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Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics

Understand a broader social context. Develop skills in critical thinking and logical analysis. Advocate for human rights.

For personalised assistance with UOW courses, please reach out to our Future Students Team:

Our team is available during Australian business hours, 9 am to 5 pm.

For other UOW contact details, click here.

For personalised assistance with UOW courses, please reach out to our Future Students Team:

Our team is available during Australian business hours, 9 am to 5 pm.

For other UOW contact details, click here.

If you’re planning to study at UOW immediately after finishing your HSC, International Baccalaureate (IB), or an interstate equivalent, you can apply for Early Admission to this course. Applications can be submitted via the UOW Early Admission website during the designated period, usually June – August each year.

Students can also apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

If you’re a non-school leaver (e.g., completed Year 12 previously and/or have a TAFE qualification or equivalent), you can apply directly to UOW.

Before applying, please review the requirements, intakes, and deadlines for your chosen degree.

International students are encouraged to apply with the support of an approved UOW agent. An agent can help navigate the application process and ensure that you submit all necessary documentation. For your nearest agent, please see our agent list.

Alternatively, if you would like to apply directly (without an agent), you can start the process through our Apply Online portal. Please note, some applicants will not be eligible to apply directly and will be prompted to apply via an agent.

International students who are studying an Australian Year 12 qualification in or outside of Australia may choose to apply through UOW Early Admission, and/or through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Need help?

Contact the UOW Future Students Team:

For more details about this course

Australia: 1300 367 869. International: +61 2 4221 3218

Student ?
Domestic
Campus
Wollongong
ATAR-SR ?
75
IB Admission Score ?
26.5
Delivery ?
On Campus
Starts
  • Autumn 2025
  • Spring 2025
  • Autumn 2024
  • Spring 2024
Codes
UAC: 753115
UOW: 1870

Overview

The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics provides rigorous training in three interconnected areas that shape the world around us. You will learn to understand the complex interactions between economic and political factors that affect policy and decision-making in contexts ranging from local communities to international organisations.

Through the study of politics, you will learn the foundations of political theory, the impact of public policy, and the structure and history of politics in Australia. You will learn how political considerations affect international relations and the specific problems that arise in the politics of developing countries.

Studying philosophy will develop your skills in critical thinking and logical analysis. You will learn how distinct ways of understanding concepts such as justice, fairness, and human rights depend on different assumptions regarding knowledge, ethics, and the nature of mind and the self.

Read the course handbook for more information.

Economics includes three components: macroeconomics, microeconomics, and quantitative methods. Through these, you will learn to interpret complex economic ideas and assess economic factors that arise in a wide variety of contexts. You will acquire formal skills that are essential in business and financial modelling.

Finally, a capstone subject integrates key components from all three disciplines into a coherent package, allowing you to apply your understanding of complex problems to real world scenarios.

See more

Careers

  • Business Development and Administration
  • Diplomacy
  • Economist
  • Foreign Affairs Advisor
  • Lobbyist
  • Political Advisor
  • Social Policy Development
See more

Admissions information

The University assumes students will have studied any two units of English. Ideally, students will have studied English Advanced.

A range of admission options are available for students of all ages and academic backgrounds. The procedures governing admission are defined in UOW's Admissions Procedures, and the UOW College Admissions Policy.

For specific advice or to ask any questions regarding an application, please contact the UOW Future Students Team.

  • Higher Education Study

    For your application to be assessed on your university results you need to have completed at least half a year of full-time study (or part-time equivalent) at a Bachelor's degree level or higher. Your grades will be converted to a selection rank to be used for admission purposes. Students may also be eligible for credit for prior learning.

  • Work and life experience

    Admission to UOW is primarily based on your academic qualifications, with work or life experience generally not considered. If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, we recommend exploring recognized pathway programs, such as those offered by UOW College or the TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate (TPC).

    For more information, please refer to the UOW Admissions Information page.

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

    UOW's Woolyungah Indigenous Centre's Indigenous Admissions Program (IAP) offers an alternative pathway for Indigenous Australians aged 17 and over who are seeking entry into an undergraduate course at UOW. Upon completing the IAP, applicants will be considered for admission based on an interview and assessment of both academic and non-academic qualities. For further details, including the application process, please contact Woolyungah Indigenous Centre.

  • Domestic applicants with overseas qualifications

    If you have completed or partially completed studies at an approved university or tertiary institution, you may be eligible for entry to UOW. You'll need to provide academic records, and your course must be at least one-sixth complete. Non-English documents must include an official English translation. For more information, contact the UOW Future Students Team.

  • English language proficiency

    All UOW courses are taught in English and require varying levels of proficiency. If English is not your first language, you must meet the University’s English Language Requirements, which differ by course.

    Accepted international test results include IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, Cambridge, and OET for specific health-related courses.

    Alternatively, you can fulfill the requirement by completing an English course at UOW College.

  • Workload
    Full-Time Study Load

    As a full-time student, you can expect to commit around 48 hours of study per week. This includes class time and independent study. You may need to factor more time for examination study and practical work & placements.

    Part-Time Study Load

    For part-time students, study hours will vary based on the number of units taken, with similar expectations for class and independent study.

    For more details on course workloads, please refer to the UOW Handbook.

  • Credit for Prior Learning

    If you have completed prior studies or relevant professional experience, you can request course credit or subject exemptions to reduce the duration and cost of your program.

    Credit for prior learning evaluates your previous study or work experience related to your chosen subjects.

    UOW values lifelong learning and recognizes various types of prior learning, regardless of how or where it was obtained. For more information, refer to UOW's Credit for Prior Learning page.

More detail

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available. For eligible domestic students, Australian government funding will contribute towards your tuition fees. The remaining proportion, known as a student contribution, will depend on when you begin study (enrolment year) and study area. Read more domestic student fees and CSPs.

Indicative enrolment

The number of students in 2023 for the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics was 26. This indicates the likely size of this group of students (in these similar courses) in 2024.

Student profile

This table shows the breakdown of the applicant background of the student group at UOW for this course. It provides data on students that commenced undergraduate study and continued study beyond the census date at UOW in 2023.

Student profile table
Applicant background 2023 intake 2023 intake (%)
Higher education study 10 38%
Vocational education & training study 0 0%
Work & life experience N/P
Recent secondary education
ATAR Only N/P
ATAR plus additional criteria 0 0%
Other criteria only (non-ATAR) 8 31%
International students N/P
All students 26 100%

< 5: Number of students is less than 5
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (hidden to prevent calculation of other numbers less than 5)

ATAR profile

This table relates to all students selected on the basis of ATAR alone or ATAR in combination with adjustment factors. For more information on adjustment factors commonly available to applicants, see ATAR-based admission.

ATAR profile table
ATAR profile of ATAR-based offers in 2023 ATAR Selection Rank
Highest rank to receive an offer 97.4 99.94
Median rank to receive an offer 78.45 83.59
Lowest rank to receive an offer 67.59 70.15

< 5: Less than 5 ATAR-based offers made
N/A: Data not available for this item
N/P: Not published (less than 5 ATAR-based offers made)

More information

For more information about UOW admission pathways, see UOW Admission Information.

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