Bachelor of Arts
at Queensland University of Technology, 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 Queensland University of Technology 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 and exploratory. At QUT you take introductory units across two study areas chosen from options such as history, English literature, philosophy, political science, sociology, justice, Indigenous studies, languages and creative writing, alongside a faculty foundation unit in academic research and writing. You usually confirm a major and minor by the end of first year. Second year deepens the major with theory-led units, research methods and primary-source analysis. Reading and writing loads climb sharply, with weekly tutorial preparation and longer essays. QUT's real-world emphasis means many units fold in applied projects, community partners or work-integrated tasks rather than pure theory. Third year is the specialisation and capstone year. Many students complete a research project, industry placement unit or a community-engaged capstone through QUT's work placement options at the Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove campuses. Strong students continue into a one-year Honours program, the standard entry point to research masters and PhD study in the humanities.
Example first-year subjects
- Introduction to Politics and Government
- Foundations of Sociology
- World History
- Critical Thinking and Philosophy
- Studying Literature
- Academic Writing and Research
How you will be assessed
- Essays of 1500 to 3000 words carrying 40 to 60 per cent of most units
- Tutorial participation and weekly written responses
- Research-based capstone or applied project in third year
- Take-home or seen-question exams
- Oral presentations and seminar facilitation
- Annotated bibliographies and 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 or media officer
- Editorial assistant or content coordinator
- Electorate or political staffer
- Community-sector program 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 enter the workforce directly or complete a one-year Honours year built around a research thesis. Honours is the usual gateway to research masters and PhD study and is often expected for senior policy and research roles. Common postgraduate pathways from a QUT BA include the Juris Doctor (graduate law), Master of Teaching (primary or secondary), Master of Communication, Master of Justice and various public-policy and international-relations masters.
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 or social questions
- Independent learners comfortable with light timetables
- Students who want to combine majors and shape their own path
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 lab-based subjects
- People who need tight structure and high contact hours
Related courses at QUT
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the Queensland University of Technology handbook and on QTAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/qut/bachelor-of-arts.