Bachelor of Communication (Media)
Student type:
Quick facts
-
Duration
Part-time 6 years, Full-time 3 years or 2.5 years accelerated -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
Next intake
February, July Duration
Full-time 3 years or 2.5 years accelerated Location
Melbourne City Fees
BP221 AU$32,640 (2020 annual)
BP221ACC AU$39,168 (2020 annual)
Next intake
February, July
Overview
Situated in a purpose-designed building in the heart of vibrant Melbourne, this degree accesses state-of-the-art learning facilities. You’ll learn 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 degree 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.
This degree 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.
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 degree 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 degree, 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 degree 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 degree experience and will help you develop connections to the industry while you study.
All courses 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 degree has a strong international student cohort studying in Melbourne due to its popularity in the overseas market. The skills learnt in the degree are of a global standard which will enable you to work in Australia and overseas.
There are opportunities to study abroad through global work, exchange and study experiences 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 degree 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 degree.
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. 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.
Program plans
BP221ACC is an accelerated plan and is only offered to students commencing in July intakes.
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.
As a graduate you'll 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 degree will provide you with the skills and knowledge to work in a broad range of roles and industries. Job opportunities for our graduates have increased due to technological and societal changes.
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
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. Find out more about RMIT’s commitment to admissions transparency.
You must meet the minimum academic entry requirements for this program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee you entry due to the competitive nature of this program. Overseas qualifications will be assessed for Australian equivalence.
*ATAR refers to the lowest selection rank to which an offer was made (including consideration of any adjustments) for current and recent year 12 applicants.
RMIT’s selection criteria, outlined below according to your highest completed level of education, will provide you with a better understanding of the minimum admissions requirements needed for this program.
Selection criteria
This information is for applicants who are currently undertaking an Australian Year 12 or equivalent or whose highest qualification is a completed secondary education within the last two years (2017, 2018).
Selection criteria
You are required to meet the following minimum academic requirements:
- successful completion of an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent) including units 3 and 4 with a study score of at least 30 in any English.
You may be eligible for adjustment factors which will be applied to your selection rank. You can find more information under the heading 'Adjustment factors'.
ATAR profile
View the ATAR profile and selection rank from students offered a place into this program wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in 2020.
This information is for applicants who have completed an accredited award at an Australian Registered Training Organisation.
Selection criteria
You are required to meet the following minimum academic requirements:
- successful completion of an Australian certificate IV or above (or equivalent)
You may satisfy the required English prerequisite by completing the STAT multiple choice. You can find more information under the heading 'Additional information'. - a personal statement 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
You may be required to attend an interview based on your personal statement submission. If so, you will be contacted by the school.
If you are applying to RMIT through VTAC you can complete and submit the VTAC personal statement via your online VTAC account.
If you are applying direct to RMIT you can upload your completed personal statement via your online direct application.
You may be eligible for adjustment factors which will be applied to your selection rank. You can find more information under the heading 'Adjustment factors'.
This information is for applicants whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education program.
Selection criteria
You are required to meet the following minimum academic requirements:
- successful completion of at least two courses (subjects) at an Australian undergraduate level (or equivalent)
You may satisfy the required English prerequisite by completing the STAT multiple choice. You can find more information under the heading 'Additional information'. - a personal statement 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
You may be required to attend an interview based on your personal statement submission. If so, you will be contacted by the school.
If you are applying to RMIT through VTAC you can complete and submit the VTAC personal statement via your online VTAC account. If you are applying direct to RMIT you can upload your completed personal statement via your online direct application.
You may be eligible for adjustment factors which will be applied to your selection rank. You can find more information under the heading 'Adjustment factors'.
This information is for applicants who left secondary school more than two years ago and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since then.
Selection criteria
You are required to meet the following minimum academic requirements:
- successful completion of an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent) more than two years ago, including units 3 and 4 with a study score of at least 30 in any English
You may satisfy the required English prerequisite by completing the STAT multiple choice. You can find more information under the heading 'Additional information'. - a personal statement 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
You may be required to attend an interview based on your personal statement submission. If so, you will be contacted by the school.
If you are applying to RMIT through VTAC you can complete and submit the VTAC personal statement via your online VTAC account.
If you are applying direct to RMIT you can upload your completed personal statement via your online direct application.
If you would like your work and life experience to be considered, you should provide a copy of your curriculum vitae and a supporting statement from your employer.
You may be eligible for adjustment factors which will be applied to your selection rank. You can find more information under the heading 'Adjustment factors'.
Available only to applicants currently studying Year 12
School Network Access Program (SNAP)
The SNAP access scheme is designed to increase tertiary access and participation of eligible applicants by giving them priority access to RMIT diploma and degree programs to applicants currently studying Year 12 at a SNAP partner school.
Available only to applicants currently studying Year 12 or whose highest qualification is a completed Year 12
Regional adjustments
RMIT automatically allocates adjustment factors to Year 12 applicants from a low socio-economic status area for all certificate IV, diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree and degree level programs that select primarily on ATAR. Low socio-economic status areas are determined by applying the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Education and Occupation.
Available to all applicants
Equity access schemes
Equity access schemes take into account personal information and location, difficult circumstances, disadvantaged financial background and disability or medical condition that may have impacted on an applicant’s most recent academic performance.
Find out more about the eligibility requirements for each Special Entry Access Scheme and RMIT access categories.
If you are applying through VTAC you should apply for the Special Entry Access Scheme.
If you are applying directly to RMIT you should apply for RMIT Access. The system will prompt you to do this during your application.
Elite Athlete Program
The RMIT Elite Athlete Program supports eligible elite and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence, allowing students to balance the demands of both their studies and their athletic responsibilities.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
The Indigenous Access Program supports you through an informal interview process where you will receive support from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Additional consideration will be given if you have relevant life, work, education or training experience.
Personal statement
If you are not studying year 12 in 2019 you must:
- submit a personal statement by 30 September 2019 (VTAC Early round) or 1 November 2019 (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 application.
- 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 2019 will be considered on the basis of academic achievement, e.g. ATAR.
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
If you are applying to RMIT as an applicant with vocational education training, higher education study or work or life experience, you may sit the STAT multiple choice if you:
- are 19 years of age or over as of 1 January in the year in which you will start your studies and
- have not been enrolled in secondary studies for at least two years and
- have no prior secondary school (Year 12), VET studies, HE studies or relevant work experience that can be considered for entry, or these do not meet the minimum academic requirements for the program
The STAT overall score will be competitively ranked for selection.
STAT results are valid for two years prior to the commencement of study and can be used to meet Year 12 English prerequisites. You are still required to meet all other program prerequisites or equivalents.
You must meet all other program prerequisites or equivalents. Learn more about RMIT STAT results including minimum STAT scores required to meet prerequisites.
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 (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 79 (with minimum of 13 in Reading, 12 in Listening, 18 in Speaking and 21 in Writing)
- 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 English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
Pathways for students looking to further their studies in a related field at RMIT from July 2020
This course offers pathway options. If you don’t meet the entry requirements, a formal pathway might be your way in.
Undertaking a certificate, diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree can help you meet the entry requirements for your preferred course. These qualifications often provide credit, reducing the duration of your bachelor degree and helping you get the degree you want.
Use our Pathways finder or contact Study@RMIT for more information.
Credit and recognition of prior learning
Credit, recognition of prior learning, professional experience and accreditation from a professional body can reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant experience. Find out if you might be eligible.
Fees
2020 indicative fees
In 2020, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,684 to AU$11,155*.
Additional expenses
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$308 maximum fee for 2020.
- Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
Annual fee adjustment
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.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
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.
Learn more about fees for undergraduate study.
All undergraduate and honours degrees have Commonwealth supported places (CSP) available. In 2020, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,684 to AU$11,155.
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 2020
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount in 2020 |
Band 1: humanities, behavioural science, social studies, clinical psychology, foreign languages, visual and performing arts, education, nursing |
$6,684 per standard year $835 per standard (12 credit point) course |
Band 2: mathematics, statistics, computing, built environment, other health, allied health, science, engineering, surveying, agriculture |
$9,527 per standard year |
|
$11,155 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 2020 is $308.
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.
Plan BP221
- The annual 2020 tuition fee for BP221 (3 years full-time) is AU$32,640.
- The total indicative tuition fee for 2020 commencement is AU$103,680.
Plan BP221ACC
- The annual 2020 tuition fee for BP221ACC (2.5 years full-time) is AU$39,168.
- The total indicative tuition fee for 2020 commencement is AU$103,680.
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.