Voyages to the Underworld: UQ Centre for Western Civilisation Winter School
Few amongst the living have braved the Underworld. Fewer still have returned from its depths. Journey with Orpheus, Odysseus, Aeneas and Dante as they traverse the lands of the dead with love, courage, reason and faith as their guides.
Join us for a unique 3-day experience where you will study the underworlds of the Odyssey, Aeneid, Georgics, and Dante’s Inferno. You’ll learn about the historical contexts of these works and how these stories still influence us today.
Event sessions
What's involved
During this 3-day event you'll:
- work with UQ experts to understand the power of the human imagination
- analyse key passages and themes in the work of Dante, Homer, and Virgil
- enjoy a ghost tour of the Toowong Cemetery delivered by Ghost Tours Australia
- take part in a workshop on presentation skills and performing poetry, run by a professional theatre company
- view Jean Cocteau’s Orphée, a reimagining of the Orpheus myth set in 1950s Paris.
Eligibility
- High school students in Year 11 and Year 12
- Interstate applicants are welcome
Cost
- The Winter School is free to attend.
- Accommodation and full-board during the Winter School are provided.
- Travel subsidies for students who are travelling from over 400 km away from Brisbane are available.
How to apply
- Applications open early February 2026, this page will be updated once applications are live.
- On the form, you'll be asked about your motivation for applying for the Winter School.
- There are limited places available.
Contact
Email westernciv@uq.edu.au.
