Ïã½¶Ö±²¥

History

Exploring the variety of human experience

Encountering other times and other cultures helps us understand change and see the world from different perspectives.

Established in 1891, the discipline of History at the University of Sydney is the oldest and largest in Australia. In recent years we’ve recruited a large number of exceptional lecturers trained at some of the world’s greatest universities. They complement a group of established scholars of international distinction.

We write and teach on a wide variety of eras and national or regional contexts, from medieval Spain to Renaissance Europe, to modern China, contemporary USA and Australia. Some of our people study culture and some politics; many of us work in the areas of international and transnational history that have energised and transformed the study of the past in recent times.

What unites us is a curiosity about ideas in action – that is, how ideas and ideals were developed, challenged and lived within particular historical contexts. How were concepts of freedom tested in practice by African-Americans in nineteenth-century U.S. cities? By diplomats and international lawyers? By Indigenous people navigating the judicial system? By artists? By hackers?

These examples are from courses we have taught in recent years. We offer a diverse array of courses each year and constantly review, renew, and expand our curriculum.

Many of our staff have won awards for their teaching as well as their research. We are committed to giving our students a worldclass education and a gateway to life beyond university.

Our study offering

The study of history equips you to understand change, to look at things from different perspectives, and to assess diverse kinds of information. It offers a variety of topics, from war to politics, culture and sexuality, the history of ideas and the history of food; and it spans the Middle Ages to the present, from Australia to China, the United States and Europe.Ìý

Undergraduate

*Available to all students studying theÌýBachelor of Arts,ÌýBachelor of EconomicsÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýBachelor of Visual Arts, as well as all combinedÌýBachelor of Advanced StudiesÌý»å±ð²µ°ù±ð±ð²õ. â¶Ä¯

Research

International and Global Studies gives you a rigorous understanding of the paradoxes and complex interconnections of globalisation. This degree will equip you with the ability to work in global society.Ìý

UndergraduateÌý

International and Global Studies guide and planner

Our research

The History discipline, one of the largest and most dynamic in Australia, has developed long-standing expertise in teaching and research across a wide range of geographical areas, including Australia and the Pacific, Asia, Europe and the United States.

The discipline also possesses a number of research strengths across burgeoning thematic and comparative fields such as global and Indigenous history, the history of race, science, medicine and public health and the history of ideas, as well as social, cultural, political, economic, labour and urban history. With over 50 postgraduate students currently enrolled and a large number of external grants awarded to members of the discipline, History is a research powerhouse.

Major in History

Find out more

Manual Name : Professor Michael McDonnell

Manual Description : Discipline Chair

Manual Address :

Manual Addition Info Title :

Manual Addition Info Content :

Manual Type : profile

alt

Auto Type : contact

Auto Addition Title :

Auto Addition Content :

Auto Name : true

Auto Position : true

Auto Phone Number : false

Auto Mobile Number : true

Auto Email Address : true

Auto Address : false

UUID :

Useful links

  • false
  • false
  • false
  • false
  • false

Research Centre

Our people

  • DrÌýThomas Adams
  • Emeritus ProfessorÌýRobert Aldrich
  • Professor David Armitage, FAHA
  • Professor Alan Atkinson
  • DrÌýRobert Austin Henry
  • Emeritus ProfessorÌýBarbara Caine
  • Dr Robert Curry
  • ProfessorÌýAnn Curthoys, FASSA, FAHA
  • Professor John Docker, FAHA
  • Professor Emerita Helen Dunstan
  • Associate ProfessorÌýNick Eckstein
  • Honorary ProfessorÌýAndrew Fitzmaurice
  • ProfessorÌý
  • Dr Jane Hardie
  • DrÌý
  • Dr Rohan Howitt
  • Dr Chin Jou
  • Associate ProfessorÌý
  • DrÌýKim Kemmis
  • Dr Roberta Kwan
  • Dr Addie Leah Lui-Chivizhe
  • Emeritus ProfessorÌýÌýFASSA, FAHA
  • Emeritus ProfessorÌý
  • Emeritus ProfessorÌýMark McKenna
  • Dr Andrew Mellas
  • Professor Anthony Moses
  • Dr Penelope Nash
  • Dr Briony Neilson
  • Dr Jacqueline Newling
  • Dr Lynette Olson
  • Associate Professor John Pryor
  • Dr Kathrine Reynolds
  • Professor EmeritaÌýPenny Russell
  • Dr Nicholas Sparks
  • DrÌýToner Stevenson
  • ProfessorÌýRichard WaterhouseÌýFASSA, FAHA
  • Dr Paul Werskey
  • Associate Professor Richard White
  • Emeritus ProfessorÌýShane White
  • Associate Professor Christine Winter
  • Emeritus ProfessorÌýFASSA, FAHA
  • Professor Jonathan Wooding

Seminars and events

The Discipline of History is home to a number of lively seminars and public lectures. Details of our events,Ìýincluding event run by the Powerful Stories Network,Ìýcan be found on the School of Humanities link on theÌý.

.

Human Rights Archives and the Problems of Provenance: Conference

Location:
ÌýThe University of Sydney
Dates:Ìý25-27 June 2025
Find out more:Ìý.

50

automatic

Link

History podcasts

50

automatic

Link

Discover the latest podcasts from our experts. Tune in for entertaining discussions, thought-provoking insights and interesting facts.

  • false
  • false
  • false
  • false
  • false
  • false
  • false

Contact us

School of Humanities

Room 607, Brennan MacCallum Building A18,
The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006

Phone: 1800 SYD UNI (1800 793 864) (in Australia)Ìý
+61 2 9351 2862 (outside Australia)Ìý

Email:Ìýsoh.enquiries@sydney.edu.au

  • false
  • false
  • false
  • false