Bachelor of Arts
at The University of Adelaide, South Australia.
A flexible humanities and social sciences degree. Students major in fields such as history, sociology, politics, literature or a language, with broad elective choice across the faculty.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Arts. We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official SATAC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
First year at the University of Adelaide is broad. You take introductory courses across at least two disciplines (history, politics, philosophy, English and creative writing, gender studies, media, a language, sociology or criminology) plus a foundation course in critical thinking and writing. You declare a major by the end of first year. Second year deepens the major with theory-driven seminars, research-method courses and primary-source analysis. Reading loads climb sharply, with weekly tutorial preparation of 100 to 200 pages common. Many students add a second major or a minor, and language students often pursue overseas exchange. Third year is the capstone and specialisation year on the North Terrace campus. Many students complete a research capstone, an applied internship course or a sustained independent essay. Strong students continue into a fourth-year Honours program, which is the standard entry point to research masters and PhD study in the humanities.
Example first-year subjects
- Foundations of Critical Thinking and Writing
- Introduction to Politics
- Modern World History
- Introduction to Sociology
- Texts and Traditions in English
- Introductory Philosophy
How you will be assessed
- Essays of 1500 to 3000 words carrying 40 to 60 per cent of most courses
- Tutorial participation and weekly written responses
- Research capstone or sustained independent essay in third year
- Take-home or seen-question final exams
- Oral presentations and seminar facilitation
- Annotated bibliographies and primary-source analyses
Career outcomes
- Graduates work in writing, editing and publishing roles across media, government and the not-for-profit sector.
- Many alumni pursue policy and research positions in the public service or NGO sector.
- Common further-study pathways include teaching, law (graduate JD) and a research Honours year.
Typical first jobs
- Policy or project officer in the SA or Commonwealth public service
- Research assistant or analyst
- Communications or media officer
- Editorial assistant or journalist
- Electorate or ministerial staffer
- Community-sector program coordinator
- Marketing or content coordinator
Graduate starting salary
$55,000 - $66,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
Most graduates enter the workforce directly or take a fourth-year Honours program (a thesis year). Honours is the entry point to research masters and PhD study and is often expected for research roles in the public service. Common postgraduate paths from an Adelaide BA include the Juris Doctor (graduate law), the Master of Teaching (secondary), the Master of International Relations, the Master of Public Policy and the Master of Social Work.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Strong readers who enjoy long-form non-fiction and academic writing
- Students who like building and defending arguments in writing
- People drawn to politics, history, language or culture
- Independent learners comfortable with light timetables and self-direction
- Writers who want to build a research and publishing portfolio
It is probably not for you if
- Students wanting a single, clear job title at graduation
- Those who dislike heavy reading and frequent essay writing
- Students who prefer maths-heavy or laboratory-based courses
- People who need tight structure and high contact hours
Related courses at Adelaide
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the The University of Adelaide handbook and on SATAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/adelaide/bachelor-of-arts.