Bachelor Of Economics

Economics is an influential social science that explores human behaviour and decision-making, with a focus on the roles played by incentives, resource constraints, laws, customs, and institutions. 

When you study the Bachelor of Economics at UNSW, you’ll explore how the decisions of institutions and individuals interact to determine outcomes for the economy and society.

As a graduate of economics, your distinct insights can be applied broadly. Through this degree, you'll gain highly transferable analytical skills that are valuable in a diverse range of careers.  

In addition to more traditional economic issues like unemployment, taxation, and trade policy, economics allows you to understand and address human challenges like inequality, climate change, corruption, political polarisation, and impediments to education and health care.

Key Features:

• Learn how to change the world
• You’ll explore and find solutions to the important issues of our time. Economics uncovers the forces behind global inequality and the drivers of international relations. It explores policymaking and regulation, inflation, property rights, labour markets, our interaction with the environment, firm organisation and competition, and strategic interaction.
• Become highly sought after by industry and government
• UNSW Economics graduates are keenly sought after by policymakers at all levels of government, private sector employers, not-for-profits, and international organisations. They work in diverse careers as analysts, researchers, forecasters, journalists, and advisors.
• Build your expertise
• Our flexible program allows you to shape your degree around your interests and goals. Choose from three specialisations in economics, build your own program, or complement your economics studies with other Business and Commerce courses. You can also study this program as a double degree to combine your expertise.
• Put theory into practice
• You’ll apply your academic learning through practical experience, empowering you to use economics and leadership to change the world. Opportunities for practical experience include internships, group consulting projects, and global practicums.

Entry Requirements:

Entry to this degree is based on your Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) or an equivalent rank derived from the following:

Australian interstate Year 12 qualifications (e.g., OP rank)
New Zealand NCEA Level 3
Equivalent overseas qualifications e.g., International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, GCE A-Levels
Post-secondary or tertiary qualifications
An alternative entry qualification

Program Structure:

The Bachelor of Economics is a three-year degree program consisting of 24 courses. You can choose from a wide variety of courses according to your interests or focus on a major study area. In 2022, you’ll be able to study one or two Economics majors choosing from Macroeconomics and Financial Markets, Data Analytics and Econometrics, and Economic Policy and Society, or other Commerce majors including Behavioural Economics. 

The program includes:

• Economics core courses
• Introductory Business courses
• Economics elective courses or optional Economics major
• Business electives or the option to pursue a Commerce major or minor
• General education courses from other faculties
• Professional development courses and experiences:
• Work Integrated Learning – You can complete up to two for-credit work industry experiences such as an internship or business practicum
• Practical Application – The curriculum is taught with practical application of real-world problems so you can gain a solid grounding in understanding society and business.