Overview

Be prepared for a variety of roles in the dynamic media and communication industry. Learn how to be strategic and gain the practical skills to flourish across the diverse settings in the industry. Graduates will be well qualified for roles in agencies, not-for-profits, government departments, small business and corporate organisations.

Stop saying next year. Start in Semester 2.

Applications to begin midyear are now open. Are you ready to stop feeling undervalued? To stop pretending to be happy? To stop dreaming small?

Your industry experience

All our bachelor degrees include guaranteed Work Integrated Learning. This Professional Degree includes a mandatory 12-month paid work placement. Benefit from Swinburne’s unique industry partnerships and earn credit towards your degree. In your final year, apply your learning in an industry-linked project relevant to your major study area.

Skills you’ll learn

  • Media content creation
  • Communicating for influence and impact
  • Critical and analytical thinking
  • Media analytics
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Cultural competence and global perspective

Your career opportunities

  • Digital Communications Strategist
  • Marketing Communications Specialist
  • Content Marketing Manager
  • Content writer
  • Journalist

Key codes

CRICOS course code
095886D
VTAC Code (IFP)
3400210843
VTAC Code (CSP)
3400210841
International student visa

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

Professional accreditations

Why Swinburne?

Top 200 for communication

#1 in Melbourne for overall experience

  • "I’ve had amazing internships with incredible companies. I’m working in an industry placement as a Social Media Response Specialist at Optus. I’ve been able to use the skills learnt in my major, and have worked with the Digital Content team to create content for the Optus website."

    Chloe , Bachelor of Media and Communication (Professional), majoring in Social Media

Qualifications

Successful completion of:

  • the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.

Successful completion of Australian Year 12, or equivalent overseas qualification.

Successful completion of:

  • the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.

Course prerequisites

  • VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 25 in any English (except EAL) or 30 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or equivalent.
  • VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 25 in any English (except EAL) or 30 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or equivalent.
Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Apply for a pathway course

Pathways allow students to progress from one qualification to another where the first course is recognised as an entry requirement and/or provides credit (advanced standing) to the second.

Add your major

Add your major for a more personalised experience.

How credit points work

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Media and Communication (Professional) requires students to complete units of study to the value of 375 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

4
Core units
+
8
Major units
+
10
Elective units
+
4
Work placement units
=
4-year bachelor degree

What your course could look like

Units are listed in a proposed sequence. However this can be amended depending on unit availability, prerequisite requirements and the semester in which you commenced your course.

Units of study Unit code
Core units
Introduction to Media Studies
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA10001
Global Media Industries
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA10008
Communicating with Data
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA10012
Content Creator Lab
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA10018
Units of study Unit code
Professional placement - 12 months
Work Experience in Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20001
Integrated Professional Placement A - Media and Communication
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
MDA20016
Work Experience in Industry B
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20002
Integrated Professional Placement B - Media and Communication
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
MDA20017
Want to see the full range of electives?

Learn about all the electives you can take in the course handbook.

2023 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$15,142

Total fee* ($AUD)

$56,782.50

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$32,090

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$326

Fees are estimates only

The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply to 2023 unit enrolments for HE Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and Undergraduate Full Fee Paying (FFP) only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.

Fees are estimates only

The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

How do I pay my fees?

HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme available to you if you are eligible and enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place. A HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of your contribution amount. You can also choose to pay your fees up front. 

International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.

To pay your fees:

  • log in to My Financials
  • check your Australian bank account details are correct 
  • check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe 
  • pay using your preferred payment method.

Eligibility for HECS-HELP

You are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan if you have been offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for an undergraduate degree at Swinburne or a UniLink course, and you:

  • are an Australian citizen and doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
  • hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
  • hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens.

Student services and amenities fee

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

Scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2023 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals. 

Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.

When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 30 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.

Apply through an agent

Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.

Representatives and agents
BA-MCMPROF
Search for agents

Apply directly

Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! Remember, you cannot apply direct if you have an active VTAC application.

Course code
BA-MCMPROF
Apply directly
Course code
BA-MCMPROF
CRICOS code
095886D
Apply directly

Apply through VTAC

International students currently studying Year 12 in Australia must apply through VTAC. VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria. 

VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.

VTAC Code (CSP)
3400210841
Apply through VTAC
VTAC Code (IFP)
3400210843
Apply through VTAC
Start dates
Location
Last date to apply
Start dates
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
21-July-2023
Start dates
31-July-2023
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
23-February-2024
Start dates
04-March-2024
Start dates
Location
Start dates
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
31-July-2023
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
04-March-2024
Upcoming events
Midyear Undergraduate, TAFE & UniLink On-campus Study Expo
06-June-2023
Open day
30-July-2023