How to Apply to Economics at the Australian National University: the Three-Year Bachelor of Economics (February or July Entry) in the College of Business and Economics, with the Diploma of Business and Economics Pathway, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The Australian National University (ANU) is in Canberra, Australia’s capital. The undergraduate economics degree is the Bachelor of Economics, offered by the ANU College of Business and Economics (which includes four research schools, among them the Research School of Economics). This guide sets out the main points for 2027 entry from ANU’s website, for Australian domestic applicants, international applicants (including those from China) and transfer students.

1. The Bachelor of Economics and related degrees

• Bachelor of Economics: three years full-time, CRICOS 002290B, UAC code 134003, with Semester 1 (February) or Semester 2 (July) entry. The College says the coursework spans economics theory and applied economics, economic history and econometrics, while building analytical and quantitative skills. The page’s Entry requirements, Fees and Credit tabs point to the ANU program catalogue; specific scores and prerequisites there are not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the catalogue. ANU’s pages do not mention an economics admissions test or interview.
• Other College degrees: the College lists the Bachelors of Accounting, Actuarial Studies, Business Administration, Commerce, Finance, International Business and Statistics, and the Bachelor of Finance, Economics and Statistics (Honours). ANU says adjustment factors for the last, a highly competitive program, are capped at 5 and come only through the Education Access Scheme and the Diversity Scheme. Business administration and computing are not covered here.
• Mathematical Economics: the Mathematical Sciences Institute lists a Mathematical Economics major offered jointly with the economics and finance schools, which may suit students who want to combine mathematics and economics. Which degrees carry that major and when you choose it are not given on the pages used for this guide; check with the College.
• Honours: the College’s application page says an Honours year is typically a fourth year continuing an undergraduate degree, and describes pathways into Honours; the conditions are not given on the pages used for this guide, so check the College’s Honours programs page.

2. Prerequisites and pathways

• Prerequisites: the school mathematics subjects and grades required for the Bachelor of Economics are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the program catalogue.
• Diploma of Business and Economics: 12 months, Semester 1 (February) entry, in person, CRICOS 121405F, with entry requirements ANU lists as ATAR 70 or IB 26.75. If you complete it with an ANU GPA of 4.0 (a pass average in all courses attempted), you are guaranteed admission to one of five aligned bachelor degrees, including the Bachelor of Economics, with one year (48 units) of credit and a corresponding selection rank of 80. Choosing a non-aligned bachelor degree gives up to one year’s credit, guided by your diploma course selection.
• The College’s international partnerships and credit: the College lists arrangements with institutions in several countries. The undergraduate credit arrangements listed for China include the SILC Business School at Shanghai University’s Diploma of Business and the CUFE International Education Program in Business Administration, leading to the Bachelor of Commerce, the Bachelor of Business Administration (and, for some majors, the Bachelor of Finance), each with 48 units (one year); that list does not name the Bachelor of Economics. For institutions and programs not listed, credit is assessed case by case by the College; contact its international student recruitment and partnerships team.

Australian domestic applicants (Year 12 graduates)

• How to apply: ANU says students completing the Australian Year 12 (or an IB finishing in November) apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), and ANU makes offers in UAC rounds. Other applicants use ANU’s direct application or UAC, as set out in the pathway finder on the ANU site. ANU also runs an Early Offer application for school leavers (based on Year 11 results). The key-dates table on the page used for this guide is labelled 2024, so check ANU and UAC for 2027 entry dates.
• Selection Rank and adjustment factors: ANU converts results into a Selection Rank. Adjustment factors can be added to the rank for a particular preference but do not change your ATAR. Your rank before adjustment must be 70 or above, you can receive up to 15 in total, and the Elite Athlete and Subject schemes share a combined cap of 5. Subject adjustments are assessed automatically after Year 12 and the Diversity Scheme automatically if you are eligible; the Education Access Scheme and similar schemes need an application and documents.
• Cut-offs and prerequisites: each degree’s required rank and prerequisites are published in ANU’s Programs and Courses catalogue. The pages used for this guide do not give each degree’s specific scores, so check the catalogue.
• Domestic tuition: Commonwealth Supported Place fees are not given on the pages used for this guide; check ANU’s domestic undergraduate fees page.

International applicants

• How to apply: international students completing the Australian Year 12 (in or outside Australia), the IB Diploma or the New Zealand NCEA apply through UAC International; other international applicants apply directly to ANU, optionally through an ANU-approved education agent.
• Assessment: ANU converts your qualification into an ANU Selection Rank out of 99.95 and compares it with your chosen degree. ANU stresses that entry is competitive and meeting the minimum does not guarantee an offer.
• Preferences and fee: direct applicants list up to three preferences and receive one offer for the highest eligible preference; ANU suggests not listing three programs with the same requirements. The direct application fee is AUD 150 per application. ANU says most applications are assessed within ten business days.
• Predicted results: if you are still completing A-levels, the IB or the HKDSE, you can apply directly with predicted results, but only for Semester 2 (July) entry and only for programs requiring 94 or below; predicted results must be on school letterhead and signed by the principal or registrar. If you have already completed the IB, ANU recommends applying through UAC, because adjustment factors are considered only there.
• Documents: proof of English, and academic records with a grading scale. ANU says documents must be scanned in colour and unaltered, and non-English documents need an English translation from an organisation ANU accepts (such as a NAATI-accredited translator).
• English: ANU lists prior secondary or tertiary study in English, IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge C1 Advanced, PTE Academic, or citizenship of a “Group A” country with education there. The English requirements page gives no specific scores; the scores required depend on your degree, so check ANU’s English language policy and the program catalogue. ANU may issue a conditional offer if your English is not yet at the required level.
• Genuine Student requirement and visa: ANU says every applicant must be assessed as a Genuine Student before a Confirmation of Enrolment is issued, and may ask for financial evidence or a personal statement at any time; an offer letter may require you to return an ANU GS assessment form before accepting or paying a deposit. A student visa and Overseas Student Health Cover are also steps in the process.
• Accommodation: ANU says it guarantees an on-campus accommodation offer to international undergraduates starting in Semester 1 of their first year.

Applicants from China

• Gaokao: ANU publishes a dedicated Gaokao conversion table for tests taken from 2017 onwards. For “other provinces” (750 total): Selection Rank 80 needs 525, 85 needs 544, 90 needs 570 and 95 needs 630. Shanghai (from 2017) needs 462, 479, 502 and 554; Hainan needs 630, 653, 684 and 756. From 2021, Jiangsu and Yunnan tests with a total of 750 use the “other provinces” schedule. This is only the minimum reference for entry to ANU; each degree sets its own rank and prerequisites.
• AP: students completing a Chinese or US high school diploma can apply with 3 to 4 AP exams; only scores of 3, 4 or 5 count (A/A+ = 5, A-/B+/B = 4, B-/C+/C- = 3). A 4-subject aggregate of 14 equals rank 80, 15 equals 85 and 17 equals 90; a 3-subject aggregate of 10 equals 80, 11 equals 85 and 13 equals 94. Results must be sent directly from the College Board.
• A-level and IB: ANU publishes separate conversion tables for A-levels and the IB, in the paged list on its indicative entry requirements page; check the ANU site.
• Pre-bachelor programs: ANU has an International Tertiary Preparatory Programs page listing accepted Chinese Pre-Bachelor programs and a score conversion; applicants using these programs cannot apply for some degrees. ANU also lists recognised Australian Foundation programs. See the pages for the lists and conversions.
• Anything further for Chinese applicants: beyond the Gaokao, AP and pre-bachelor pages, the pages used for this guide give no separate interview or accreditation requirement for applicants from China; confirm with the ANU admissions office.

Transfer and credit

• ANU’s assessment page says you can meet the minimum requirement for an undergraduate degree with one completed year of an Australian bachelor degree or another qualification ANU accepts as comparable. After you accept an offer, you apply for credit at enrolment; the College responsible for the degree decides, and ANU does not promise that every course will be credited.
• If you have completed a bachelor degree elsewhere, ANU says you can transfer in for the final Honours year; admission is at the discretion of the College responsible for your field.

Timeline (2027 entry)

• Semester 1 (February 2027): direct applications close on 15 December 2026; the offer acceptance deadline is 15 January if you are overseas and 31 January if you are in Australia.
• Semester 2 (July 2027): direct applications close on 15 May 2027; the acceptance deadline is 30 June if you are overseas and 10 July if you are in Australia.
• Degrees with additional selection criteria may have different deadlines; for UAC applications, follow the dates UAC publishes.

Fees and scholarships

• International tuition (2027): ANU’s 2027 schedule sets tuition by broad discipline in bands. Per 48 units (a full-time year) the international rates are AUD 47,940 for Band 1, AUD 57,640 for Band 4 and AUD 64,130 for Band 6. In the schedule, “Economics and Econometrics” undergraduate is Band 4 (AUD 57,640). Which band a particular degree falls in is shown by the indicative fee in the program catalogue.International students also pay the Services and Amenities Fee (stated by ANU, with no amount on that page). Fees are reviewed and indexed each year and may rise during your studies.
• Vice-Chancellor’s International Achievement Award: for international students with residential status in China (including Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR), Japan, Mongolia or Korea, with an undergraduate Selection Rank of 85 or above, 20% off first-year tuition. No separate application is needed; you are considered automatically when you apply. It is offered once per level of study and is not available alongside external sponsorship that covers tuition.
• International Achievement Award: for international students with residential status elsewhere, undergraduate Selection Rank 85 or above, with values of 20%, 25% or 50% listed by ANU, for up to 4 years, also assessed automatically.

Sources: The Australian National University, International applications; Assessment; Undergraduate indicative entry requirements; China Gao Kao; Advanced Placement; Tertiary preparatory and foundation programs; International tertiary preparatory programs; English language requirements; Documentation requirements; Domestic undergraduate; Adjustment factors; International tuition fees; Schedule of Tuition Fees 2027; Vice-Chancellor’s International Achievement Award; International Achievement Award; Bachelor of Economics; CBE undergraduate programs; CBE how to apply; International partnership and advanced standing; CBE scholarships; Diploma of Business and Economics; Programs with additional selection criteria; Majors, minors and specialisations. Information is for 2027 entry. Check ANU for the latest details.