Bachelor of Arts
at University of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
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 University of Canberra 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 | UAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | UAC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | UAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official UAC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
The University of Canberra Bachelor of Arts is a three-year degree from the Faculty of Arts and Design at the Bruce campus. Students complete a major (eight units) plus a minor (four units) and electives across the faculty and beyond. Year one introduces two prospective majors with foundation 1000-level units alongside the UC core breadth units (Indigenous and Intercultural Communication, Communication and Scholarship, Inquiry-Led Learning). Year two narrows to discipline core and research methods. Year three carries advanced 3000-level seminars and a capstone research essay or work-integrated learning project. Majors include History, English Writing and Literature, International Studies, Sociology, Politics and Government, Indigenous Studies, Media and Public Affairs, Communication in Public Relations, Languages (Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Spanish) and a flexible Liberal Studies major. UC is unusual in its commitment to work-integrated learning - many BA units include a short placement or industry brief in a Canberra-based employer (often APS communications teams or NGOs). Class formats are smaller than the GO8 peers with most tutorials at 18 to 25 students.
Example first-year subjects
- Communication and Scholarship
- Indigenous and Intercultural Communication
- Politics, Power and Society
- History: People, Power and Events
- English Writing and Literature 1
- Introduction to International Studies
How you will be assessed
- Research essays of 1500 to 3500 words across most arts units
- Tutorial participation usually 10 to 20 percent
- Take-home final exams or research papers in lieu of timed exams
- Industry briefs and work-integrated learning tasks in upper years
- Oral presentations and seminar-leading in 3000-level units
- Honours year features a single 18,000 word thesis under supervision
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
- Communications or media officer in APS departments (DFAT, Home Affairs, ATO, Defence APS)
- Policy officer in ACT Government directorates (Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development)
- Electorate officer or political adviser in federal MP offices
- Communications and content officer at Canberra-based NGOs and peak bodies
- Research officer at the Australian Parliamentary Library or think tanks (ASPI, Australia Institute)
- Editorial assistant in publishing, content and government communications
Graduate starting salary
$55,000 - $70,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
Honours (added fourth year, supervised research project of around 18,000 words) is the standard research-intensive route into PhD study at UC and other Australian universities. Common combined degrees at UC include Arts/Law (5 years), Arts/Communication and Media, Arts/Business and Arts/Education. Graduate pathways include the Juris Doctor (3 years, UC School of Law and Justice), the Master of Teaching (Primary or Secondary, leading to ACT TQI registration), Master of Communication (UC has a strong School of Communication and Media), Master of International Studies and the Master of Public Administration. Many graduates take an APS or ACT Government graduate role before postgraduate study.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students who want a more applied humanities degree than the GO8 model
- People who value smaller class sizes and accessible academic staff
- Those drawn to APS communications, policy or media careers in Canberra
- Students who like work-integrated briefs alongside theoretical reading
- Independent learners willing to design their own pathway across two majors
It is probably not for you if
- Students who want a structured timetable with clear career outcomes from day one
- Those who prefer technical problems with single correct answers
- Anyone hoping to avoid 2000 to 3000 word essays
- Students set on a research-intensive program at the GO8 peers
Careers this leads to
Australian career pathways that name this Bachelor of Arts as an entry route. Each page shows uni, TAFE and apprenticeship alternatives.
Related courses at UC
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the University of Canberra handbook and on UAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/canberra/bachelor-of-arts.