Series 452 - Annual examination registers

The School of General Studies was formed after the association of Canberra University College with the Australian National University following the Australian National University Act 1960, which came into operation on 30 September 1960. When the CUC became the School of General Studies, the university offered undergraduate courses for the first time. It comprised of the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Economics, Faculty of Law, and Faculty of Science. In 1980 it was formally renamed The Faculties.

The Canberra University College was established by the Canberra University College Ordinance (No. 20 of 1929) of 19 December 1929. In association with the University of Melbourne it provided undergraduate university education in Canberra and took its first students in 1930. Governed by a Council, there was also the Board of Diplomatic Studies 1944-c1947, from 1948 the Board of Studies, from 1951 the Library Committee, and from 1955, the Buildings and Grounds Committee, Finance and Staff Committee, and Joint Committee of the Council and the Board of Studies on the Development of the College. Sir Robert Garran was Chairman of the Council 1930–1953, succeeded by Dr Bertram Thomas Dickson 1954–1960. Professor Herbert (Joe) Burton was Principal 1948–1960 and the Registrar was Thomas Owen 1939–1960. The following departments and disciplines were represented, with many early courses taught by part-time staff: Botany, Chemistry, Classics, English, Geology, History, Law, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Oriental Studies, Pacific Studies, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Statistics and Zoology. In late 1960, the CUC amalgamated (‘associated’) with the Australian National University to become the School of General Studies within the University.