E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga maha,
e mihi ana ki a koutou katoa.

Welcome to Victoria University, and in particular, a very warm welcome to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is a unique and distinctive part of Victoria University committed to the advancement of knowledge and creative activity through the pursuit of teaching, learning and research. It is recognised nationally and internationally for its scholarly excellence and creativity.

We are situated in a vibrant, creative city rich in theatre, art and heritage not to mention Wellington’s obvious connection with politics and international affairs. Combine this with staff whose national and international research reputations enable them to bring insight and enthusiasm to enliven their teaching and you have an ideal mix for learning.

Schools in the Faculty offer a wide range of subjects as diverse as Art History, Media Studies, Spanish, Theatre, Political Science and Cultural Anthropology. The Faculty is the largest at Victoria and provides you with the opportunity to expand your interests and gain knowledge and skills that will prepare you for your future career. These include an ability to communicate clearly, an ability to think critically and creatively, an ability to solve problems across a wide range of domains, and general leadership abilities.

Our qualifications are recognised internationally which means you can work or study anywhere in the world. For example, recent graduates have received scholarships to study at Cambridge, Harvard, Princeton, and UCLA, others have completed part of their undergraduate studies on exchange at overseas universities. Graduates from Humanities and Social Sciences can be found working a wide variety of careers including art galleries, film companies, business, advertising and policy analysis.

When you first come to the University the regulations and course procedures can seem complex. You will find that there is a great deal of information available within the University about all aspects of university life and I urge you to make use of it to help make your time at Victoria enjoyable and rewarding. If you need advice do not hesitate to ask.

I wish you success with your studies and look forward to personally welcoming you to Victoria.

Please feel welcome to contact our staff with any further questions. An organisational chart of the Faculty may assist you.

Professor Deborah Willis
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences