Why Study / Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Applied Innovation is a four-year double degree combining humanities and social-science-based Arts study with practical innovation capabilities. It is designed for students who want to understand social, cultural and political issues while also developing the ability to solve complex problems, generate creative solutions and make strategic decisions.

Key benefits for international students include:

• Combines Arts knowledge with applied innovation skills in one four-year qualification.
• Develops analytical thinking, communication, critical thinking, creative problem-solving and adaptability.
• Covers contemporary issues including social change, globalisation, politics, technology, culture, crime and Indigenous studies.
• Provides opportunities for industry-linked learning and real-world projects.
• The Skills and Strategies for Social Change unit involves working with students and community, civil society and industry partners to create campaigns for social change.
• Can lead to both discipline-specific Arts careers and broader innovation roles.
• Swinburne currently describes itself as being in the top 400 globally for arts and humanities, with five stars for overall experience and teaching quality, and #1 in Melbourne for graduate salary. These are Swinburne-published claims and should not be interpreted as an employment guarantee.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The degree consists of Arts study plus Applied Innovation study.

Arts core units

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

Applied Innovation core units

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

The Arts component allows students to build a disciplinary focus through an Arts major. Depending on the selected major, topics can include:

• climate change and society
• social movements and social justice
• crime, policing and cybercrime
• ethics, privacy, surveillance and technology
• Indigenous cultures and contemporary Indigenous issues
• creative writing and literature
• international relations and globalisation
• political structures, power and technology
• screen technologies and popular culture

Disciplines / Specialisations

The current Swinburne course page lists these Arts majors:

1. Climate and Social Justice
2. Criminology and Social Change
3. Ethics and Technology
4. Indigenous Studies
5. Literature and Creative Writing
6. Perspectives on Globalisation
7. Politics, Power and Technology
8. Screen Studies and Popular Culture

A second major may also be selected as part of the other-study component. The handbook identifies options including:

• Climate and Social Justice
• Criminology
• Indigenous Studies
• Perspectives on Globalisation
• Politics, Power and Technology
• Professional and Creative Writing
• Screen Studies and Popular Culture

Programme Highlights

Key course features include:

• Four-year double degree combining Arts and Applied Innovation.
• 400-credit-point structure.
• Eight Arts discipline options currently listed.
• Dedicated Applied Innovation curriculum.
• Development of communication, conceptual understanding, critical thinking, creative problem-solving and adaptability.
• Work Integrated Learning through industry-linked learning opportunities.
• Real-world social-change campaign work within the Skills and Strategies for Social Change unit.
• Opportunities to combine the main Arts discipline with additional majors, co-majors, minors, advanced minors or electives.
• Strong interdisciplinary focus, allowing students to combine social/cultural knowledge with innovation capabilities.

Career Outcomes

Career opportunities depend heavily on the student's chosen Arts major and additional study.

Swinburne identifies potential Arts-related careers including:

• Journalist
• Political correspondent
• Policy developer
• Public relations specialist
• Campaign coordinator
• Communications officer
• Digital content creator
• Copywriter
• Marketing officer
• Policy analyst/coordinator
• Government relations coordinator
• Community development officer
• NGO/aid worker
• Strategic adviser

The Applied Innovation component can add broader innovation-oriented career possibilities such as:

• 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

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The current official course information has several points that are particularly important for international applicants.

1. The current CRICOS code is 108347J.
2. The current 2027 start dates are 1 March and 2 August 2027 at Hawthorn.
3. International Student visa holders must study full-time and on campus.
4. Professional placements are not available to international students holding a Student visa in this course because of government regulation. This is important because the course does promote Work Integrated Learning, but the specific Professional Placement option is restricted for these students.
5. Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning are assessed individually. Previous study or relevant experience may therefore reduce the amount of study required, but no specific credit outcome should be assumed before assessment.
6. The course's informed-choice information identifies requirements involving visual information, sound, touch, handling materials, safety awareness, dexterity and adaptability. Reasonable adjustments may be possible for some adaptable components.
7. The course page currently shows an indicative study sequence for Semester 1, 2026, and Swinburne warns that unit offerings and sequences can change. Therefore, students commencing in 2027 should confirm the final unit availability and study plan before enrolment.
8. The supplied IPU programme page does not currently provide a course-specific page for this Swinburne Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Applied Innovation; it currently identifies IPU's Master of Global Business. Therefore, IPU-specific application fees, partner fees, service charges, deposit requirements or special scholarship arrangements for this Swinburne course are not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

International Student Visa Requirements

The relevant Australian visa is the Student visa (subclass 500).

For this course, an international student intending to study in Australia generally needs:

• A valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for the CRICOS-registered full-time course.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), unless an exemption applies.
• Evidence of meeting the Genuine Student requirement.
• Required health and character checks.
• Evidence of financial capacity if requested by the Department.
• A valid passport.
• Any additional documentation identified by the Department's Document Checklist Tool.