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

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.

Statistics opens the door to understanding our world through the exploration of data and the modelling of uncertainty. The need for statistics is growing rapidly as our ability to collect massive amounts of data outruns our ability to understand and use the data we collect. Hal Varian, Chief Economist at Google, declared that “the sexy job in the next ten years will be statisticians”, as the challenge of understanding large, complex data structures mounts. It is estimated that 2.5 exabytes of data is generated every single day, with the accumulated amount of data doubling every 18 months, and that 90% of all data ever gathered was produced within the last two years. What’s more, statistics is critical for every discipline for which data play a role, and in responding to the world’s biggest challenges such as climate change, terrorism, health and medicine, and global economic conditions. Some of the world’s largest employers of statisticians include Google and Facebook as well as governments, financial institutions, medical and pharmaceutical industries, universities and many other sectors. By completing a BStat at ANU, you stand ready to meet humanity’s biggest challenges by understanding the world we observe through the eyes of data and statistical and probability modelling.

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.

Learning Outcomes

  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.
  1. Review and synthesise a broad range of statistical knowledge from their chosen major.
  2. Use the R statistical computing language to carry out a wide variety of statistical tasks.
  3. Carry out model selection in a multiple linear regression modelling context in various discipline backgrounds.
  4. Describe the concepts of stochastic processes in discrete and continuous time.
  5. Describe and interpret probability theory, continuous random variables, and sampling distributions and the central limit theorem.
  6. Using a diverse range of discipline backgrounds and varied data, analyse programming problems to suggest, design and implement appropriate modular program structures, based on a data-directed approach.

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]

  • ACT:

Required: Mathematical Methods (Major) / Further Mathematics (Major) / Specialist Mathematics (Major) / Specialist Methods (Major)

Recommended: Specialist Mathematics/Specialist Methods (Major/Minor)

  • NSW:

Required: Mathematics Advanced or equivalent

Recommended: Mathematics Extension 1 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.

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

Bachelor of Statistics - 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 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

The Bachelor of Statistics 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 consist of:

48 units from the completion of one of the following statistics majors:

Applied Statistics

Probability and Stochastic Processes

Statistical Data Analytics

Theoretical Statistics

 6 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:

STAT2005 Introduction to Stochastic Processes

 6 units from completion of an introductory statistics course from the following list:

STAT1003 Statistical Techniques

STAT1008 Quantitative Research Methods

6 units from completion of an introductory mathematical statistics course from the following list:

STAT2001 Introductory Mathematical Statistics

STAT2013 Introductory Mathematical Statistics for Actuarial Studies

6 units from completion of a regression course from the following list:

STAT2008 Regression Modelling

STAT2014 Regression Modelling for Actuarial Studies

12 units from completion of an introductory mathematics courses from the following list:

MATH1013 Mathematics and Applications 1

MATH1014 Mathematics and Applications 2

MATH1115 Advanced Mathematics and Applications 1

MATH1116 Advanced Mathematics and Applications 2

12 units from completion of courses from the following list:

COMP1100 Programming as Problem Solving

COMP1730 Programming for Scientists

CBEA2001 Australian Indigenous Perspectives in Business and Economics

CBEA3001 College of Business and Economics Special Industry Project (UG)

CBEA3066 Global Business Immersion

CBEA3070 ANU College of Business and Economics Internship Program

MATH2301 Games, Graphs and Machines

MATH3511 Scientific Computing

Any other ANU courses

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. Please note that you cannot exceed 8 out of college electives.

Students enrolled in Bachelor of Statistics/Bachelor of Actuarial Studies degree will need to enrol in STAT2013 and STAT2014, instead of STAT2001 and STAT2008.

Students enrolled in Bachelor of Statistics/Bachelor of Advanced Computing (Hons) degree will need to enrol in MATH1115 and MATH1116, instead of MATH1013 and MATH1014. Also, in the Bachelor of Statistics, these students should replace COMP1100 with an elective, as they will completing COMP1130 in the BAC (Hons) degree, which is an incompatible course.

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.

Minors

Bachelor of Statistics Minors

Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics Minors

Study Options

Year 1 POLS1002 Introduction to Politics 6 units PHIL1004 Fundamental Ideas in Philosophy: An Introduction 6 units STAT1008 Quantitative Research Methods 6 units MATH1115 Advanced Mathematics and Applications 1 6 units
POLS1009 Introduction to Data and Methods for Political Science and International Relations 6 units PHIL1005 Logic and Critical Thinking 6 units COMP1100 Programming as Problem Solving 6 units MATH1116 Advanced Mathematics and Applications 2 6 units
Year 2 ECON1101 Microeconomics 1 6 units 2000/3000 level Politics list Course 6 units STAT2001 Introductory Mathematical Statistics 6 units STAT2008 Regression Modelling 6 units
POLS1008 ECON1102 Macroeconomics 1 6 units STAT2005 Introduction to Stochastic Processes 6 units Major Course Applied stats major STAT3011
Year 3 ECON2101 Microeconomics 2 6 units 2000/3000 level Economics Course 6 units Major Course Applied stats major STAT3012 MATH3511 Scientific Computing 6 units
PHIL2116 2000/3000 Politics Course 6 units Major Course Applied stats major STAT3015 Major Course Applied stats major STAT3008 or STAT3016
Year 4 2000/3000 level Philosophy list Course 6 units 2000/3000 Level ECON, PHIL or POLS Course or ANIP3003 6 units Major Course Applied stats major STAT3032 Major Course Applied stats major (STAT Course)
ECON3056 PPE Integration 3: Classic Literature in Politics, Philosophy and Economics 6 units 2000/3000 level Philosophy Course 6 units Major Course Applied stats major (EMET course) Major Course Applied stats major (STAT Course)

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  

Back to the Bachelor of Statistics page

The Bachelor of Statistics offers a rigorous program of training in the theory and application of statistics. The program involves a core mainstream statistical application and theory, supplemented by studies in specialist streams. You may choose to specialise in any of a number of areas including: Business Statistics, Econometrics, Financial Statistics, Statistical Methodology, Applied Probability and Psychological or Sociological Research Methods.

Single degree

  • This degree requires 24 courses (144 units)
  • A maximum of 10 courses (60 units) of 1000 level courses
  • 16 compulsory courses
  • 8 electives 
Commencing Semester 1:

Semester 1 

  • COMP1100 Intro Prog & Algorithms 6 units
  • MATH1115 Maths and Apps 1 H 6 units
  • STAT1003 Statistical Techniques 6 units
  • Elective Course 6 units

Semester 2 

  • MATH1116 Maths and Apps 2 H 6 units
  • Major Course 6 units
  • Elective Course 6 units
  • Elective Course 6 units

Commencing Semester 2:
Semester 2 

  • STAT1008 Quant Res Methods 6 units
  • COMP1100 Intro Prog & Algorithms 6 units
  • MATH1013 Mathematics and Applications 1 6 units 
  • Elective Course 6 units

Double degree

  • This degree requires 16 courses (96 units) of CBE courses
  • A maximum of 8 courses (48 units) of 1000 level CBE courses
  • 16 compulsory courses.
Commencing Semester 1:

Semester 1 

  • STAT1003 Statistical Techniques 6 units
  • MATH1115 Maths and Apps 1 H 6 units

 Semester 2 

  • COMP1100 Intro Prog & Algorithms 6 units
  • MATH1116 Maths and Apps 2 H 6 units


Commencing Semester 2:
Semester 2 




About this degree

Single degree
In a Bachelor of Statistics 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 Statistics double degree program you will study a total of 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 across your whole degree.  However, for each semester you are likely to take 2 courses from your Statistics degree and then 2 courses from the other 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, or have an approved Reduced Study Load.

 


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 Statistics 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 a single degree.




Study Options

Bachelor of Statistics

This is a typical study plan for the first year of a student undertaking a Bachelor of Statistics

Study Options

Year 1 48 units COMP1100 Programming as Problem Solving 6 units MATH1115 Advanced Mathematics and Applications 1 6 units STAT1003 Statistical Techniques 6 units Elective course 6 units
MATH1116 Advanced Mathematics and Applications 2 6 units Major Course 6 units Elective course 6 units Elective course 6 units

Bachelor of Statistics - Double Degree

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

Study Options

Year 1 48 units STAT1003 Statistical Techniques 6 units MATH1115 Advanced Mathematics and Applications 1 6 units Degree B course 6 units Degree B course 6 units
COMP1100 Programming as Problem Solving 6 units MATH1116 Advanced Mathematics and Applications 2 6 units Degree B course 6 units Degree B course 6 units

Disciplines

For further information on specific discipline you can:


Academic Advice

At least 24 units from the completion of a sequence from List 3 of the Bachelor of Statistics.  Sequence pre-requisites can be taken in the first year of study.

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


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

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