Bachelor of Economics (Honours)
Overview
Delve deeper into your studies, follow your research passion, and develop the specialist knowledge and advanced skills you need to complete quantitative research in industry or academia.
If you want to be a respected leader in your field, advance the boundaries of human knowledge and develop specialised competence and expertise, the Bachelor of Economics (Honours) will enable you to achieve your goals.
After completing the Bachelor of Economics, during your honours year you'll study a range of courses that will develop the advanced knowledge and skills required to complete quantitative research.
You'll also work closely with internationally respected researchers and academics who will guide you through your studies towards writing a thesis, a major part of your honours program that can open up gateways to new opportunities.
Program highlights
- Choose between the fields of economics or econometrics to align with your undergraduate studies or interests.
- Benefit from a stimulating and challenging program that will teach you how to conduct research at an international standard.
- Develop high-level skills in critical and analytical thinking, research, communication, problem-solving and project management.
- The honours program is also an excellent basis for entry into a higher degree by research program.
Majors
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
- Econometrics
- Economics
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Online study
- Research experience
- Seminars
- Workshops
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'.
Career possibilities
Our programs prepare you for your first job and beyond. Depending on which major you choose, here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Economic consultant
- Business analyst
- Investment analyst
- Public policy analyst
- Trade finance operations officer
- Agricultural economist
- Data scientist
- Energy and resource economist
- Urban economist
- Business development manager
Next steps after graduation
Completing the honours program is highly valued by potential employers. Our students have secured employment before graduation with organisations like Deloitte, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Productivity Commission in Canberra and the Queensland Department of the Treasury.
The honours program is also an excellent basis for entry into a higher degree by research program. Our graduates have gone on to complete a PhD at leading universities including Harvard and Oxford Universities.
Professional memberships
When you graduate, you may be eligible for memberships with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to become a member.
- Australian Computer Society
- Australian Society for Operations Research
- Economic Society of Australia
- Securities Institute of Australia
Studying honours provided me with in-depth of knowledge beyond the undergraduate level, bolstering my understanding of an economist’s mindset and approach to these challenges.
The best things about the Bachelor of Economics would be the practicality and the versatility – how it further prepares us to be analytical individuals ready for the corporate world. The program ensures all students obtain a holistic understanding of economics; be it macro, micro, or analytical skills and so much more.
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.
Studying honours provided me with in-depth of knowledge beyond the undergraduate level, bolstering my understanding of an economist’s mindset and approach to these challenges.
The best things about the Bachelor of Economics would be the practicality and the versatility – how it further prepares us to be analytical individuals ready for the corporate world. The program ensures all students obtain a holistic understanding of economics; be it macro, micro, or analytical skills and so much more.
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.
Events
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13 January - 13 January
Institute of Modern Languages High School Enrichment Program
Stories
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Study tips
Why you should consider an economics honours degree
4-minute read
Careers
Why you should consider an honours year
5-minute read
Stories
See all storiesStudy tips
Why you should consider an economics honours degree
4-minute read
Careers
Why you should consider an honours year
5-minute read
Entry requirements
Prerequisites
- completed the program requirements of the BEcon at UQ; and
- completed all courses listed on the BEcon course list as prerequisites for entry into honours, with a grade of 5 or above (see additional application information below); and
- gained a GPA of 5.5 in all ECON coded courses.
Approval is required from the Executive Dean where the program requirements for the BEcon were completed more than two years prior to commencement of the BEcon(Hons). If enrolment in the BEcon(Hons) is approved, the Executive Dean may set conditions.
Where an applicant has completed an award from another institution, the applicant must satisfy the Executive Dean that they are qualified to undertake the program, demonstrating that an equivalent body of knowledge has been gained to an equivalent standard as required for the BEcon from UQ. Entry to the program for these applicants may be subject to completion of additional work.
Note - applicants may be required to meet higher GPA standards set by the Executive Dean to be eligible for admission into specific fields of study.
Prerequisites
- completed the program requirements of the BEcon at UQ; and
- completed all courses listed on the BEcon course list as prerequisites for entry into honours, with a grade of 5 or above (see additional application information below); and
- gained a GPA of 5.5 in all ECON coded courses.
Approval is required from the Executive Dean where the program requirements for the BEcon were completed more than two years prior to commencement of the BEcon(Hons). If enrolment in the BEcon(Hons) is approved, the Executive Dean may set conditions.
Where an applicant has completed an award from another institution, the applicant must satisfy the Executive Dean that they are qualified to undertake the program, demonstrating that an equivalent body of knowledge has been gained to an equivalent standard as required for the BEcon from UQ. Entry to the program for these applicants may be subject to completion of additional work.
Note - applicants may be required to meet higher GPA standards set by the Executive Dean to be eligible for admission into specific fields of study.
English language requirements
IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.
PTE Academic - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.
BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.
OET is not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Bachelor of Economics (Honours) are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.
Additional application information
if the chosen field is Econometrics, applicants must have obtained a grade of 5 or higher in each of the following pre-requisite courses: ECON2050, ECON3010, ECON3020, (ECON2105 or ECON3320), ECON3330, and (ECON3350 or ECON3360); or satisfy the Executive Dean and Head of School that the student is suitably qualified to undertake honours.
if the chosen field is Economics, applicants must have obtained a grade of 5 or higher in each of the following pre-requisite courses: ECON2050, ECON3010, ECON3020 and (ECON3350 or ECON3360); or satisfy the Executive Dean and Head of School that the student is suitably qualified to undertake honours.
Applications received after 30 September will be accepted, however in order to be automatically considered for scholarships applications must be received by 1 December.
Additional application information
if the chosen field is Econometrics, applicants must have obtained a grade of 5 or higher in each of the following pre-requisite courses: ECON2050, ECON3010, ECON3020, (ECON2105 or ECON3320), ECON3330, and (ECON3350 or ECON3360); or satisfy the Executive Dean and Head of School that the student is suitably qualified to undertake honours.
<10>if the chosen field is Economics, applicants must have obtained a grade of 5 or higher in each of the following pre-requisite courses: ECON2050, ECON3010, ECON3020 and (ECON3350 or ECON3360); or satisfy the Executive Dean and Head of School that the student is suitably qualified to undertake honours.
<10>Applications received after 30 September will be accepted, however in order to be automatically considered for scholarships applications must be received by 1 December.
Fields of study
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
As a student in this specialisation, you'll undertake coursework that will prepare you for a PhD, and learn the appropriate research methods to conduct an independent research project.
Graduates often go on to rewarding careers in international consulting, infrastructure development and planning, environmental management and international finance.
This major is for anyone with an interest in becoming an analyst, adviser, or economist in either the public or private sector.
You'll undertake research in your chosen area of interest and study theoretical and applied microeconomics and macroeconomics as well as econometrics.
When you graduate, you could start a career as an analyst, adviser or economist in the public and private sectors, whether in business, finance, international development, management or research.
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
As a student in this specialisation, you'll undertake coursework that will prepare you for a PhD, and learn the appropriate research methods to conduct an independent research project.
Graduates often go on to rewarding careers in international consulting, infrastructure development and planning, environmental management and international finance.
This major is for anyone with an interest in becoming an analyst, adviser, or economist in either the public or private sector.
You'll undertake research in your chosen area of interest and study theoretical and applied microeconomics and macroeconomics as well as econometrics.
When you graduate, you could start a career as an analyst, adviser or economist in the public and private sectors, whether in business, finance, international development, management or research.
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$16,323
2024
Fee information for 2025 is not yet available. Fee information displayed is for 2024.
$16,323
2025
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $50,560
2024
Fee information for 2025 is not yet available. Fee information displayed is for 2024.
AUD $50,560
2025
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
HECS-HELP
Domestic places in the Bachelor of Economics (Honours) are Commonwealth Supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.
Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth Supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.
HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Scholarships
You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Bachelor of Economics (Honours) is 2132.
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Bachelor of Economics (Honours) is 2132.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in Semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in Semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
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