- 1 year (or part-time equivalent)
- Online
- Feb, Jun
- View dates
- AUD 17,392
- (Indicative annual fee)
Overview
- Extend your passion the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) — a specialised year for high‑achieving students seeking advanced research and professional expertise across the humanities, arts, social sciences, communication and media.
- This qualification prepares you for advancement in a professional career or for progression to higher degree academic research, such as the Master of Research or a PhD. It can also enhance your personal, cultural, creative and intellectual skills in analysis and communication to give you an edge in a competitive job market.
- You'll undertake specialised courses that build research techniques and methodologies appropriate for your approved disciplinary field. This knowledge will prepare you to complete a substantial project – the major component of your BA honours degree.
- Over one year (or part-time equivalent) in your field of study, you'll complete either:
- an honours research thesis,
- a practice-led project with exegesis,
- a professional project with exegesis.
- Guided by an expert supervisor, your thesis or practice-led/professional project and exegesis will contribute a substantial piece of independent research to your discipline.
- UniSQ offers supervision in the following disciplines in Bachelor of Arts (Honours):
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Creative Writing
- Criminology and Criminal Justice
- English Literature
- First Nations Australia
- History
- International Relations
- Journalism
- Museums and Curatorship
- Politics
- Professional Communications and Advertising
- Professional Photography
- Social Justice and Enterprise.
Shaped where I went
My time at the University of Southern Queensland was the best of my life and absolutely shaped where I went afterwards.
Jake - Arts and Communication
Career outcomes
As a graduate, you will have demonstrated ability to undertake research, handle analytical and complex tasks, and critical thinking. This enables diverse career opportunities across sectors such as academia, research, media and communication, community, public policy, government, public administration and the creative industries.
What you'll study
To graduate from the Bachelor of Arts (Honours), you must successfully complete 8 units of study.
Degree structure
A one-year Honours degree builds your independent research, critical thinking and academic writing skills, and is ideal if you want to specialise, conduct research or pursue postgraduate study (like a masters or PhD).
Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for detailed recommended enrolment patterns and course availability.
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previous studies. This could reduce the number of courses you need to study to complete your degree.
Other study options
If you’re interested in further study, after completion of this degree you can go on to study the Master of Research or the Doctor of Philosophy (if you meet all the entry requirements).
Entry requirements
You need to satisfy the following requirements to be considered for entry into this honours degree.- Completion of a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelors of Communication and Creative Industries degree from the University of Southern Queensland, or other equivalent bachelor's degree, with a major relevant to the discipline stream from a recognised university, with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.0. Applicants with a grade close to 5.0 may be considered with confirmed supervisor support.
- Before you apply, we recommend getting in touch with the Program Director to discuss your proposed dissertation topic. They can help confirm whether your area of interest aligns with available supervisory expertise. Please note that places may be limited based on supervisor availability.
All applicants
You'll need to meet the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires:
- IELTS (Academic) - Minimum overall score of 6.0 and a minimum score of 5.5 in each of the four components - listening, reading, writing, and speaking.
Alternative English language proficiency tests may also be accepted.
Entry pathways
You need to complete a bachelors degree in a related area with a minimum GPA. Check entry requirements for more information, or get in touch to discuss.
Fees and scholarships
- This estimated 2026 annual fee is based on the current average rate for your first year of study (8 units per year) and does not include cost of materials such as textbooks, additional costs or the Student Services and Amenities fee.
- This is an indicative guide only and your fees will vary depending on the courses you select, with the actual rates calculated at enrolment.
- We review our fees annually and they may increase each year.
- Further details are available on the Fees website.
Additional costs
You may be required to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee as part of your degree cost.
Payment options
You may not have to pay your course (subject) fees upfront. HECS-HELP is a government loan scheme that allows you to defer payment until your income reaches a certain threshold. Find out if you are eligible for HECS-HELP.
You may also be eligible to receive financial support from Services Australia.
UniSQ Scholarships
We offer scholarships for academic excellence, community leadership, and financial need - you can apply for more than one!
Find out moreHow to apply
Complete your online application directly to UniSQ.
ApplyYou can select to start your study in Trimester 1 or 2.
| Study period | Application closing date | Orientation | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trimester 1, 2026 | Monday 16 February | Monday 9 February | Monday 16 February |
| Trimester 2, 2026 | Monday 1 June | Monday 25 May | Monday 1 June |
More information on application key dates is available.
Preparing to apply
You've made the decision to study at UniSQ - congratulations! Take the next steps:
The entry requirements for your degree will provide you with details regarding the documentation to provide. These may include:
- interviews and selection criteria
- CV/resume or LinkedIn profile
- referee reports.
After you’ve submitted your application, you will be emailed a reference number. You will be notified via email the outcome of your application within 10 business days.
Follow the link in your email from UniSQ or log in to the application portal to accept your offer.
Find out more
Connect with us - start a conversation, whenever suits you.
Frequently asked questions
A great place to start is thinking about what you enjoy and aligning it to what you’re passionate about with a degree. Identifying what you love naturally lends itself to your strengths in Arts and Communication which can make choosing a BA Honours discipline area not only less stressful, but exciting. Visualise your goals, what you want to achieve and how you see your future career playing out.
At UniSQ, we offer supervision in the following areas:
- Anthropology - Learn how to become a professional anthropologist, equipped to address some of the world’s most pressing social issues, such as cultural conflict, discrimination, food security and social inequality.
- Contemporary Media Studies - Gain an in-depth understanding of how language, film, television, culture, social media and mass communication dynamically shapes our lives.
- Creative & Critical Writing - When you study a Bachelor of Arts Honours majoring in Creative & Critical Writing, you will extend and deepen your skillset as a creative writer and prepare for future study in a postgraduate research degree.
- English Literature - Learn specialised BA Honours skills in literature, extending your capacity to research and analyse.
- History - Develop your capacity for specialised study and tailor your learning journey by completing a dissertation under supervision in an area of your interest.
- International Relations - Explore both traditional theories of International Relations and the emerging field of Human Security.
- Journalism Studies - A Bachelor of Arts Honours Journalism major allows you to enhance your knowledge by extending your Journalism studies into a fourth year as opposed to a 3-year bachelor qualification.
- Public Relations Studies - Focus your research on your chosen Public Relations area of interest and learn how strategic communication and publicity can have lasting impacts on a business.
- Social Justice Studies - Deepen your understanding of fairness, equality, and human rights and become prepared for careers in government, non-government agencies or the private sector.
There are many benefits to studying a Bachelor of Arts with Honours.
- An honours qualification enhances the skills you gained during your undergraduate studies and gives you the opportunities to develop critical transferable skills which are valuable to employers.
- When you study a Bachelor of Arts Honours you gain insights into research at a higher academic level which prepares you for higher degree study such as a Master or PhD.
- Become an expert in your area of interest and gain a more in-depth understanding of a topic than you would otherwise studying a 3-year undergraduate qualification.
Gain a strong start to your career with a BA Honours from UniSQ:
- UniSQ’s anthropology and archaeology courses are based on research-led teaching, offering hands-on fieldwork, and are led by some of the most prominent archaeologists in Australia.
- We are rated 5/5 stars for graduate starting salary (Good Universities Guide, 2026).
All of our degrees focus on developing your ability to apply the skills and knowledge you’ve gained to the career of your choice. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours opens up many career prospects. The jobs you may be interested in will vary depending on the discipline you choose to focus your research on. UniSQ Bachelor of Arts (Honours) graduates can explore career opportunities in:
- anthropology
- museums
- public relations
- communications
- management
- advertising
- arts and culture industries
- media
- editing and publishing
- foreign affairs
- tourism
- policy
- public administration.
Use your Bachelor of Arts (Honours) qualification as a stepping-stone to further study. After you complete a BA Honours with UniSQ you could take the credit from your studies into a Master of Research or the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
How you can study a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (or equivalent) will vary from uni to uni but at UniSQ, yes you can generally study a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) part-time, on-campus or online, allowing you to balance study with your work and life commitments.
Work towards your BA Honours at your own pace with our flexible learning options. Discover the different ways you can study at UniSQ.
