Considering an honours year to further advance the knowledge and skills gained during your undergraduate economics degree?
Completing an honours degree in economics will hone your specialist knowledge and quantitative research skills. You'll graduate prepared to apply these capabilities to roles in industry or academia.
Kieran Gibson is a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) graduate and a strong advocate for the program. In his cohort, he was awarded the Microeconomics Honours Prize and a University Medal for academic excellence. Kieran has continued his research as a PhD student at UQ, and he recently received a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to conduct research as a visiting scholar at a US institution of his choice.
Why study your economics honours degree at UQ?
When you complete an honours degree in economics at UQ, you’ll:
- learn how to conduct advanced quantitative research at an international standard
- develop high-level critical and analytical thinking, communication, problem-solving and program management skills
- work closely with internationally renowned experts in economics
- distinguish yourself in the job market with a higher qualification
- prepare for entry into a higher degree by research program (PhD).
The UQ honours program is respected on the world stage. Alumni have used their honours degree to get into prestigious PhD programs, top consulting firms, and the Reserve Bank of Australia. Employers know the quality of honours graduates, and having the degree sends a strong positive signal.
What does an honours degree in economics entail?
The honours component of UQ’s Bachelor of Economics takes 1 year (full time) to complete. You’ll choose to focus on one of two fields of study:
- Economics
Gain professional training in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics. - Econometrics
Gain professional training in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics, with a particular focus on econometrics.
Both fields of study include a combination of core courses and compulsory courses as well as a 25,000-word thesis. The thesis allows you to delve deeper into a research topic you’re passionate about. The School of Economics holds academic seminars to help you prepare for your thesis. You're also encouraged to consult with academic staff on your thesis topic before you start.
“Doing your own research is unlike anything I had ever done before,” says Kieran.
“I chose an honours thesis in behavioural economics because I was interested in psychology and mathematics. The classroom experience is much more intimate than what I’d experienced during my undergraduate degree.”
Is honours worth it?
At this point, you might be asking yourself two questions: Is economics honours hard? And will the additional year of study be worth it?
Is economics honours hard?
As a UQ honours student, you'll engage in interactive discussions and challenge yourself academically. You’ll notice the standards of excellence are higher for honours students than undergraduate coursework students. To succeed, you’ll need to be highly motivated and devoted to the program.
But the honours program is challenging for good reason. The advanced capabilities you'll gain will prepare you to take the next step in your career and help you stand out from the competition.
Is honours worth it?
Like with most things in life, the more effort you put in, the more you’ll get out.
“To get through honours, you learn to work hard and think outside the box,” Kieran says.
“You pick up many skills along the way, like coding, writing, solving, reading, arguing and presenting. These skills are evergreen.”
“Undertaking an honours degree in economics is a marathon, and crossing the finish line was a huge highlight. Our honours coordinator held a celebration on behalf of the School of Economics, with students, academics, family and friends attending. That night was unforgettable!”
Since completing his honours year, Kieran was successful in receiving the prestigious Fulbright Queensland Scholarship. This allowed him to travel to the University of California in San Diego for 9 months during his PhD. Here, Kieran worked with a leading researcher on a project about incentives and charitable contributions.
Career opportunities
Whether you want to pursue a career in industry or continue into a PhD program, an honours degree in economics can help you achieve your goal.
The UQ economics honours program can prepare you for employment in a range of fields. Some of the roles you could end up in include public policy analyst, data scientist or economic consultant. Or you could become an economist with a specialist area of expertise.
Our students have secured employment with organisations including:
- ACCC
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Tax Office
- Deloitte
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Productivity Commission
- Queensland Department of the Treasury
- Reserve Bank of Australia
- The Federal Department of the Treasury.
Other graduates have gone on to complete their PhD at leading global universities including:
- Harvard University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
- New York University
- Oxford University
- Princeton University
- University of California
- Yale University.
Depending on which field of study you choose, as a graduate of the economics honours program, you may also be eligible for memberships with various professional organisations. These include the Australian Computer Society, Australian Society for Operations Research, Economic Society of Australia and Securities Institute of Australia.
So, is honours worth it? Kieran believes it is, and he’s not alone.
“Honours is a big step forwards in your career," he says.
"If you’re still enjoying university when you finish your first degree, it’s a great way to upskill and continue learning."
Learn more about UQ’s Bachelor of Economics (Honours) program.
