Bachelor of Arts
at University of Southern Queensland, 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 University of Southern Queensland 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 two or more disciplines drawn from UniSQ's offerings (English and writing, history, sociology, politics, indigenous studies, theatre and screen, journalism) plus core academic-skills subjects. The degree is delivered on campus at Toowoomba, Springfield and Ipswich and also fully online, so many students study externally and declare a major by the end of first year. Second year deepens the chosen major. Expect more theory, research-method subjects and primary-source analysis, with reading loads climbing and weekly tutorial or online-forum preparation. Students studying online complete the same assessment through UniSQ's StudyDesk learning environment. Third year is specialisation and a capstone. Many students complete a research project, a work-integrated learning placement or an extended essay in their major. Strong students continue into an Honours year, which is the standard entry point to research masters and PhD study in the humanities.
Example first-year subjects
- Academic and Professional Communication
- Introduction to Sociology
- Australian History
- Introduction to Political Studies
- Writing and Editing
- Foundations of Theatre and Screen
How you will be assessed
- Essays (1500 to 3000 words) carrying 40 to 60 per cent of most subjects
- Tutorial or online discussion-forum participation
- Research-based capstone or extended essay in third year
- Take-home or open-book final exams
- Oral or recorded presentations
- 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 journalist
- Electorate or local-government staffer
- Community-sector programme coordinator
- Marketing or content 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 take an Honours year (one extra year built around a thesis). Honours is the gateway to research masters and PhD study. Common postgraduate paths from a UniSQ BA include the Master of Teaching (primary or secondary), Graduate Diploma of Education, and masters in international relations, communication, professional writing or human resource management. The strong online cohort means many graduates study postgraduate qualifications part-time while working in regional Queensland.
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 and defending arguments in writing
- People drawn to history, politics, language or culture
- Independent and online learners comfortable with flexible timetables
- Regional students who need the option to study externally while working
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 many contact hours
Related courses at UniSQ
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the University of Southern Queensland handbook and on QTAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/usq/bachelor-of-arts.