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Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Politics and International Relations)

Course resolutions

The course resolutions detailed in this page apply to all courses included in the table below under section 1 (course codes).

These resolutions must be read in conjunction with applicable University By-laws, Rules and policies including (but not limited to) the University of Sydney (Coursework) Rule 2014 (the 'Coursework Rule'), the Coursework Policy 2021 (the 'Coursework Policy'), the Learning and Teaching Policy 2019, the Resolutions of the Faculty, University of Sydney (Student Academic Appeals) Rule 2021, the Academic Integrity Policy 2022 and the Academic Integrity Procedures 2022. Current versions of all policies are available from the Policy Register: http://www.sydney.edu.au/policies

1 Course codes

Code Course title
BPARTSAR-09 Bachelor of Arts
BPARTAVS-01 Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies

2 Attendance pattern

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

3 Streams

(1) The Bachelor of Arts is available in the following streams:

(a) Dalyell.

(2) The Bachelor of Arts is available as a dual degree in the following streams:

(a) Dual Degree: Sciences Po, France 

(3) The Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies is available in the following streams:

(a) Dalyell

(b) International and Global Studies

(c) Languages

(d) Media and Communications

(e) Politics and International Relations

(4) Completion of a stream is not a requirement of the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies. The requirements for the completion of each stream are as specified in Table A for the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies or, in the case of the Dalyell stream, in Table D of the Shared Pool for Undergraduate Degrees and Part 6 of these resolutions. Candidates wishing to transfer between streams or exit from a stream should contact the Student Centre. Candidates who qualify for the Dalyell stream may complete that stream while also completing another stream.

4 Cross-faculty management

(1) Candidates in the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies and those undertaking honours in the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies will be under the supervision of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

(2) Candidates undertaking honours in the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor Advanced Studies will be under the management of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Admission, requirements, award of the honours mark, and award of the grade of honours for an honours component undertaken by a candidate will be under the supervision of the faculty offering and supervising the embedded honours component. The faculty offering and supervising the embedded component will direct the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences on all matters relating to admission, requirements, award of the honours mark and award of the honours grade.

(3) The Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences shall exercise authority in any matter concerned with the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies and the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor Advanced Studies with Honours combined degrees not otherwise dealt with in these resolutions.

5 Admission to candidature

(1) 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 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. 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 and the Coursework Policy.

(2) Admission to the Dalyell stream requires achievement of a minimum tertiary admission rank (ATAR) set by the Board of Interdisciplinary Studies, or equivalent. 

(3) Admission to the Dual Degree stream requires additional submissions and an additional admission process as specified below:

(a) 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). English language requirements of both institutions must be met where these are not demonstrated by sufficient qualifications taught in English.

(b) a personal statement that indicates the applicants' motivations for applying for the stream;

(c)  submission of supplementary material as set out on Sydney Courses; and, 

(d)  an interview that will be evaluated by a joint admissions panel, from the University and the dual degree partner. 

(4) Applicants will be ranked on merit and offers for available places will be issued according to the ranking.

6 Requirements for award

(1) The units of study that may be taken for the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies are set out in:

(a) Table A for the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies;

(b) Table S of the Shared Pool for Undergraduate Degrees;

(c) Table O of the Shared Pool for Undergraduate Degrees;

(d) For students enrolled in the Dalyell stream, Table D of the Shared Pool for Undergraduate Degrees.

(e) In these resolutions, except where otherwise specified, Table A, Table S, Table O and Table D mean Table A, Table S, Table O and Table D as specified here.

(2) Bachelor of Arts

To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Arts degree, candidates must complete 144 credit points in total, comprising:

(a) A major (48 credit points) or a program as listed and defined in Section 7 below and as specified in Table A;

(b) A minor (36 credit points) or second major (48 credit points) as listed and defined in Section 7 below and as specified in Table A or Table S;

(c) For students not enrolled in the Dalyell stream, 6 credit points of units of study in the Open Learning Environment as specified in Table O;

(d) For students enrolled in the Dalyell Stream: a minimum of 12 credit points of Dalyell units of study as specified in Table D.

(e) Students previously but no longer enrolled in the Dalyell Stream who have completed at least 6 credit points of Dalyell units of study are not required to complete any units of study in the Open Learning Environment; 

(f) Where appropriate, elective units from Table A, Table S, Table O or, for students enrolled in the Dalyell Stream, Table D.

(g) 6 credit points of core units of study as specified in Table A unless enrolled in a stream other than the Dalyell stream;

(h) If enrolled in a stream, complete the requirements for the stream as specified in Table A or Table D.

(3) Bachelor of Arts (Dual Degree: Sciences Po, France)

To qualify for the award of the Dual Degree: Sciences Po, France stream, candidates must complete 144 credit points in total, comprising:

(a) 2-year sequence (which will be credited as 48 credit points) of study at Sciences Po, France in accordance with any rules set out by that institution

(b) A major (48 credit points) as listed and defined in Section 7 below and as specified in Table A; 

(c) Where appropriate, elective units from Table A or Table S

(d) Students may complete a second major (48 credit points) or minor (36 credit points) as listed in Section 7 below as specified from Table A or Table S

(e) For students enrolled in the Dalyell Stream: a minimum of 12 credit points of Dalyell units of study as specified in Table D.

(4) Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies

To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies, a candidate must complete 192 credit points, comprising:

(a) A major (48 credit points) or program as listed and defined in Section 7 below and specified in Table A;

(b) A second major (48 credit points) as listed and defined in Section 7 below and specified in Table A or Table S;

(c) For students not enrolled in the Dalyell Stream, 6 credit points of units of study in the Open Learning Environment as specified in Table O;

(d) For students enrolled in the Dalyell Stream, a minimum of 12 credit points of Dalyell Stream units of study as specified in Table D.

(e) For students previously enrolled in the Dalyell Stream in their current degree, who are no longer in the stream and have completed at least 6 credit points of Dalyell units of study are not required to complete any units of study in the Open Learning Environment;

(f) A minimum of 24 credit points at 4000 level from Table A or Table S, including a research, community, industry or entrepreneurship project of at least 12 and up to 36 credit points.

(g)  Where appropriate, elective units from Table A, Table S, Table O or, for students enrolled in the Dalyell Stream, Table D.

(h) 6 credit points of core units of study as specified in Table A unless enrolled in a stream other than the Dalyell stream;

(i)  If enrolled in a stream, complete the requirements for the stream as specified in Table A or Table D.

7 Programs, majors and minors

(1) Bachelor of Arts

(a) Completion of a major or program from Table A and a minor or second major from Table A or Table S is a requirement of the Bachelor of Arts. Requirements for completion of majors and minors are as set out in Table A and Table S.

(b) Candidates in the Bachelor of Arts have the option of completing:

(i) A program (which must contain a major); and

(ii) A second major from Table A or Table S in place of the minor.

(c) Requirements for completion of programs are as set out in Table A.

(2) Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies

(a) Completion of a major from Table A and second major from Table A or Table S is a requirement of the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies. Requirements for completion of majors and minors are as set out in Table A and Table S. 

(b) Candidates in the Bachelor of Arts have the option of completing a program (which must contain a major). 

(3) Requirements for programs, majors and minors

(a) Programs, majors and minors are as defined in the Learning and Teaching Policy 2015.

(b) The requirements for completion of programs, majors and minors are as set out in Table A and Table S.

(4) Majors available in Table A of the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies:

American Studies
Ancient Greek
Ancient History
Anthropology
Arabic Language and Cultures
Archaeology
Art History
Asian Studies
Chinese Studies
Criminology 
Cultural Studies
Digital Cultures
Econometrics
Economics
Economic Policy
Education Studies
English
Environmental, Agricultural and Resource Economics
European Studies
Film Studies
Financial Economics
French and Francophone Studies
Gender Studies
Germanic Studies
Hebrew (modern)
History
Indigenous Studies
Indonesian Studies
International and Comparative Literary Studies
International Relations
Italian Studies
Japanese Studies
Jewish Civilisation, Thought and Culture
Korean Studies
Latin
Linguistics
Media Studies (Available only as a major and only to students admitted into the Media and Communications stream or Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Law)
Modern Greek Studies
Philosophy
Political Economy
Politics
Socio-legal Studies
Spanish and Latin American Studies
Studies in Religion
Theatre and Performance Studies
Visual Arts

(5) Programs in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies:

International and Global Studies

Media and Communications 

Politics and International Relations

Psychology (from Table A of the Bachelor of Science)

With the exception of Psychology, programs in the Bachelor of Arts are only available to students admitted into relevant streams. A Psychology program may only be taken in addition to a major from Table A of the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies.

(6) Table A minors

(a) All majors available as Table A majors in the Bachelor of Arts, except the majors in Media Studies, are available as Table A minors in the Bachelor of Arts. Minors available in the Bachelor of Arts also include those listed in Table S and the following additional Table A minors:

Diversity Studies

Sanskrit

Writing Studies

(7) Second majors

All majors available as Table A majors in the Bachelor of Arts are available as second majors in the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies. Second majors available in the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies also include those listed in Table S.

8 Progression rules

(1) Progression within a major, program or minor

(a) Except with the permission of the relevant program, major or minor coordinator, candidates must pass two 1000- level units of study within a major (except a language major), program or minor, before proceeding to 2000-level units within that major, program or minor, or else undertake those 1000-level units concurrently with the 2000-level units.

(b) Except with the permission of the relevant program, major or minor coordinator, candidates must pass the required number of 2000-level units of study within a major (except a language major), program or minor, before proceeding to 3000-level units or else undertake those 2000-level units concurrently with the 3000-level units. 

(c) Candidates in a language major commence a major at a level commensurate with their previous ability as determined by the Faculty and must complete lower level units before completing the next higher level or else undertake those lower level units concurrently with the next higher level. 

(2) Progression within the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies

Except with the permission of the Associate Dean Undergraduate, candidates who are not in the Dalyell Stream must complete 144 credit points, including at least one major, a minor or second major and the required credit points from the Open Learning Environment as set out in Section 6 above before progressing to 4000-level units, including 4000-level project units.

(3) Progression within the Dalyell Stream

(a) With the permission of the Dalyell coordinator, candidates in the Dalyell Stream may attempt advanced units at higher levels than the usual sequence through a program, major or minor.

(b) Candidates must achieve a Cross-Semester Average Mark (CSAM) at a level determined by the Board of Interdisciplinary Studies in each year of study or over each 48 credit-point block to continue in the Dalyell Stream. Candidates who do not maintain a CSAM at the level determined by the Board of Interdisciplinary Studies may continue in any other major, minor, program or stream into which they were admitted, but will not remain in the Dalyell Stream. 

(c) Candidates enrolled in the Dalyell Stream who do not satisfy requirements for the Dalyell Stream but who otherwise meet requirements for the award course in which they are enrolled will graduate from the award course without the Dalyell Stream. Students may not study units additional to the maximum credit points for their award course except with the approval of the Associate Dean.

(4) Progression within the Dual Degree streams

(a) Students in a dual degree stream of the Bachelor of Arts must make satisfactory academic progress as stipulated by the rules of the partner institution and must complete four semesters of the partner degree to be eligible to continue in the dual degree stream.

(b) Candidates enrolled in the Dual Degree Stream who do not satisfy requirements for the Dual Degree Stream but who otherwise meet requirements for the award course in which they are enrolled will graduate from the award course without the Dual Degree Stream. Students may not study units additional to the maximum credit points for their award course except with the approval of the Associate Dean.

9 Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies with honours

(1) An embedded honours component, involving a research project, is available to meritorious students in the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies who complete an alternative set of units of study in the final year. Candidates undertaking an honours component within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences must complete the requirements for the honours course full-time over two consecutive semesters. If the Faculty is satisfied that a student is unable to attempt the honours component on a full time basis and if the Associate Dean so recommends, permission may be granted to undertake honours part-time. For candidates undertaking an honours component with the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, admission, requirements and award of honours are according to the Coursework Policy 2021, these resolutions and the Resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. For candidates undertaking an Honours component in another faculty, admission, requirements and award of Honours are according to the Coursework Policy 2021, these resolutions and the relevant resolutions of the faculty in which the component is undertaken.

(2) Admission

Admission to the embedded honours component is by permission of the relevant honours coordinator or head of department after the completion of the Bachelor of Arts in accordance with section 6(1) of these resolutions and with a WAM of at least 65 or higher mark as specified by the supervising faculty and set out in the relevant resolutions.
Admission requires a major or study of equivalent depth in the area of the proposed honours component, together with the completion of a second major in accordance with these resolutions.
Applicants for admission to an embedded honours component must also meet any requirements for honours set by the relevant department, school or faculty as set out in the relevant resolutions.

(3) Requirements

To qualify for the award of the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies with honours a candidate must complete the requirements for the pass degree but include 36-48 credit points of honours units at 4000 level or above, including an honours research project of 12 – 36 credit points, and 12 – 36 credit points of honours coursework, as required by the relevant department and published in the faculty handbook. If the honours component is taken in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, candidates must complete 48 credit points of honours units.

(4) The honours mark

The grade of honours will be determined by an honours mark calculated from work in the embedded honours component. Award requirements for honours in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are listed in the Coursework Policy 2021 or Resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

10 Award of the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies

(1) Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies combined degree who have completed requirements for the Bachelor of Arts but do not meet requirements for the combined degree will be awarded the Bachelor of Arts.

(2) Honours in the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies is awarded in classes ranging from First Class to Third Class according to the table and rules specified in the Coursework Policy 2021 and the relevant resolutions for the faculty in which the embedded honours component is undertaken.

(3) Candidates for the award of the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies with honours who do not meet the requirements for the honours degree, but who otherwise meet requirements for the Bachelor of Arts, or the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies will be awarded the pass degree.

11 Cross-institutional study

(1) Cross-institutional study is available in this course under conditions specified in the Resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

12 International exchange

(1) The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences encourages candidates in this course to participate in international exchange programs as set out in the Resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

13 Course transfer

(1) A candidate may transfer from the Bachelor of Arts and elect to complete the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies in accordance with these resolutions and receive full credit for work completed in the Bachelor of Arts. A candidate may abandon the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Advanced Studies combined degree and elect to complete the Bachelor of Arts in accordance with these resolutions.

14 Credit for previous study

(1) Credit transfer is subject to the provisions of the Coursework Policy and the Resolutions of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences or, in the case of a major or minor offered by another faculty, any relevant resolutions of that faculty.

(2) Candidates in a Dual Degree stream who have completed two years in a partner institution will receive 48 credit points of recognition of prior learning, when they enrol in the corresponding degree at the University of Sydney. 

15 Transitional provisions

(1) These resolutions apply to students who commenced their candidature after 1 January 2024.

(2) Students who commenced their candidature prior to 1 January 2024 should complete the requirements in accordance with the resolutions in force at the time of their commencement.