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Bachelor of Communication

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Write your first novel, become a professional communicator or work in the web & digital media industry. Choose your specialisation and develop your writing and communication skills in professional writing or public relations.

You will benefit from our excellent teaching and learning facilities that include high-end digital equipment, computer labs and media production studios.

Communications are a top priority for all 21st century organisations – including companies, governments or not for profits. A communications degree opens up careers in journalism, politics, corporate communications, television and publishing. You will study core and specialist units and undertake professional placements with our partners in business, government and the community.

Specialisations:

Professional Writing

Public Relations

Digital Media

This course is accredited by the Public Relations Institute of Australia if public relations specialisation is chosen.

Course Essentials

How to apply

We are currently accepting applications for this course.

Methods of applying:

  • You can apply direct to VU

Please note that part-time study may not be available at all campuses.

Already a VU student?

You can transfer into this course through our internal transfer process.

For more info contact the
College of Arts

Senior Lecturer Dr Tom Clark talks about the Bachelor of Communication 
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Lecturer John Weldon talks about Creative Writing in the Bachelor of Communication 
Read Transcript   

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Careers

Depending on your specialisation, this course could lead to a career as:

  • communications manager
  • political advisor
  • editor, scriptwriter
  • radio/television producer
  • public relations officer
  • journalist

Learn more about your career options on the Australian government's Career Information and Resources website.

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Study pathways

There are recognised study pathways for this course. You may be able to complete your course faster by getting credit for previous study.

VU TAFE to undergraduate

You can get credit in the Bachelor of Communication (ABCO) if you have studied one of these TAFE courses at VU:

Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media (Interactive Media Stream)

  • You may get up to one and a half years of credit.

Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media (Games Development Stream)

  • You may get over a year of credit.

Transferring to VU

You can get credit in the Bachelor of Communication (ABCO) for study you have done at other universities. We have formal credit transfer arrangements for this course with the following universities

HELP University College, Malaysia

  • If you studied the Bachelor of Communication (Public Relations) Hons you may get up to a year of credit.

KDU College, Malaysia

  • If you studied the Diploma in Computer Studies you may get up to a year of credit.

KDU College, Malaysia

  • If you studied the Diploma in Games Technologies you may get up to a year of credit.

To find out more about the pathways available for this course, please contact the .

Recognition of prior learning (RPL)

Get credit for your work, study and life experience through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.

Find out more about Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Graduate faster

If you've done previous study related to this course, you may be awarded credit. This means you can graduate in less time.

Completing this course also gives you a head-start on other at VU courses at a higher level of study.

We also award credit for relevant work and life experience. This is called Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

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Course Objectives

This course provides high quality and up-to-date theoretical and applied learning in Communication Studies that is responsive to industry demand and trends and will enable students to work in an international environment. Graduates are qualified to practise in an area of communication specialisation in digital media, professional writing or public relations. Learning is provided in up-to-date facilitates with access to people, equipment and software that provide for student entry and success in the graduate employment market. Partnerships with companies, governments and the third sector, locally and internationally, facilitate effective opportunities for learning and career development and progression.

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Units and electives

To be awarded the degree of Bachelor of Communication (with a specialisation in Professional Writing, Public Relations or Digital Media) students must have successfully completed a total of 288 credit points (24 units with no more than ten at first year level). All units are valued at 12 credit points. Full-time students will normally complete an average of 48 credit points each semester.

Students must complete the following requirements:

  • Nine core units
  • One communication elective selected from a prescribed list;
  • Four elective units;
  • A specialisation in either Professional Writing, Public Relations or Digital Media;
    • Professional Writing students must complete six Professional Writing units and four units from the Public Relations specialisation or the Digital Media specialisation in any combination, providing students have the relevant prerequisites;
    • Digital Media students must complete seven Digital Media units and three units from the Public Relations specialisation or the Professional Writing specialisation in any combination, providing students have the relevant prerequisites;
    • Public Relations students must complete ten units from the Public Relations specialisation to meet industry accreditation requirements, and are not required to complete units from another specialisation.

Core units

Plus ONE Communication Elective chosen from the following list:

Students not undertaking the Professional Writing specialisation may study the following unit:

Plus FOUR electives

Plus ONE of the following three specialisations:

Professional writing

Six units professional writing

Four additional units selected from either the public relations or digital media specialisations

Public relations

Ten units public relations

Digital media

Seven units digital media

Three additional units selected from either the public relations or professional writing specialisations

Professional writing specialisation

Plus one of the following two:

Plus one of the following three:

Public relations specialisation

Digital media specialisation

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take, and optional 'elective' units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

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Admission Information

  • TAFE: Pathways are available from a range of VET courses. Applicants with relevant VET study may also be considered.
  • Year 12: VCE with minimum study score of 20 in English units 3 and 4 (any).
  • International: Completion of a secondary school qualification equivalent to Australia's year 12 or VCE qualification. IELTS minimum 6.0 (no band less than 6) or equivalent.
  • Mature: Applicants with relevant work, education and/or community experience may be considered on the basis of equivalence.

English language requirements

Find out if you meet the entry requirements, including English language and academic requirements.

Admission requirements in your country

Find out if you meet the minimum academic (international qualification) requirements to be eligible to apply for this course by reviewing the academic entry requirements listed by country.
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How to apply for this course

Apply online

If you have questions about your application, you can:

Get in touch

Contact us to discuss your course options:

Ring us on +61 3 9919 1164

Find answers and ask questions at GOTOVU

Information and fees listed above are for non-resident students starting the course in 2013. Fees are subject to approval and may change. In some courses students must buy equipment or clothing that they will need in the course. These equipment or clothing costs are not included in the course fees listed above and we recommend you seek advice from the relevant faculty.

VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this course information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that course information is current with the Student Contact Centre.

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