Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Bachelor of Media and Communication is designed for careers in the rapidly changing media and communication industries.
• It combines theoretical knowledge with practical media and communication skills.
• The course develops professional communication, global media knowledge, campaign and events planning, and client/agency management skills.
• Swinburne Online provides a flexible 100% online learning environment that can be studied at the student's own pace.
• Students can develop skills relevant to advertising, media production, public relations, communications and digital content.
• The programme provides the opportunity to undertake Work Integrated Learning through a professional placement.
• The Public Relations major has professional accreditation from Communication and Public Relations Australia (CPRA), while the Advertising major is professionally accredited by the Media Federation of Australia (MFA).

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The Bachelor of Media and Communication requires 300 credit points.

The current Swinburne course page identifies:

• 5 core units
• 8 major units
• 11 other study/elective units

The course therefore provides a combination of compulsory media and communication foundations, a chosen major and additional study.

Core units include:

• Introduction to Media Studies – MDA10001
• Professional Communication Practice – COM10007
• Media Content Creation – JOU10007
• Global Media Industries – MDA10008
• Learning and Communicating Online – COM10003

Disciplines / Specialisations

The online Bachelor of Media and Communication currently provides three principal major options:

Advertising

Key areas include:

• Principles of Advertising
• Advertising Issues: Regulation, Ethics & Cultural Considerations
• Concept Development and Copywriting
• Business of Media
• Sports/Advertising/Media
• Advertising Media Planning and Purchasing
• Advertising Management and Campaigns Project
• Professional Practice: Client and Agency Management

Media Studies

The Media Studies pathway covers areas such as:

• Media and communications projects
• Events management
• Issues, crisis and risk communication
• Public relations project and campaign planning
• Digital media
• Interactive content
• Journalism
• Radio
• Web design
• Video production
• Communications research

Public Relations

The Public Relations pathway focuses on:

• Public Relations Theory and Practice
• Public Relations Writing
• Global Public Relations Practice
• Events Management
• Professional Practice: Client and Agency Management
• Public Relations Project and Campaign Planning
• Issues, Crisis and Risk Communication
• Media and Communications Project A

Programme Highlights

• 100% online delivery.
• 3-year full-time degree.
• 300 credit points.
• Flexible full-time or equivalent part-time study.
• Five core media and communication units.
• Choice of Advertising, Media Studies or Public Relations major.
• Practical content creation and professional communication.
• Global media and communication focus.
• Campaign and events-related learning.
• Opportunity for Work Integrated Learning/professional placement.
• Advertising major has MFA professional accreditation.
• Public Relations major has CPRA accreditation.
• Maximum academic credit of up to 150 credit points may be available, subject to individual assessment.

Career Outcomes

Potential career directions include:

Advertising:

• Advertising coordinator
• Advertising artist
• Commercial producer
• Communications consultant

Media Studies:

• Interactive content creator
• Journalist
• Radio professional
• Public relations professional
• Communications researcher
• Advertising professional
• Digital media producer
• Web designer
• Video producer
• Architectural visualisation roles

Public Relations:

• Community relations
• Investor relations
• Government relations
• Product publicity
• Issue management
• Crisis and risk communication
• Media relations

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The course is currently delivered through Swinburne Online.
• The current published intake is Teaching Period 3, commencing 2 November 2026.
• The application deadline for this intake is 28 October 2026.
• The course is online only.
• International students in Australia holding a Student visa cannot undertake this course.
• International students studying outside Australia may be able to enrol, subject to Swinburne's admission requirements.
• Applicants should not confuse this course with the separate campus-based Bachelor of Media and Communication at Hawthorn.
• The online course currently uses course code BA-MCMNS.
• Credit transfer and RPL are assessed individually.
• A professional placement/WIL opportunity may be available.
• Unit availability and detailed study plans can change, so the final course structure should be confirmed before enrolment.

International Student Visa Requirements

This is the most important consideration for an international applicant.

The course is not available to an international student who is in Australia holding a Student visa.

Swinburne explicitly states:

• International students in Australia holding Student visas must study full-time and on campus.
• Courses taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or to people in Australia who are not on a Student visa.
• Therefore, this Swinburne Online Bachelor of Media and Communication cannot be used as an online study programme while physically residing in Australia on a Subclass 500 Student visa.