Bachelor of Arts
at RMIT University, Victoria.
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 RMIT 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 | VTAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | VTAC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | VTAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official VTAC 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 (history, sociology, politics, philosophy, literature, gender studies, a language, criminology, media studies) plus a faculty-wide arts foundation. You declare a major by end of year one or early year two. Second year deepens the major. Expect more theory-driven seminars, research-method subjects and primary-source work. Reading loads climb sharply, with weekly tutorial preparation of 100 to 200 pages common. Third year is capstone and specialisation. Many students complete a thesis-style capstone, a research methods subject or an internship subject through RMIT's arts internship programme. Strong students continue into an Honours year, which is the standard pathway into research masters and PhDs in the humanities.
Example first-year subjects
- Introduction to Politics
- Introduction to Sociology
- Modern World History
- Introductory Philosophy
- Literary Studies
- Australian Politics
How you will be assessed
- Essays (1500 to 3000 words) carrying 40 to 60 per cent of most subjects
- Tutorial participation and weekly responses
- Research-based capstone or thesis in third year
- Take-home exams or seen-question final 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 officer in Victorian or Commonwealth public service
- Research assistant or analyst
- Communications or media officer
- Editorial assistant or journalist
- Electorate or political staffer
- Community-sector programme coordinator
- Marketing or content coordinator
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
Most graduates either enter the workforce directly or take an Honours year (one extra year with a thesis). Honours is the entry point to research masters and PhD study and is often required for tenured roles in the public service. Common postgrad paths from a BA at RMIT include the JD (graduate law), Master of Teaching (secondary), Master of International Relations, Master of Public Policy, Master of Social Work and the Master of Journalism.
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, language or culture
- Independent learners comfortable with light timetables
- Writers who want to develop a research portfolio
It is probably not for you if
- Students wanting a single, clear job outcome 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 contact hours
Related courses at RMIT
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the RMIT University handbook and on VTAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/rmit/bachelor-of-arts.