Why Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics?
Study the same degree as Christopher Hitchens, Malala Yousafzai and multiple Australian Prime Ministers.
Where do new innovations spring from? Why haven’t ongoing problems been solved? Why are our societies set up the way they are, and how can we create change when the status quo feels so inevitable?
Studying philosophy, politics and economics will give you an interdisciplinary understanding of three key areas that influence our past, present and future. Refine your creative problem-solving skills and learn how to think critically. Get motivated to tackle contemporary problems and global challenges. Become an informed and empowered leader capable of driving social, political and economic change.
Overview
Adelaide University’s Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics is for big-picture intellects. You’ll analyse real-world problems and wrestle with complex questions. What is justice? Is morality subjective or objective? Should economic policies prioritise growth or sustainability?
You’ll study theories from each area and learn how they apply in everyday situations. Explore politics and the systems that influence it. Debate morality, freedom and social justice. Develop applied skills in data analytics. Learn how to use critical analysis and rationale to deliver evidence-based policy.
You’ll get a taste of your future career with an industry internship in your third year. This is a valuable opportunity to network, understand how your insights apply in real work environments, and potentially benefit from mentor opportunities.
You’ll graduate with analytical, communication and presentation skills favoured by leaders. Your skillset will be in demand across government, the public sector, NGOs, business and politics.
Key features
Study three key academic areas that inform and influence one another. - Develop your skills in theory, enquiry and analysis to better understand and address complex problems.
- Learn how to communicate responsibly and with impact across diverse audiences.
- Complete career planning courses and a real-world work placement.
- Build critical and creative thinking skills, exploring different perspectives across social and professional contexts.
- Become an ethical, self-reflective and empowered leader capable of driving positive societal change.
What you'll learn
This three-year degree gets you acquainted with social and political institutions, moral and ethical debates, and how economics influences everything.
With the curriculum’s broad focus, you’ll develop a well-rounded theoretical skillset. You’ll strengthen this knowledge by choosing from a variety of electives: from international finance and trade to digital citizenship and environmental concerns.
Your first year will introduce you to base theory in all three areas. You’ll get a taste of eternal philosophical questions, contemporary social policy and principles of economics. You’ll also learn each area’s respective frameworks. This will help you begin analysing and making sense of these big picture topics and how they apply into modern day contexts.
Your second year will put some of these theories into real-world applications. You’ll get the opportunity to go deeper, analysing why structures are made the way they are, and interrogating the current systems through different ethical lenses. This year is also where you’ll tailor your studies into specific focus areas that suit your interests and career goals.
Your final year will focus on your chosen topic area, as well as how your skills can be applied into the modern workforce. Refine your understanding and apply your knowledges into creating public policy. You’ll also benefit from a work internship providing networking and mentoring opportunities.
You’ll graduate with a well-rounded and highly adaptable skillset that employers value. You’ll be ready to seamlessly integrate into all workplaces while understanding how they work and how they can be improved.
What courses you'll study
Complete 144 units comprising:
- 102 units for Core courses, and
- 6 units for all Work integrated learning, and
- 36 units for Electives
Complete 102 units comprising:
- 18 units from Common core, and
- 72 units for all Program core, and
- 12 units from Program core - selective
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
An Ethically Rich Life
|
Course code
COREX001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone
|
Course code
COREX002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igniting Change: Ideas to Action
|
Course code
COREX003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Proppa Ways, Future Practice
|
Course code
COREX004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry
|
Course code
COREX005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ways of Being, Ways of Seeing
|
Course code
COREX006
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Principles of Economics
|
Course code
ECON1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Mathematical Economics
|
Course code
ECON1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Data Analytics
|
Course code
ECON1012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Intermediate Macroeconomics
|
Course code
ECON2000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Intermediate Applied Microeconomics
|
Course code
ECON2003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Philosophy: Big Questions
|
Course code
PHIL1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ethical Theories: Their Foundations and Practical Applications
|
Course code
PHIL2016
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Principles of Social Policy
|
Course code
POLI2003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Choices, Models, and Morals
|
Course code
POLI3010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Politics
|
Course code
POLI4000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
The Anatomy of Social Problems: Social Critique and Policy
|
Course code
SOCI1006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Passions and Interests: The History of Greed
|
Course code
SOCI2001
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Philosophy: Key Thinkers
|
Course code
PHIL1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Economic Policy Analysis
|
Course code
ECON3800
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Professional Pathways and Destinations 2
|
Course code
SOCI2019
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
 |
Course name
Principles of Economics
|
Course code
ECON1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
The Anatomy of Social Problems: Social Critique and Policy
|
Course code
SOCI1006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Data Analytics
|
Course code
ECON1012
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Politics
|
Course code
POLI4000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Philosophy: Big Questions
|
Course code
PHIL1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Mathematical Economics
|
Course code
ECON1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Intermediate Macroeconomics
|
Course code
ECON2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Intermediate Applied Microeconomics
|
Course code
ECON2003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Ethical Theories: Their Foundations and Practical Applications
|
Course code
PHIL2016
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Principles of Social Policy
|
Course code
POLI2003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Passions and Interests: The History of Greed
|
Course code
SOCI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Choices, Models, and Morals
|
Course code
POLI3010
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Complete 6 units for ALL of the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Principles of Economics
|
Course code
ECON1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
The Anatomy of Social Problems: Social Critique and Policy
|
Course code
SOCI1006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Data Analytics
|
Course code
ECON1012
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Politics
|
Course code
POLI4000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Philosophy: Big Questions
|
Course code
PHIL1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Mathematical Economics
|
Course code
ECON1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Intermediate Macroeconomics
|
Course code
ECON2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Intermediate Applied Microeconomics
|
Course code
ECON2003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Ethical Theories: Their Foundations and Practical Applications
|
Course code
PHIL2016
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Principles of Social Policy
|
Course code
POLI2003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Passions and Interests: The History of Greed
|
Course code
SOCI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Choices, Models, and Morals
|
Course code
POLI3010
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Complete 36 units comprising:
- 6 units for all University-wide electives, and
- 30 units from Program electives
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Mathematical Economics
|
Course code
ECON1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Australia in the Global Economy
|
Course code
ECON1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
International Financial Institutions and Markets
|
Course code
ECON1005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Using Big Data for Economic and Social Problems
|
Course code
ECON1006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Public Economics
|
Course code
ECON1007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Behavioural Economics
|
Course code
ECON1013
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Global Economic History
|
Course code
ECON2001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Financial Economics
|
Course code
ECON2004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
International Trade and Investment Policy
|
Course code
ECON2011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Resource and Environmental Economics
|
Course code
ECON3000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Labour Economics
|
Course code
ECON3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Applied Econometrics
|
Course code
ECON3002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Impact Evaluation Methods for Economic Policy
|
Course code
ECON3003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Rethinking Capitalism
|
Course code
ECON3004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Economic Growth and Development
|
Course code
ECON3005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Game Theory
|
Course code
ECON3009
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
International Money and Finance
|
Course code
ECON3010
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Monetary Economics
|
Course code
ECON3011
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Economics of International Trade
|
Course code
ECON3012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Policy and Practice in Australian Politics
|
Course code
POLI2000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Australian Electoral Democracy
|
Course code
POLI3000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Cyberpolitics
|
Course code
POLI3001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Environment and Citizenship
|
Course code
POLI3002
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Principles of Economics
|
Course code
ECON1000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
The Anatomy of Social Problems: Social Critique and Policy
|
Course code
SOCI1006
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Data Analytics
|
Course code
ECON1012
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Politics
|
Course code
POLI4000
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Philosophy: Big Questions
|
Course code
PHIL1001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Introduction to Mathematical Economics
|
Course code
ECON1002
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 2 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
Intermediate Macroeconomics
|
Course code
ECON2000
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Intermediate Applied Microeconomics
|
Course code
ECON2003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Ethical Theories: Their Foundations and Practical Applications
|
Course code
PHIL2016
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Principles of Social Policy
|
Course code
POLI2003
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Passions and Interests: The History of Greed
|
Course code
SOCI2001
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
| Year 3 | |||
| Semester 1 | |||
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
Choices, Models, and Morals
|
Course code
POLI3010
|
Units
6
|
| Semester 2 | |||
|
Course name
Internship: Society and Culture
|
Course code
SOCI3903
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
|
Course name
|
Course code
-
|
Units
6
|
Career outcomes
Understanding the world requires looking through more than one lens. That’s why powerful leaders draw on diverse skills and knowledges. Your unique understanding of philosophy, politics and economics will equip you to problem-solve at all levels of complexity.
You might consult on policy, write it – or become a politician yourself. You might work to protect human rights around the world, joining organisations like the United Nations or Amnesty International. Perhaps you’ll be a journalist, author, a television presenter or lead CEOs to success as a consultant.
You could also be a:
- Economics, policy and social analyst
- Political adviser
- Economic policy adviser
- Financial adviser
- Public policy analyst
- Foreign affairs officer
- Corporate strategist
- Entrepreneur
- Diplomat.
Industry trends
Professionals have the strongest projected employment growth by occupation in Australia up to 2033. They currently make up one of Australia’s largest employment industries (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2023).
Humanities graduates are proven to be resilient and flexible. They have the skills to adapt to new technologies, methodologies and labour markets that employers value. Humanities qualifications also open up broad employment pathways. Communication, creativity and teamwork are highly valued and sought out by employers – all skills actively taught here at Adelaide University.
Your background in philosophy, politics and economics means you’ll have specialised knowledge in areas that directly inform industry. You’ll benefit from strong job mobility prospects. You can use your expert analytical skills, understanding of theory and a well-developed ethical perspective to inform your decision-making in the workplace.
Ready to apply?
Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
