Bachelor of Economics

Why is something as superfluous as diamonds so costly, but something as essential as water so cheap?

How can the cost of the coffee beans make up only a few cents of the price of a cup of coffee?

With the world’s highest minimum wage rate, can Australia ever compete with low wage countries?The ANU Bachelor of Economics provides a framework and a way of thinking to help answer questions like these.

Your coursework will span economics (both theory and applied), economic history, and econometrics while developing your analytical problem-solving and quantitative skills.Whether working as an economist or in some other role, your Bachelor of Economics degree and training will be sought after.

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Economics requires completion of 144 units, of which:

A maximum of 60 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 144 units must include:

36 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

ECON1101 Microeconomics 1

ECON3101 Microeconomics 3

ECON3102 Macroeconomics 3

EMET1001 Foundations of Economic and Financial Models

EMET2007 Econometrics I: Econometric Methods

STAT1008 Quantitative Research Methods

6 units from completion of a course from the following list:

ECON1100 Economics I (H)

ECON1102 Macroeconomics 1

6 units from completion of a course from the following list:

ECON2101 Microeconomics 2(P)

ECON2111 Microeconomics 2(H)

6 units from completion of a course from the following list:

ECON2016 Economics II (H)

ECON2102 Macroeconomics 2(P)

ECON2112 Macroeconomics 2(H)

6 units from completion of a course from the following list:

ECHI1006 The Australian Economy: Past and Present

ECHI3008 History of Economic Thought(P)

ECHI3009 World Economy Since 1800

ECHI3018 History of Economic Thought (H)

ECHI3019 The World Economy Since 1800 (H)

ECON2013 Behavioral Economics

ECON2014 Managerial Economics

ECON2026 Money and Banking

ECON2091 The Economy, Politics and the State

ECON2120 Law and Economics(P)

ECON2139 Law and Economics(H)

ECON2141 Strategic Thinking: An introduction to Game Theory

ECON2900 Development Poverty and Famine

ECON2901 Development Poverty and Famine(H)

18 units from completion of courses on List 1 of the ANU College of Business and Economics

18 units from completion of courses on List 2 of the ANU College of Business and Economics

48 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

For majors and minors offered by the ANU College of Business and Economics, students may count a course towards multiple majors and minors. If a minor is a subset of all stated courses and/or prerequisites for a major, then completion of the major overrides completion of the minor, and only the major is regarded as having been completed. If all courses in a major and/or minor are compulsory courses in the degree, the major and/or minor will not be listed on the transcript.

Honours

Alongside the courses in the economics degree, an Honours stream is offered commencing in second semester of first year. This stream is designed for (but not exclusive to) students whose performance in economics is at credit level or better. It aims to provide students with a deeper understanding of economic analysis and to impart greater confidence and capacity in addressing economic issues. Participation in the Honours stream is important for students who may wish to work as professional economists or who want to go on to further study of economics at the fourth year or at graduate level. The Honours stream involves an additional lecture and tutorial per week, plus an additional examination each semester. Students are able to enter, or leave, the Honours stream at any stage during the degree.

After the standard three-year program, students can undertake Honours as a fourth year of study in Applied Economics, Economics, Econometrics or Economic History. Entry is by invitation to high achieving students. Anyone with high grades in three-year economics undergraduate degrees at other universities may also be eligible to enter the Honours year.

Interested students can obtain advice from the Honours Convenor in the Research School of Economics.

Elective Study

Once you have met the program requirements of your degree, you may have enough electives to complete an additional elective major, minor or specialisation.

Study Options

Year 1 - 48 units

Year 2 - 48 units

Year 3 - 48 units

Admission Requirements

At a minimum, all applicants must meet program-specific academic/non-academic requirements, and English language requirements. Admission to most ANU programs is on a competitive basis. Therefore, meeting all admission requirements does not automatically guarantee entry.

In line with the university's admissions policy and strategic plan, an assessment for admission may include competitively ranking applicants on the basis of specific academic achievement, English language proficiency and diversity factors.

Domestic applicants

→ School leavers will be assessed on: • the minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) requirement or equivalent for this program, • the co-curricular or service requirement, and • any program specific requirements that are listed below.

→ Non school leavers: a) will be assessed on: • the minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) requirement or equivalent for this program, b) Non school leavers who: • complete a recognised Australian (or equivalent) post-secondary qualification, or • complete one standard full-time year (1.0 FTE) of an Australian (or equivalent) degree qualification, or • complete an approved tertiary preparation course/program without undertaking any further study, will be assessed on the basis of an equivalent selection rank that is calculated upon application. Non school leavers must also meet any program specific requirements that are listed below.

International applicants

Applicants who complete a recognised secondary/senior secondary/post-secondary/tertiary sequence of study will be assessed on the basis of an equivalent selection rank that is calculated upon application. A list of commonly observed international qualifications and corresponding admission requirements can be found here. Applicants must also meet any program specific requirements that are listed below.

Diversity factors & English language proficiency As Australia's national university, ANU is global representative of Australian research and education. ANU endeavours to recruit and maintain a diverse and deliberate student cohort representative not only of Australia, but the world. In order to achieve these outcomes, competitive ranking of applicants may be adjusted to ensure access to ANU is a reality for brilliant students from countries across the globe. If required, competitive ranking may further be confirmed on the basis of demonstrating higher-level English language proficiency.

Prerequisites

There are no formal program prerequisites. But assumed knowledge is:-ACT: Mathematical Methods (Major)/Further Mathematics/Specialist Mathematics (major)/ Specialist Methods or NSW: Mathematics or equivalent. More information about interstate subject equivalencies can be found here.

Adjustment Factors

ANU offers rank adjustments for a number of adjustment factors, including for high achievement in nationally strategic senior secondary subjects and for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies. Rank adjustments are applied to Bachelor degree applicants with an ATAR at or above 70. Points are awarded in accordance with the approved schedules, and no more than 15 points (maximum 5 subject/performance-based adjustments, maximum 10 equity-based adjustments and maximum 5 Elite Athlete adjustments) will be awarded. Please note that Adjustment Factors vary and do not apply to a select few programs, please visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.

Scholarships

ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.

Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are. Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.

For further information see the Scholarships website.

1. to solve economic problems using analytical reasoning;
2. apply economic analysis to a wide variety of economic issues;
3. use basic empirical estimation techniques to test economic predictions;
4. provide insight into the way that households and individuals make decisions and interact, and the role of government in providing public goods and regulating the market sector;
5. learn how to communicate rigorous economic analysis in a coherent way