Why Study / Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Applied Innovation combines humanities and social-science study with practical innovation capabilities. With Indigenous Studies as the Arts major, students examine Indigenous Australian histories, cultures, knowledges, resistance, contemporary representation and entrepreneurship, while the Applied Innovation component develops creative problem-solving and innovation skills.

Key benefits include:

• Study Indigenous ways of being and doing and their relevance to contemporary society.
• Explore Indigenous Australian experiences and histories.
• Examine First Nations resistance, activism and empowerment.
• Develop an understanding of international Indigenous perspectives.
• Study Indigenous knowledges and their contemporary applications.
• Explore Indigenous enterprise and entrepreneurship.
• Examine Indigenous representations.
• Develop analytical thinking, cultural competency and digital literacy.
• Develop creativity, innovation and strategic problem-solving skills.
• Gain exposure to Work Integrated Learning through placement, internship or an industry-linked project.
• Work with community, civil society and industry partners on social-change activities.
• Graduate with an interdisciplinary combination of Arts and Applied Innovation skills.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The combined degree consists of 400 credit points and integrates three main areas: Arts, Indigenous Studies and Applied Innovation. The published sequence is an indicative Semester 1, 2026 sequence and Swinburne notes that unit offerings and sequencing can change.

Bachelor of Arts core units:

• Technology and Society – ART10002
• Skills and Strategies for Social Change – ART20003
• Changemakers in Action – ART30004
• BA Professional Practice – ART30005

Bachelor of Applied Innovation core units:

• Exploring Creativity and Innovation – INV10001
• Fundamentals of Innovation Practice – INV10002
• Innovation Sandpit – INV10003
• Responsible Innovation Futures – INV10004.

Indigenous Studies major units:

Year 1:

• Connecting with Culture: Indigenous Australian Experiences – INS10001
• Unlearning the Past: Indigenous Australian History – INS10002

Year 2:

• First Nations Resistance, Activism and Empowerment – INS20004
• International Indigenous Perspectives – INS20002

Year 3:

• Indigenous Enterprise and Entrepreneurship – INS30001
• Indigenous Knowledges – INS30002
• Indigenous Representations – INS30004

Disciplines / Specialisations

Primary Arts major:

• Indigenous Studies

The Indigenous Studies major focuses on:

• Indigenous Australian experiences
• Indigenous Australian history
• First Nations resistance and activism
• International Indigenous perspectives
• Indigenous entrepreneurship
• Indigenous knowledges
• Indigenous representations.

Programme Highlights

• 4-year undergraduate double degree.
• Bachelor of Arts combined with Bachelor of Applied Innovation.
• Indigenous Studies major.
• Hawthorn campus, Melbourne.
• 400 credit points.
• 12.5 credit points per standard unit.
• CRICOS code 108347J.
• 2027 Semester 1 and Semester 2 starts are currently published.
• Combines Indigenous studies with innovation and entrepreneurial capabilities.
• Includes Indigenous enterprise and entrepreneurship.
• Includes Indigenous knowledges and representations.
• Includes First Nations resistance, activism and empowerment.
• Includes international Indigenous perspectives.
• Work Integrated Learning opportunity.
• Social-change project work involving community, civil society and industry partners.
• Develops conceptual understanding, communication, critical thinking, creative problem-solving and adaptability.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne's combined degree identifies broad career opportunities associated with Arts and Applied Innovation.

Potential innovation-related roles include:

• Innovation consultant
• Innovation lead
• Innovation analyst
• Strategic designer
• Creative producer
• Start-up founder
• Human-centred researcher
• Self-employed entrepreneur
• Product manager
• Transformation lead
• Innovation strategist
• Innovation manager.

The Arts component can support careers in areas such as:

• Indigenous engagement
• Community development
• Government relations
• Policy
• Advocacy
• Human rights
• NGO and aid work
• Cultural services
• Government
• Media and communications
• Public relations
• Youth services
• Research.

International Student Visa Requirements

The applicable Australian visa is the Student visa, Subclass 500.

For this programme, international students should generally prepare:

• Valid passport.
• Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from Swinburne.
• Enrolment in the CRICOS-registered programme.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless an exemption applies.
• Genuine Student (GS) information.
• English-language evidence where required.
• Financial-capacity evidence where required.
• Health and character documentation where applicable.
• Any additional documents requested by the Department of Home Affairs.