Bachelor of Arts
at Murdoch University, Western 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 Murdoch 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 | TISC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official TISC 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 sample introductory units across several disciplines (history, sociology, politics and international studies, English and creative writing, philosophy, Indigenous studies, a language) alongside a foundation unit in academic writing and critical thinking. Murdoch's flexible course rules let you keep two majors open before committing. Second year deepens your major. Tutorials become more theory-driven and you start working with primary sources, fieldwork or set texts. Weekly reading loads climb and assessment shifts toward longer analytical essays. Many students pair an arts major with a second major from communication, global security or sustainability. Third year is specialisation and capstone. You take advanced seminars in your discipline and often a research-methods or community-engagement unit. Strong students continue into a one-year Honours programme, which is the standard entry point to research masters and PhD study in the humanities at Murdoch.
Example first-year subjects
- Introduction to Sociology and Anthropology
- Foundations of Australian Politics
- Modern World History
- Introduction to Philosophy
- Academic Writing and Critical Thinking
- Texts and Contexts in Literature
How you will be assessed
- Analytical essays of 1500 to 3000 words carrying most of the unit mark
- Tutorial participation and weekly discussion posts
- Source analyses and annotated bibliographies
- Take-home or seen-question final exams
- Oral presentations and seminar facilitation
- Research-based capstone project in third year
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 WA or Commonwealth public service
- Research assistant or analyst
- Communications or media officer
- Editorial assistant or content writer
- Electorate or ministerial 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 complete a one-year Honours programme with a supervised thesis. Honours is the usual gateway to research masters and PhD study and is valued for research and senior policy roles. Common postgraduate paths from a Murdoch BA include the Juris Doctor (graduate law), a Master of Teaching (secondary), the Master of International Affairs and Security, postgraduate communication study and graduate-entry social work.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Strong readers who enjoy long-form non-fiction and academic argument
- Students who like forming a position and defending it in writing
- People drawn to history, politics, culture or languages
- Independent learners comfortable with light contact hours
- Students wanting flexibility to combine two interests in one degree
It is probably not for you if
- Students wanting a single, clearly defined job at graduation
- Those who dislike heavy reading and frequent essay writing
- People who prefer maths-heavy or laboratory-based study
- Students who need a tightly structured timetable and contact hours
Related courses at Murdoch
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the Murdoch University handbook and on TISC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/murdoch/bachelor-of-arts.