• Length 4 years full-time
  • Minimum 192 Units
Admission requirements
  • Academic plan BBUSA / BPPE
  • CRICOS code 079093D
  • UAC code 130010
Bachelor of Business Administration / Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics

What does it take to start a successful new business, to lead an organisation, to plan and manage a complex project? How do leaders negotiate, resolve conflict, and manage across cultures in the global workplace?

The BBA will answer these questions and, more importantly, help you develop skills to go out and do these things in the real world.

The BBA is flexible so you can build on your strengths. For example, you have a wide choice about how much mathematical content to include in your degree.

Are you a leader? The Australian National University is a leader too, especially in the fields of philosophy, politics and economics. This progressive and well-regarded degree will arm you with the moral, economic and political perspectives you need to make a real impact.

You will develop exceptional problem-solving skills and critical and conceptual thinking, all while gaining a passport to some of the world’s most promising careers.

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

Graduates from the Bachelor of Business Administration are:

  • Junior knowledge workers in the private or public sectors challenged by the complexity of modern organisations
  • Young entrepreneurs from a range of industries
  • Early career employees from diverse backgrounds needing management knowledge and skills to enhance their career prospects
  • Junior consultants seeking leading-edge thinking on management practice policy advisers designing, implementing or evaluating policies
  • Entry-level management, leadership, consultant, coordination or administration positions in areas such as sales, advertising, marketing, corporate services, tourism, hospitality, health, welfare, social services, administration, public relations, policy, planning, production, education services, customer services, facilities and construction.


Who go on to become:

  • Business Consultants
  • Officers in the Australian Public Service
  • Managers
  • Marketing representatives
  • Entrepreneurs
  • and leaders in many other influential roles.


A range of work-integrated and experiential learning courses are also available as electives, such as:

Graduates from the Bachelor of Business Administration are:

  • Junior knowledge workers in the private or public sectors challenged by the complexity of modern organisations
  • Young entrepreneurs from a range of industries
  • Early career employees from diverse backgrounds needing management knowledge and skills to enhance their career prospects
  • Junior consultants seeking leading-edge thinking on management practice policy advisers designing, implementing or evaluating policies
  • Entry-level management, leadership, consultant, coordination or administration positions in areas such as sales, advertising, marketing, corporate services, tourism, hospitality, health, welfare, social services, administration, public relations, policy, planning, production, education services, customer services, facilities and construction.


Who go on to become:

  • Business Consultants
  • Officers in the Australian Public Service
  • Managers
  • Marketing representatives
  • Entrepreneurs
  • and leaders in many other influential roles.


A range of work-integrated and experiential learning courses are also available as electives, such as:

Learning Outcomes

  1. review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge, from both Indigenous Australian peoples' and non-indigenous peoples' perspectives, as well as locally and globally
  2. demonstrate a broad understanding of management and leadership knowledge with depth in some areas
  3. present a clear, coherent and independent exposition of management knowledge and ideas
  4. exercise expertise in critical thinking and judgement in identifying and solving problems with intellectual independence
  5. demonstrate initiative and judgement in planning, problem solving and decision making in professional practice and/or scholarship
  6. adapt knowledge and skills in diverse business contexts
  7. demonstrate responsibility and accountability for own learning and professional practice and in collaboration with others within broad parameters
  8. employ discipline-based knowledge in transdisciplinary problem-solving
  1. describe and critically evaluate the methods and theories of political analysis, and the assumptions, ‘tools’ and limitations of political economy;
  2. describe and critically evaluate major philosophical theories and approaches to the evaluation of social practices and institutions;
  3. describe and critically evaluate the methods and findings of economics and apply them to the study of political institutions and processes;
  4. articulate and debate, both orally and in written form, arguments and positions drawn from the disciplines of politics, philosophy and economics; and
  5. critically reflect and draw upon the distinct contributions of diverse disciplines, including politics, philosophy and economics, to devise innovative solutions to real-world challenges, both independently and in groups.

Further Information

Electives: 

Students have:

  • a minimum of 24 units of electives that can be selected from CBE or other Colleges, and
  • when completing a single degree program, an additional 48 units of ANU wide electives that can be selected from CBE or other Colleges.

No more than 10 courses at 1000 level.

Students wish to undertake an out of college elective may contact the relevant College directly.

Student Responsibility:

It is the student's responsibility to select electives in such a way that:

It is the student's responsibility to select the courses appropriate for their program.

Electives: 

Students have:

  • a minimum of 24 units of electives that can be selected from CBE or other Colleges, and
  • when completing a single degree program, an additional 48 units of ANU wide electives that can be selected from CBE or other Colleges.

No more than 10 courses at 1000 level.

Students wish to undertake an out of college elective may contact the relevant College directly.

Student Responsibility:

It is the student's responsibility to select electives in such a way that:

It is the student's responsibility to select the courses appropriate for their program.

Admission Requirements

ATAR:
94
International Baccalaureate:
38

Prerequisites

There are no formal program prerequisites. But assumed knowledge is: ACT: Mathematical Methods (Major)/Further Mathematics/Specialist Mathematics (major)/Specialist Methods or NSW: HSC Mathematics Advanced or equivalent. More information about interstate subject equivalencies can be found here [https://www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria]

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.

Bachelor of Business Administration - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)

Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)

For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees

Annual indicative fee for international students
$56,120.00

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

This double degree requires the completion of 192 units.

The Bachelor of Business Administration flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:

A maximum of 48 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 96 units must include:

60 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

BUSI2025 - International Business (6 units)

BUSN1001 - Business Reporting and Analysis (6 units)

ECON1101 - Microeconomics 1 (6 units)

ECON1102 - Macroeconomics 1 (6 units)

MGMT1003 - Management, People and Organisations (6 units)

MGMT2003 - Business Decision Making (6 units)

MGMT2030 - Human Resource Management and Strategy (6 units)

MGMT2100 - Communication for Business (6 units)

MGMT3021 - Leadership (6 units)

MKTG2004 - Introduction to Marketing (6 units)


12 units from completion of Transdisciplinary courses from the following list:

MGMT3015 - Corporate Strategy (6 units)

MGMT3027 - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (6 units)


Either:

12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

BUSI3024 - Export Business Planning (6 units)

CBEA2001 - Indigenous Perspectives in Business (6 units)

CBEA3001 - College of Business and Economics Special Industry Project (6 units)

CBEA3066 - Global Business Immersion (6 units)

CBEA3070 - ANU College of Business and Economics Internship Program (UG) (6 or 12 units)

12 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

Or:

24 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU

If your flexible double degree is within the College of Business and Economics (for example Commerce and Economics), the below study plan may show the same course twice. If this is the case, you must only do the course once and replace the other course with a University Wide Elective.

For majors and minors offered by the ANU College of Business and Economics, students may count a course towards multiple majors and minors. If a minor is a subset of all stated courses and/or prerequisites for a major, then completion of the major overrides completion of the minor, and only the major is regarded as having been completed. If all courses in a major and/or minor are compulsory courses in the degree, the major and/or minor will not be listed on the transcript.

The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:

A maximum of 48 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses

The 96 units must include:

54 units from the completion of the following compulsory courses:

ECON1101 Microeconomics 1

ECON2101 Microeconomics 2

PHIL1004 Fundamental Ideas in Philosophy: An Introduction

PHIL1005 Logic and Critical Thinking

POLS1002 Introduction to Politics

POLS1009 Introduction to Data and Methods for Political Science and International Relations

PPEI1001 PPE Integration 1

PPEI2001 PPE Integration 2

PPEI3001 PPE Integration 3


6 units from completion of one of the following courses:

ECON1100 Economics I (H)

ECON1102 Macroeconomics 1


12 units from the completion of any 2000 or 3000 level POLS course of which at least 6 units must come from one of the courses on the following list:

POLS2044 Quantitative Methods in Political Science and International Relations

POLS2094 International Political Economy

POLS2114 Australian Politics

POLS2130 Public Choice and Politics

POLS3029 Sharing Power: Federalism in Comparative Perspective

POLS3043 Pressure Groups and Political Lobbying

POLS3111 Elections, Political Behaviour and Public Opinion in Australia

POLS3125 Game Theory and Social Sciences


12 units from the completion of any 2000 or 3000 level PHIL course of which at least 6 units must come from one of the courses on the following list:

PHIL2057 Philosophy of Science

PHIL2122 Philosophy and Public Policy

PHIL2125 Rationality and Social Cooperation

PHIL2126 Science in Society: Ethics, Public Policy and Scientific Practice

PHIL2129 Normative Ethical Theory

PHIL2290 Philosophy, AI and Society

PHIL3073 Advanced Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy

PHIL3075 The Philosophy of Gender: Knowledge, Power, Bodies


6 units from the completion of any 2000 or 3000 level ECON, ECHI or EMET course, or EMET1001.


A maximum of 6 units of Experiential Courses from the following list:

ANIP3003 Australian National Internships Program A

ASIA3037 Study Tour: Cultural Landscapes and Environmental Change in Asia and the Pacific

ASIA3084 Study Tour: Modern Mongolia - Challenges to the Environment, Economy and Empire

CBEA3001 College of Business and Economics Special Industry Project

ENVS2005 Island Sustainable Development: Fiji Field School

MEAS2008 Middle East and Central Asia Study Tour

PASI2030 Regional Policy Making for Pacific Development

STST2020 Study Tour: Southeast Asia's Security Choices

Minors

Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics Minors

Study Options

Year 1 MGMT1003 Management, People and Organisations 6 units ECON1101 Microeconomics 1 6 units POLS1002 Introduction to Politics 6 units PHIL1004 Fundamental Ideas in Philosophy: An Introduction 6 units
BUSN1001 Business Reporting and Analysis 6 units ECON1102 Macroeconomics 1 6 units POLS1009 Introduction to Data and Methods for Political Science and International Relations 6 units PHIL1005 Logic and Critical Thinking 6 units
Year 2 MGMT2100 Communication for Business 6 units BBA Core Course ECON1101 Microeconomics 1 6 units 2000/3000 level Politics list Course 6 units
MKTG2004 Introduction to Marketing 6 units BUSI2025 International Business 6 units POLS1008 ECON1102 Macroeconomics 1 6 units
Year 3 MGMT2030 Human Resource Management and Strategy 6 units List 1 Elective Course 6 units ECON2101 Microeconomics 2 6 units 2000/3000 level Economics Course 6 units
MGMT3027 Entrepreneurship and Innovation 6 units List 1 Elective Course 6 units PHIL2116 2000/3000 Politics Course 6 units
Year 4 MGMT3015 Corporate Strategy 6 units List 1 Elective Course 6 units 2000/3000 level Philosophy list Course 6 units 2000/3000 Level ECON, PHIL or POLS Course or ANIP3003 6 units
MGMT3021 Leadership 6 units List 1 Elective Course 6 units ECON3056 PPE Integration 3: Classic Literature in Politics, Philosophy and Economics 6 units 2000/3000 level Philosophy Course 6 units

Back to the Bachelor of Business Administration page

The Bachelor of Business Administration will develop your leadership and management skills. The degree places emphasis on problem-solving and decision-making, leadership, cross-cultural communications and strategic thinking. It provides you with the leadership capabilities to springboard your career in either the private or public sectors.

Single degree

  • This degree requires 24 courses  (144 units)
  • A maximum of 10 courses (60 units) of 1000 level courses
  • 12 compulsory courses
  • 12 electives (of which 4 electives must be CBE List 1 elective courses)
Commencing Semester 1:

Semester 1 

  • BUSN1001 Bus Rep & Analysis - 6 units
  • ECON1101 Microeconomics 1 - 6 units
  • MGMT1003 Mgmt, People & Org - 6 units
  • Elective

Semester 2 

  • ECON1102 Macroeconomics 1 - 6 units
  • List 1 Elective Course - 6 units
  • List 1 Elective Course - 6 units
  • Elective Course - 6 units

Commencing Semester 2:
Semester 2 

  • BUSN1001 Bus Rep & Analysis - 6 units
  • ECON1101 Microeconomics 1 - 6 units
  • MGMT1003 Mgmt, People & Org - 6 units
  • Elective

Double degree

  • This degree requires 16 courses (96 units) of CBE courses
  • A maximum of 8 courses (48 units) of 1000 level CBE courses
  • 12 compulsory courses
  • 4 CBE List 1 elective course

Commencing Semester 1:
Semester 1 

Semester 2 


Commencing Semester 2:
Semester 2 


About this degree

Single degree
In a Bachelor of Business Administration single degree program you will study a total of 144 units.  Typically you will take 4 courses per semester (total of 24 units) as a full time student giving you a total of 24 courses across your whole degree. 

You will need to complete a minimum of 16 CBE courses (96 units) but will also get to choose 8 courses (48 units) from other ANU Colleges.  You can try a range of courses or take a major or minor in a non-CBE subject, the choice is yours.


Double degree
In a Bachelor of Business Administration double degree program you will study a total of 16 courses (96 units).  Typically you will take 4 courses per semester (total of 24 units) as a full time student giving you a total of 16 courses (96 units) across your whole degree.  However, for each semester you are likely to take 2 courses from your Business Administration degree and then 2 courses from the other half of you degree - still a total of 4 courses a semester.


Enrolment Status

It is possible to enrol in fewer courses per semester but it will take you longer to finish your program and get your degree. If you are an international student you must always be enrolled full-time in 24 units each semester.

Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses

When you enrol for the first time you will study ‘1000-level’ courses. These courses have ‘1’ as the first number in their course code, such as BUSN1001.

Please also note that:

  • You need to enrol in courses for both First Semester and Second Semester.
  • In your first year, you cannot study more than four courses (24 units) per semester, eight for the year.
  • You may take 1000-level courses later in your program.   But remember you can’t count more than ten 1000-level courses (60 units) in total towards your single degree.
  • You can change your enrolment via ISIS in courses up until the Monday of Week 2.

Electives

You can use your electives to enrol in any courses that you like, provided you meet prerequisite requirements.

Remember that you can choose up to 8 courses from another ANU College if you are undertaking the single Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

If you are in a double degree, your electives must be CBE courses.

Don't forget the maximum number of 1000 level courses is 10 in single degree.



Study Options

Bachelor of Business Administration

This is a typical study plan for the first year of a student undertaking a Bachelor of Business Administration degree

Study Options

Year 1 48 units BUSN1001 Business Reporting and Analysis 6 units ECON1101 Microeconomics 1 6 units MGMT1003 Management, People and Organisations 6 units Elective course 6 units
ECON1102 Macroeconomics 1 6 units CBE List 1 elective or MKTG2004 6 units CBE List 1 elective or BUSI2025 6 units Elective course 6 units

Bachelor of Business Administration - Double Degree

This is a typical study pattern for the first year of a student undertaking a Bachelor of Business Administration with another degree, such as the Bachelor of Arts (degree B)

Study Options

Year 1 48 units ECON1101 Microeconomics 1 6 units MGMT1003 Management, People and Organisations 6 units Degree B course 6 units Degree B course 6 units
ECON1102 Macroeconomics 1 6 units BUSN1001 Business Reporting and Analysis 6 units Degree B course 6 units Degree B course 6 units

Disciplines

For further information on specific discipline you can:


Academic Advice

In Semester 2 you have two electives to choose. You may wish to take MKTG2004 Marketing and BUSI2025 International Business here rather than waiting until year 2 to complete these courses

If after reading through these guidelines you are unsure about your which courses to enrol in, you can email info.cbe@anu.edu.au

If you are seeking status (credit) from previous study at another university you will need to submit a copy of your official transcript, detailed course outlines and a completed credit application form to info.cbe@anu.edu.au

Please refer to the CBE Fast Track page:
https://www.cbe.anu.edu.au/fasttrack 

Back to the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics 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 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 Politics, Philosophy and Economics can be taken as a single degree or combined with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD). When the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics 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 Politics, Philosophy and Economics 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 must come from completion of 3000 level courses (i.e. 3 x 6 units courses) 
  • Nine compulsory courses  
  • A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (i.e. 2 x 6 unit courses) 

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 Politics, Philosophy and Economics 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 must come from completion of 3000 level courses (i.e. 3 x 6 units courses) 
  • Nine compulsory courses  
  • A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (i.e. 2 x 6 unit courses)

Enrolment Status

Duration 

The Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics 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 Politics, Philosophy and Economics. 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 Politics, Philosophy and Economics 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 Politics, Philosophy and Economics 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 typically enrol in 1000-level courses – these courses have ‘1’ as the first number in their course code. E.g. POLS1002, POLS1009. Many 2000 and 3000 level courses build upon the specific knowledge achieved through 1000-level courses. 

You may take 1000-level courses later in your program.  But remember you can’t count more than 10 x 1000-level courses (60 units) towards your single degree or 6 x 1000-level courses (36 units) towards your Politics, Philosophy and Economics half of the double degree. 

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 Politics, Philosophy and Economics, you can select a minimum of 48 units of electives.? You can try a range of courses such as computing, history, or marketing. The choice is yours. 

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.

Study Options

Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics - single degree

For study plans, please visit cass.anu.edu.au/current-students/degrees-and-program-plans

Study Options

Year 1 48 units ~ ~ ` ~
~ ~ ~ ~

FDD

For study plans, please visit cass.anu.edu.au/current-students/degrees-and-program-plans

Study Options

Year 1 48 units ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~

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  

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