General Information

Overview

The Bachelor of Media and Communication connects industry experience, technological skill and deep critical knowledge in Indigenous, local and global contexts to prepare students to respond creatively to digital transformation of media industries. The degree focusses on creating lifelong learners who connect professional and technical skill for positive social impact. Drawing on industry-led connections and experience, the degree equips students to integrate critical and strategic thinking, creative practice and technical skill to be future leaders of industry and community. Graduates will be work ready for employment in current media industries, organisations and roles, and entrepreneurial and innovative in creating their own professional approach to related fields.

Double degree options

You can also study Media and Communication in a double degree with Business, Design, Health Science, or Laws.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Media and Communication requires students to complete units of study to the value of 300 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner  for an example degree structure

Advertising major
Cinema and Screen Studies major units
Creative Writing and Publishing Major
Immersive Media Major
Journalism Major
Public Relations Major
Social Media Major

*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes

Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 100 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).

A second major can be chosen in addition to your first major and will be named on your testamur certificate. Please note you cannot choose the same major as your first major. To see specific units for the second major go to Major units accordion.

  • Advertising
  • Cinema and Screen Studies
  • Creative Writing and Publishing
  • Immersive Media
  • Journalism
  • Public Relations
  • Social Media

A co-major is a major in a field of study outside this course. You can choose one in addition to a first major. Co-majors will not be named on your testamur certificate however will be shown on your transcript of results.

  • Animation 
  • Computer Science 
  • Criminology 
  • Data Analytics 
  • Data Management 
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation 
  • Indigenous Studies 
  • Information Systems 
  • Marketing 
  • Philosophy 
  • Politics and International Relations 
  • Psychology 
  • Screen Production
View co-major units

Minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points and may be chosen from any field of study.

  • Advertising 
  • Applied Psychology 
  • Branded Environment 
  • Cinema and Screen Studies 
  • Computer Science 
  • Creative Writing 
  • Criminology 
  • Data Analytics 
  • Digital Advertising Technology 
  • Editing 
  • Entrepreneurship 
  • Games and Interactivity 
  • Indigenous Studies 
  • Innovation 
  • Journalism 
  • Literature 
  • Marketing 
  • Media Industries 
  • Public Relations 
  • Social Media 
  • Web Development
View minor units

You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for either 6 or 12 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.

These recommended elective units can deepen your understanding of your chosen major or an area of interest. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.

Advertising major

  • DIG10004 Digital Video and Audio
  • DIG20001 Digital Narratives
  • DIG20005 User Experience Design
  • DIG20011 Digital Mobility
  • DIG30003 Advertising Technology
  • GAM20004 Writing for Interactive Narratives
  • HEA10001 Introduction to Health Sciences
  • HEP20002 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
  • JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
  • MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies
  • MDA10008 Global Media Industries
  • MDA20003 Networked Selves
  • MDA20014 Media and Social Impact
  • MDA30006 Media and Communications Project A
  • MDA30007 Media and Communications Project B
  • MDA30009 Radio, Audio and Podcasting
  • MDA30019 Sound and the Screen
  • MKT20021 Integrated Marketing Communication
  • PHI10008 Introduction to Ethics
  • PUB10001 Introduction to Public Relations Theory and Practice
  • PUB30001 Events Management

Cinema & Screen Studies major

  • ADV10001 Principles of Advertising
  • COM10007 Professional Communication Practice
  • DIG10004 Digital Video and Audio
  • FTV20005 The Australian Screen
  • FTV30001 Breaking the Screen
  • FTV30005 Hollywood Cinema
  • JOU10004 News Writing
  • JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
  • LIT20002 Australian Writing: Mapping Diversity
  • LIT30002 Graphic Narratives: Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga
  • MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies
  • MDA10006 Innovation Cultures: Perspectives On Science and Technology
  • MDA10008 Global Media Industries
  • MDA20001 Business of Media
  • MDA20003 Networked Selves
  • MDA20009 Digital Communities
  • MDA20011 Sports/Advertising/Media
  • MDA20014 Media and Social Impact
  • MDA20025 National Media in A Globalised World
  • MDA30006 Media and Communications Project A
  • MDA30007 Media and Communications Project B

Creative Writing and Publishing major

  • ADV10001 Principles of Advertising
  • DIG20001 Digital Narratives
  • FTV10006 Genre and the Moving Image
  • GAM20004 Writing for Interactive Narratives
  • HIS10003 Global History
  • HIS30012 History, Politics and Human Rights
  • JOU10004 News Writing
  • LIT20002 Australian Writing: Mapping Diversity
  • LIT30004 Literary Industry Practice
  • MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies
  • MDA10003 Screen Studies: Movies, Television and Ourselves
  • MDA20007 Screen Franchising and Innovation
  • MDA20025 National Media in A Globalised World
  • MDA30007 Media and Communications Project B
  • MDA30012 Researching Social Media Publics
  • MDA30019 Sound and the Screen
  • PHI10007 What is Power?
  • POL10001 Australian Politics
  • PWR10002 Editing for Writers
  • PWR20003 Writing Creative Non-Fiction
  • SOC10004 Sociological Foundations
  • SOC20020 Deviance, Difference & Conformity
  • SOC30013 Global Gender and Sex

Immersive Media major

  • ADV10001 Principles of Advertising
  • COM10007 Professional Communication Practice
  • DIG10004 Digital Video and Audio
  • JOU10004 News Writing
  • JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
  • LIT20002 Australian Writing: Mapping Diversity
  • LIT30002 Graphic Narratives: Comics, Graphic Novels, and Manga
  • LIT30004 Literary Industry Practice
  • MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies
  • MDA10003 Screen Studies: Movies, Television and Ourselves
  • MDA10008 Global Media Industries
  • MDA20003 Networked Selves
  • MDA20007 Screen Franchising and Innovation
  • MDA20009 Digital Communities
  • MDA20011 Sports/Advertising/Media
  • MDA30007 Media and Communications Project B
  • MDA30011 Global Screen Studies: Beyond Hollywood
  • MDA30012 Researching Social Media Publics
  • POL10002 International Politics
  • PUB10001 Introduction to Public Relations Theory and Practice
  • PUB20003 Public Relations Writing
  • SOC10004 Sociological Foundations

Journalism major

  • COS10005 Web Development
  • FTV20005 The Australian Screen
  • FTV30001 Breaking the Screen
  • FTV30005 Hollywood Cinema
  • INS10001 Connecting with Culture: Indigenous Australian Experiences
  • JOU10007 Media Content Creation
  • JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
  • MDA20001 Business of Media
  • MDA20014 Media and Social Impact
  • MDA20025 National Media in A Globalised World
  • MDA30006 Media and Communications Project A
  • MDA30007 Media and Communications Project B
  • MDA30009 Radio, Audio and Podcasting
  • MDA30019 Sound and the Screen
  • PHI10008 Introduction to Ethics
  • POL10001 Australian Politics
  • POL10002 International Politics
  • POL20008 Australian Foreign Policy
  • PUB20003 Public Relations Writing
  • SOC30019 Social Science Research Methods
  • STA10003 Foundations of Statistics

Public Relations major

  • DIG10004 Digital Video and Audio
  • DIG20001 Digital Narratives
  • DIG20005 User Experience Design
  • DIG20011 Digital Mobility
  • DIG30003 Advertising Technology
  • GAM20004 Writing for Interactive Narratives
  • HEA10001 Introduction to Health Sciences
  • HEP20002 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
  • JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
  • MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies
  • MDA10008 Global Media Industries
  • MDA20003 Networked Selves
  • MDA20014 Media and Social Impact
  • MDA30006 Media and Communications Project A
  • MDA30007 Media and Communications Project B
  • MDA30009 Radio, Audio and Podcasting
  • MDA30019 Sound and the Screen
  • MKT20021 Integrated Marketing Communication

Social Media major

  • ADV10001 Principles of Advertising
  • COM10007 Professional Communication Practice
  • DIG10004 Digital Video and Audio
  • DIG20001 Digital Narratives
  • DIG20011 Digital Mobility
  • DIG30003 Advertising Technology
  • GAM20004 Writing for Interactive Narratives
  • HEA10001 Introduction to Health Sciences
  • HEP20002 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
  • JOU10004 News Writing
  • JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
  • MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies
  • MDA10003 Screen Studies: Movies, Television and Ourselves
  • MDA10008 Global Media Industries
  • MDA20001 Business of Media
  • MDA20007 Screen Franchising and Innovation
  • MDA20014 Media and Social Impact
  • MDA30009 Radio, Audio and Podcasting
  • MDA30011 Global Screen Studies: Beyond Hollywood
  • PHI10003 Critical Thinking
Find more detail about elective units

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

  • identify and contextualise the impacts of digital transformation on media and communication industries, audiences and professional and creative practices.
  • analyse diverse socio-cultural influences on media and communication practices and their impact on audiences in Indigenous, local and global contexts.
  • apply critical thinking within a specialised media and communication discipline to solve problems through theoretical, practice-led and decolonised lenses.
  • initiate professional approaches to planning, problem-solving and decision-making in a range of media and communication activities and processes, both individually and in collaboration with others.
  • design creative and professional media and communication artefacts that focus on examining the relationship between people and technology for social impact and sustainability.
  • explore innovative use of new media and communication technologies to engage, influence and build communities for next generation media futures.
  • engage ethical approaches to research methodologies for socially responsible, just and fair content creation strategies.
  • apply learning from Indigenous, global and cross-cultural communication contexts to support accountability, self-assessment and independence in lifelong learning.

Professional recognition

On completion of the Public Relations major students may be eligible to become a member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and should confirm eligibility with the Institute.

 The Advertising major is professionally accredited by the Media Federation of Australia (MFA).

Career opportunities

Graduates will be well qualified for positions in professional roles in agencies, not-for-profits, government departments, small business and large organisations. These include roles as media content creators, media managers, social media channel and platform specialists, journalists, publicists, radio producers, archivists, writers, and curators.

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Media and Communication students must complete 300 credit points comprising of:

  • four (4) core units of study (50cp)
  • one (1) online core unit* (12.5cp) for Swinburne Online students only
  • eight (8) units of study from one of the Media and Communication majors** (100cp)
  • eleven (11) or twelve (12)* units of study (137.5-150 credit points) comprising of a second major, co-major, advanced minor, minor/s, and/or electives

*Students studying through SOL complete one additional online Core Unit, 5 Core Units in total. SOL students therefore only complete 11 Units of Other Study.

**Media Studies Major only offered via SOL. 

Students may not complete more than 150 cps (normally 12 units) at Introductory Level. A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternate.

Professional placements

Professional Placements are subject to a competitive selection process. International students may be eligible for a Professional Placement where a relevant Professional degree exists. International students who successful gain a placement through the selection process will be required to change courses to the relevant Professional degree, in order to complete a placement and should consider any visa and extended study duration implications prior to applying.

Students who undertake a 12 month professional placement are subject to the following Course rules and must complete 375 credit points comprising:

  • four (4) Core Units of Study (50cp)
  • eight (8) Units of study from Media and Communication Majors (100cp)
  • four (4) Units of study from the Professional Placement Co-Major (100 credit points); and
    Ten (10) Units of study (125 credit points) comprising of a second Major, Co-Major, advanced Minor, Minor/s, and/or Electives

Students who elect to undertake a 6 month professional placement are subject to the following Course rules and must complete 337.5 credit points comprising:

  • four (4) Core Units of Study (50cp)
  • eight (8) Units of study from Media and Communication Majors (100cp)
  • two (2) Units of study from the Professional Placement Minor (50 credit points); and
  • eleven (11) Units of study (137.5 credit points) comprising of a second Major, Co-Major, advanced Minor, Minor/s, and/or Electives

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Media and Communication is 150 credit points (normally 12 units).

Admission criteria

Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.

Entry requirements

A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within past three years)

ATAR

This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.

Guaranteed ATAR: if you receive an ATAR of 60 or higher and meet all the essential requirements for this course, you will be guaranteed an offer.

Educational history

An applicant's entire academic history, including ATAR results, will be considered for entry into this course.

Selection rank adjustments

Selection ranks for this course will be calculated based on your ATAR with adjustments to overall study scores based on subjects studied, location of your home address, SEAS application, and participation In Swinburne's Early Leaders program. For further details about selection rank adjustments, see Admissions at Swinburne.

Subject Adjustments

A study score of 25 in any Business, any Humanities, Literature, Interactive Digital Media C, Creative and Digital Media (VCE VET) I or Theatre Studies equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 10 points. 

Meeting course prerequisites

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English (except EAL) or at least 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent.

ATAR profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in Semester 1 2024

ATAR-Based offers only, across all offer rounds ATAR
Excluding adjustment factors		 Selection Rank
ATAR + any adjustment factors
Highest rank to receive an offer 81.7 81.4
Median rank to receive an offer 64.92 67.8
Lowest rank to receive an offer 49.65 57

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years.

Meeting course prerequisites

As for Year 12 or equivalent.

STAT/Bridging courses

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered.

Meeting course prerequisites

As for Year 12 or equivalent.

STAT/Bridging courses

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course.

Meeting course prerequisites

As for Year 12 or equivalent.

STAT/Bridging courses

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

Work experience

Applicants who have not met the entry criteria through their academic studies can have their work experience considered. Applicants need to have completed secondary school and have four years relevant post-secondary work experience with at least two of these years being fulltime work.

Evidence must be in the form of a resume, a letter from an employer (on letterhead) outlining the duration of employment, roles and responsibilities, and a position description (optional). If an employer letter cannot be provided a referee check may be conducted.

Student profile

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced in this course in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  Semester 1, 2024
Applicant background Number of students Percentage of all students
(A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) 66 31%
(B) Vocational education and training (VET) study 25 13%
(C) Work and life experience (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) 26 13%
(D) Recent secondary education:    
Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) 50 25%
Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were N/A considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) N/A N/A
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was N/A not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) 17 9%
International students 15 8%
All students 199 100%

N/A – Students not accepted in this category.

Interested in the Bachelor of Media and Communications?

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