Bachelors of Economics / Arts

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Queensland

Program Overview

The four‑year Bachelor of Economics / Bachelor of Arts at The University of Queensland is a perfect blend of numbers and nuance. You’ll gain strong analytical skills to understand markets while exploring the human side of society through arts subjects — from history and languages to politics and culture. It’s ideal for curious thinkers who want to make smart decisions and see the bigger picture at the same time.

Curriculum Structure:

Year 1:
Your first year is all about laying a strong foundation. You’ll dive into core economics topics like microeconomics, macroeconomics, and the tools economists use to make sense of the world. Alongside this, you’ll start your arts journey with level‑1 courses that spark your curiosity — whether that’s international relations, languages, or political thought. It’s the start of seeing how numbers and ideas come together to shape society.

Year 2:
In your second year, you’ll deepen your skills and grow more confident. Economics courses become more quantitative, with intermediate microeconomics and analysis giving you sharper problem‑solving tools. Meanwhile, your arts courses get richer, letting you explore your chosen subjects in more depth through essays, debates, and projects that connect big ideas to the real world.

Year 3:
By the third year, you really start making the degree your own. You can pick specialised economics electives — like public policy or behavioural strategy — to see how theory works in practice. At the same time, your arts studies move to higher‑level courses, letting you turn curiosity into expertise and tackle complex cultural, historical, or societal questions.

Year 4:
In your final year, everything comes together. Advanced economics electives and high‑level arts seminars challenge your critical thinking and communication skills. You’ll leave with a portfolio of work that shows you can analyse data, interpret ideas, and communicate across disciplines — ready to step into the world with confidence, insight, and flexibility.

Focus Areas: Economics, Public Policy, International Relations, Languages, History, Culture

Learning Outcomes: You’ll graduate able to analyse economic data, understand societal trends, communicate clearly, think critically across disciplines, and approach problems with both precision and human insight.

Professional Alignment: The degree is designed to give your economics training the analytical edge employers look for, while your arts study develops communication and cultural skills valued in policy, media, consulting, and beyond.

Reputation: UQ is a leader in its fields — ranked 1st in Queensland for arts and humanities and 2nd in Australia for business and economics — giving your degree real weight with future employers.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

This program is designed not just to sit you in classrooms, but to help you actively do economics and arts in ways that build confidence and capability. Beyond learning theories, you’ll engage directly in research and workshops that mirror the kinds of thinking and problem‑solving you’ll use in future careers — from analysing real data to exploring human behaviour and culture through your arts major. You’ll also learn in small‑group tutorials and mix online study with face‑to‑face interaction so you’re constantly applying what you’re learning, not just memorising it. Taken together, these experiences help you graduate as someone who can think, analyse and communicate with purpose and impact in the real world. Here are the hands‑on elements you’ll encounter in this program:

Experiential learning highlights in this program:

Research experience embedded in your courses, giving you a chance to investigate questions and methods that matter in economics and arts.
Workshops designed to deepen your practical understanding of key concepts and help build skills you’ll use in professional settings.
Tutorials that offer structured, interactive spaces to practise applying ideas with peers and get personalised feedback.
A blend of online study and in‑person learning that lets you apply concepts flexibly and reflectively in different environments.

If you choose majors or electives that involve projects, language work, field research, or community engagement within the Arts component, those will further add to your experiential learning — and you can tailor these choices to match your career goals.

Progression & Future Opportunities

The Big Picture
When you graduate with a Bachelor of Economics and Arts from the University of Queensland, you’re not just leaving with a degree — you’re stepping into a world where employers value both sharp analytical thinking and a broad understanding of culture and society. This unique combination is incredibly versatile, giving you the skills to pivot across industries and build a meaningful career. Graduates often find themselves in roles like economic consultant, policy adviser, business development manager, history teacher, or government relations manager — all careers that benefit from the blend of economics insight and arts-based perspective you’ll gain at UQ.

Support That Helps You Succeed
From day one, UQ’s Careers and Employability services are there to help you grow your professional self. Think career planning, resume and interview support, networking opportunities, and practical workshops — all designed to get you ready for the workplace. There’s even the UQ Employability Award, where you can gain hands-on experience while you study.

Within the Business, Economics and Law (BEL) community, you’ll also find tailored career support — from industry events and work-integrated learning to application guidance — giving you the confidence and connections to hit the ground running once you graduate.

Learning That Gets You Work-Ready
Your degree isn’t just about lectures and tutorials. It’s built around real-world skills: economic reasoning, research, communication, cultural awareness, and critical thinking — exactly what employers say they value in UQ graduates.

Graduate Outcomes You Can Trust
UQ graduates enjoy strong employment rates and high levels of employer satisfaction, reflecting the reputation this university holds both in Australia and internationally.

Looking Ahead
If you fall in love with research, policy, or economic analysis, UQ makes it easy to take the next step. The Honours year in Economics is a research-focused program that sets you apart in the job market and lays the foundation for postgraduate study, whether that’s a Master’s, PhD, or advanced roles in consulting, government, or strategy teams.

There are also broader postgraduate options if you want to explore further — from a Master of Public Policy to a Master of Economics, or interdisciplinary programs that complement your Arts interests, like international relations, public policy, or languages. These pathways give you the flexibility to shape your education around your ambitions, both academically and professionally.