History at Monash is one of the largest programs in Australia, covering American, Medieval and Renaissance, European, Australian, Asian, global history, Jewish and contemporary histories.
History is exciting, inspiring and diverse. Finding out about past peoples and societies opens up a world of fascinating stories and ideas. You’ll learn how history can inform the present and the future based on wise and unwise decisions made in the past. You’ll develop valuable skills in research, writing and forming a well-structured argument.
Studying history means a range of career opportunities are available in areas such as:
Monash University boasts one of the most distinguished and prolific history departments in Australia. It gathers together a community of scholar-teachers whose award-winning research expertise informs work in the classroom that has earned national recognition. Our historians specialise in Australia, Europe, Asia and the United States across the premodern and modern eras. Thematic interests include urban history, memory and emotion, diaspora, medicine and health, colonialism and decolonisation, and gender and the family. The department houses practitioners of a wide range of methodologies, including oral history, social history, cultural history, and political history. We bring these diverse interests and skills into the classroom, guiding our students in the development of their own research interests and exciting projects.
With Monash’s impressive international links, you’ll get the opportunity to venture into contexts where you can apply your expertise.
Exchange programs include:
GIG: Global Immersion Guarantee
The Monash Arts Global Immersion Guarantee (GIG) is an award-winning initiative that will enable you to explore first-hand the relationships between society, technology and the environment. It’s a two-week, funded study trip for all eligible first-year Monash Arts, single or double degree students to one of six destinations – China, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia or the Pacific Islands.
This area of study is offered in the following courses or can be taken where you have 8 free electives. To see if you can take this area of study within a double degree select from the course offering below.
Career options
Overseas opportunities
As a Monash student you have the option to make your course an international one. One option is studying at a Monash campus abroad, and you'll have Malaysia, India, China or Prato (Italy) to choose from.
"[The knowledge I gained in historical studies] really gave me the grounding to do the political and military analysis I did for the Defence Department."
- Catherine Kimonides, Bachelor of Arts