Program Overview

Overview

The Graduate Diploma in Economics is a 1-year program designed for graduates without an economics background. It provides high-level economic analysis and decision-making skills, enhancing career opportunities. The program covers foundation courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics, mathematical techniques, and statistics, as well as elective options in areas such as environmental economics, health economics, and economic development.

Program Details

• Location: St Lucia
• Duration: 1 Year full-time (or part-time equivalent)
• Start Semester: Semester 1 (23 Feb, 2026), Semester 2 (27 Jul, 2026)
• Program Code: 5077
• AQF: Level 8
• Scholarships available

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for entry, you'll need:

• The Graduate Certificate in Economic Studies from UQ, or
• A bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline. You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.

Fees and Scholarships

• Indicative annual fee: $44,344 (2026)
• International students: AUD $54,096 (2026)
• Scholarships available, including:
  • Qin Sirong and Yin Hongxiu Scholarship
  • Business Scholarship for Chinese Students
  • Professor Chwei-Liang Chiou Scholarship
  • UQ Refugee and Humanitarian Scholarship

How to Apply

All international applications should be submitted to UQ. The program code for the Graduate Diploma in Economics is 5077. Domestic applications should also be submitted to UQ.

Program Highlights

• Graduate with transferable and technical economic skills required to succeed in a dynamic and increasingly competitive business environment.
• Learn from world-class academic staff, whose research-intensive focus ensures content is engaging, relevant, and informed by the latest insights.
• Tap into Queensland’s largest School of Economics, boasting more than 70 teaching and research staff.

What You'll Study

At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:

• Foundations in Microeconomics
• Foundations in Macroeconomics
• Mathematical Techniques for Economics
• Statistics for Business & Economics

Professional Memberships

When you graduate, you may be eligible for memberships with the following professional organisations:

• Economic Society of Australia

English Language Requirements

IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ, refer to the university's language requirements.

Student Visas

International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Graduate Diploma in Economics are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500). There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.