General Information

Overview

Put your screen career into production and be prepared for the rapidly growing film, media and screen production industry. You'll focus on the critical study and production of digital content, including extended reality (VR, AR, volumetric capture), 360 video, web series, digital photography, and video and audio production for online platforms.

Double degree options

You can also study Screen Production in a double degree with Applied Innovation.

Study structure

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Screen Production requires students to complete units of study to the value of 300 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year

  • Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year

  • One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)

  • See the course planner for an example degree structure

Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 100 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).

A co-major is a major in a field of study outside this course. You can choose one in addition to a first major. Co-majors will not be named on your testamur certificate however will be shown on your transcript of results. 

  • Accounting 
  • Advertising 
  • Animation 
  • Biotechnology 
  • Business Analysis 
  • Business Analytics and Analysis 
  • Cinema and Screen Studies 
  • Climate and Social Justice 
  • Computer Science 
  • Creative Writing and Literature 
  • Criminology 
  • Data Analytics 
  • Digital Advertising Technology 
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation 
  • Environmental Science 
  • Environmental Sustainability 
  • Ethics and Technology 
  • Finance 
  • Financial Planning 
  • Games and Interactivity 
  • Global Studies 
  • History 
  • Human Resource Management 
  • Indigenous Studies 
  • Information Systems 
  • Journalism 
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Management 
  • Management 
  • Marketing 
  • Media Industries 
  • Neuroscience 
  • Perspectives on Globalisation 
  • Philosophy 
  • Politics and International Relations 
  • Politics, Power and Technology 
  • Professional and Creative Writing 
  • Professional Writing and Editing 
  • Psychology 
  • Public Relations 
  • Screen Studies and Popular Culture 
  • Social Media 
  • Space Technology
     
View co-major units

Advanced minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points in a field of study which builds upon your first major. Advanced minors can only be taken in conjunction with specific majors - more information will be available soon. 

3D Modelling and Animation Advanced 
Visual Effects Advanced 

Minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points and may be chosen from any field of study.

  • Creative Writing
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Film and Television Theory
  • Games and Interactivity
  • Indigenous Studies
  • Innovation
  • Journalism
  • Marketing
  • Media Industries
  • Motion Design
  • Photomedia
  • Social Media
     
View minor units

You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for either 6 or 12 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date. 

These recommended elective units can deepen your understanding of your chosen major or an area of interest. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.

  • ANI10001 Introduction to Animation
  • ANI10003 History of Animation
  • ANI10004 Introduction to Character and Environment Design
  • ART10004 Introduction to Game Studies
  • DDD30021 Digital Video Compositing
  • DDM10006 Typography for Screen and Motion
  • DDM20003 Digital Video Camera Techniques
  • DIG20010 Search, Social Media and Video Marketing
  • DIG20011 Digital Mobility
  • DIG30003 Advertising Technology
  • FTV10006 Genre and the Moving Image
  • FTV20005 The Australian Screen
  • FTV30001 Breaking the Screen
  • FTV30005 Hollywood Cinema
  • GAM10002 Principles of Game Design
  • GAM20001 Introduction to Games Production
  • GAM20004 Writing for Interactive Narratives
  • HIS20009 History, Politics and Human Rights
  • ICT10021 Digital Content Management
  • INS10001 Connecting with Culture: Indigenous Australian Experiences
  • INS20001 Indigenous Representations
  • JOU20006 Media, Law and Ethics
  • JOU30001 Investigative Journalism
  • JOU30009 Video Project
  • LIT10003 Reading and Writing Genre Texts
  • LIT30004 Literary Industry Practice
  • MDA10001 Introduction to Media Studies
  • MDA10003 Screen Studies: Movies, Television and Ourselves
  • MDA10006 Innovation Cultures: Perspectives on Science and Technology
  • MDA10008 Global Media Industries
  • MDA20001 Business of Media
  • MDA30016 Screen Technology and Culture
  • MDA30017 Media Analytics and Visualisation
  • PHI20006 Philosophy, Media, Culture
  • PWR10004 Writing Short Non-Fiction
     
Find more detail about elective units

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to: 

  • critically analyse, interpret and synthesise current media theories and practices to inform the development of screen-based media content

  • research, identify, and evaluate emergent screen production technologies, and theoretical and socio-cultural issues that shape screen production technologies, industries and cultures

  • demonstrate the ability to communicate ideas effectively through oral and written presentation, and implement research strategies to inform the creation of reports, essays and media content 

  • work independently and collaborate effectively in teams to produce media for a variety of platforms and demonstrate responsibility and accountability in communication and conduct

  • apply media production principles and strategies to demonstrate professional competencies, and an enhanced knowledge of a range of screen-based media production content

  • evaluate and apply screen-based media workflows, organisational and project management strategies, in relation to the production of a completed major media project

  • apply cognitive and technical skills to produce narrative structures for linear and interactive screen-based media content 

  • perceive organisational, social, legal and ethical issues, and address these within the development, production and distribution of screen-based media content.

Course rules

To qualify for the Bachelor of Screen Production, students must complete 300 credit points comprising:

  • 8 core units of study (100 credit points)

  • 8 major study units (100 credit points)

  • 8 units of study (100 credit points) comprising a co-major, advanced minor, minor and/or electives.

Students must not complete more than 125 credit points at Introductory level.

A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternative.

Students also have an opportunity to undertake a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Professional Placement.

Professional placements

Professional placements are subject to a competitive selection process. International students may be eligible for a Professional Placement where a relevant Professional degree exists. International students who successful gain a placement through the selection process will be required to change courses to the relevant Professional degree, in order to complete a placement and should consider any visa and extended study duration implications prior to applying. 
 
Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 375 credit points comprising:

  • 8 core units of study (100 credit points)

  • 8 major study units (100 credit points)

  • 4 units of study from the Professional Placement Co-Major (100 credit points); and

  • 6 units of study (75 credit points) comprising an advanced minor, minor and/or electives.
     

Students who elect to undertake a 6-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 337.5 credit points comprising:

  • 8 core units of study (50 credit points)

  • 8 major study units (100 credit points) 

  • 2 units of study from the Professional Placement Minor (50 credit points); and

  • 7 units of study (87.5 credit points) comprising an advanced minor, minor and/or electives

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Screen Production is 150 credit points (normally 12 units).

Admission criteria

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee offer of a place. Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage

Entry requirements

A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within past three years)

ATAR

This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.

Guaranteed ATAR: if you receive an ATAR of 60 or higher and meet all the essential requirements for this course, you will be guaranteed an offer.

Educational history

An applicant's entire academic history, including ATAR results, will be considered for entry into this course.

Selection rank adjustments

Selection ranks for this course will be calculated based on your ATAR with adjustments to overall study scores based on subjects studied, location of your home address, SEAS application, and participation In Swinburne's Early Leaders program. For further details about selection rank adjustments, see Admissions at Swinburne.

Subject Adjustments

A study score of 25 in Art, Drama, Product Design and Technology, Literature, Media, Interactive Digital Media C, Creative and Digital Media (VCE VET) I, Studio Arts, Theatre Studies or Visual Communication Design equals 4 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 10 points.

Meeting course prerequisites

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English (except EAL) or at least 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent.

ATAR profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in Semester 1 2022

ATAR-Based offers only, across all offer rounds ATAR
Excluding adjustment factors
Selection Rank
ATAR + any adjustment factors
Highest rank to receive an offer 83.7 88.6
Median rank to receive an offer 64.05 68.12
Lowest rank to receive an offer 51.2 58.75

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years.

Meeting course prerequisites

As for Year 12 or equivalent.

STAT/Bridging courses

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered.

Meeting course prerequisites

As for Year 12 or equivalent.

STAT/Bridging courses

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course.

Meeting course prerequisites

As for Year 12 or equivalent.

STAT/Bridging courses

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

Student profile

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced in this course in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  Semester 1, 2023
Applicant background Number of students Percentage of all students
(A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) 7 18%
(B) Vocational education and training (VET) study N/P N/P
(C) Work and life experience (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) 0 0%
(D) Recent secondary education:    
Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) 18 18%
Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were N/A considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) N/A N/A
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was N/A not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) 7 18%
International students <5 <5
All students 38 100%

Notes:
 “<5” – the number of students is less than 5.
N/A – Students not accepted in this category.
N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students.

Interested in the Bachelor of Screen Production?

From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.

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