Why Study / Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Media and Communication is a 3-year undergraduate degree designed for students who want to work in the rapidly changing media and communications sector. Swinburne combines theoretical knowledge with practical, industry-oriented learning, including applied projects that simulate professional media environments. Students can work on real industry briefs, social-media projects, professional pitch competitions and simulated newsroom activities, while developing a portfolio of work. The curriculum also addresses digital transformation, social networking data, media ownership and privacy, the digital economy, cultural diversity and the social impact of media.

The degree is particularly flexible because students can select from seven majors and can add a second major, co-major, minor or electives. This allows an international student to combine a core media qualification with interests such as advertising, journalism, public relations, social media, computer science, criminology, marketing, psychology or screen production.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The standard degree contains 300 credit points. The current core component is 50 credit points, followed by a 100-credit-point major and 150 credit points of additional study.

Core units include:

• Introduction to Media Studies
• Global Media Industries
• Communicating with Data
• Content Creator Lab.

The major component consists of eight units, normally 12.5 credit points each.

Advertising major:

• Principles of Advertising
• Digital Advertising
• Search, Social Media and Video Marketing
• Advertising Issues and Impact
• Creativity and Ideation
• Emerging Advertising Technologies
• Digital Advertising Media Strategy
• Advertising Campaigns Project.

Cinema and Screen Studies major:

• Screen Studies: Movies, Television and Ourselves
• Genre and the Moving Image
• The Australian Screen
• Screen Franchising and Innovation
• Popular Culture of the Asia Pacific
• Screen Technology and Culture
• Screen Sounds and Music
• Global Screen Studies: Beyond Hollywood.

Creative Writing and Publishing major:

• Writing Fiction
• Editing for Writers
• Writing and Publishing Studio
• Diversity in Australian Writing
• Prose Poetics
• Sudden Writing
• Pitch, Edit, Publish
• Literary Industry Practice.

Immersive Media major:

• Digital Narratives
• Production for Digital Platforms
• Writing for Interactive Narratives
• Mobile Media Futures
• Experiencing Immersive Media: AR, VR and Mixed Reality
• Emerging Entertainment
• Screen Technology and Culture
• Media and Communications Industry Project.

Journalism major:

• Transforming Journalism in the Digital Era
• The Journalist's Toolkit
• Media, Law and Ethics
• Interactive Storytelling
• Video Documentary Project
• Live Journalism Lab
• Media Analytics and Visualisation
• Radio, Audio and Podcasting.

Public Relations major:

• Introduction to Public Relations Theory and Practice
• Professional Communication Practice
• Global Public Relations Practice
• Public Relations Writing
• Issues, Crisis and Risk Communication
• Events Management
• PR Campaign Planning and Management
• Media and Communications Industry Project.

Social Media major:

• Interactive Storytelling
• Digital Communities, Digital Selves
• Social Media Strategy
• Media Analytics and Visualisation
• Business of Media and Entrepreneurship
• Researching Social Media Publics
• Social Media Industry Project
• Social Media, Social Impact.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The current Bachelor of Media and Communication offers seven majors:

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

Current co-major options include areas such as:

• Animation
• Computer Science
• Criminology
• Data Analytics
• Data Management
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Indigenous Studies
• Information Systems
• Marketing
• Philosophy
• Politics and International Relations
• Psychology
• Screen Production.

Programme Highlights

Key course-specific strengths include:

• practical, industry-oriented media and communication learning
• real industry briefs and applied projects
• development of a professional portfolio
• exposure to digital media and emerging technologies
• social media, data and digital transformation content
• seven specialist majors
• opportunity to combine media with another discipline through co-majors and minors
• industry-relevant creative and strategic skills
• professional accreditation for relevant majors.

Career Outcomes

Graduates may pursue roles across media agencies, not-for-profit organisations, government departments, small businesses and large organisations.

Potential career areas include:

• media content creation
• media management
• social media channel and platform management
• journalism
• public relations
• advertising
• publicist and communications roles
• radio and audio production
• writing and publishing
• media research
• digital media production
• screen and immersive media
• communications strategy
• content development and management.

International Student Visa Requirements

The relevant visa for an international student undertaking this on-campus CRICOS-registered bachelor degree in Australia is the Australian Student visa, Subclass 500.

Swinburne's CRICOS course code for the Bachelor of Media and Communication is 088390J.

Key Student visa requirements and conditions include:

• obtain an offer and Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from Swinburne
• maintain the required Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
• satisfy the Genuine Student requirement
• demonstrate English-language ability where required
• demonstrate sufficient financial capacity where requested
• meet applicable health and character requirements
• comply with course-enrolment and attendance/progress requirements
• study in accordance with the conditions of the Student visa.