Thinking about studying Economics at university, but unsure about which School of Economics you’d like to attend?
We’ve rounded up the top 5 of the 20 Economic faculties in Australia so you can see how they rank.
Keep reading to find out who made the cut!
#5. The University of Sydney
Image sourced from Architectus
Rankings
The University of Sydney (USYD) is ranked as having Australia’s 5th best School of Economics by the QS Top Universities Rankings 2022.
The QS Top Universities Rankings 2022 ranks USYD as the 52nd best in the world for Economics.
In Australia, the QS World University Rankings places the University of Sydney as the 3rd best university in 2022.
About
Offering more than 400 areas of study, the University of Sydney was founded on the idea that everyone should be able to realise their potential through education, no matter where your interests lie.Â
Established in 1850, USYD is also the oldest university in Australia and is now home to 50,000 students and 3,400 academic staff.
If you’re considering studying Economics at USYD, you can choose to study a Bachelor of Economics or a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Economics. These are both three-year full-time degrees and are offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the Camperdown campus!
15,328 students were enrolled in management and commerce at USYD in 2018.
USYD offers a range of scholarships for students studying undergraduate degrees and those facing hardship.
To find a full list of scholarships available, head here!
Entry Requirements
You can study Economics at an undergraduate level in a few different ways:
- Enrol in a Bachelor of Economics with an ATAR of 91 or higher
- Enrol in a Bachelor of Arts, have an ATAR of 80 or higher, and major in Economics
- Start another degree at USYD or another university and transfer
You can find out more about USYD’s entry requirements here.
To see what studying a Bachelor of Economics at USYD is really like, click here!
#4. Monash University
Image sourced from Monash University
Rankings
Coming in 4th for the best Economics faculty in Australia is Monash University, according to the QS Top Universities Rankings 2022.
Monash University’s Economics faculty is ranked as the 39th best globally by the QS Top Universities Rankings 2022.
QS World University Rankings also placed Monash University as Australia’s 6th best university in 2022.
About
As the largest university in Australia, Monash University was established by Sir John Monash with the desire to impart students with the skills and confidence to create positive change.
With four campuses in Australia and more than 100 international partners, Monash University offers courses that prepare students for a global workforce.
Monash Business School offers a 3-year full-time Bachelor of Economics at the Clayton campus. Students who choose to study this degree are also required to specialise in economics and economic policy or mathematical economics.
In 2018, 23,970 students were enrolled in management and commerce subjects at Monash University, making it one of the largest cohorts in Australia.
Monash University also offers more than 360 scholarships to help students reach their academic goals.Â
Head here to find out whether you’re eligible!
Entry Requirements
To get into a Bachelor of Economics, there are a few pathways available:
- Enrol in a Bachelor of Economics with an ATAR of 86 and English and Mathematics as prerequisites
- Transfer from another university
- Complete the 12-month Foundation year program at Monash College and transfer into first-year
- Complete a 16-month Diploma of Business (Commerce stream) at Monash College and enter second-year
To find out more about the alternative pathways offered at Monash College, head here!
#3: The University of New South Wales
Image sourced from UNSW Business School
Rankings
The Economics faculty at The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is ranked as Australia’s 3rd best in the country, according to QS Top Universities Rankings 2022.
QS Top Universities Rankings by Subject 2022 also ranks UNSW as the 36th best Economics Faculty in the world, while the QS World University Rankings 2022 places UNSW as the 4th best university in Australia.
About
Established in 1949, UNSW is now a world-leading university and home to 64,000 students from over 130 countries. UNSW prioritises hands-on learning to give students the tools to succeed and have an impactful career.
To study Economics at UNSW, you can study a Bachelor of Economics offered by the UNSW Business School.
As of 2018,18,120 students were enrolled in management and commerce subjects at UNSW.
UNSW also offers scholarships to help students pursue their studies. Head here to find out more!
Entry Requirements
To get into an undergraduate Bachelor of Economics, you have a choice of several pathways:
- Based on your ATAR, A levels, or IB
- UNSW Internal Program Transfer
- Complete UNSW’s University Preparation Program before transferring into your degree
- Transfer from another university
To find out what it’s really like to study a Bachelor of Economics at UNSW, head here!
#2. The University of Melbourne
Image sourced from The University of Melbourne
Rankings
The University of Melbourne is ranked as having the 2nd best School of Economics in Australia by QS Top Universities Rankings 2022.
Globally, the faculty is ranked as the 34th best by QS Top Universities Rankings by Subject 2022.Â
To top it all off, QS World University Rankings listed the University of Melbourne as the 2nd best university in Australia in 2022.
About
Established in 1853, the University of Melbourne has since grown from four professors and 16 students to become one of the leading universities in Australia and the world. Now, the university hosts over 8,000 academic and professional staff and 65,000 students from more than 130 different countries.
The University of Melbourne offers Economics as a major for both the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts courses, which full-time students can study over three years. Completing an Economics major will equip you with the analytical skills needed to interpret data and solve problems.
Both the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts are offered at the Parkville campus.
As of 2018, 13,262 students enrolled in management and commerce units at the University of Melbourne.
When it comes to financial support, The University of Melbourne has an extensive list of scholarships available. You can find scholarships for students undertaking the Bachelor of Commerce here, or here for the Bachelor of Arts.
Entry Requirements
To gain entry into a Bachelor of Commerce or Bachelor of Arts and major in Economics, you must meet the following requirements:
- Minimum ATAR of 91 (Commerce) or 85 (Arts), though Access Melbourne can help you gain entry with a lower ATAR by taking unique personal circumstances into account
- Subject Prerequisites: English and Maths subjects (depending on state curriculum)
Find out more about admission requirements here!
#1. The Australian National University
Image sourced from MBA News Australia
Rankings
The School of Economics at The Australian National University (ANU) is ranked as the best in Australia by QS Top Universities Rankings 2022.
The faculty is the 33rd best globally, according to QS Top Universities Rankings by Subject 2022.Â
Plus, QS World University Rankings 2022 ranked ANU as the best university in Australia, so you’ll be sure to receive a quality education there!
About
Founded in 1946, The Australian National University is now home to more than 26,000 students and has strong ties to Australia’s policy makers.
If you have your heart set on studying Economics at ANU, you’ll be undertaking a 3-year full-time Bachelor of Economics. You can even extend your studies by another year and complete an Honours degree in Economics.
As of 2018, 6,858 students were enrolled in management and commerce subjects at ANU.
There are also scholarships available to help you while you study. To find out which scholarships you could be eligible for, head here.
Entry Requirements
To study a Bachelor for Economics at ANU, you will need to meet the following requirements:
- An ATAR of 80 or higher
- Assumed knowledge of HSC Mathematics is not required but advantageous
To find out about alternative entry pathways, head here!
Rachel Fieldhouse is a Content Writer at Art of Smart Education and has just completed a double degree in Science and Arts at The University of Sydney, majoring in Chemistry, English, and Linguistics. Rachel’s writing has been published in Concrete Playground, Inside Enterprise, Planting Seeds, and SURG FM, and she currently writes blog posts for Remi AI, a Sydney-based Artificial Intelligence firm. When she’s not writing, you can find Rachel playing her saxophone or flute, or relaxing with some sudoku.
