Bachelor of Arts

Name: Bachelor of Arts
Price: <a href='#fees-and-scholarships'> Commonwealth supported place </a> AUD

VU course code: ABAB | CRICOS: 068927B | Level of study: Undergraduate

ATAR

Not required

Duration

3 years full time or longer for part time

Delivery mode

Hybrid

Fees

Commonwealth supported place

Location

Footscray Park

Next start date

28 July 2025

Application closes

20 July 2025

Overview

Follow your passions and drive your career forward, gaining essential workplace skills and knowledge with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) at Victoria University (VU).

With an arts degree, you’ll prepare yourself to thrive in today’s fast-changing world and open doors to diverse career opportunities.

Take advantage of the maximum flexibility offered in VU’s Bachelor of Arts, allowing you to choose your area of focus based on your unique passions and career goals.

Gain a broad introduction to studying humanities with your first-year core units, then learn up-to-date course content from expert lecturers in your choice of one or two of the following major areas of study:

You also have the choice of 14 compelling minors, including Aboriginal Yulendj (Knowledge) and Community, which will give you knowledge needed for working with Aboriginal communities.

With a Bachelor of Arts, you’ll enhance your highly-sought-after employability skills such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork and analytical thinking. Studying the arts, humanities or social sciences will give you the broad understanding of humanity and people needed to be successful in modern society.

: On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Critically review theory, research and practice in the humanities, social sciences and creative arts;

Critically reflect on the patterns of social, cultural, historical and political experience of society;

Plan, execute and communicate research and critical inquiry into the lives of communities of diverse places, experiences, discourses and time;

Exhibit a high degree of proficiency in active reading of complex texts, including collection and analysis of resource materials including the composition of oral and written material;

Demonstrate independence, self-reflection and creativity to meet goals and challenges in professional and academic pursuits;

Employ advanced interpersonal and collaborative skills, consistent with professional and ethical practice, when working with people of diverse cultural backgrounds.
: Throughout your arts degree, you’ll get work-ready with practical and workplace learning and opportunities to connect with VU’s strong network of community and industry partners.
In your third year of study, you’ll focus on a key professional piece of work in your area of specialisation, known as a ‘capstone’ project. This project will help you develop skills in organisation, teamwork and project management.
: Take advantage of VU’s industry-standard facilities and state-of-the-art creative learning spaces.
Our media production precinct at Footscray Park Campus includes:
television studio and radio studio (including HD cameras and green screen)
post-production labs
hair, makeup and costume facilities and a green room
professional audio recording equipment and editing software.
: You’ll start your first year studying engaging, relevant and timely core arts units with VU First Year College®, a unique learning experience designed to set you up for success at university, no matter where you’ve come from.
Be supported by our multidisciplinary team of specialist educators, who ensure you develop the skills, confidence and knowledge to successfully complete your degree.
: Depending on your specialisation, you could participate in a real-world project with our industry and community partners for your ‘capstone’ project in your third year of study. You’ll get valuable workplace experience and industry connections before you even graduate.
Some of our past industry-based projects include:
Big West Festival
Doutta Gala Aged Care Services mural
Melbourne Fringe Festival
Parliamentary internship
Footscray Centenary
Offset creative arts journal.
Our wide range of industry partners have included Malthouse Theatre, Penguin Books, Beat Media, ABC, Channel 10, SBS, HistorySmiths, St Vincent de Paul, local councils and the Parliament of Victoria.
: Our arts degree is not about rote learning and sitting tests. It's about developing skills that are applicable in the work place.
One of the ways you will demonstrate these skills is in your capstone project.
This is an exciting opportunity to create a professional piece of work in your an area of specialisation.
Examples include:
an exhibition of your art or photography
an in-depth report based on community, workplace or historical research
a performance of a play you have written
showing your short film
creating and presenting a website
producing and presenting creative writing.

Entry requirements

When assessing your application, we consider your educational achievements and work experience, as well as your skills and personal attributes (where relevant).

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a related course or unit(s). We call this a ‘pathway’.

You may also be eligible for course ‘credits’, where you are granted a unit or units towards your qualification for equivalent previous study or work experience, so you can graduate sooner.

ATAR requirements

No minimum ATAR required

This course does not have a minimum ATAR requirement for entry. Read the entry criteria for this course below.

Why ATAR is not applicable

You do not need an ATAR score to apply for this course. Instead, you need to have successfully completed secondary school and to meet any requirements outlined below. Our courses and support programs are designed to prepare students from diverse cultures for success, regardless of their ATAR, age, education or socioeconomic background.

Entry criteria

Minimum entry criteria include:

English-language requirements
academic requirements.

Your work and life experience will also be considered.

To find specific entry requirements for this course, please select the section below that is most relevant to you.

Meeting the minimum entry criteria does not guarantee entry into this course.

: This information is relevant if, in the 2 years prior to studying with us, you have completed (or will complete) one of the following:

Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (e.g. VCE)

an Australian or overseas equivalent to VCE

an International Baccalaureate (IB).

Admission criteria

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English.
: This information is relevant if you have completed an accredited award (such as a certificate or diploma) at an Australian Registered Training Organisation (usually a TAFE, polytechnic or other registered VET institute).

Admission criteria

Completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent).
OR:
Completion of the Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation (or equivalent).
: This information is relevant if you’ve previously completed all or part of a university or other higher-education course.

Admission criteria

Full or partial completion of an Australian Higher Education award (or equivalent).
OR:
Completion of a single unit of Higher Education studies.
OR:
Completion of a bridging or enabling course eg. Foundation course or equivalent.
: This information is relevant if you left secondary school more than two years ago and haven’t studied since.

Admission criteria

Five years (minimum) work/life experience in Humanities, Social Sciences, Creative Arts or similar.
OR:
Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate more than two years ago.
PLUS:
Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or 20 in any other English (or equivalent).
: Take a look at a student profile to get an overview of students who have previously enrolled in this course.

Applicant background Number of students Percentage of all students

(A) Past Higher Education Study
(includes a bridging or enabling course) 16 18.0%

(B) Past vocational education and training (VET) study <5 <5

(C) Recent secondary education
Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
(regardless of whether this includes the impact of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points)
NA NA

(C) Recent secondary education
Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
(e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
NA NA

(C) Recent secondary education
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
(e.g. special consideration alone, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
54 60.7%

(D) Work and Life experience 9 10.1%

International students NP NP

All students 89 100%

"<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.

Special entry programs

Special admission programs

If you are from a disadvantaged or underrepresented social, economic or cultural background, you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. These programs are designed to help you access education more easily.

Learn more about special admission programs

VU Early Entry

If you're currently in Year 11 or 12, our exclusive VU Early Entry program comes with a Conditional Offer to the course of your choosing*, a personalised course plan, special events, exclusive discounts and access to one-on-one course advice.

*Conditions apply.

Learn more about VU Early Entry

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the abilities, attributes, skills and behaviours needed to meet the learning outcomes of the course.

You should carefully consider the inherent requirement statement as a:

guide for your learning during the course
way for you to identify challenges you may have in studying this course.

Learn more about inherent requirements

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

If you don’t meet the entry requirements for this course, there may be an alternative study ‘pathway’ to achieving your goal. In some cases, you may receive credit for your previous study or work experience, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.

You’ll find information about any pathways to higher qualifications that may be available to you after completing this course under the ‘careers’ section of this page.

Find out more about pathways at VU.

: If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course.

Diploma of Community Services

96 credit points

Diploma of Education Studies

96 credit points

Foundations at VU

Guaranteed entry only

International Foundations at VU

Guaranteed entry only

International Foundations at VU (Extended)

Guaranteed entry only
: Any study completed at another institution will be considered in your application. If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course.

In some cases, you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.

Diploma of Sport

SEDA Group, Australia | Guaranteed entry only

Diploma of Sport

SEDA Group, Australia | Guaranteed entry only
: If you have completed study with another university or institution you may be eligible to receive credit for skills and past study.

Use our credit calculator to find out what credit you may be eligible for based on your previous studies.

Note that if your previous study can’t be found through the credit calculator, you may still be eligible for credit.

Units can be credited if they are part of the course structure for the course you are applying for. Please note that credits relating to prior VU subjects are automatically granted and no further action is required.

calculate your credit

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Course structure

To attain the Bachelor of Arts students will be required to complete 288 credit points consisting of:

96 credit points of Core studies

96 credit points of Major studies selected from the approved list (includes Capstone units ACX3005/6)

96 credit points made up of either:

Option A:

72 credit points of 2nd major studies (not including Capstone units ACX3005/6) AND
24 credit points of elective units taken from any major or minor offered in ABAB (must be at year 2/3 level not already taken)

Option B:

48 credit point of 1st Minor studies selected from the approved list AND
48 credit points of 2nd Minor studies selected from the approved list (must be at year 2/3 level not already taken)

Option C:

48 credit point of 1st Minor studies selected from the approved list AND
48 credit points of elective units taken from any major or minor offered in ABAB (must be at year 2/3 level not already taken)

Option D

48 credit point of 1st Minor studies selected from the approved list AND
24 credit points of elective units taken from any major or minor offered in ABAB (must be at year 2/3 not already taken) AND
24 credit points of elective units from across the University (must be at third year level).

Note: Students intending to select 'Psychology' as their Major undertake core units APP1012 Psychology 1A, APP1013 Psychology 1B, in their first year of study instead of ABA1004 Text and Representation and ACU1002 Creativity, Communication and the Digital Age.

AMADIG and AMIDIG are availble to Domestic students only.

Units

Fees & scholarships

University fees vary, depending on how much the government contributes towards course costs (if anything).

Read below to find out about the fee ‘type’, the estimated yearly tuition costs for this course, and the financial support on offer (including our generous scholarship program).

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is subsidised by the government, reducing it to the amount listed here. Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens will qualify for a CSP place. If your course is not Commonwealth supported, or you don't qualify, you'll pay full fees.

Learn more about Commonwealth Supported Places

Fees

Scholarships

Careers

With a Bachelor of Arts, you’ll have a strong foundation for a range of exciting careers in the humanities, creative arts and social sciences. Your skills in communication, research, critical analysis and teamwork will be highly sought after, and are transferable to almost any workplace. You may choose to do further study, as many professional careers are best served by graduates with a generalist first degree.

You'll be prepared for a wide range of roles in government or the public service, community and non-government organisations, business, education and media.

Like many of our graduates, you could work in:

journalism, writing or strategic communications
teaching – a popular choice following a Master of Teaching (Secondary Education) or a Master of Teaching (Primary Education)
creative arts administration
public service and policy work
community sector
creative arts
software development
corporate management.

Find out salary information for Bachelor of Arts graduates or the following career options:

Professional accreditation/Industry recognition

Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)

This course is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)

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Bachelor of Arts

Overview