Why Study/Key Benefits

• The Bachelor of Media and Communication (Professional) is designed around the contemporary media and communication industry, combining theoretical knowledge with practical, creative and technical skills.
• Students gain industry experience and develop skills relevant to digital transformation across media and communication industries.
• The course includes collaborative media production, cross-disciplinary media labs, industry projects, internships and professional work placement opportunities.
• Students develop skills in media content creation, communication for influence and impact, media analytics, teamwork, cultural competence and global perspectives.
• The professional degree includes a 12-month paid work-placement opportunity, allowing students to gain industry experience and academic credit.
• The programme is suitable for students wanting to enter advertising, journalism, public relations, social media, screen industries, creative writing or immersive media.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The programme requires 375 credit points.

Core units – 50 credit points:

1. Introduction to Media Studies – MDA10001
2. Global Media Industries – MDA10008
3. Communicating with Data – MDA10012
4. Content Creator Lab – MDA10018.

The first major is worth 100 credit points and normally consists of eight 12.5-credit-point units.

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 Technologies
• Advertising Campaigns Project.

Cinema and Screen Studies major includes areas such as:

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

Professional placement – 100 credit points:

• Integrated Professional Placement A – Media and Communication
• Integrated Professional Placement B – Media and Communication
• Work Experience in Industry A
• Work Experience in Industry B.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The current seven major options are:

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

The course also permits approved co-majors, including areas such as:

• Animation
• Business Analytics
• Computer Science
• Criminology
• Data Analytics
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Games and Interactivity
• Indigenous Studies
• Marketing
• Media Industries
• Politics and International Relations
• Professional and Creative Writing
• Psychology
• Screen Production
• Screen Studies and Popular Culture

Programme Highlights

• 4-year professional bachelor's degree.
• 375 credit points.
• Hawthorn campus in Melbourne.
• Seven major options.
• Guaranteed Work Integrated Learning.
• 12-month paid professional work-placement opportunity.
• Industry projects, internships and collaborative media production.
• Cross-disciplinary media labs.
• Training in augmented, virtual and mixed reality.
• Media analytics and data communication.
• Content creation and professional media practice.
• Industry connections and professional experience.
• Public Relations major accredited by Communication and Public Relations Australia.
• Media Federation of Australia and Communication and Public Relations Australia are listed among the programme's professional accreditations/industry connections.

Career Outcomes

The course can lead to professional roles across media agencies, not-for-profit organisations, government departments, small businesses and larger organisations.

Swinburne identifies career opportunities including:

• Digital Communications Strategist
• Marketing Communications Specialist
• Content Marketing Manager
• Content Writer
• Journalist.

The handbook additionally identifies roles such as:

• Media Content Creator
• Media Manager
• Social Media Channel/Platform Specialist
• Journalist
• Publicist
• Radio Producer
• Archivist
• Writer
• Curator.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• Current course code: BA-MCMPROF.
• CRICOS code: 095886D.
• Current duration: 4 years full-time.
• Current qualification volume: 375 credit points.
• Current campus: Hawthorn.
• Current 2027 start dates: 1 March and 2 August 2027.
• Current application deadlines: 24 February 2027 and 28 July 2027.
• A 12-month professional placement is a defining component of the Professional degree.
• Students must successfully secure and complete the required professional placement. The handbook contains additional academic-progress rules relating to failure to secure or successfully complete the placement.
• The programme requires students to demonstrate capabilities involving visual information, audio, video and photography equipment, and editing media with audio components. Reasonable adjustments may be available where appropriate.
• Maximum academic credit: 150 credit points, normally 12 units.
• The current handbook states that the indicative 2026 sequence can change according to unit availability, advanced standing and exemptions.

International Student Visa Requirements

This course is CRICOS registered under code 095886D and is delivered at Swinburne's Hawthorn campus, so it can be used as an on-campus study programme for eligible international Student visa applicants.

An international student intending to study in Australia generally requires a Student visa, subclass 500.

Key requirements include:

• a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for the intended course;
• appropriate Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC);
• satisfaction of the Genuine Student requirement;
• evidence of financial capacity where required;
• evidence of English-language ability where required;
• health and character requirements;
• compliance with the conditions attached to the Student visa.