Bachelor of Arts
at Griffith University, Queensland.
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 Griffith University 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 | QTAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | QTAC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | QTAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official QTAC 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 is broad. You take introductory subjects across at least two disciplines drawn from Griffith's arts offering (history, sociology, politics and government, criminology, journalism, Indigenous studies, languages, screen and media, literary studies) plus foundation courses in academic writing and critical thinking. You declare a major by the end of first year. Most arts teaching sits at the Nathan and Mount Gravatt campuses in Brisbane, with some courses at the Gold Coast and Logan. Second year deepens the major. Expect more theory-driven seminars, research-method courses and primary-source analysis. Reading loads rise sharply, with weekly tutorial preparation of 100 to 200 pages common, and you usually add a minor or second major. Third year is the specialisation and capstone stage. Many students complete a research capstone, a work-integrated learning course or an internship placed through Griffith's industry networks across south-east Queensland. Strong students continue into an Honours year, which is the standard entry point to research masters and PhD study in the humanities and social sciences.
Example first-year subjects
- Introduction to Politics and Government
- Foundations of Sociology
- Understanding the Modern World
- Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Academic Writing and Critical Thinking
- Media, Culture and Society
How you will be assessed
- Essays (1500 to 3000 words) carrying 40 to 60 per cent of most courses
- Tutorial participation and weekly reading responses
- Research capstone or extended research essay in third year
- Take-home exams 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 Queensland or Commonwealth public service
- Research assistant or analyst
- Communications, media or content officer
- Editorial assistant or journalist
- Electorate or political staffer
- Community-sector programme coordinator
- Marketing or social-media 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 either enter the workforce directly or take an Honours year (one extra year built around a thesis). Honours is the entry point to research masters and PhD study and is often expected for senior policy and research roles in the public service. Common postgraduate paths from a Griffith BA include the Juris Doctor (graduate law), Master of Teaching (secondary), Master of Global Affairs, Master of Social Work (qualifying) and graduate study in criminology, where Griffith is particularly strong.
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 arguments and defending them in writing
- People drawn to politics, history, culture, language or criminology
- Independent learners comfortable with light, self-directed timetables
- Writers who want to develop a research and portfolio base
It is probably not for you if
- Students wanting a single, clearly defined job title at graduation
- Those who dislike heavy reading and frequent essay writing
- Students who prefer maths-heavy or lab-based subjects
- People who need tight structure and high contact hours
Related courses at Griffith
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the Griffith University handbook and on QTAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/griffith/bachelor-of-arts.