Bachelor of Communication (Media)
Student type:
Quick facts
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Entry score
ATAR 78.50
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Duration
Part-time 6 years, Full-time 3 years or 2.5 years accelerated -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
Next intake
February, July Entry score
IELTS 6.5
Duration
Full-time 3 years or 2.5 years accelerated Location
Melbourne City Fees
BP221 AU$30,720 (2019 annual)
BP221ACC AU$36,864 (2019 annual)
Next intake
February, July
Overview
This program produces critically informed contemporary media professionals who are creative and multi-skilled communicators.
Our graduates are able to deliver innovative content for a wide range of existing and new platforms including film, television and radio, social and mobile media, and the web.
Situated in a purpose-designed building in the heart of vibrant Melbourne, this program accesses state-of-the-art learning facilities. This program's unique combination of industry training and academic study will teach you to analyse media in a broad historical and cultural context, as well as encourage critical engagement and innovation across a range of media platforms.
Ultimately the program will provide you with a broad knowledge of a wide range of media including traditional and emerging forms. It will also provide skills and knowledge that will help you to determine your specific career directions and to facilitate lifelong learning.
Our graduates are fluent with technology and the evolving media environment and are creative thinkers and problem-solvers employed across a wide range of industry sectors. Industries that program graduates have moved into include film and television, radio, screen culture, internet and mobile media production, government and education.
Details
Learning will take place within small class sized, project-based studio environments in which you actively participate and develop skills in key parts of contemporary media production processes.
Throughout the program, you’ll engage with broader critical analyses of the historical, theoretical and cultural contexts of media. You’ll experiment and innovate to help shape the future directions of the media industries.
You’ll undertake individual and group work and will also be assessed through presentations, exhibitions, staff, peer and self-assessment.
Our staff have many years of teaching and industry experience. Guest lecturers/practitioners, including industry experts and program graduates, contribute to courses through their sharing of experiences of working and developing diverse media careers and feedback on project work-in-progress.
Work attachments form part of the program experience and will help you develop connections to the industry while you study.
All programs are delivered in English. You will have access to online and digital resources through the myRMIT student portal. Additional assistance is available from the RMIT Study and Learning Centre.
RMIT Media is widely recognised by employers for its industry-ready graduates. The Program Advisory Committee is made up of figures representing leading cultural and media institutions and organisations.
Students are encouraged to take advantage of the many opportunities offered by RMITV, the student-run television station broadcasting on Channel 31. Students can also work with independent radio broadcasters 3RRR FM and SYN FM. At different stages of their degree students can work on various industry-linked projects and must complete 80 hours of professional work attachment. Organisations that have hosted students in the past include Networks 10, 9 and 7, ABC, SBS, WTFM, Sports Brands, The Australian Open and Ghost Films.
RMIT University is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal tertiary education with professional or vocational practice.
Students have the option to study overseas for a semester as an exchange or study abroad student and to select study tour intensives as electives. Several media graduates have undertaken study tours with not-for-profit organisation Actuality Media whereby they travel overseas to produce documentaries that help highlight issues affecting disadvantaged communities.
This program has a strong international student cohort studying in Melbourne due to its popularity in the overseas market. The skills learnt in the program are of a global standard which will enable you to work in Australia and overseas.
RMIT’s Education Abroad Office (EAO) supports students to undertake an exchange or short term mobility activity with over 165 partner universities worldwide.
3 years full-time.
Midyear entry: 2.5 years full-time, accelerated. Students are required to complete one summer semester (comprising 48 credit points) during their degree.
The Bachelor of Communication (Media) combines studying a professional subject with a contextual studies specialisation and a choice of subjects taken from a range of School and University-wide electives. The program is designed so that you will develop critical and analytical skills, theoretical knowledge and research expertise with which to better understand and evaluate your own and others’ work.
Professional studies
The professional strand courses make up the majority of your program.
In the professional strand courses you will learn hands-on ways to produce media - using text, audio and video - in traditional and digital, online, converged and networked environments. You will also explore the creative and critical application of these skills in a wide range of scenarios relevant to academic study and the media industries.
Learning and Teaching in the professional strand is focussed on project-driven studios that integrate and progressively develop your growing theoretical, practical and professional knowledge base. As you move through the degree you will increasingly direct your own learning and produce media projects with an academic and/or industry focus. To see examples of studios on offer, past student work and stories about the student achievements please visit the mediafactory blog.
Contextual studies
You will study one of five contextual strands as part of your degree program. The five contextual strands are: Asian Media and Culture; Cinema Studies; Politics Economies Communication; Literary Studies; Approaches to Popular Culture.
Electives
Throughout your degree, you will also have the chance to select a number of courses from a wide range of school and university electives depending on your particular career and personal interests. Many of these are from closely-related media and communication areas such as journalism, public relations, advertising, design, creative writing, photography, games, and animation.
Please note that plan BP221ACC is an accelerated program. Students are required to complete one summer semester (comprising 48 credit points) in the first year of the degree.
Choose a program structure
Choose a program structure
Program code: BP221
Career
RMIT Media graduates can be found throughout the media industries within Australia and internationally. They find work in the film and television industry, public and commercial radio, internet and mobile media, screen culture, social media, journalism, marketing, publishing, academia, the music and games industries and the government sector. Many also go on to postgraduate study.
RMIT Media graduates have an edge in being multi-skilled, global in outlook and capable of working in a variety of media forms and professional contexts.
Studying the media program will provide you with the skills and knowledge to work in a broad range of roles and industries.
Technological and societal changes have affected the way audiences view and discover content. This has dramatically changed the media industry, not least by creating new job roles and opportunities for organisations to expand their product and service offerings. Job opportunities for our graduates have thus increased and expanded, and this program teaches students to be flexible and adaptable in a constantly changing environment.
Roles that program graduates have moved into include:
Film and television: directors, producers, directors of photography, screenwriters, camera operators, sound recordists, sound and picture editors, post-production supervisors, production managers, first assistant directors, art directors, casting agents, marketers, publicists, video artists.
Radio: presenters, producers, programmers, station managers, studio directors, journalists, editors - for commercial, government or community broadcasters.
Screen culture: film festival directors, curators, project managers, film and TV critics, distributors, venue coordinators.
Internet, mobile media: website developers, cross-platform content developers, social media producers, content authors, writers, managers, publishers, media sellers and buyers.
Admissions
*ATAR refers to the lowest selection rank to which an offer was made (including consideration of any adjustments).
RMIT is committed to providing transparency to the admissions process. In line with this commitment, we provide you with information that will help in making informed choices about your undergraduate study options.
RMIT admits students from a range of educational pathways, including Year 12 results, previous higher education or vocational education study, work experience, and for some programs - interviews, auditions or portfolios.
To get a better understanding of admissions at RMIT, view our ATAR information.
The highest level of education you have previously completed will determine which category applies to you.
Entry to this program is competitive. Applicants are ranked and selected in order of merit based on their academic achievement, e.g., ATAR or GPA (including any adjustments).
Applicants with recent secondary education (current or within the past two years)
Successful completion of an Australian Year 12 senior secondary certificate of education or equivalent in 2016, 2017 or 2018. If applicable, this includes equity access schemes and any other adjustment factors.
School Network Access Program (SNAP)
The SNAP access scheme is designed to increase tertiary access and participation of eligible students from SNAP partner schools.
Applicants with Vocational Education and Training study
Satisfactory completion of an Australian Certificate IV or above (or equivalent).
Applicants with Higher Education study
Satisfactory completion of at least two courses (subjects) at an Australian undergraduate level (or overseas equivalent).
Applicants with Work and Life Experience
Successful completion of an Australian senior secondary certificate of education (Year 12) or overseas equivalent.
Prerequisites: VCE Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in any English (EAL) (or equivalent) or achieve an overall score of at least 155 in the STAT multiple choice.
If you are not studying year 12 in 2018 you must:
- submit a personal statement by 27 September 2018 (VTAC Early round) or 2 November 2018 (VTAC Main round) outlining:
- your reasons for wanting to study this program
- your awareness of significant trends in contemporary media
- details of any professional or community media production experience
- attend an interview (some applicants):
- - Interviews will be held in November (VTAC Early round) and November/December (VTAC main round). For all subsequent rounds and direct applicants, interviews will be arranged after you have submitted your applicaiton.
- - Interstate or overseas applicants may be interviewed via telephone or video call.
- - Advisory emails will be sent to interviewed applicants in late December (VTAC Main round).
Applicants studying year 12 in 2018 will be considered on the basis of academic achievement, e.g. ATAR.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
The Indigenous Access Program will support your application into RMIT programs through an informal interview process with support from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Your relevant life, work, educational and training experience as preparation for study, in addition to any formal qualifications, are all considered.
Elite Athlete Program
The RMIT Elite Athlete Program (REAP) supports elite athlete and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence.
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary school qualification) with a minimum 65% average.
Equivalent qualifications may also include completion of the RMIT Foundation Studies program or a recognised post-secondary diploma in the relevant discipline with the required grades.
Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee entry. Your application will still need to be assessed and accepted.
Statement: Statement: If you are not currently studying year 12, you must submit a personal statement with your application outlining:
- your reasons for wanting to study this program;
- your awareness of significant trends in contemporary media.
- details of any professional or community media production experience
Interview: You may be interviewed, either in person or via phone/Skype.
To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0)
- TOEFL (Paper Based Test): minimum score of 580 (TWE 4.5)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 92 (with minimum of 20 in all sections)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 58 (with no communication band less than 50)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 176 with no less than 169 in any component.
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
RMIT graduates of these programs are eligible for exemptions:
Fees
In 2019, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,566 to AU$10,958*.
* Amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum, and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.
Additional expenses
Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$303 maximum fee for 2019.
Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
Learn more about fees for undergraduate study.
Defer your payment
You may be eligible to apply for a HECS-HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of up to the full amount of your student contribution fees. You may also be eligible to apply to defer payment of your SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme.
All undergraduate and honours degrees have Commonwealth supported places (CSP) available. In 2019, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,566 to AU$10,958.
In a CSP, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set each year by the Australian Government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of the courses in which you enrol, not the overall program.
How much can I expect to pay for my Commonwealth supported place?
Courses (subjects) fall into one of three bands. The band determines the student contribution amount for the course.
Amounts listed in the table below are based on a standard, full-time study load (96 credit points per year) with all courses in the same band. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load or for enrolment in courses (subjects) from a combination of bands.
You can learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees for units from different bands at fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Maximum student contribution amount for Commonwealth supported places in 2019
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount in 2019 |
Band 1: humanities, behavioural science, social studies, clinical psychology, foreign languages, visual and performing arts, education, nursing |
$6,566 per standard year |
Band 2: mathematics, statistics, computing, built environment, other health, allied health, science, engineering, surveying, agriculture |
$9,359 per standard year |
|
$10,958 per standard year |
HECS-HELP Loans
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the HECS-HELP loan scheme, which allows eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) to defer payment of up to the full amount of their student contribution.
SA-HELP Loans
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
How does a HELP loan work?
If your HECS-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to the full amount of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You will only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying).
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.
The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2019 is $303.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The annual 2019 tuition fee for BP221 (3 years full-time) is AU$30,720.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2019 commencement is AU$96,960.
The annual 2019 tuition fee for BP221ACC (2.5 years full-time) is AU$36,864.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2019 commencement is AU$96,960
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) in each calendar year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - Student visa holders must have cover for the total duration of their visa.
- Some programs incur additional expenses.
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living ;in Melbourne.