Do you want to make solar energy more efficient and live in a sustainable city, or create new technologies in robotics, uncrewed aircraft and wireless internet of things? This is the degree for you!
The ANU Bachelor of Engineering boasts many unique characteristics, but best of all, it is built on a 'multidisciplinary systems' approach. What does that mean? Successful engineers need to understand how disciplines work together. Our state-of-the-art education experience ensures that you will be able to design, analyse and manage the complex systems of the future.
This exceptional degree will not only allow you to excel in your career, but to also make a real difference and help to solve some of the world's largest problems.
Select from a diverse range of majors across the creative arts, humanities, and social sciences, taught by world-class scholars, to create a degree that is expressly yours with the ANU Bachelor of Arts.
You will have the flexibility to engage in hands-on projects, take your studies abroad, or undertake an internship. You will gain valuable analytical and research skills transferable to the global workplace while developing expertise in critical analysis, written and oral communication, and the ability to drive global and local change.
Discover how the ANU Bachelor of Arts can equip you with enduring and highly sought-after skills to shape both the world's future and your own by visiting our College website.
Meet some of our recent graduates and learn about their stories on our graduation page.
Career Options
ANU ranks among the world's very finest universities. Our nearly 100,000 alumni include political, business, government, and academic leaders around the world.
We have graduated remarkable people from every part of our continent, our region and all walks of life.
Employment Opportunities
Work experience
As a part of your degree you will take part in 60 days of work experience to meet accreditation requirements with Engineers Australia. This provides you with the opportunity to integrate academic theory and real world practice, enhance technical and leadership skills, experience a professional setting, whilst also making valuable connections with industry.
Projects
In addition to compulsory work experience you will also undertake systems engineering projects during your coursework. In these projects you will work in teams on a given problem statement and develop the requirements and key performance indicators to guide you through the design. Your team will then proceed through a systems design process including conceptual design, sub-system requirements, and quantitative trade-off analyses, using the full range of engineering science and professional skills developed during your program.
Projects emphasise teamwork, communication skills, team and personal management and a professional approach to engineering design, all of which are highly valuable traits for an engineer.
Internships
Our industry links enable opportunities to undertake internships which allow you to gain hands-on experience in a workplace environment relevant to your area of future career interests and current academic studies.
You can also receive credit towards your program based on learning outcomes during your placement.
Other practical experience
Use your knowledge to create a positive impact on society through our Engineers Without Borders placements, participate in Humanitarian Design Summits or go on exchange to complement your students and broaden your networks at one of our partner universities around the world.
Employment opportunities
As an accredited engineer with a systems engineering background, you will bring extra value to future employers in a diverse range of professions and organisations. The skills and abilities you gain while studying at ANU are highly sought after by employers both, in Australia and overseas.
Our approach provides our graduates pathways to progress into senior management roles due to their understanding of more than one engineering discipline.
Due to this, engineering at ANU is often considered as a springboard into the wider corporate world and our graduates find work in many leading organisations such as ABB, Accenture, Department of Defence, CEA Technologies, Cochlear Limited, Energy Australia, Ford, GHD, IBM, Northrop Consulting Engineers, Qantas, Telstra, Thales and Toyota.
Work experience
As a part of your degree you will take part in 60 days of work experience to meet accreditation requirements with Engineers Australia. This provides you with the opportunity to integrate academic theory and real world practice, enhance technical and leadership skills, experience a professional setting, whilst also making valuable connections with industry.
Projects
In addition to compulsory work experience you will also undertake systems engineering projects during your coursework. In these projects you will work in teams on a given problem statement and develop the requirements and key performance indicators to guide you through the design. Your team will then proceed through a systems design process including conceptual design, sub-system requirements, and quantitative trade-off analyses, using the full range of engineering science and professional skills developed during your program.
Projects emphasise teamwork, communication skills, team and personal management and a professional approach to engineering design, all of which are highly valuable traits for an engineer.
Internships
Our industry links enable opportunities to undertake internships which allow you to gain hands-on experience in a workplace environment relevant to your area of future career interests and current academic studies.
You can also receive credit towards your program based on learning outcomes during your placement.
Other practical experience
Use your knowledge to create a positive impact on society through our Engineers Without Borders placements, participate in Humanitarian Design Summits or go on exchange to complement your students and broaden your networks at one of our partner universities around the world.
Employment opportunities
As an accredited engineer with a systems engineering background, you will bring extra value to future employers in a diverse range of professions and organisations. The skills and abilities you gain while studying at ANU are highly sought after by employers both, in Australia and overseas.
Our approach provides our graduates pathways to progress into senior management roles due to their understanding of more than one engineering discipline.
Due to this, engineering at ANU is often considered as a springboard into the wider corporate world and our graduates find work in many leading organisations such as ABB, Accenture, Department of Defence, CEA Technologies, Cochlear Limited, Energy Australia, Ford, GHD, IBM, Northrop Consulting Engineers, Qantas, Telstra, Thales and Toyota.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply systematic engineering methods professionally to design optimised and sustainable solutions to complex and transdisciplinary engineering problems.
- Construct and evaluate solutions to engineering problems by selecting and applying theoretical principles and methods from the underpinning physical, mathematical and information sciences, and broader transdisciplinary knowledge.
- Demonstrate advanced technical knowledge and the application of appropriate tools in at least one field of engineering specialisation.
- Compare current developments and emerging trends in at least one field of engineering specialisation.
- Understand the contextual factors that influence professional engineering practice, such as interpersonal, organizational, institutional, technological, physical, environmental, political and societal factors, and assess the potential societal, cultural, health, legal and environmental impact of engineering activities.
- Communicate and incorporate perspectives across disciplines effectively with colleagues, other engineering professionals and the broader community employing a range of communication media and tools.
- Engage in independent research through the application of research-based knowledge and research methods, including searching, analysing and evaluating information sources within and beyond their engineering discipline.
- Engage responsibly in critical reflection on self-competence to practice ethically and independent learning to continue practicing at the forefront of the discipline.
- Work effectively and proactively within cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary teams, demonstrating autonomy, ethical conduct, well-developed judgement, adaptability and responsibility to achieve engineering outcomes at a high standard.
- critically apply theoretical frameworks and research techniques to understanding national and international issues and problems;
- identify relevant sources of information, and judge the importance, reliability and ethical implications of those sources;
- evaluate ideas and develop creative solutions to problems, including through independent pursuit of knowledge and making connections between different disciplinary approaches and methods; and
- communicate and debate orally and in writing, and work with others, using a variety of media.
Further Information
Learn more about the degrees offered at the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science, read current student profiles to see what campus life is really like, and discover what our graduates have achieved since leaving the College - Visit the College of Engineering and Computer Science website.
Learn more about the degrees offered at the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science, read current student profiles to see what campus life is really like, and discover what our graduates have achieved since leaving the College - Visit the College of Engineering and Computer Science website.
Admission Requirements
- ATAR:
- 85
- International Baccalaureate:
- 32
Pathways
There are a range of pathways available to students for entry into Bachelor of Engineering (Honours):
- ANU: The ANU Bachelor of Science provides a pathway into the Bacehlor of Engineering.
- International agreements/pathways: College of Engineering and Computer Science has a range of articulation agreements with institutions around the world. Students completing the appropriate qualification in these institutions may be approved for entry and credit exemptions towards Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).
Prerequisites
ACT: Mathematical Methods (Major)/Further Mathematics (Major)/Specialist Mathematics/Specialist Methods (Major)
NSW: HSC Mathematics Advanced or equivalent.
VIC: Mathematics Methods or equivalent
QLD: Mathematics Methods or equivalent
TAS: Mathematical methods/Mathematics Specialised/Mathematics 1 and II through U Tas/Both Mathematics 1 and II through UTAS/Both Advanced Calculus and Applications 1A and 1B through UTAS
SA / NT: Mathematical Methods or equivalent
WA: Mathematical Methods or equivalent
IB: Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations HL/Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches SL or HL
Adjustment Factors
Adjustment factors are combined with an applicant's secondary education results to determine their Selection Rank. ANU offers adjustment factors based on equity, diversity, and/or performance principles, such as for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies.
To be eligible for adjustment factors, you must have:
- achieved a Selection Rank of 70 or more before adjustment factors are applied
- if you have undertaken higher education, completed less than one year full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) of a higher education program
- applied for an eligible ANU bachelor degree program
Please visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.
Indicative fees
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
Bachelor of Arts - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees
- Annual indicative fee for international students
- $53,700.00
Scholarships
ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.
Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are. Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.
For further information see the Scholarships website.
Program Requirements
The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) flexible double degree component requires completion of 168 units, of which:
A maximum of 48 units may come from the completion of 1000-level courses
The 168 units must include:
72 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:
ENGN1211 Engineering Design 1: Discovering Engineering
ENGN1217 Introduction to Mechanics
ENGN1218 Introduction to Electronics
ENGN2217 Mechanical Systems and Design
ENGN2218 Electronic Systems and Design
ENGN2219 Computer Systems & Organisation
ENGN2222 Engineering Thermodynamics
ENGN2228 Signals and Systems
ENGN2300 Engineering Design 2: Systems Approaches for Design
ENGN2301 Engineering Design 3: Systems Approaches for Analysis
ENGN3100 Practical Experience (0 units)
ENGN3300 Engineering Design 4A: Systems Approaches for Management
ENGN3301 Engineering Design 4B: Systems Approaches for Operations
12 units from completion of a course from the following list:
ENGN4300 Capstone Project
ENGN4350 Individual Project
6 units from completion of a course from the following list:
COMP1100 Programming as Problem Solving
COMP1130 Programming as Problem Solving (Advanced)
COMP1730 Programming for Scientists
6 units from completion of a course from the following list:
PHYS1001 Foundations of Physics
PHYS1101 Physics 1
6 units from completion of a course from the following list:
MATH1013 Mathematics and Applications 1
MATH1115 Advanced Mathematics and Applications 1
6 units from completion of a course from the following list:
MATH1014 Mathematics and Applications 2
MATH1116 Advanced Mathematics and Applications 2
48 units from completion of one of the following Engineering majors, of which 12 units contribute towards meeting the compulsory course requirements above:
Aerospace Systems
Electronic and Communication Systems
Environmental Systems
Mechatronic Systems
Nuclear Systems
Renewable Energy Systems
24 units from completion of courses from the following subject areas: ENGN Engineering
Honours
Students must formally enrol in ENGN4100 Engineering Honours at the commencement of their intended final semester.
Honours Grade Calculation
ENGN4100 Engineering Honours Grade will be used to calculate the Class of Honours and the mark. It will be calculated as the weighted average mark (WAM) of the courses listed below. The mark for each course is weighted by the units of credit (UoC) of the course, as well as a course weighting as indicated below. WAM is calculated as follows:
WAM = ( S Mark*UoC*Weighting) / (S UoC*Weighting)
- Science and Engineering Foundations (0.1 weighting): MATH1013 or MATH1115, MATH1014 or MATH1116, COMP1100 or COMP1130 or COMP1730, PHYS1001 or PHYS1101, ENGN1000-series courses.
- Engineering Fundamentals (0.2 weighting): ENGN2000-series courses (excluding ENGN2300 and ENGN2301).
- Professional Core (0.3 weighting): ENGN2300, ENGN2301, ENGN3300, ENGN3301, ENGN3200.
- Engineering Discipline and Final Year Project (0.4 weighting): ENGN3000-series courses (excluding ENGN3300, ENGN3301 and ENGN3200), ENGN4000-series courses.
The Bachelor of Arts flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:
A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses
A minimum of 12 units must come from the completion of Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving courses
A minimum of 18 units must come from the completion of 3000-level courses
The 96 units must consist of:
48 units from the completion of one of the following majors:
Disciplines and Fields
Anthropology
Archaeology
Art History and Curatorial Studies
Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
Australian Indigenous Studies
Biological Anthropology
Classical Studies
Criminology
Demography
Design
Development Studies
Economic Studies
English
Environmental Studies
Gender, Sexuality and Culture
History
International Relations
Linguistics
Music Studies
Peace and Conflict Studies
Philosophy
Political Science
Psychology
Public Policy
Sociology
Language and Geographic Area Studies
Ancient Greek
Arabic
Asian History
Asian Studies
Chinese Language
Chinese Studies
French Studies
German Studies
Hindi Language
Italian Studies
Indonesian Language
Japanese Language
Japanese Linguistics
Japanese Studies
Korean Language
Korean Studies
Latin
Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
Northeast Asian Studies
Pacific Studies
Persian
Sanskrit Language
Southeast Asian Studies
Spanish Studies
Thai Language
Vietnamese Language
A minimum of 24 units from completion of courses not previously taken from the following subject areas, which may contribute towards the completion of a minor:
ANTH - Anthropology
ARAB - Arabic
ARCH - Archaeology
ARTH - Art History & Curatorial Studies
ARTV - Visual Arts
ASIA - Asian Studies
BIAN - Biological Anthropology
BIOL - Biology
BURM - Burmese
CHIN - Chinese
CLAS - Classics
COMP - Computer Studies
CRIM - Criminology
DEMO - Demography
DESN - Design
ECON - Economics
ENGL - English
ENVS - Environmental Studies
FREN - French Studies
GEND - Gender and Sexuality
GERM - German Studies
GREK - Ancient Greek
HIND - Hindi
HIST - History
HUMN - Humanities
INDG - Indigenous Studies
INDN - Indonesian
INTR - International Relations
ITAL - Italian Studies
JPNS - Japanese
KORE - Korean
LANG - Language Studies
LATN - Latin
LING - Linguistics
MATH - Mathematics
MNGL - Mongolian Language
MUSI - Music
PASI - Pacific Studies
PERS - Persian
PHIL - Philosophy
POLS - Political Science
POPH - Population Health
PORT - Portuguese
PSYC - Psychology
RUSS - Russian Studies
SOCR - Social Research
SOCY - Sociology
SPAN - Spanish
STST - Strategic Studies
TETM - Tetum
THAI - Thai
TIBN - Tibetan
TOKP - Tok Pisin
TURK - Turkish
VIET - Vietnamese
Students completing a Flexible Double Degree must nominate different majors in each degree.
Majors
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Majors
Bachelor of Arts Majors
- Ancient Greek
- Anthropology
- Arabic
- Archaeology
- Art History and Curatorial Studies
- Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
- Asian History
- Asian Studies
- Australian Indigenous Studies
- Biological Anthropology
- Chinese Language
- Chinese Studies
- Classical Studies
- Criminology
- Demography
- Development Studies
- Economic Studies
Minors
Bachelor of Arts Minors
- Advanced Ancient Greek
- Advanced Arabic
- Advanced Chinese Language
- Advanced French Studies
- Advanced German Studies
- Advanced Italian Studies
- Advanced Japanese Language
- Advanced Korean Language
- Advanced Latin
- Advanced Persian
- Advanced Sanskrit Language
- Advanced Spanish Studies
- Ancient Greek
- Anthropology
- Anthropology of Asia
- Applied Linguistics
- Arabic
- Archaeology
- Art History and Curatorial Studies
- Asian and Pacific Archaeology
- Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
- Asian and Pacific Linguistics
- Asian and Pacific Literature and Film
- Asian History
- Asian Studies
- Asia-Pacific Politics
- Australian Indigenous Studies
- Biological Anthropology
- Burmese Language
- Chinese Language
- Chinese Studies
- Classical Studies
- Climate Science and Policy
- Criminology
- Demography
- Design
- Development Studies
- Economic Studies
- Environmental Policy
- Environmental Studies
- Forensic Linguistics
- French Studies
- Gender and Sexuality
- Geography
- German Studies
- Heritage and Museum Studies
- Hindi Language
- History
- Human Ecology
- Indian and South Asian Studies
- Indonesian Language
- Indonesian Studies
- International Communication
- International Relations
- Italian Studies
- Japanese Language
- Japanese Linguistics
- Japanese Studies
- Korean Language
- Korean Studies
- Latin
- Linguistics
- Literary Chinese
- Mathematics
- Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
- Middle Eastern Politics and Security
- Mongolian Language
- Music Studies
- Northeast Asian Studies
- Pacific Studies
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Persian
- Philosophy
- Philosophy and Science
- Political Science
- Popular Music
- Russian and Central Asian Studies
- Russian Studies
- Sanskrit Language
- Social Psychology
- Social Research Methods
- Sociology
- Southeast Asian Studies
- Spanish Studies
- Sustainable Development
- Tetum Language
- Thai Language
- Tibetan Language Minor
- Tok Pisin Language
- Vietnamese Language
- Visual Arts Practice
Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | ENGN1211 Engineering Design 1: Discovering Engineering 6 units | PHYS1013 | MATH1013 Mathematics and Applications 1 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units |
| ENGN1217 Introduction to Mechanics 6 units | ENGN1218 Introduction to Electronics 6 units | MATH1014 Mathematics and Applications 2 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units | |
| Year 2 48 units | ENGN2217 Mechanical Systems and Design 6 units | ENGN2218 Electronic Systems and Design 6 units | COMP1730 Programming for Scientists 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units |
| ENGN2222 Engineering Thermodynamics 6 units | ENGN2228 Signals and Systems 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units | |
| Year 3 48 units | ENGN2300 Engineering Design 2: Systems Approaches for Design 6 units | ENGN2219 Computer Architecture 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units |
| ENGN2301 Engineering Design 3: Systems Approaches for Analysis 6 units | ENGN Major Course 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units | |
| Year 4 48 units | ENGN3300 Engineering Design 4A: Systems Approaches for Management 6 units | ENGN Major Course 6 units | ENGN Major Course 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units |
| ENGN3301 Engineering Design 4B: Systems Approaches for Operations 6 units | ENGN Major Course 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units | |
| Year 5 48 units | ENGN4300 Capstone Design Project 6 to 12 units OR ENGN4350; | ENGN Major Course 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units |
| ENGN4300 Capstone Design Project 6 to 12 units OR ENGN4350; | ENGN Major Course 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units | Other Degree Course 6 units |
Back to the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) page
The Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (BE) is a unique and exciting degree that is professionally accredited by Engineers Australia. The degree encompasses a technical major along with an interdisciplinary systems engineering approach. The degree can be taken as either a single degree or a double degree combined with a number of other degree programs
No choice of major is required until third year with all students undertaking the same courses in their first two years.
Single degree
- This degree requires a total of 192 units.
- You will complete one Engineering major of 48 units.
- 24 units of elective courses from the engineering subject area (courses coded with ENGN) and 24 units of university elective courses offered by ANU.
Double degree
- The Engineering component of the Flexible Double Degree requires a total of 168 units.
- You will complete one Engineering major of 48 units and a further 24 units of elective courses from the engineering subject area (courses coded with ENGN).
- There are no university electives available in a double degree.
About this degree
- Typically students will enrol in 24 units per semester. This is four, six unit courses per semester. There are some variations in your later years with double weighted (12 unit) courses.
- A major is typically 48 units of courses and a minor is 24 units. You will need to complete at least one Engineering major in your degree.
- In the single degree you will have 24 units of ENGN electives and 24 units of university electives (i.e., eight courses with 48 units in total). You may use these to complete another Engineering major or minor, and/or possibly a minor outside of Engineering. You should note that you can only do a maximum of 60 units of 1000-level courses in the entire degree of study.
- In the double degree, you have no university electives - your other degree requirements use up all of these.
Enrolment Status
The definition of full-time and part-time status can be found here. While it's possible to enrol in fewer courses per semester, it may take you longer to finish your program and get your degree. If you are an international student you must follow the requirement specified by your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and your visa, which normally require you to enrol in 24 units per semester in order to finish your program of study on time.
Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses
- Note that if you are commencing in July you should send an email to <student.css@anu.edu.au> for advice about your enrolment or attend an enrolment advice session at the university in the week before semester commences.
- If you studied ACT Maths Methods, or are not confident in your Maths ability, please read the information about secondary school prerequisite of MATH1013 on the course website.
- Students who excel in maths and have done the highest level of maths available to them at school should read the following: You may choose to enrol in MATH1115 and MATH1116 (honours maths) in place of MATH1013 and MATH1014. These courses are significantly more difficult and will likely mean a higher workload, but they will give you a much deeper understanding of underlying mathematical concepts, which may be beneficial for your future studies. You are encouraged to seriously consider this option.
- Both PHYS1001 and PHYS1101 satisfy the compulsory first-year physics requirements for BE students.
- PHYS1101 – Physics 1 is the recommended first year physics course for BE students. It is also a compulsory pre-requisite for subsequent Physics courses. It is recommended for BE students who are interested to do more Physics courses as electives.
- PHYS1001 is advised only if you did not complete year 11 and 12 physics.
- PHYS1001 is offered in Semester 1 only. PHYS1101 is offered in both Semester 1 and Semester 2.
- It is possible to do PHYS1001 in Semester 1 then PHYS1101 in Semester 2. In this case, PHYS1001 is counted as a 1000 series elective course.
Computing Advice for Bachelor of Engineering Students
- Both COMP1730 and COMP1100 satisfy the compulsory first-year computing requirements for BE students.
- Both COMP1730 and COMP1100 are offered in S1 and S2.
- COMP1730 Programming for Scientists is recommended for BE students who are looking to do a single computing course to satisfy the degree requirements.
- COMP1100 Programming as Problem Solving is the first of three core computer science courses on programming. It is a compulsory pre-requisite (directly or indirectly) for subsequent computing courses. It is recommended for BE students who are interested to do more Computer Science courses as electives.
- Students having a strong maths background and
significant programming experience might like to choose COMP1130 as the
advanced version of the programming course.
Majors and Minors
See available majors and minors for this program
There are a number of Engineering majors and minors for you to choose from. The good news is that you do not need to make any decisions about these until after first year. Just follow the first year enrolment pattern for single and double degrees. If you want more information about majors and minors you can have a look at the Bachelor of Engineering Degree Requirements in the 'Programs and Courses' website
Electives
There is one university elective in your first year of study in the single degree. You can take the elective either in the first semester or second semester and take COMP1730 in the other semester. If you are in a flexible double degree and need to take more than one course from your other degree during first year, you should consider doing COMP1730 in your 2nd year thus freeing up an elective in second semester of first year.
Study Options
Bachelor of Engineering single degree
Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | ENGN1211 Engineering Design 1: Discovering Engineering 6 units | PHYS1101 Physics I 6 units | MATH1013 Mathematics and Applications 1 6 units | Elective Course 6 Units |
| ENGN1217 Introduction to Mechanics 6 units | ENGN1218 Introduction to Electronics 6 units | MATH1014 Mathematics and Applications 2 6 units | COMP1730 Programming for Scientists 6 units |
Bachelor of Engineering double degree
Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | ENGN1211 Engineering Design 1: Discovering Engineering 6 units | PHYS1101 Physics I 6 units | MATH1013 Mathematics and Applications 1 6 units | Other Degree Course |
| ENGN1217 Introduction to Mechanics 6 units | ENGN1218 Introduction to Electronics 6 units | MATH1014 Mathematics and Applications 2 6 units | Double Degree Course |
Academic Advice
- A sample course structure (i.e., study plan) over the four years of the single degree can be found on the webpage Bachelor Degrees | ANU School of Engineering
- Remember you can’t count more than ten
1000-level courses (60 units) towards your single degree.
Back to the Bachelor of Arts page
Enrolling for the first time can be overwhelming. Below, you will find information that will assist. Please note that advice on this page is indicative, and you are encouraged to contact the CASS Student office at students.cass@anu.edu.au or visit the CASS student office website if you require tailored information.
Important items to note:
- We recommend you start a CASS Program Plan. This is a way to track how the courses you take fit within the overall structure of your degree and will help you plan for your later year courses.
- The Bachelor of Arts can be taken as a single degree or combined with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD). When the Bachelor of Arts is combined with another undergraduate degree through a Flexible Double Degree, 48 units of ANU electives units are replaced with the core requirements of the other degree and the total program duration is expanded to 192 units (4 years Full-Time) or 240 units (5 years Full-Time) depending on the duration of the other program.
Semester 2 commencers
Please note that if you are commencing your studies in Semester 2 there may be restrictions on the courses available for enrolment. If you have concerns, please contact students.cass@anu.edu.au
Single degree
The Bachelor of Arts requires 144 units (24 courses), including:
- A maximum of 60 units from 1000-level courses (i.e. 10 x 6 unit courses)
- A minimum of 18 units from 3000-level courses (i.e. 3 x 6 unit courses)
- One major listed in the study orders
- A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (i.e. 2 x 6 unit courses)
With careful enrolment choices, you can complete an optional second major or a minor. The College of Arts and Social Sciences offers a range of optional minors as listed in the “overview’ tab of the Bachelor of Arts study orders.
Double degree
The total number of overall units in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD) depends on the FDD combination e.g. Flexible Double Degree - Arts, Social Sciences, Business, Science (4050): 192 units Flexible Double Degree - Law (Honours) (4350), Flexible Double Degree PhB Advanced Arts Social Sciences Business & Science (4569), or Flexible Double Degree - Engineering and Advanced Computing (Honours) (4750): 240 units Of which a minimum of 12 units (i.e. 2 x 6 unit courses) must be tagged as transdisciplinary problem-solving. These courses may be taken in either component of the FDD. The Bachelor of Arts component of an FDD requires 96 units, including:
- A maximum of 36 units from 1000-level courses (i.e. 6 x 6 unit courses)
- A minimum of 18 units from 3000-level courses (i.e. 3 x 6 unit courses)
- One major listed in the Bachelor of Arts
With careful enrolment choices, you can complete an optional second major or a minor. See the 'overview’ tab of the Bachelor of Arts study orders.
Enrolment Status
The Bachelor of Arts typically takes three years to complete on a full-time basis. Students will usually take 24-units (four x six-unit courses) each semester and there are two semesters each year. One course is typically worth six-units.
In total, students need to complete 144 units of study towards the Bachelor of Arts This will be 24 courses if all courses are worth six-units but may be fewer if one or more courses of 12-units or more are taken.
If you combine the Bachelor of Arts with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree, you will need to complete a total of 192 units (32 six-unit courses) or 240 units (40 six-unit courses) depending on the combination. This will typically take four years for a 192-unit degree or five years for a 240-unit degree on a full-time basis.
Domestic students may choose to enrol in fewer than 24-units in any semester or half-year study period. Students studying 18 or more units in a half year (January – June or July – December) are considered full-time. Students studying less than this are considered part-time.
If you take fewer than 24-units in any half year period, then your degree is likely to take longer than three years to complete.
International students on a student visa are required to enrol in a full-time study load of 24-units in each half year study period (Summer, Semester 1, Autumn or Winter, Semester 2, Spring) unless they have been approved for Reduced Study Load or program leave.
Maximum time for completion
- The maximum period for completion of the single Bachelor of Arts degree is 10 years from the date of first enrolment in the program. This 10 years includes any periods of leave.
- The maximum period for completion of a flexible double degree is 10 years for a 192-unit degree or 11 years for a 240-unit degree from the date of first enrolment in the program. The maximum period includes periods of leave.
A transfer of credit (status) from previous studies will reduce the total amount of time remaining to complete the balance of your degree. When you are assessed for credit, you will be notified of the new maximum end date for your degree in your credit offer.
Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses
In your first year, you will enrol in 1000-level courses – these courses have ‘1’ as the first number in their course code. Eg ENGL1100, POLS1002.
You can take a maximum of 10 x 1000-level courses within the single degree, or 6 x 1000-level courses if taking a Bachelor of Arts within a double degree. Most of these courses will be taken in your first year. Many 2000 and 3000 level courses build upon the specific knowledge achieved through 1000-level courses.
There is room in your first year to pick and choose courses depending on your interests but, you must also ensure that you select the 1000-level courses that are prerequisites for 2000 and 3000 level courses. When selecting your courses, please pay close attention to the semester in which it is offered. This is particularly important if you have a preferred major in mind. The 1000- level course that are prerequisites for each major can be found in the Programs and Courses entry for each major or each individual course.
Details of the semester/s in which courses are offered can be found in the individual course entries on the Programs and Course website on the Class tab.
Majors and Minors
See available majors and minors for this program
What is a major?
A major is a sequence of 48-units (i.e. 8 x 6 unit courses). The major has been structured to develop relevant skills and knowledge in the discipline and to prepare you for further study or entry to the workforce. The majors that contribute towards the core requirements of the Bachelor of Arts are listed in the “Program Requirements” on the “Study” tab.
What is a minor?
Minors are sequences of 24 units (i.e. 4 x 6 unit courses). Minors can bring structured breadth to your degree. You do not need to take a second major or a minor towards your degree. But you may have enough electives to do this if you wish. This is optional not compulsory. Majors and minors if taken together must have different names.
Advanced minors in a selection of language studies is offered in the Bachelor of Arts. Advanced minors are sequences of 24 units (i.e. 4 x 6 unit courses) which offer structured depth to your degree and are aimed at students who have prior knowledge or experience in the discipline area.
Electives
Electives are courses that provide freedom for you to select subjects that align to your personal interests and career aspirations in a more individualised way than is possible through general major or degree requirements. An ANU elective is a course that you can select without restriction, beyond the global requirements of your program (e.g. limits on 1000-level courses, etc).
In the Bachelor of Arts you can select 24 units from courses offered within the Bachelor of Arts majors, or from other Colleges at the University. You can try a range of courses or take a major or minor in a non-arts subject, such computing, science or marketing. The choice is yours.
In your first year, we recommend taking some electives from a range of discipline areas in the Bachelor of Arts to help you get a feel for which major could be the best fit for you. This will give you some flexibility to change plans if you find your preferred subject area isn’t what you expected it to be.
We also recommend holding some ANU electives in reserve to keep other opportunities open, such as international exchange, internships, and meeting the transdisciplinary requirements of your degree.
You may have noticed that the Bachelor of Arts does not have any specified “compulsory” courses. There are lists of majors, but no specific course that absolutely must be taken. A major in the Bachelor of Arts might have compulsory courses, but the program itself does not.
Study Options
Study Options - single program
For study plans, please visit cass.anu.edu.au/current-students/degrees-and-program-plansStudy Options
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Study Options - FDD
For study plans, please visit cass.anu.edu.au/current-students/degrees-and-program-plansStudy Options
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Disciplines
Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving Courses (TD)
Transdisciplinary courses at the ANU are courses that encourage students to collaborate across different disciplines and perspectives to solve complex problems. These courses help students develop skills to synthesise knowledge from different fields.
In this degree, you will have to complete 12 units of courses flagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (TD). TD courses can be identified using the Programs and Courses search engine.
You can satisfy this requirement through a course/s listed in the program or through the ANU electives it all depends on how you structure your degree and your other enrolment choices.
Academic Advice
Course credit
If you have undertaken previous study that is relevant to your current academic program, you can request to receive course credit. For more information and how to apply, see the CASS credit application webpage, or contact the CASS Student Office.
For further information on prerequisites and Arts and Social Science disciplines you can:
Email us at students.cass@anu.edu.au, or
Come and talk to someone - you can attend a drop in session with an academic advisor here