Bachelor of Arts
Undergraduate | MAQ-ART-DEG | 2024
An arts degree that no one else has
Make your degree unique and study what interests you. Analyse critically, think creatively and problem-solve at work or in everyday life. Complete foundational studies then tailor your degree with a major. Create a portfolio and build your connections.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Applications close
- 7 July 2024,
- 24 Nov 2024
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Price from
- $40,020
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Bachelor of Arts
About this degree
On successful completion you will be able to
- Integrate recent and established theories and principles across a range of disciplines.
- Evaluate and apply recent and established principles and concepts in one or more disciplines.
- Apply methods of inquiry and analysis from within disciplines in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
- Critically analyse arguments, assumptions, concepts and data to make appropriate judgement.
- Independently identify and solve problems in the context of academic studies and/or community environments.
- Communicate knowledge and ideas effectively to peers, academic audiences, professionals and non-specialists.
- Use literacy, numeracy, digital and interpersonal skills to acquire, synthesise and communicate credible information in written, graphic and visual forms.
- Identify opportunities for and plan future professional development through independent learning, self-reflection and critique.
- Interact and collaborate with others from diverse disciplines, backgrounds and cultures to achieve personal or common objectives.
- Apply high standards of ethical conduct to learning and research activities.
The Bachelor of Arts (OUA) at Macquarie University is a distinctive course that equips its graduates with knowledge and skills that can be applied in any career or in further study. No other course offers as much flexibility and a wide range of study options as the Bachelor of Arts. You will be given the opportunity to turn your passion into a career while developing a strong set of core transferable skills valued by industry and the society. In consultation with industry, the Bachelor of Arts (OUA) places a strong emphasis on skills for success in the 21st century workplace. You will be taught by active researchers, leading academics and award winning teachers.
Recommended study pattern
CORE ZONE: 16 subjects
Essential Subjects:
Complete the following 3 subjects:
- ARTX1000 Humanities and the World
- PHIX1037 Critical Thinking
- ARTX3500 Arts Capstone*
*Capstone Subject
Elective units :
Complete one of the following units:
- ABSX1000 Introducing indigenous Australia
- ANTX1051 Human Evolution and Diversity
- ENGX1050 Grammar and Writing
Major: 8 Subjects
Choose a major from the course's major schedule.
Minor: 4 Subjects
Choose a minor which corresponds to a major from the course’s major schedule. At least 2 of these subjects must be at 2000 level or above.
FLEXIBLE ZONE
Electives: 8 Subjects
You can use your flexible zone to enrol in any subject for which you meet the pre-requisites. You may also use your flexible zone to complete a second major or minor(s).
Total Subjects required: 24
A core zone essential unit or elective unit cannot be double counted towards a core zone major or specialisation in the same course.
Please note:
On completion of admission you are bound by the University Terms and Conditions and must comply with present and future By-laws, Rules and the Student Code of Conduct of Macquarie University.
The degree will normally be three years in duration for full-time students, but part-time students may take longer to complete subjects towards the BA degree.
Award requirements
To qualify for a Bachelor of Arts degree through Macquarie University students must complete 24 subjects of study, comprising of the following :
- 4 essential subjects.
- 8 subjects for the major chosen
- 4 subjects for the minor chosen
- Any other 8 subjects.
Choose your subjects
Majors
Students can choose to study from 10 BA Majors. Students must complete eight subjects from their chosen major:
- Ancient History
- Applied Ethics
- Creative Writing
- English
- Indigenous Studies
- International Relations
- Modern History
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Sociology
Minor - 40 credit points
Choose one minor from the following options:
- Ancient History
- Applied Ethics
- Creative Writing
- English
- Indigenous Studies
- International Relations
- Modern History
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Sociology
Electives
- Students are required to complete eight electives.
- Students can use choose to enrol in any subject for which they meet the pre-requisites. This includes Macquarie subjects or any OUA undergraduate subject.
- Students may also complete a second major or minor(s).
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Students are eligible to register for the Macquarie Bachelor of Arts after successfully completing 2 OUA higher education subjects with a credit average or passing at least four subjects. These subjects can be completed with any OUA provider. Students must follow the degree structure in place at the time of their BA registration with the University. Registration is free for all students.
Please be advised that as from Session 1, 2020, Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) and HECS are not available for this degree for new students. However, subject to your eligibility, other HELP loans may be available. Students who have already been admitted into a Commonwealth Supported Place will not be affected by this change.
Note:
Once you have been admitted into your degree, you must enrol in at least one subject in the study term immediately following admission, and you must remain enrolled past the census date. If not, your admission will lapse and you will need to re-apply for the degree again. Deferment is not available for OUA students. Visit Studying a degree through OUA for further information.
Students who have an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion under Macquarie University's Academic Progression Policy will not be permitted to register in Macquarie University degrees offered through OUA. Students with an Academic Standing of Suspension or Exclusion who have enrolled in units through OUA will be withdrawn.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
Changes as from 2024:
- A new list of elective subjects in the core zone has been introduced.
From 2020 the Macquarie unit codes have changed. All units previously studied under the old unit code will be recognised as equivalent.
Students who have been admitted into a degree program prior to 2020 will follow the degree structure in place at the time/year of their degree registration with Macquarie University. Please refer to the study plans of the year you have been admitted into the degree.
All subjects previously studied under the old subject code will be recognised as equivalent. The current 4 digit subject codes will replace the old subject codes.
Program Structures
Please contact Macquarie University at AskMQ if you need to seek academic advice.
This research-intensive university in north-western Sydney offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. With over 44,000 current students, Macquarie has a strong reputation for welcoming international students and embracing flexible and convenient study options, including its partnership with Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about Macquarie University.
Explore Macquarie courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 10
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 10
Entry requirements
- 4 OUA Undergraduate subjects at pass level from any OUA provider; OR
- 2 OUA Undergraduate subjects at credit grade level from any OUA provider
A competitive ATAR of 75, a Selection Rank of 75 or equivalent OP of 12.
Visit Macquaire for detailed information regarding alternative Macquarie Admissions pathways.
Academic IELTS of 6.5 overall with minimum 6.0 in each band, or equivalent.
All applicants for undergraduate coursework studies at Macquarie University are required to provide evidence of proficiency in English.
You may satisfy the English language requirements if you have completed:
- senior secondary studies equivalent to the NSW HSC
- one year of Australian or comparable tertiary study in a country of qualification
For more information see English Language Requirements.
If you have completed prior study at Diploma level or higher, you may be eligible for credit towards your Bachelor at Macquarie which can reduce the duration of your program.
For more information see our Recognition of Prior Learning page or submit an enquiry.
Study method requirements
Macquarie University aspires to be an inclusive and supportive community of learners where all students are given the opportunity to meet their academic and personal goals. The University and OUA offer a comprehensive range of free and accessible student support services which include academic advice, counselling and psychological services, advocacy services and welfare advice, careers and employment, disability services and academic skills workshops amongst others.
All unit materials are delivered fully online. Students with special needs can apply for alternative assessment arrangements. Contact us at Macquarie special consideration student resources for further information.
Career opportunities
The Bachelor of Arts (OUA) course will provide you with core transferable skills alongside a range of disciplinary knowledge. Arts graduates are highly sought after by employers because arts courses ensure that you develop your adaptability and ability to help shape change and prepare you for a multifaceted career or further study. As a BA graduate you will turn your passion into a career and explore your interests in depth. Depending on the major chosen to study with the Bachelor of Arts, your career options could include:
- Archivist
- Arts manager
- Business manager
- Communications officer
- Entrepreneur
- Historian
- International development adviser
- Journalist
- Lobbyist
- Multimedia specialist
- Museum officer
- Project manager
- Social change activist
- Social/market researcher
- Teacher (after further study)
- Television/film producer
- Writer
Career outlook
- Arts Administrators and Managers:
- Over $120K
- Historians:
- $93K to $120K
- Policy Analysts:
- $93K to $120K
- Policy and Planning Managers:
- Over $120K
- Social Professionals:
- $75K to $93K
Degree FAQs
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Chat with us to find out more.
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.
You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.
We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.