The aim of the major in International History is to equip students with a thorough understanding of the historical foundations of the modern world. Geographically courses in the major cover Europe, Britain, the Middle East, China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Introductory courses deal with the medieval and earlier modern periods while the majority of courses focus on the modern era from the nineteenth to the twentieth century. Students will develop skills in the handling and interpretation of primary and secondary sources as well as gain a grasp of the main theoretical and methodological debates in modern historiography. In upper-level courses students are trained as professional historians with the ability to deliver an historical product to a broad audience.

Graduates are typically interested in pursuing careers with international agencies, government or nonprofit organisations, such as UNESCO, UNICEF or the World Health Organization.

Beyond a career in international relations, policy or humanitarian services, our graduates also keenly pursue careers in the global private sector, across industries such as:

• banking and finance
• legal affairs
• advertising
• media
• journalism
• market research
• translation and interpretation services
• international education services.

Many of our graduates also choose to further their research ambitions by enrolling in an honours year, or progress to postgraduate coursework programs including International Relations, Peace and Conflict Studies, Development Practice, Governance and Public Policy, or Interpreting and Translation (Japanese or Chinese) at UQ.