Bachelor of Economics
at University of South Australia, South Australia.
A quantitative economics degree built around microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics and applied policy analysis. Most providers offer specialisations in finance, public policy or international trade.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the University of South Australia Bachelor of Economics. 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 | SATAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official SATAC 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 builds the core: principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics, mathematics for economics, business statistics and an introduction to data analysis. You learn to read economic data, build simple models and reason about incentives, markets and policy. Second year deepens intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics and introduces econometrics, where you use statistical software to test economic relationships. UniSA's applied focus means you work with real datasets and policy questions rather than only abstract theory, and you begin a specialisation such as applied economics, finance or public policy. Third year features advanced courses (such as industrial economics, international trade, labour or environmental economics), applied econometrics and a capstone or research project. Many students take an internship or industry-project course. The quantitative and data skills built across the degree transfer well into finance, analytics and policy roles.
Example first-year subjects
- Principles of Microeconomics
- Principles of Macroeconomics
- Mathematics for Economics and Finance
- Business Statistics
- Introduction to Data Analysis
- Economic Issues and Policy
How you will be assessed
- Problem sets and quantitative exercises
- Final exams worth a large share of mark
- Econometrics assignments using statistical software
- Applied policy reports and data analyses
- Group projects and presentations
- Research capstone or industry project
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as economists at the Reserve Bank of Australia, Treasury, Productivity Commission and the major consultancies.
- Common destinations include economic-consulting firms (Deloitte Access Economics, Frontier Economics) and financial-services research desks.
- Many alumni move into policy roles in state and federal departments or into graduate finance and analytics programmes.
Typical first jobs
- Graduate economist or economic analyst
- Policy officer in state or federal government
- Data or business analyst
- Financial or markets analyst
- Research assistant in an economics consultancy
- Pricing or commercial analyst
- Graduate in a bank or insurer analytics program
Graduate starting salary
$58,000 - $70,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
Graduates enter economist, analyst and policy roles, or graduate programs in finance and analytics. Postgraduate options include the Master of Finance, Master of Economic Analysis, and coursework in data science or public policy. Honours is the standard pathway for students aiming at research economist roles at bodies like the Reserve Bank, Treasury or the Productivity Commission, and for PhD study.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students who enjoy maths, data and logical reasoning
- People curious about markets, policy and human behaviour
- Methodical thinkers who like building and testing models
- Students comfortable with statistical software and coding
- Those aiming at analyst, finance or policy careers
It is probably not for you if
- Students who dislike maths and statistics
- Those wanting a hands-on or creative practical degree
- People who prefer essay-based humanities study
- Students seeking a regulated profession with a single licence
Related courses at UniSA
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the University of South Australia handbook and on SATAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/unisa/bachelor-of-economics.