BlogUniversityWhat It’s Like Studying a Bachelor of Economics at UNSW

What It’s Like Studying a Bachelor of Economics at UNSW

Bachelor of Economics UNSW - Fact Sheet

Is a Bachelor of Economics at UNSW the right degree for you?

Look no further for answers, we have them here. We have compiled all you could want to know about this degree and more, including info on dual degrees, core units, societies and more! 

Check it out below!

What is a Bachelor of Economics at USNW?
Core Units and Majors
How to Get into a Bachelor of Economics at UNSW
What’s the Teaching Format?
What’s the Faculty and Culture Like?

What is a Bachelor of Economics at UNSW?

A Bachelor of Economics at UNSW develops students’ understanding of society’s impacts on the production and consumption of goods and services, as well as the behaviour of the economy as a result of these activities. This degree enables students to master analytical techniques and recognise the global effects of the decisions people and businesses make in terms of the economy. 

Students who are interested in not only numbers, but in the way they shape and form our societal structure will find this course to be enlightening! This course gives students a bit of a taste of many disciplines in the field of economics.  

Can this degree be studied in conjunction with another?

The Bachelor of Economics can be studied as a stand-alone degree, or as a double degree. It is commonly paired with degrees such as Law, Arts or Commerce! 

Bachelor of Economics UNSW - Student Quote

Career Paths

The Bachelor of Economics at UNSW allows students to pursue an extensive amount of career paths. These include:

    • Economic Forecaster
    • Graduate Economist
    • Management Consultant
    • Policy Adviser
    • Statistical Analyst
    • Superannuation Adviser
    • Related careers in accounting, finance, human resource management, information systems, marketing and taxation

Core Units and Majors

What are the core units?

All first year students within Economics at UNSW take the same units, regardless of what they are planning to major in later on in their degree. In the second year of study of this degree, students begin to choose their own electives and majors as well as picking units from compulsory categories. 

Macroeconomics and Microeconomics, are two first-year economics classes based on theoretical economics models.

In Microeconomics, there is an assessment called Playconomics! This assessment is a fun and innovative way to learn, as students are assigned to build their own bedroom in their little town.

Students set the prices and work out the dynamics of the economy. This provides a more practical application of all of the theoretical models that have been learned and implemented in a unique way!

What majors are available?

There are three majors that can be chosen for a Bachelor of Economics at UNSW:

MajorDescription
EconomicsThis common major enables you to have the most flexibility within your degree. It gives you more room to choose electives as it has the least amount of compulsory subjects, as opposed to the other two majors.
Financial EconomicsHas a focus on economics but is primarily centred on private sector economics and the financial side.
EconometricsEconometrics is another area of economics majors that can be chosen. This major is more focused on analysis and quantitative study, as well as policy subjects.

What internship or placement opportunities are there?

Within the Economics Degree at UNSW, internships and placements are not compulsory to the completion of the degree. However, students are able to independently source internships or work experience if they would like to!

UTS has a CareerHub which runs job ready programs, advertises jobs and internships and also presents general information about potential careers. Find out more here!

How to Get into a Bachelor of Economics at UNSW

The ATAR requirement for guaranteed entry to this degree is 93. If you did not receive this ATAR, there are a couple of pathways to secure a spot within UNSW Economics.

Students may study another undergraduate course at UNSW and apply to transfer to Economics after the first year of study if you can show you have good marks. Alternatively, UNSW also runs programs aiding students to commence study with them such as the University Preparation Program, find out more here! 

Are there any prerequisites?

This degree has no prerequisite subjects or examinations to get into this degree.

However, at least two units of Mathematics and Economics are recommended. Taking these subjects in high school will give you foundational knowledge for this degree and concepts you learn in classes may already be familiar to you.

What scholarships are available?

UNSW does offer scholarships to eligible students, check out their page here to read about their business school-related scholarships!

What’s the Teaching Format?

UNSW uses trimesters as their teaching delivery method, which means that there are three teaching periods with each teaching period being made up of 10 weeks with breaks in between. 

The type of classes and contact hours are as follows. It should be noted that with each level, there is the ability for a lesson to be longer or shorter than the average time displayed here!

Bachelor of Economics UNSW - Class Structure

Lectures are a teaching platform utilised within the economics degree – they typically last for an hour and a half and accommodate 100+ students in the auditorium. Lecturers allow students to listen and learn content as they discuss and relay ideas and models! 

Tutorials are another method used to teach economics and generally go for an hour and a half too! With only 20 students, tutorials give you the chance to further consolidate learnings from lectures, collaborate on group tasks, and have a general discussion on content!

What are assessments like?

The Economics Faculty at UNSW likes to keep their students busy! The assessment structure for a Bachelor of Economics usually looks something like this across a 10 week trimester: 

  • Mid-term assessments, generally an exam or an assignment
  • Mini assessments each week, quizzes or questions to answer
  • Final exams for each subject

Skills That You Refine and Learn 

Bachelor of Economics UNSW - Skills

Within the Bachelor of Economics at UNSW, many different skills are refined and built upon. This degree allows students to gain practical skills, theoretical skills, and even takes a crack at a student’s critical thinking – this degree is not a straight line! 

Communication is an imperative skill that will be honed and refined within this degree. It allows students to become confident within themselves but also their ability to present information and data. 

Theoretical models are one asset of economics – to new students they can be seen as arbitrary and archaic, but UNSW does a great job of reflecting what’s happening at the moment and introducing the practicality of economics through theoretical ideas. 

Maths might have seemed like a mundane subject to you in high school, but in university economics, you are able to apply it in ‘real world’ scenarios, making conceptual and practical meanings towards theories you may have studied in high school!

What’s the Faculty and Culture Like?

If you study a Bachelor of Economics at UNSW, you’ll be part of the School of Business, which is quite large due to thousands of new students joining each year! This, however, should not put off anyone from applying for this degree in fear that they will become just ‘another number’.

UNSW’s Business school has a reputation for having genuinely passionate and empathetic tutors and lecturers. No matter how large the volume of students is, your tutor will always have time for you!  

Societies

Students at UNSW also radiate this type of energy! You’ll find that the Economics cohort is extremely welcoming and friendly.

One way to quickly and easily befriend students who are like-minded in their degree and in their study is to join a club or society! If you study economics, you’ll want to be part of the Economics Society (EcoSoc), which organises gatherings, activities, programs and even additional educational resources for students.

Check out more about them here! 

Support Programs

The Business School runs Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS), which will help you pass your classes. Economics may have concepts that are difficult to wrap your head around, so attending PASS may give you an upper hand as leaders running the sessions are more than happy to entertain any questions you have!

Each Economics student will receive a link to join this class mentoring system in their student email when classes start and you can join all classes or only go to the ones where they feel their skills are lacking or need improvement!


Matilda Elliott is a Content Writer at Art of Smart and a Communication graduate with a major in Journalism at Western Sydney University. You can find some of her published work in a range of platforms including SBS World News, The Music Network and within her own creative exploits with her twin sister. Matilda is a lover of listening, helping people to tell their stories, making genuine connections, clowning around in her circus troupe and dancing like no one is watching at live music shows!

 

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