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Australian Literature at the University of Sydney

Australian Literature at the University of Sydney is a program located within the English Department in the School of Letters, Art and Media.

The University of Sydney is the only university in Australia to offer a complete program of study in Australian Literature from the undergraduate level to the PhD. The Australian Literature program offers one junior unit of study, 6 senior units, 4 Honours units, and postgraduate study including the MPhil and PhD.

Why study Australian Literature?

The Australian Literature program places Australian writing, theatre and filmmaking within global contexts, allowing students to explore issues of national and international significance.

By introducing and examining some of the innovative and influential works that have shaped Australia’s cultural heritage, the undergraduate program trains students to read works closely and to make sophisticated connections between Australian writing and the wider culture. Australian Literature at the University of Sydney teaches students to express advanced theoretical concepts with clarity and rigour, whilst engaging with the literature and ideas that have contributed to the nation’s distinctive intellectual and artistic formation.

The Australian Literature major does not prevent students from taking other English units, but it is a named specialisation with potential career benefits. It also qualifies students for admission to the Australian Literature Honours program.

The undergraduate Australian Literature major

In addition to the English major, the English Department offers a separate undergraduate major in Australian Literature. These majors have separate alphanumeric codes: ENGL and ASLT.

Students majoring in Australian Literature in 2012 and 2013 will normally have completed 12 junior credit points from Table A including ENGL1008 Australian Texts: International Contexts. They are then required to complete 6 senior ASLT units in the following sequence:

In 2012:

In 2013:

The distinction between Core and Extension units in the ENGL major does not apply to the ASLT major, but students majoring in English who choose to cross-list ASLT units will be required to respect the progression requirements relating to Core and Extension units within the English major.

For further information follow the link to the Department of English Undergraduate Program.

Honours in Australian Literature

Students who have successfully completed the ASLT major at Credit level or above are eligible for admission to the Australian Literature Honours program.

Australian Literature staff

Professor Robert Dixon ()
Associate Professor David Brooks ()
Dr Bernadette Brennan ()
Dr Peter Kirkpatrick ()
Dr Brigid Rooney ()