Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability

Course information for - 2026 entry
Domestic
  • Domestic
  • International

Offered at 2 locations
  • Melbourne
  • Strathfield

Duration
3 years full-time or equivalent part-time
VTAC code
1200210921
ATAR
New
Fees (first year)*

$15428 CSP

Start dates

Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2026

Applications open April 2025

Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Beginning July 2026

Applications open April 2026

Overview

Lead positive change with ACU's Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability. This exciting multi-disciplinary degree will prepare students to tackle the great sustainability challenges of the future.  

Learn how to balance both the human and ecological needs of our planet, by exploring diverse perspectives on society and the environment from across the humanities (including the geographical and environmental sciences), business, law and philosophy. Refine your passions and dive into a world of creative and applied critical thinking, indigenous knowledge, reflexive practice, and empirical evidence. This course also offers students hands-on experience through professional settings, integrated work-learning opportunities, and community engagement initiatives. 

If you possess a strong commitment to greater equity, social and environmental justice, and human dignity this unique multi-disciplined degree will support your aspirations to advance equity and make a positive impact on the world and in our communities. 

  • 95% graduates employed

  • Top 10 Catholic universities globally

  • Top 40 young universities worldwide

Work placement

This course also offers you hands-on experience through professional settings, integrated work-learning opportunities and community engagement initiatives

Community engagement

Your studies will culminate in a final year local or internationally focused community engagement placement where you will work directly with and contribute to the goals of a local community or organisation.  

Careers

This degree is designed to give key knowledge and skills relevant to many different career areas that are grappling with matters to do with environmental and social sustainability including business, government, NGOs and the community sector. 

Course details

Course structure

Course map

Open all

Please note: Course maps are subject to change.

Commencing Semester 1

  • Specified unitsENHU171Environmental Economics10 cp
  • Specified unitsGEOG110Exploring Natural Environments10 cp
  • Specified unitsENHU170Environmental Humanities10 cp
  • Specified unitsSOCS100Introduction to Sociology10 cp
  • Specified unitsGEOG111Exploring Human Environments10 cp
  • Specified unitsGEOG214Sustainability: The Global Challenge10 cp
  • Specified unitsSOCS101Global Society and Change10 cp
  • Core Curriculum and Community Engagement units Core Curriculum Unit 1See the ACU Cor Curriculum page for details10 cp

Commencing Semester 2

Graduate statement

Insight

As a Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability or associated double degree graduate, you possess insight into the great social and environmental challenges faced by humanity and how to respond to these, via a deep awareness of the challenges to sustainability goals, and how insight can work towards reducing the social and environmental impacts of unsustainable policies and practices. This awareness is based on a variety of approaches to knowing and learning inclusive of Indigenous knowledges, reflexive practice, applied critical approaches, and empirical evidence. These degrees initiate your professional role in social and environmental sustainability by applying the insight gained across numerous organisational and institutional settings, thereby actively working towards greater equity, social and environmental justice, and human dignity.

Empathy

As a Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability or associated double degree graduate, you have empathy with the effects of challenges and obstacles to social and environmental sustainability, inclusive of how these challenges are intimately related to human and environmental dignity and socially and environmentally marginalised communities. This empathy is grounded in the specific learnings and applications of a variety of approaches to social and environmental sustainability including the ancient ways of Indigenous care for the country, substantive geographic and sociological frameworks, deep engagement with the environmental humanities, business skills, and legal training. As a graduate empathy is translated into action through application in a variety of professional roles contributing to affecting lasting change.

Imagination

As a Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability or associated double degree graduate, you utilise imagination to develop influential, transformative, and measurable approaches to defining and achieving sustainability goals using a range of technologies to facilitate organisational and institutional engagement with sustainability. You use critical and creative thinking to enhance engagement with, and practice of, social and environmental sustainability. You appreciate the role of innovation in leading change that aspires to actively translate imagination into action around social and environmental sustainability. You implement innovative, evidence-based approaches to sustainability policy and practice to enable informed decision-making across a range of institutional and organisational foci within culturally respectful and community-sensitive frameworks.

Impact

As a Bachelor of Social and Environmental Sustainability or associate double degree graduate you actively apply sustainability skills, knowledges, and empathy to positively impact human and environmental dignity, contributing meaningfully to the common good. Your sustainability skills, knowledge, and empathy are impactful through strategic and innovative methods of application in relevant professional settings. Impact is also established as a graduate, through effective communication that raises awareness about, and develops empathy for, social and environmental sustainability in others around you. As a graduate, your impact is ultimately to lead change that serves to protect and preserve the greater environment and arrest corrosive social, cultural, and communal threats that result from unsustainable policies and practices.

AQF framework

Bachelor - AQF Level 7

Exit Points

Students who have met the requirements of the non-award course Certificate in Liberal Studies and Diploma in Liberal Arts can exit with that award.

Entry requirements

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy that includes meeting a minimum ATAR requirement.

International applicants must meet the English Language Requirements as defined in the Admissions to Coursework Programs Policy.

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites at year 12, or equivalent:

StatePrerequisites
New South Wales

Assumed knowledge: 2 units of English (any) (Band 3)

Queensland

Assumed knowledge: English (Units 3 & 4, C)

Victoria

Prerequisites: Units 3 and 4 a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English.


Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2026 Admission.

Applicants with recent secondary education

You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course. 

If your school result was affected by circumstances outside of your control, such as financial hardship, illness, disability or a challenging home environment, you may qualify for an access scheme. You can apply through your TAC as part of your application process. 

Learn more about access schemes

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course. 

For current year 12 students 

If you’re a current Year 12 applicant you can be given a selection rank separate from, and in addition to, your ATAR if you’ve completed a competency based and graded AQF Certificate III or above. 

For non-school leavers

If you’ve completed or are completing a competency based AQF Certificate IV or AQF diploma you will be assigned a selection rank by your local Tertiary Admission Centre (TAC). This is an entry score based on your individual qualifications and achievements.

ACU has partnerships with TAFE and many private education providers. If you have completed a qualification with one of these partners or with ACU College, you may be eligible for guaranteed entry and/or credit into a related ACU degree. Please apply through your local TAC and then submit a credit application for your previous study.

Applicants with higher education study

You will need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course. 

If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, we’ll assign you with a new selection rank that reflects your study level, duration, and grade point average.

If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.

You can use our credit search tool to see what you might be eligible for. For more information about credit and recognition of prior learning at ACU, follow the link below.

Search our credit database

Learn more about recognition of prior learning

Applicants with work and life experience

You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.

  • If you have no formal education qualifications you may be eligible for a selection rank based on your work, life or service experience.
  • If you’ve been in paid employment, relevant to the course you’re applying for, for a minimum of six months full-time (or equivalent), this work may be assessed for your selection rank.
  • If you’re 21 years or older you can sit the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) through your local TAC.
  • You can apply for an ACU bridging course. Our bridging courses allow you to transition back into studying and can give you a head start on the relevant undergraduate degree.
  • If you have served in the defence force, your rank and time in service may contribute to your selection rank.

Find your path into study

English language requirements

International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Overall score: 6.0 Individual score of: 6.0 in writing and speaking 5.5 in listening and reading

Pearson Test of English (PTE): 50 with a minimum of 50 in writing and speaking and a minimum of 42 in reading and listening.

Test of English as a Foreign Language - Academic (TOEFL): Internet-based total of 60: minimum 21 in writing, 18 in speaking, 8 in reading and 7 in listening.

ACU English Language Test: C (63-64%)

Cambridge Advanced English (CAE): Overall C1 Advanced score 176, Minimum score of 169 in all tests

Adjustment factors

If you’re currently completing Year 12 you may be eligible for adjustment factors that can boost your rank and help you get into your desired course.

Adjustment factors may be applied to your TAC application if you study particular subjects, attend schools geographically close to our campuses or in certain regional areas, apply as an elite athlete or performer or meet certain other criteria.

Learn more about adjustment factors

Inherent requirement

There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.

Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you

Fees

Course costs

Average first year fee*

$15428 CSP

*This is an indicative first-year fee based on the tuition fee rates for a full-time student, using unit enrolment data from domestic students who studied the course in the previous year.

A student’s annual fee will vary depending on factors including:

  • Number of units studied per year
  • Choice of major or specialisation
  • Elective units

The University reviews fees annually.

You can view current course costs and domestic tuition fee rates by unit.

Payment options

You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support.

Explore your options

Scholarships

You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.

Search our scholarships

How to apply

Domestic applicants

Deferment

Deferment is available for one year. Find out more about deferment: Deferment Information.

 

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