Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Diploma of Arts and Communication (UniLink) is an accredited higher-education pathway designed to help students progress into the second year of selected Swinburne bachelor degrees.
• It provides an alternative route for students who may not have achieved the required ATAR or who would benefit from a smaller, more supportive university learning environment.
• Students study in smaller classes with increased teacher contact and one-to-one academic support.
• International students receive embedded English-language development, academic support and communication-skills development throughout the course.
• Students gain access to Swinburne's Hawthorn campus facilities and support services alongside bachelor-degree students.
• The programme develops skills in media studies, popular culture, professional communication, academic English, science and technology communication, teamwork and independent learning.
• Successful completion can provide 100 credit points of advanced standing toward several Swinburne bachelor degrees, helping students transition into later-stage undergraduate study.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The diploma consists of 100 credit points:

Core units:

1. Grand Challenges – Industrial Revolution to Digital Age
   Unit code: ART10003
   12.5 credit points
2. Introduction to Media Studies
   Unit code: MDA10009
   12.5 credit points
3. Popular Culture
   Unit code: SOC10016
   12.5 credit points
4. Applied Communication
   Unit code: COM10009
   12.5 credit points
5. Indigenous Studies
   Unit code: INS10003
   12.5 credit points
6. Media Content Development
   Unit code: JOU10009
   12.5 credit points.

Electives:

Students choose 2 of the following:

• Global Media Industries – MDA10010
• Introduction to Power in the Digital Age – PHI10009
• Understanding Data – MDA10011
• Introduction to Environment and Society – SOC10015

Each elective is worth 12.5 credit points.

Key academic areas include:

• Arts and humanities
• Media studies
• Popular culture
• Communication
• Journalism and media content
• Indigenous studies
• Digital technology and society
• Global media
• Data interpretation
• Environment and society
• Critical thinking and analysis.

Disciplines / Specialisations

This diploma does not have formal majors or specialisations in the same way as a bachelor's degree.

Students instead build their study through six compulsory units and two electives. The elective choices allow students to develop additional interests in areas such as global media, digital power, data or environment and society. 

Programme Highlights

• 8-month accelerated diploma.
• 100 credit points.
• Six core units plus two electives.
• Three main annual intakes: February, June and October.
• Hawthorn campus.
• Smaller class sizes.
• Increased teacher contact.
• One-to-one academic and learning support.
• Embedded English-language development.
• 24/7 learning support services.
• Direct progression opportunities into selected Swinburne bachelor's degrees.
• Up to 100 credit points of advanced standing toward eligible degrees.
• CRICOS registered for international students.

Career Outcomes

The diploma itself is primarily a pathway qualification, so students are generally expected to continue into a bachelor's degree for their principal career preparation.

Swinburne identifies potential career areas after completion of the chosen bachelor's degree, including:

• Community development officer
• Government relations coordinator
• Political correspondent
• Campaign coordinator
• Journalist
• Intelligence analyst.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• Current course code: DP-ARTCOM.
• Current CRICOS code: 089744B.
• Current duration: 8 months full-time.
• Current location: Hawthorn.
• Current qualification: Diploma of Arts and Communication (UniLink).
• Current credit requirement: 100 credit points.
• Current 2026/2027 intake dates are published as February, June and October.
• International students studying in Australia on a Student visa must study full-time and on campus.
• Students need to successfully complete all required units to obtain the diploma and progress through the UniLink pathway.
• The diploma is designed to provide a seamless transition into an eligible bachelor's degree and is not simply a standalone first-year substitute.
• Credit availability may vary according to the destination bachelor's degree and major.
• Students who leave after only one teaching period do not receive the UniLink diploma qualification.
• Some media-related learning requires students to interpret visual and audio information and to produce/edit media using audio, video and photography equipment. Reasonable adjustments may be available where appropriate.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students studying this CRICOS-registered course in Australia generally require an Australian Student visa, subclass 500.

Key requirements include:

• Enrolment in an eligible registered course.
• A valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless an applicable exemption applies.
• Meeting applicable health and character requirements.
• Meeting the Genuine Student requirement.
• Demonstrating financial capacity where required.
• Meeting applicable English-language evidence requirements where requested.
• Complying with Student visa conditions.

For this particular programme, Swinburne explicitly states that international students in Australia who hold a Student visa must study full-time and on campus.

Work rights:

• Student visa holders are generally permitted to 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 visa conditions.
• Students cannot normally commence work before their course begins unless their visa conditions provide otherwise.
• Mandatory course-related work may be treated differently under the Student visa work limitation rules.