Introductory Microeconomics (ECON1010)

Course overview

Provides students with a practical understanding of the core economic principles that explain why individuals, companies and governments make the decisions they do, and how their decision-making might be improved to make best use of available resources.

ECON1010 is an introductory course in Microeconomics. It focuses on how decision making agents within the economy (e.g. consumers, firms, government departments) make choices and how choices can be made in a way that makes the best possible use of limited available resources. Making choices is an integral part of everyday life - this course will help you to understand how the world operates, and, in doing so, shed light on how it might be changed for the better. For example, why do firms discount certain products but not others? Why is it so hard to find a good quality used car? Why does the government heavily tax petrol but not fast food? Why has the divorce rate increased over the past 50 years? This course will set you on the path to thinking critically about all areas of life where choices are made. A focus is placed on core economic principles that are immediately applicable rather than formal mathematical theorising.

Course requirements

Assumed background

There is a mathematical requirement for entry into degree programs offered by the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law. The mathematical requirements of this course are modest.ﾠBasic arithmetic and an ability to understand and manipulate simple graphs are required. These skills are basic employment requirements in the private or public sector.

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

ECON1011 or 2011 or 2012

Restrictions

Not to be studied by BAdvBus(Hons) and BAdvFin&Econ(Hons) students

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Lectures commence in Teaching Week 1.

Tutorials commence in Teaching Week 2.

Please see the Learning Activities section of this Course Profile for the timetabling implications of public holidays.

Important Dates:

• Public holidays: Wed 12 August (Royal Queensland Show), Mon 5 October (King’s Birthday).
• In-semester Break: 28 September – 2 October. Semester 2 classes recommence on Tue 6 October.

Students should refer to the timetable prior to the commencement of classes to ensure that they have the most up to date information, as from time to time late room changes may occur.

Aims and outcomes

This course aims to enable you to begin to think like an economist, enhancing your ability to link economic theory with everyday issues to form well-reasoned, independent views.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

CML Quizzes

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Quiz

Weight

25% (Best 5 out of 6 CML count)

Due date

CML1 Opens 9am 7 Aug (Fri) and closes 4pm on 20 Aug (Thu)

CML2 Opens 9am 21 Aug (Fri) and closes 4pm on 3 Sep (Thu)

CML3 Opens 9am 4 Sep (Fri) and closes 4pm on 17 Sep (Thu)

CML4 Opens 9am 18 Sep (Fri) and closes 4pm on 8 Oct (Thu)

CML5 Opens 9am 9 Oct (Fri) and closes 4pm on 22 Oct (Thu)

CML6 Opens 9am 23 Oct (Fri) and closes 4pm on 9 Nov (Mon)

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Assessment security

Open assessment: In this assessment you can use resources such as your notes, course materials, and other tools, including AI, while completing the task. The focus is not on memorising information, but on understanding, applying judgement, and demonstrating your own thinking.

Submission guidelines

Enter answers into Blackboard prior to due date and time.

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Late submission

Late submissions after the deadline for each CML Quiz will not be possible. Access to each CML Quiz will be blocked on Blackboard once the due date and time elapses. Non-submission of a CML quiz will incur a mark of zero for that quiz.

Note that 6 quizzes are made available with only the best 5 contributing to a student's final grade. That is, a student can miss one CML Quiz and still achieve the maximum possible marks for the CML Quiz assessment component of the course (25%). Each CML Quiz is available for almost two weeks, and it is a student's responsibility to submit each quiz by the due date and time.

Contextualised Learning of Economics via Authentic Reflection - Journal Entries (CLEAR-JE)

• Online

Mode

Written

Category

Reflection

Weight

20% (Best 2 out of 3 CLEAR-JE count)

Due date

CLEAR-JE No.1, 21/08/2026 4:00 pm

CLEAR-JE No.2, 4/09/2026 4:00 pm

CLEAR-JE No.3, 18/09/2026 4:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L05

Task description

Assessment security

Open assessment: In this assessment you can use resources such as your notes, course materials, and other tools, including AI, while completing the task. The focus is not on memorising information, but on understanding, applying judgement, and demonstrating your own thinking.

Submission guidelines

Submit using the relevant CLEAR-JE number Turnitin link found on the course Blackboard site.

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Late submission

Late submissions after the deadline for each CLEAR-JE will not be possible. Access to each CLEAR-JE Turnitin link will be blocked on Blackboard once the due date and time elapses. Non-submission of a CLEAR-JE will incur a mark of zero for that CLEAR-JE.

Note that 3 CLEAR-JE are made available with only the best 2 contributing to a student's final grade. That is, a student can miss submitting one CLEAR-JE and still achieve the maximum possible marks for the CLEAR-JE assessment component of the course (20%). Each CLEAR-JE is allocated about two weeks for students to write, and it is a student's responsibility to submit a CLEAR-JE by the due date and time.

End of Semester Exam

• Identity Verified
• In-person

Mode

Written

Category

Examination

Weight

55%

Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

7/11/2026 - 21/11/2026

Other conditions

Secure.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Assessment security

Secure assessment: This assessment is designed to protect academic integrity and assess your understanding of course concepts. You must only use the approved materials and tools for this assessment task. Use of prohibited materials in this task may be investigated and treated as academic misconduct. See assessment instructions for more details.

Exam details

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

A student's final overall end of semester percentage mark will be rounded to determine their final grade. For example, 64.5% rounds to 65%, while 64.4% rounds to 64%.

ECON1010 builds on core concepts that are extended and developed further as the course progresses. Higher grades result from an ability to firmly grasp the core concepts and demonstrate their interconnectedness.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

Using AI at UQ

Visit the AI Student Hub for essential information on understanding and using Artificial Intelligence in your studies responsibly. 

Plagiarism

The School of Economics is committed to reducing the incidence of plagiarism. You are encouraged to read the UQ Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy available in the Policies and Procedures section of this course profile.

The Academic Integrity Module (AIM) outlines your obligations and responsibilities as a UQ student. It is compulsory for all new to UQ students to complete the AIM.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
• Recording of Teaching Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

Use of AI in Teaching:

The University is exploring careful and responsible ways to use approved AI tools to support learning and teaching at UQ. The course Blackboard site will have further information about how AI tools might be used in this course. Please be aware that it is possible that student work may be used with approved AI tools.

If you have questions about this, please consult the AI Student Hub and your Blackboard site and contact your Course Coordinator if you have any further questions.