Bachelor of Economics / Education (Secondary)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of New South Wales

Program Overview

The UNSW Bachelor of Economics / Education (Secondary) is a unique four-year journey that combines a deep understanding of economics with the skills to inspire the next generation in the classroom. It’s perfect for curious thinkers who want to explore how economies work, develop practical problem-solving tools, and learn how to bring those ideas to life as a secondary school teacher.

Curriculum Structure:
In your first year, you’ll get a solid grounding in both education and economics. You’ll explore courses like Educational Psychology, Economic Perspectives, and Social Perspectives in Education, discovering not just how markets function, but also how students learn and grow. It’s a time to build your foundational knowledge, connect theory with real life, and start forming relationships with peers who share your passions.

Your second year digs deeper. You’ll tackle intermediate economics courses, Professional Engagement, and electives that let you explore your own interests — from data and macroeconomic trends to creative teaching methods. This is when you begin to think like both a teacher and an economist: questioning, designing, and analysing with curiosity and care.

By third year, you’re moving into advanced territory. You’ll study units like Learning and Teaching Perspectives alongside higher-level economics subjects such as Econometrics or Economic Policy. Here, you start turning ideas into professional confidence — planning lessons, testing teaching strategies, and exploring policy insights that make you ready for the classroom.

In your final year, it all comes together. You’ll spend significant time in real secondary schools — up to 80 days — gaining hands-on experience while completing capstone education units like Professional Experience 2. Meanwhile, senior economics electives help you connect deep discipline knowledge with the skills to explain complex ideas clearly and engagingly to your students.

Focus Areas: Secondary teaching practice, economic analysis, policy insight, classroom leadership.

Learning Outcomes: By the time you graduate, you’ll be able to confidently teach economics and business in secondary schools, communicate complex ideas with clarity, apply analytical thinking to real-world problems, and design lessons that spark curiosity and engagement.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation): This degree not only equips you with a strong economics foundation — it also meets the requirements for initial teacher accreditation through the NSW Education Standards Authority. That means you’ll be ready to step straight into classrooms in Australia, with recognition in many international contexts too.

Reputation (Employability Rankings): UNSW is home to Australia’s top-ranked Business & Management school, renowned globally for economics research and graduate employability. Graduating from this program gives you credentials and experiences that show schools and employers alike that you can think critically, lead with confidence, and make a real impact.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

This double-degree is more than just learning economics or education separately — it’s about blending them in a way that’s practical, hands-on, and career-ready. You won’t just memorise concepts; you’ll actively apply them in classrooms and real work settings. As you move through the program, you’ll dive into both the theory of economics and the craft of teaching. In your final two years, you’ll spend substantial time in real secondary-school classrooms, building confidence, developing your teaching skills, and experiencing the day-to-day realities of school life. By the time you graduate, you won’t just have analytical and economic expertise — you’ll also have professional teaching experience that schools and employers truly value.

Here’s how this program brings learning to life:

Supervised school teaching practicum — spend up to 80 days teaching in at least two different secondary schools. You’ll learn by doing, reflect on your practice, and engage with real students and school communities.
Economics internships and industry-linked opportunities — put your economic knowledge into practice outside the classroom, gaining insights into business, finance, and policy environments.
Tailored economics study areas with real analytical tools — choose majors like Data Analytics and Econometrics, Economic Policy and Society, or Macroeconomics and Financial Markets, and develop practical data and analytical skills that directly prepare you for careers in policy, research, or business.
Wide range of electives — shape your learning around your interests and career goals, choosing subjects that let you apply both your teaching and economics knowledge in meaningful ways.

These experiences are designed to help you step confidently into teaching roles — or broader careers — where economic thinking and real-world engagement make a difference.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Progression & Future Opportunities
Graduates from UNSW’s Bachelor of Economics/Education (Secondary) are equipped to step confidently into careers that combine analytical thinking with educational impact. You could find yourself shaping young minds in classrooms, influencing education policy, or applying economic expertise in schools and educational institutions. Typical roles include Secondary Economics Teacher, Curriculum Coordinator, Policy Advisor, and Education Consultant.

Here’s what this means for you:

UNSW Careers & Employment offers tailored support for teaching graduates, including workshops, resume clinics, and interview preparation to boost your employability in education and beyond.
Industry Connections: UNSW partners with local schools for practical teaching experience, ensuring you graduate ready to step into the classroom with hands-on experience.
Graduate Outcomes: You’ll leave qualified to teach economics at the secondary level while having strong analytical and policy skills, giving your career flexibility in both education and broader economic roles.
Accreditation Value: Completing this double degree gives you both an academic qualification in economics and professional teacher accreditation, enhancing your career mobility.

Further Academic Progression:
After graduation, you could continue your studies through UNSW’s postgraduate pathways, such as a Master of Education or specialized economics programs. These options allow you to deepen expertise, pursue leadership roles in schools, or focus on policy and research, building on the strong foundation this degree provides.