The objective of the Bachelor of Economics (BEc) program is to train professional economists. It is designed to develop a sophisticated understanding of the theoretical and empirical methods that constitute the modern academic discipline of economics, and to expose students to a number of applied fields within the discipline. Our graduates work as professional economists in government, international agencies, private firms and consultancies. They develop analytical and statistical skills which have wide application in the business sector in general.

The objectives of the Bachelor of Economics are:

Studies leading to the award of the Bachelor of Economics degree normally consist of 144 units of credit (24 courses) to be completed over a period of three academic years.

These units will be made up of core courses which account for 36 units of credit (UOC) (6 courses)

In addition Bachelor of Economic students must complete

*A double major from Economics, Econometrics or Economic History is 36 UOC after the core courses ECON1101 and ECON1102. For Financial Economics, 42 UOC are required as the core courses are not included as part of the major.

*Number of free options may vary depending on major combination undertaken. Please contact the Business Student Centre for further information.

Students in this program must complete 12 units of credit in General Education courses or their equivalent (unless otherwise entitled to exemption). For further information about General Education Requirements please refer to the Online Handbook.

Please note that students enrolled in programs within the Australian School of Business cannot take General Education courses offered by the Business School. These restrictions also apply to the following courses:

If students are unsure of their General Education Requirements they should contact the Business Student Centre (Ground floor, West entrance, Australian School of Business building)

Honours level study is available. Students interested in studying at Honours Level should refer to the relevant Honours plan record for entry requirements.

Rule 1 - Pass and Honours Degrees
The degree of Bachelor of Economics may be conferred as a Pass degree or as an Honours degree. There shall be three classes of Honours, namely Class 1, Class 2 in two Divisions and Class 3. In cases of superior academic performance throughout the program, the Pass degree may be conferred with Distinction.

Rule 2 - Disciplinary Minors
Students satisfying the requirements of the Bachelor of Economics degree are not required to complete a ‘disciplinary minor’. A 'disciplinary minor' is defined as four approved courses from a single discipline.

Rule 3 - Transfer Between Degrees
There is no automatic transfer between programs offered by the Australian School of Business. To apply for transfer between programs, please contact the Business Student Centre.

Rule 4 - Assessable Hours
Normal workload expectations for each degree are a minimum of 25 hours per semester per unit of credit, including class contact hours, preparation and time spent on all assessable work.

Rule 5 - Passing in a Course
Where, in the following rules, reference is made to the requirement that a candidate shall pass a course, the requirement shall be construed as meaning that the candidate shall complete assignments, laboratory work, other set work and an examination or examinations by the prescribed dates to the satisfaction of the relevant Head of the School concerned.

Rule 6 - Normal Program
The program leading to the award of the degree of Bachelor of Economics normally consists of 144 units of credit to be completed over a period of three academic years or six semesters, with the exception of programs with an Industrial Training component which consist of 192 units of credit over four academic years or eight semesters. Except in exceptional circumstances, a student must enrol in a minimum of 6 units of credit per semester and will not normally be permitted to enrol in more than 24 units of credit per semester.

Rule 7 - Minimum Time for Completion
(a) The minimum time for completing the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Economics at Pass level is normally six semesters full-time or 12 semesters part-time.

Rule 8 - Nomination of Plan
Students should nominate their plan by the end of their first year by contacting the Business Student Centre. A candidate may change from one plan to another but not more than once per year. The change requires the approval of the Business Student Centre and unless it is a transfer between a Pass and an Honours program, the change must be completed before enrolment is finalised for the particular year.

Rule 9 - Academic Program Requirements: BEc 3543
To complete the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Economics:

9.1 For the Pass degree, a student must complete and pass 144 units of credit, which shall include:

9.1.1 36 units of credit (UOC) of Level 1 core courses

9.1.2 (a) satisfactory completion of a minimum of 12 units of credit in General Education courses or their equivalent (unless otherwise entitled to exemption). Combined undergraduate degrees offered with another faculty and leading to the award of two degrees satisfy this requirement (12 units of credit in General Education) within the program.

(b) undertake an additional 56 hours of study which examines the purposes and consequences of their university education and which fosters socially, ethically and professionally responsible behaviour. The Bachelor of Economics fulfils this requirement as part of the normal program curriculum.

9.1.3 (a) either a major of at least 60 units of credit in the Economics, Econometrics, Financial Economics or Economic History disciplinary streams (including units taken as core studies where applicable); or

(b) a double major of at least 84 units of credit; with at least 36 units in Economics, Econometrics or Economic History, or at least 42 units of credit in Financial Economics, and at least 42 units in another approved disciplinary stream.

9.1.4 The remaining Business course or credit requirements not required for a major sequence and not Year 1 core courses, as prescribed, if any, may be chosen from any other courses offered by the Australian School of Business.

9.1.5 Students under BEc (Liberal Studies) program (3553) can only have a maximum of three majors recognised by the Australian School of Business in their degree program.

9.2 Unless in exceptional circumstances the maximum number of Level One courses a student may count towards their Bachelor of Economics program requirements are capped as follows;
BEc (3543), BEc/Arts (3526), BEc/SocSc(3528) no more than 60 units of credit;
BEc (Liberal Studies) (3553) no more than 84 units of credit;

9.2.1 A student cannot count a mainstream course offered by faculties other than the Australian School of Business both as a substitute for a Business elective and as a substitute for a General Education elective

9.3 Not applicable for Bachelor of Economic program.

9.4 Approved Disciplinary Streams (Pass) are listed hereafter:

*Not available as a single major, but as a second or double major only

Rule 10 - Honours Degree
Upon completion of first or second years of a full-time program or the corresponding stages of a part-time program, a candidate may make a written application for permission to enrol for an Honours degree. When such permission is granted but a candidate's later performance is unsatisfactory, permission to continue as an Honours student may be withdrawn and the student may proceed to an appropriate Pass degree.

Except with the special permission of the program authority on the recommendation of the relevant Heads of School, a person on whom the Pass degree of Bachelor of Economics or equivalent has been conferred shall not be admitted to candidature for the Honours degree of Bachelor of Economics.

For the Honours degree, a student must complete a further 48 units in one approved disciplinary stream. The additional units, comprising specified courses from the relevant disciplinary stream and a thesis, must be completed in two semesters following the completion of the Pass degree component.

Except when recommended to the contrary by the relevant Head of School, a student intending to enter the Honours year must:
(a) satisfy the Pass degree requirements and obtain a minimum average of 70% in Level 2 and Level 3 courses of the relevant disciplinary stream in the Pass degree component
(b) pass all courses in the Pass degree component at first attempt.

Approved Disciplinary Streams (Honours)
To the end of fourth year:

Rule 11 - Credit for Courses Passed at another University
Subject to the University rules governing admission with advanced standing, courses passed at another university may be counted towards fulfilling the requirements of the degree. Not more than fifty percent of the program requirements will be awarded advanced standing nor will advanced standing be granted for courses completed more than 7 years before the date of admission of the applicant, except with the approval of the Business Student Centre..

Rule 12 - Options
Subject to the requirements of the individual programs, students may choose a maximum of 2 options from any approved course taught by any other UNSW faculties. Approval must be sought from the Business Student Centre. to count courses as options.

Rule 13 - Order of Progression of Courses
It is expected students shall undertake core courses in the equivalent of their first year. It is expected failed courses will be repeated in the first semester in which they are next offered.

Rule 14 - Prerequisite and Corequisite Requirements
Except in exceptional circumstances, a candidate shall not enrol in any course without having satisfied the prescribed prerequisite or corequisite requirements.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html

For further information, refer to the Professional Recognition of Programs in the Online Handbook.

Please note that these requirements may be subject to change. Students are advised to follow requirements according to the year they commenced. Current students are to refer to the relevant edition of the Online Handbook for program requirements.

Please contact the Business Student Centre for advice.

Business Student Centre
e-mail: ugbusiness@unsw.edu.au
tel: + 61 2 9385 3189
location: Ground Floor, West Wing, Australian School of Business Building