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Faculty of Arts and Society

Our courses equip students to navigate complex environments and make an impact locally and globally. 

  • A leader in Indigenous education

    Each year CDU teaches over 4,000 Indigenous students in over 150 locations across the NT.

  • Study the arts flexibly

    Study online, on campus, part or full time. Choose what suits you.

  • #2 in Australia for business management student support

    According to the Good Universities Guide 2025

Our work

Research

Engagement

Innovation

Key people

Message from the Pro Vice-Chancellor

The Faculty of Arts and Society leads positive global change and advances social justice through our teaching, research and collaboration with industry and the community.  

The faculty brings people and places to life, and from that, our desire to think, examine, express and create grows. This drives us to act collectively for positive social change and advance inquisitive, harmonious and equitable society, particularly for those who are most vulnerable. 

We strive to prepare students to be teachers, creative thinkers and innovators in a complex changing world. We bring together expertise in education, business, law, Indigenous knowledge practices, human geography, disaster preparedness and management, languages, humanities and the creative industries.  

Our reputation is based on extensive partnerships with government, industry and community stakeholders to address social, cultural and economic issues in: 

  • sparsely populated regional areas, including Northern Australia 

  • developing regions, including South-East Asia - particularly China, Indonesia and Timor-Leste 

  • Indigenous knowledge, social, cultural and economic futures. 

The faculty’s research and teaching will draw on the strength of the Northern Institute, centres of excellence and multidisciplinary teams primarily engaged in teaching, research, networking and business development. Together, academics, research students and industry professionals examine and drive solutions for emerging social, cultural and economic issues in challenging contexts. 

Portrait of Professor Ruth Wallace
Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Ruth Wallace leads the Faculty of Arts and Society
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Northern Institute

CDU's Northern Institute is a leader in policy research which builds on the strength of its connections to remote, regional and urban contexts to produce quality analysis.

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Tertiary Enabling Program (TEP)

CDU's free Tertiary Enabling Program (TEP) is an alternative pathway into university.  With TEP, you'll have the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to succeed at university.

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Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Apply for Recognition of Prior Learning to have your previous training, life and work experience counted towards a TAFE qualification at CDU, which means you won't have to re-learn what you already know. RPL assessments are free for eligible NT residents.

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Faculty events

Faculty news

  • Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme Early Childhood Education and Care pilot participant Hellen Toak at the Katherine graduation in 2025.

    Early childhood educators bring welcome relief to regional workforce

    The Northern Territory’s regional early childhood education workforce has received a significant boost with the graduation of 13 educators from a Charles Darwin University TAFE intensive training program. 

    Read more
  • Two young male high school students sit either side of their teacher. They are smiling at the camera. The teacher has a laptop open in front of him.

    From dyslexia diagnosis to Doctorate: New Territory teacher empowers students through mentoring

    A childhood marked by undiagnosed dyslexia and learning struggles in Nigeria has inspired a new local teacher and recent Charles Darwin University (CDU) PhD graduate to dedicate his life to building inclusive, mentoring-rich classrooms in the Northern Territory.

    Read more
  • Image of University branding taken at elevation with the sprawling Darwin CBD in the background.

    CDU rises in 2026 QS World University Rankings, bucking national trend

    Charles Darwin University (CDU) has climbed to 584 in the prestigious 2026 QS World University Rankings - a marked improvement from its position in the 621-630 band last year - defying the national trend. 

    Read more
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