Bachelor of Economics

3 Year On Campus Bachelors Program

Australian National University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Economics at Australian National University is a dynamic three-year degree designed to help you understand why people, businesses, and governments make the decisions they do — and how those decisions ripple through economies and societies. It’s a great fit if you enjoy working with numbers but also love asking big questions about issues like climate change, inequality, financial systems, and global markets.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
Your first year is about building confidence and clarity. You’ll develop a solid understanding of how economies function through core subjects like Microeconomics 1 and Macroeconomics 1, while Foundations of Economic and Financial Models introduces you to structured economic thinking. With Quantitative Research Methods, you’ll start learning how data supports real-world economic arguments, and electives give you room to explore interests beyond economics or dive deeper into how economic ideas have evolved.

Year 2:
In second year, your understanding becomes sharper and more connected. Courses such as Microeconomics 2 and Econometrics I push you to think more rigorously about markets, incentives, and evidence, while Macroeconomics 2 helps you interpret national and global economic trends. With a wider choice of electives, you can begin shaping the degree around what excites you — whether that’s development, strategy, or applied economic analysis.

Year 3:
By your final year, you’re thinking and working like an economist. Advanced courses including Microeconomics 3 and Macroeconomics 3 challenge you to engage with complex policy questions and market behaviour. You’ll choose electives in areas such as financial economics, health economics, or game theory, building expertise that supports your career goals or prepares you for honours or postgraduate study. Projects and assessments focus on applying your skills to realistic economic problems.

What You’ll Focus On

Throughout the degree, you’ll develop strength in economic analysis and policy thinking, quantitative and data-driven methods, and understanding how markets and human behaviour shape decisions.

What You’ll Graduate With

By the time you finish, you’ll be able to confidently analyse economic problems, use data and models to test real-world ideas, interpret the impacts of markets and policy, and clearly communicate your insights. These are skills that translate directly into both public and private sector roles.

Professional Recognition

While this degree isn’t a vocational licence, it’s widely respected for its academic rigour and analytical depth. Employers value the way economics graduates from ANU think — critically, logically, and with evidence — making this degree a strong launchpad for policy work, finance, consulting, research, or further study.

Reputation and Employability

ANU consistently ranks among the world’s leading universities, often placing in the global top 30–40. That reputation carries real weight with employers, particularly in government, international organisations, and major firms. Graduates are known for their strong analytical skills and go on to work across Australia and around the world in influential, decision-making roles.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

What really stands out about the ANU Bachelor of Economics is that it doesn’t treat economics as something you just learn about — it treats it as something you actually do. From your very first year, you’re not just listening to theories in lectures and trying to memorise them for exams. You’re analysing real data, working through economic models, solving quantitative problems, and learning how economics connects with other fields.

The degree is deliberately designed to balance theory with practical tools. You’ll build strong quantitative and econometric skills, but you’ll also be pushed to think about how economic ideas apply to real problems in the world — whether that’s in policy, business, or social issues. The built-in transdisciplinary problem-solving courses are a big part of this, making sure you graduate with experience applying economic thinking beyond the classroom.

Here’s what that hands-on learning actually feels like in the BEc:

You develop real quantitative skills early on. In core courses like quantitative research methods and econometrics, you work with real datasets and analytical tools — the same kinds of tools economists use in professional settings.

Econometrics is taught as a practical skill, not abstract theory. In courses such as Econometrics I, you’re expected to estimate models, interpret results, and explain what those results mean in real terms, rather than just understanding formulas in isolation.

You’re pushed to think beyond a single discipline. The Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving requirement means you’ll tackle complex, real-world challenges where economics overlaps with areas like public policy, business, and society — exactly the kind of thinking employers value.

Learning builds progressively as you move through the degree. You start with the foundations of microeconomics and macroeconomics, then gradually move into more advanced areas like behavioural economics, computational methods, and policy-focused topics, with increasing emphasis on case studies, applied analysis, and real scenarios.

You get the freedom to shape your interests. With a wide range of electives — from health economics to environmental and labour economics — you can steer your studies toward the issues you actually care about, and build practical experience in areas that align with your future goals.

Overall, by the time you graduate, you won’t just know economics in a textbook sense. You’ll have spent years practising it — analysing data, solving problems, and applying economic thinking in ways that genuinely matter.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of this program step into careers where economic thinking genuinely shapes decisions and outcomes. Many go on to work as economists, policy analysts, economic consultants, data analysts, or roles across government, finance, and industry where understanding markets and policy really matters. It’s a degree that opens doors both in Australia and internationally, especially for students who enjoy problem-solving and real-world impact.

Here’s what this means for you:

At Australian National University, your employability is actively supported through dedicated career development services that help with internships, resumes, interview skills, and connecting you with employers aligned to your interests.
The program sits within a university known for strong links to government, public policy, and industry, giving students exposure to real economic challenges and professional networks while they study.
You graduate with skills that employers consistently look for — critical thinking, data analysis, economic modelling, and the ability to explain complex issues clearly to decision-makers.
The degree’s reputation and academic standing add long-term value, supporting career progression across public service, private sector roles, and international organisations over time.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this program, many students choose to deepen their expertise through postgraduate study at the same university. Common pathways include honours in economics, specialised master’s programs in economics, public policy, finance, or related fields, and research-focused degrees for those considering academic or policy research careers. These options allow you to build on your undergraduate foundation in a way that aligns with your career goals — whether that’s leadership, advanced analysis, or research-driven work.