Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Bachelor of Arts develops knowledge of how societies evolve and how people influence the world, with emphasis on critical thinking, communication, cultural competency and digital literacy.
• The Politics, Power and Technology major examines political structures and the relationship between technology and political processes.
• Students explore how new media can support democratic mobilisation and participation while also creating new opportunities for manipulation and corruption of democratic processes.
• The major examines the influence of technology on security, privacy, freedom and human rights.
• Students develop knowledge of political concepts such as power, democracy and security, alongside studies in politics, philosophy and history.
• Swinburne provides Work Integrated Learning opportunities through placements, internships or industry-linked projects.
• The Skills and Strategies for Social Change unit allows students to work with community, civil society and industry partners on campaigns for social change.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The degree consists of 300 credit points and combines four core units, eight units in the Politics, Power and Technology major, and 12 units of additional study.

The current indicative study sequence includes:

Year 1:

• Technology and Society — ART10002
• What is Power? — PHI10007
• Propaganda — HIS10006
• Elective units.

Year 2:

• Skills and Strategies for Social Change — ART20003
• Dictators and Democrats: Comparative Politics — POL20009
• Contemporary Approaches to Security — POL20016
• Philosophy, Media, Culture — PHI20006
• Elective units.

Year 3:

• Changemakers in Action — ART30004
• Philosophy, Politics and Society — PHI30010
• BA Professional Practice — ART30005
• The Politics of Public Policy — POL30010
• Critical Security Studies — POL30020
• Elective units.

The Bachelor of Arts handbook identifies the following additional units associated with the Politics, Power and Technology major:

• Movements for Social Change — HIS10005
• History, Politics and Human Rights — HIS20009
• Resistance, Activism and Empowerment — INS20004
• Winners and Losers: The Politics and Ethics of Work — POL20018
• Digital Justice — POL20019
• Work in a Globalised World — POL20020
• Politics of the Pacific — POL30014
• Cyber Crime and Security — POL30018
• Conflict, Justice and Peace — POL30019
• Borders, Security, and Belonging — POL30022
• Popular Culture, Social Change and Technology — SOC10014.

The handbook also lists the core Politics, Power and Technology units:

• What is Power? — PHI10007
• Propaganda — HIS10006
• Dictators and Democrats: Comparative Politics — POL20009
• Contemporary Approaches to Security — POL20016
• Philosophy, Media, Culture — PHI20006
• Philosophy, Politics and Society — PHI30010
• The Politics of Public Policy — POL30010
• Critical Security Studies — POL30020.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The selected major is:

• Politics, Power and Technology

It is multidisciplinary and draws on:

• Politics
• Philosophy
• History
• Technology and society
• Security studies
• Human rights
• Public policy
• Digital justice
• Cyber crime and security
• International and Pacific politics
• Social change.

The Bachelor of Arts also offers other majors, including:

• Climate and Social Justice
• Criminology and Social Change
• Ethics and Technology
• Indigenous Studies
• Literature and Creative Writing
• Perspectives on Globalisation
• Screen Studies and Popular Culture
• Professional and Creative Writing.

Programme Highlights

• 3-year Bachelor of Arts.
• 300 credit points.
• Hawthorn campus in Melbourne.
• Politics, philosophy and technology are combined in a multidisciplinary major.
• Strong focus on political power, democracy, security and technology.
• Explores technology's effect on privacy, freedom and human rights.
• Includes public policy and critical security studies.
• Includes Work Integrated Learning opportunities.
• Students can undertake a 6-month or 12-month professional placement subject to the relevant requirements and selection process.
• Students can combine the Arts degree with a second degree through available double-degree options, including Arts/Applied Innovation, Arts/Business, Arts/Psychological Sciences, Arts/Science, Health Science/Arts, Engineering (Honours)/Arts and Laws/Arts.

Career Outcomes

Swinburne specifically identifies potential career opportunities for the major including:

• Social researcher
• Policy analyst
• Community development and aid work
• Political campaigner
• Industrial and community advocate.

The broader Bachelor of Arts handbook identifies further potential career directions, including:

• Advocate
• Government relations coordinator
• Intelligence analyst
• Security assessor
• Strategic advisor
• Ethics officer
• NGO/aid worker
• Policy analyst/coordinator
• Political correspondent
• Electorate officer
• Campaign coordinator
• Communications officer
• Journalist
• Marketing officer
• Community development officer
• Diversity officer.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• Current course: Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Politics, Power and Technology.
• Course code: BA-ARTS3.
• CRICOS: 088388C.
• Current published 2027 intakes are 1 March 2027 and 2 August 2027.
• Application deadlines are 24 February 2027 and 28 July 2027 respectively.
• The guaranteed domestic ATAR is 60.0. The lowest ATAR receiving an offer in 2025 after adjustment factors was 57.65. These figures are domestic admission indicators and should not be interpreted as an international academic percentage requirement.
• International students need an equivalent overseas Year 12 qualification or an approved tertiary qualification.
• IELTS Academic 6.0 overall with no band below 6.0 is the published English requirement.
• Credit transfer and RPL are assessed individually.
• The standard degree is 300 credit points.
• Professional placement is subject to competitive selection. International students may be eligible where a relevant professional degree exists, but successful international applicants may need to change to the relevant professional degree to complete the placement, with possible visa and study-duration implications.
• The exact availability of every individual major unit can change from year to year.

International Student Visa Requirements

For an international student intending to study this programme in Australia, the relevant visa is generally the Australian Student visa, subclass 500.

The Bachelor of Arts is CRICOS registered under 088388C.

Key requirements can include:

• A valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for a full-time CRICOS-registered course.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
• Genuine Student requirement.
• Evidence of financial capacity where required.
• Health requirements.
• Character requirements.
• Compliance with Student visa conditions.

Study mode:

• Swinburne states that international students in Australia holding a Student visa are required to study full-time and on campus.
• This Bachelor of Arts is therefore suitable for an international student intending to physically study at Hawthorn under the Student visa framework.

Work rights:

• Student visa holders can generally work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session.
• They can generally work unlimited hours when the course is not in session, subject to the visa conditions.
• Work undertaken as part of a mandatory registered course component can be treated differently under the applicable visa rules.