Graduate Diploma in Economics
Overview
Gain high-level economic analysis and decision-making skills to enhance your career opportunities.
This 1-year economics program suits graduates without an economics background.
Your studies will cover foundation courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics, mathematical techniques and statistics, as well as your choice of elective. Choose from a range of elective options covering areas such as environmental economics, health economics and economic development.
During the program, you’ll develop sought-after critical thinking, logic and decision-making skills, as well as your analytical abilities.
This qualification can also be a pathway to an economics master's program.
Program highlights
- Graduate with the transferable and technical economic skills required to succeed in a dynamic and increasingly competitive business environment.
- Learn from world-class academic staff, whose research-intensive focus ensures content is engaging, relevant and informed by the latest insights.
- Tap into Queensland’s largest School of Economics, boasting more than 70 teaching and research staff.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Seminars
- Workshops
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Foundations in Microeconomics
- Foundations in Macroeconomics
- Mathematical Techniques for Economics
- Statistics for Business & Economics
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.
- Economic Society of Australia
Events
See all events
12 January - 12 January
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Stories
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Entry requirements
Entry requirements
To be eligible for entry, you'll need:
- the Graduate Certificate in Economic Studies from UQ, or
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline.
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
- the Graduate Certificate in Economic Studies from UQ, or
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline.
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
Related programs
Depending on your previous qualifications and current goals, you might want to consider
one of these related programs:
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 Graduate Diploma in Economics 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.
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$44,344
2026
Approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $54,096
2026
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.
FEE-HELP
Domestic students who are accepted into the Graduate Diploma in Economics pay tuition fees.
FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their tuition fees.
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 near you.
The program code for the Graduate Diploma in Economics is 5077.
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Graduate Diploma in Economics is 5077.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 2 - May 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.
Visa processing times vary. Apply and accept your offer as early as you can.
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 commence study in Semester 2 - June 30 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 (ATSIS) Unit.
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