The attendance pattern for this course is full time or part time according to candidate choice.

Admission to this course is on the basis of a secondary school leaving qualification such as the NSW Higher School Certificate (including national and international equivalents), tertiary study or an approved preparation program. English language requirements must be met where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English. Special admission pathways are open for mature aged applicants who do not possess a school leaving qualification, educationally disadvantaged applicants and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Applicants are ranked by merit and offers for available places are issued according to the ranking. Details of admission policies are found in the Coursework Rule.

The units of study that may be taken for the Bachelor of Political, Economic and Social Sciences are set out in Table A and Table B of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Tables of units of study.

To qualify for the award of the pass degree, a candidate must successfully complete 144 credit points, comprising:

a maximum of 60 junior credit points;

a minimum of 84 senior credit points;

a core major from the majors listed in these resolutions;

a minimum of 12 senior credit points from each of Government and International Relations, Political Economy and either Anthropology or Sociology (these units of study must be taken from two subject areas that are different from the core major);

Completion of a major from the list of majors below is a requirement of the degree. Candidates have the option of completing a second major from Table A or Table B. Units of study counted towards one major may not count toward any other major completed.

The Political, Economic and Social Sciences core major must be chosen from:

Anthropology

Government and International Relations

Political Economy

Sociology

The list of majors and the requirements for the completion of a major are specified in the Resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Honours is available to meritorious students who complete an additional year of full-time study after the completion of the pass degree. Part-time study is permitted if approved by the administering department or program.

To qualify for the award of the honours degree, a candidate must complete 48 credit points in honours units of study from Political, Economic and Social Sciences, or joint honours in Political, Economic and Social Sciences and one other approved subject area.

Admission and award requirements for honours are listed in the resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

The Bachelor of Political, Economic and Social Sciences is awarded in two grades: Pass or Honours. The honours degree is awarded in classes ranging from First Class to Third Class according to the rules specified in the Resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Candidates for the award of the Honours degree who do not meet the requirements, and who have not already graduated, will be awarded the pass degree.

These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January 2011.

Candidates who commenced prior to 1 January 2011 will complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement, provided that requirements are completed by 1 January 2016, or later date as the faculty may, in special circumstances, approve.