Bachelor of International Relations, Bachelor of Economics

This is a four-year double degree from Adelaide University that pairs international relations with economics. You graduate with two bachelor qualifications, which means you study the full core of both disciplines rather than a major and a minor. On the politics side you look at how states, institutions and non-state actors interact: diplomacy, security, trade, international law and the politics of particular regions. On the economics side you learn microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics and how to read data and policy evidence. The two halves talk to each other constantly, which is the point. Trade policy, sanctions, development aid, climate negotiations and foreign investment all sit at the intersection, and employers in this space want people who can handle both the political analysis and the numbers.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are built on units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you need a defined total to graduate. Adelaide University runs its academic year across semesters, with some courses offered in summer or winter teaching periods. Over four years you will complete core units in both disciplines, a set of electives, and at least one capstone unit in your final year where you pull the two strands together on a substantial piece of work. Because the degree is a double, the total credit points are higher than a single three-year bachelor degree, which is why it runs to four years. Some students extend it further by adding an honours year, which involves a supervised research thesis and is the usual pathway if you are aiming at a PhD or a research role.

What you actually study

Expect to write a lot of policy briefs, essays and analytical reports, and to spend time in tutorials arguing through case studies. Economics units will have you working with statistical software and real datasets. International relations units will have you reading primary documents, treaty texts and diplomatic cables. Many students take part of the degree overseas through an exchange, and there are internship options with government agencies, NGOs, think tanks and policy shops where you get credit toward your degree for supervised work. Work-integrated learning is common in this field because the skills are applied ones: briefing, analysis, writing for a decision-maker. Adelaide's location and its research strengths in politics and economics give you access to visiting speakers, public lectures and seminars that are open to students.

Who it suits

This suits someone who reads the news properly and wants to understand why things happen, not just that they did. If you are torn between a politics degree and an economics degree, this is the standard Australian answer to that problem. It also suits students who want a qualification that travels: international relations and economics are taught the same way in most countries, and the double degree is recognised for further study overseas. English language requirements for international applicants are set out on the official page. IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the usual undergraduate standard, though some faculties ask for more, and TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programmes are accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 117936B. Check the official page for current entry requirements, assumed knowledge and application dates before you apply.

• Policy officer or analyst in federal or state government departments, including foreign affairs, trade, treasury and defence
• Diplomatic or consular officer, typically after passing departmental recruitment processes
• Economic analyst or research officer in consulting firms, banks, industry bodies and think tanks
• International development officer with NGOs and aid organisations operating in the Asia-Pacific
• Trade and investment analyst working with exporters, chambers of commerce and trade promotion agencies
• Risk and geopolitical analyst in the resources, energy and defence sectors
• Journalist or researcher covering politics, economics and international affairs
• Graduate roles in multinational companies with government relations or public affairs teams
• Further study: honours year, master's degrees in international relations, public policy or economics, or a PhD

International graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which allows you to stay and work in Australia after you finish. While you hold a student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during study periods. Check current visa conditions with the Department of Home Affairs.