Bachelor of Economics

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New South Wales

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Economics at UNSW is all about understanding the forces that shape our world — from the everyday choices we make with our money to the bigger picture of national policy and global markets. It’s ideal if you’re curious about how incentives, decisions, and institutions interact, and if you want to build analytical skills that employers genuinely value.

Curriculum Structure:
First Year: You’ll start by getting a solid grasp of economic thinking and how markets operate. Think of courses like introductory microeconomics, macroeconomics, and statistics, alongside an introduction to business. This year is about building your confidence, learning to read real economic data, and connecting theory with the world around you.

Second Year: Now the real fun begins — diving deeper into economic tools and methods. You’ll tackle intermediate micro and macro theory, econometrics, or data analytics, learning how to make sense of real datasets and start thinking like a professional economist. You’ll also pick business or general electives that broaden your perspective, showing how economics connects with finance, policy, and society.

Final Year: In your last year, you get to tailor your degree to what excites you most — whether that’s economic policy, financial markets, or advanced econometrics. Choose from subjects covering international trade, growth, regulation, or market strategy, and apply what you’ve learned to real-world challenges through projects or a capstone experience. It’s the perfect opportunity to bring your curiosity, creativity, and analytical skills together before graduation.

Focus Areas:
Macroeconomics & Financial Markets, Data Analytics & Econometrics, Economic Policy & Society.

Learning Outcomes:
Graduates leave able to think critically about economic problems, use data to make informed decisions, and communicate insights confidently in business, government, or nonprofit settings.

Professional Alignment:
The degree is designed to let you tailor your studies toward industry-relevant qualifications — including finance and human resource management — so your academic work aligns with what employers and regulators are looking for.

Reputation & Employability:
By studying Economics at UNSW, you join Australia’s #1 Business School, recognised by QS for outstanding teaching and outcomes. Economics and econometrics subjects rank among the top in the country — a strong signal to employers that you’re graduating with a respected degree and real-world-ready skills.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

From the very first day, the UNSW Bachelor of Economics is about more than just learning theory — it’s about doing economics. You won’t be stuck memorizing models in isolation; you’ll tackle real‑world problems, see how decisions shape markets and societies, and build the analytical confidence that employers really value. This degree is designed so you develop problem‑solving skills, teamwork, and professional experience alongside your academic knowledge — not after graduation.

Here’s how UNSW makes that happen:

Hands-on industry experiences: Through Work Integrated Learning, you can complete up to two for‑credit internships or business practicums, giving you direct exposure to professional economics in action.
Practical problem-solving throughout your studies: Courses are designed around real-world challenges, so the concepts you learn are always connected to the issues businesses and societies face today.
Collaborative consulting projects: You’ll work in teams to deliver solutions to external partners, putting your skills to the test while building your professional confidence.
Global practicums: Take your learning overseas and engage with international challenges, broadening your perspective and experience.
Flexible majors to match your interests: Whether it’s Data Analytics and Econometrics, Economic Policy and Society, or Macroeconomics and Financial Markets, you can tailor your studies to the hands-on experiences that excite you most.
Career support while you study: The UNSW Business School Career Accelerator helps you build professional skills, confidence, and access to work opportunities, all alongside your degree.

If you want to understand how economics works in the real world — not just in textbooks — this program is designed to get you there, with practical experience and career-ready skills built into every year of study.

Progression & Future Opportunities

What comes after a Bachelor of Economics at UNSW — and why it’s such a smart choice if you’re career-minded

Graduating with a Bachelor of Economics from UNSW opens doors to meaningful work across government, business, consulting, finance, and more. Employers consistently value our grads for their ability to analyse data, think critically, and communicate ideas clearly. Many step straight into roles like policy analyst, economic or financial analyst, business consultant, or data analyst, while others pursue careers as economic researchers, forecasters, or advisors in a range of industries. Essentially, UNSW Economics equips you with real-world problem-solving skills that are in demand everywhere.

Support to launch your career
UNSW’s Business School goes beyond the classroom to help you succeed. Programs like Career Accelerator give you hands-on support for building professional skills, landing internships, and connecting with employers even before you graduate.

Opportunities while you study
During your degree, you can gain experience through internships, global practicums, consulting projects, and career events like mentoring programs and industry fairs. These opportunities not only help you build your confidence but also put you directly in front of potential employers.

Connections that matter
You’ll benefit from UNSW’s strong ties with professional bodies and organisations, plus a global alumni network. These connections can open doors, provide guidance, and give you insight into what it’s really like to work in your chosen field.

Graduate outcomes to be proud of
UNSW consistently ranks among Australia’s top universities for employability. Economics graduates are in demand across public, private, and international sectors, thanks to their analytical rigour and practical problem-solving abilities.

Skills that stick with you
From interpreting complex data to thinking critically and communicating effectively, the skills you develop in this program are respected across industries — whether you end up in corporate roles, policy institutions, or research organisations.

Thinking about further study?
If you’re curious about diving deeper, there’s a clear path forward. Many students stay at UNSW for an Honours year, undertaking advanced study and a major research project — perfect if you’re aiming for specialist roles or research. Beyond that, postgraduate programs like the Master of Economics or Master of Applied Economics can prepare you for senior analytical, policy, or research positions. Honours also sets you up well if you’re considering a PhD or a future in academia.