The defining characteristic of sociology at ANU has been constructive engagement with the big issues facing Australian and global societies. ANU provides a unique environment to study sociology being located in the seat of Federal Government in Australia, in close proximity to many national departments and institutions.

The School of Politics and International Relations has a reputation for excellence in research, undergraduate education and postgraduate supervision, producing work on political parties, public administration, trade unions, pressure groups, elections and political behaviour.

As a critical engagement with the past, history sharpens judgements, expands perspectives, challenges a sense of the self-evident, and feeds curiosity. The School of History explores these themes through the lenses of Aboriginal, cultural, colonial, gender, intellectual, labour, political legal, post-colonial and transnational history.

The Australian National University’s School of Philosophy is one of the leading philosophy centres in the world where philosophers are engaged in cutting-edge innovative research and scholarship.

The School of Demography aims to retain and enhance the University's position as the leading Australian research and training institution for demography and social research, recognised both nationally and internationally for its work.

The Centre for Indigenous Policy Research's principal objective is to undertake high-quality, independent research that will assist in furthering the social and economic development and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout Australia.

The Centre integrates the study of Middle Eastern and Central Asian contemporary politics, history, culture, economics, and the religion of Islam within the broader framework of the changing global order. The Centre also fosters the study of the region’s most relevant languages.

POLIS is home to seven research centres that work across disciplines and sectors- including government, community, business and education- to address our most pressing social challenges.

ANU Centre for European Studies is the oldest research centre in Australia focused to promote ground-breaking dialogue across the broad range of disciplines embraced by European Studies on the study of Europe and the European Union. It is an ANU-wide platform for research and collaboration with Europe, with strong links to government and industry.