptional educators celebrated in national teaching awards
Two academics from the University of Newcastle have been recognised for their innovative and creative teaching styles at the Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT).
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Post‑mining research comes to life in community art exhibition
A new art exhibition has emerged from a four‑year study led by University of Newcastle researcher Associate Professor Hedda Askland, exploring how the Hunter Valley can navigate its post‑mining future.
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Exciting International Opportunities for Creative Industries Students coming this year
Applications are now open for students studying Visual Communication Design or Media and Communication in 2026 as plans come together for the 2026 Singapore Study Tour and the 2026 Annecy Visual Communication Design Study Tour to France.
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Translating compassion: a linguist's commitment to social inclusion
Dr Suzan Makhloof is a decorated lecturer in linguistics and cross-cultural communication, teaching English in Hunter schools to students from diverse backgrounds. Marking the completion of the PhD in linguistics, she will cross the stage at University of Newcastle graduation on Tuesday, 16 December.
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We’re not going anywhere: Muswellbrook faces transition beyond coal head on
As the Hunter region of New South Wales inches toward the closure of the state’s largest coal mine, Muswellbrook community members are urging industry to leave a positive legacy in their wake.
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The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.