Bachelor of Creative Writing

Bachelor of Creative Writing

UNDERGRADUATE

Become a writing professional. Gain industry connections with passionate writers. 

Student type:
Learning mode:
On campus
Entry score:

Range of criteria

Duration:
Full-time 3 years
Part-time 6 years
Next intake:
February, July
Location:
Melbourne City
Learning mode:
On campus
Entry score:

See admissions

Duration:
Full-time 3 years
Next intake:
February, July
Location:
Melbourne City

Overview

Work closely on your writing in an intensive studio model with world-leading lecturers and creative practitioners, improving your writing and solving problems from industry.

This degree is designed to make you confident, skilled and adaptable in today’s creative industries - where writing and editing are essential skills, and so are creativity, communication, and critical thinking.

Along with leading genres like fiction, screen and digital writing, you’ll become an adaptable writer by learning the skills to adjust to a constantly changing industry, spending deep time with your creative work, trying experiments, and gaining new knowledge. A flair for creative expression will be complemented by proficiency in the business of writing, allowing you to understand the publishing process and learn the skills required to become a freelance writer, collaborator or creative entrepreneur, across multiple media platforms.

Forge industry connections and build your professional network

With a strong focus on industry partnerships and collaborations, you'll develop a robust network of contacts and peers, opening up opportunities for internships, mentorship, and employment. As a graduate, you'll be poised to succeed in a range of roles, from writing and editing to publishing and producing, across various media platforms. 

Why study creative writing at RMIT?

Connected to industry

Tap into our strong industry connections, partnered with leading publishers, screen industry leaders, and writers' festivals, to gain real-world experience and insights.

Global links

Be part of a global network of writers, with opportunities to connect with international creative writing programs and participate in exchange and cultural immersion programs.

Writing studios

Develop your writing craft in our innovative studios, where you'll work with experienced industry practitioners to explore and experiment with different modes, registers and styles.

But what about AI?

As a creative writer, you'll be working with emerging technologies, including AI, to push the boundaries of your craft. While AI can be a useful tool for ideation and experimentation, it's essential to understand its limitations, potential biases and ethical complexities.

Our degree will help you develop the skills and critical thinking needed to harness the potential of AI, while maintaining the creative integrity and human voice that makes your writing unique.

Explore your majors and minors

Your core subjects are supplemented by your chosen combination of majors (Cinema Studies and Approaches to Pop Culture), minors (Literary Studies, Asian Media & Culture, and Digital Communication) and electives, allowing you to further hone your creative expertise or expand your knowledge from a selection of interdisciplinary options. 

You choose from one of four possible combinations of a major, minors and electives (which might include a study tour and/or an internship):

  • Option 1: Select one major and one minor
  • Option 2: Select one major and 48 credit points of electives
  • Option 3: Select all three minors
  • Option 4: Select two minors and 48 credit points of electives.

Majors

Cinema Studies

In the Cinema Studies major, you’ll learn to “read” cinema closely, from shot choices and sound design to storytelling and genre, teaching you to think critically about film, write persuasively about it, and connect your passion for cinema to broader cultural and professional conversations.

You’ll explore films from different times, places and cultures, looking at how ideas of nation, community and identity are created on screen, and how power, politics and history play out through moving images.

You’ll also look at the bigger systems that shape cinema: technologies, industrial practices, audiences, marketing and criticism. You’ll learn how changes like streaming, social media and global distribution have transformed what films get made, how they’re seen and how they’re discussed. You’ll engage with key film theories to deepen your understanding of both classic and contemporary texts.

Approaches to Pop Culture

The Approaches to Pop Culture major equips you with the skills to analyse pop culture with depth and nuance, and connects your interests to broader cultural, professional and academic conversations.

From global blockbusters and viral clips to cult classics and fan cultures, you’ll look closely at the films, TV, music, online trends and everyday practices that reflects the world we live in, and how it can challenge, reinforce or reimagine it.

You'll study pop culture through frameworks drawn from media studies, cultural theory, and music studies to learn how industries, technologies and audiences interact, and how issues like race, gender, class, authenticity and the future are negotiated in what we watch, listen to and share. You’ll also learn to think critically about new media platforms and global change, and consider how popular culture can be a space for both political struggle and creative possibility.

Details

How you will learn

In this degree, you'll be immersed in a dynamic learning environment that combines innovative teaching approaches, including guest lectures, case studies, reflective learning, workshops, and studio partnerships. You'll develop skills and expertise as a creative writer, surrounded by writers of different levels and experience, and guided by practitioners and published authors. 

You'll work on individual projects, engage in writing intensives, and participate in interdisciplinary projects that bring together different creative disciplines. These experiences will help you develop your creative voice, critical thinking, and professional skills. 

The program features a range of courses that use a combination of face-to-face, online, and self-directed learning, with course materials provided through RMIT's Learning Management System, Canvas. You'll have opportunities to learn from industry professionals through guest lectures and masterclasses, and receive feedback on your work from peers, industry guests, and workshop leaders. 

How you will be assessed

Assessment tasks in the Bachelor of Creative Writing may include essays, presentations, responding to industry briefs, research projects, portfolio production, journalling prompts, peer editing and reflections. The form of the assessment tasks are informed by each course’s learning objectives, and these assignments are designed to inspire curiosity, deepen your practice, encourage creative risk taking, demonstrate your growing skill base and reveal your emerging writer’s voice.

Industry connections

This degree is embedded in real-world and socially engaged settings, where you'll have the opportunity to develop your writing practice in response to current issues and concerns. You'll work on projects that bring together writing, art, and community, and engage with industry partners who are pushing the boundaries of creative practice.

Through our connections with galleries, museums, community organisations, and socially engaged initiatives, you'll develop skills in writing for diverse contexts and audiences. You'll also have opportunities to participate in international exchange programs, and to collaborate with writers and artists from other fields on projects that explore new forms of storytelling and creative expression.

Our list of past and present industry partners includes The Big Issue magazine and About Time Prison Newspaper, as well as emerging arts initiatives and community groups. We're also forging new partnerships with organisations like the national literary journal Voiceworks, which will provide you with opportunities to work on innovative projects and develop your skills in new and exciting ways.

By working in these settings, you'll develop a deep understanding of the ways in which writing can be used to drive social change, build community, and challenge cultural norms. You'll graduate with a portfolio of work that showcases your skills and creativity, as well as a network of contacts and peers who will support you throughout your career.

The types of classes you have will depend on the course you’re studying. Classes are offered in various formats designed to provide meaningful engagement with staff, industry and peers and provide for access and use of spaces where learning can be applied and active, including an array of specialised equipment.

Most RMIT courses do not include passive large-scale classes such as lectures, instead the content traditionally provided in lectures is made available online. This may be in the form of readings, videos or other on-demand learning materials. This content will also support the basis of interactive learning that takes place in on-campus classes.

The world is constantly changing, and there are universal skills that can help you adapt to the evolving nature of work and global engagement.

As part of your study experience at RMIT, we provide 6 future-focused RMIT Capabilities:

  • Ethical Global Citizens
  • Connected
  • Adaptive
  • Digitally Adept
  • Expert
  • Critically Engaged.

RMIT Capabilities are built into your course as well as some of our extracurricular experiences. They inform the design and delivery of your learning activities and assessments, so by the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to apply these capabilities in your life and work.

As a student in this degree, you'll be part of a global community of creative writers, with opportunities to engage with international writing initiatives and industry professionals. We're constantly exploring new partnerships and collaborations, and we're committed to staying at the forefront of emerging trends and opportunities in creative writing. 

Through volunteering and other activities, you'll have the chance to participate in a range of international experiences that will broaden your perspectives and enhance your skills as a creative writer. Our industry-connected staff are uniquely placed to seek out new and exciting opportunities, and we'll work with you to ensure that you're aware of the latest developments and possibilities. 

Overseas work, exchange and study experiences

RMIT offers a range of opportunities for our students to study abroad through overseas work, exchange and study experiences with over 165 partner universities worldwide.

Full- or part-time study is determined by how many credit points you are enrolled in during the semester. An undergraduate study load is considered part-time if you are enrolled in 24 credit points or fewer (approximately two subjects).

Once you are enrolled into this degree you can choose to switch to a part-time study load. This may impact your program duration and tuition fees. Please discuss your study options with your program manager prior to enrolment.

Important information for international students

International student visa holders can only study full-time.

The Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing) was unlike anything offered at other universities. At RMIT, creative writing was the focus of the degree - not a singular unit or area of study. I felt reassured that I wouldn’t just be spending three years studying something I loved - I’d also get a career out of it at the end. It’s such a unique degree that lends itself to all kinds of industries and career outcomes.
Pallavi Daniel, Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing)- Pallavi Daniel, Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing).

Course structure and plan

In each year of the degree, you will take 48 credit points of the core course. These will be mostly comprised of four 12-credit-point subjects, each introducing you to new approaches to the theory and practice of creative writing. Your subjects offer foundational skills and new perspectives across difference forms, methods and considerations for your writing practice, and include a range of partnered projects. These subjects build to the 24-credit-point capstone studio subject in which you will develop your major project.

Year 1

In your first year of the Bachelor of Creative Writing, you focus on building strong foundations and getting to know yourself as a writer.

You’ll start by learning the basics of good writing: how to tell a compelling story, how to shape an essay, how to generate ideas, and how to experiment with form and style. You’ll also explore what it really means to live and work as a writer – developing discipline, regular writing habits and a sense of belonging in a community of other writers.

Alongside this, you’ll explore the major forms that underpin creative writing today: fiction, nonfiction, poetry and scriptwriting. Specialists in each area will guide you through the key skills and techniques that make these forms work on the page. You’ll get to try different approaches, explore a range of voices, and begin to understand which forms you’re most drawn to.

By the end of first year, you’ll have a solid toolkit of writing skills, a clearer sense of your creative direction, and the confidence to keep developing your practice through your chosen minor and later-year electives.

Year 2

In your second year, you sharpen your focus and test yourself in more professional, real-world contexts.

You’ll study deeper into the forms of writing that most interest you, such as fiction, nonfiction, poetry or screenwriting. You’ll look closely at their histories, contexts and key ideas, and explore how far you can stretch or subvert them. There’s a strong emphasis on experimentation and on stepping outside your comfort zone, so you can discover the full range of what your writing can do.

You’ll also work on collaborative projects that mirror how the creative industries operate. This might mean joining a team to help develop a game, contribute to a screen production, publish an anthology or website, or create writing for a community organisation or industry partner. You’ll apply your skills in a real or simulated workplace setting, receive feedback from people working in the field, and gain experience that supports your employability as a writer.

Year 3

In your third year, you’ll focus on developing a clear, confident writing voice and taking real ownership of your ideas and projects. You’ll learn how to generate and shape larger works, refine them through research and drafting, and place your writing in both creative and professional contexts. There’s a strong emphasis on thinking about how your practice can stay flexible and sustainable over time.

You’ll also learn about the ideas and theories that sit behind creative practice. You’ll read key texts, test out concepts through creative experiments, and reflect critically on how and why you write the way you do. This thinking feeds into a substantial research component, where you frame your project within broader cultural and intellectual conversations.

Alongside this, you’ll complete a major creative work – for example a collection, manuscript, script or other extended project – supported by workshops and feedback from staff and peers. You’ll aim for a level of quality and polish suitable for a professional portfolio, and finish the year with a clearer sense of your direction as a writer beyond graduation.

Work integrated learning (WIL)

Creative Writing Studio: Collaborations

In this WIL subject, uou’ll join a multidisciplinary team and help shape a real project such as contributing to a television production, writing for a game, publishing an anthology or website, or creating content for a community organisation or industry partner.

You’ll learn how to pitch ideas, negotiate roles, meet deadlines and respond to briefs, all while building your portfolio with work that has a genuine audience. It’s a chance to test your skills in a professional-style environment, make industry connections and see how your writing can thrive alongside other creative disciplines.

Creative Writing Studio: Horizons

In this subject, you’ll work on more ambitious projects, sharpen your voice and learn how to manage a substantial piece of writing from idea through to final draft. You’ll explore how research can strengthen your work, how to situate your writing within contemporary creative and professional contexts, and how to keep your practice agile and sustainable beyond university.

This studio helps you build the confidence, discipline and creative independence you need to carry your work into publication, performance or other professional pathways.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Creative Writing, you'll have developed the knowledge, skills, and creative practice to succeed in a rapidly changing industry. You'll be able to create, develop, and produce writing that reflects your intentions and ideas within a range of frameworks, contexts, and genres, using a range of digital tools and emerging technologies. 

Through critical analysis and reflection, you'll have honed your ability to write, read, revise, and research works that are informed by theoretical, historical, cultural, and contemporary contexts. You'll be able to communicate effectively with diverse audiences, using initiative to solve problems, plan complex projects, and work collaboratively and autonomously. 

As a graduate of this degree, you'll be well-prepared to pursue a range of career pathways, including content creation, creative entrepreneurship, socially engaged arts partnerships, and roles in the arts sector, including festivals and peak bodies. You'll also be equipped to navigate the changing landscape of the creative industries and have the flexibility to build a sustainable career that combines your creative passions with other professional pursuits, allowing you to maintain an artistic practice while navigating the realities of the twenty-first century. 

Choose a plan below to find out more about the subjects you will study and the course structure.

Bachelor of Creative Writing
Program code: BP257

Title
Location
Duration
Plan code
CRICOS
Bachelor of Creative Writing
City Campus
Full-time 3 Years, Part-time 6 Years
BP257P27
120599K
Location
City Campus
Duration
Full-time 3 Years, Part-time 6 Years
Plan code
BP257P27
CRICOS
120599K
Bachelor of Creative Writing
City Campus
Full-time 3 Years
BP257P27
120599K
Location
City Campus
Duration
Full-time 3 Years
Plan code
BP257P27
CRICOS
120599K

Career

The creative writing industry is a dynamic and evolving field, with a range of career opportunities emerging in digital media, publishing, screenwriting, and beyond. As a graduate of this degree, you'll be prepared for a variety of roles, including:

  • writer
  • editor
  • publisher
  • content creator
  • screenwriter
  • scriptwriter
  • events/festival curatorship
  • creative entrepreneur.

You'll also have the skills and knowledge to pursue emerging opportunities in areas such as digital content creation, social media management, and arts administration. With the rise of online platforms, you'll have the opportunity to self-publish your work, create your own publications, and build your own audience.

As a self-employed creative writer, you may choose to work on a freelance basis, taking on projects that align with your interests and skills. You may also choose to start your own publishing venture, create your own content, or work on other creative projects that allow you to express your unique voice and vision.

There are opportunities to go on to further studies in creative writing and publishing through our highly regarded honours and post-graduate courses in the School of Media and Communication. Students can choose to undertake research through creative practice, linked to internationally recognised research groups such as non/fictionLab.

Career outcomes

how-to-become-a-content-creator-1-1220x732.jpg

Content Creator

From TikTok and YouTube to podcasts, newsletters and brand channels, content creators are shaping what we watch, read and listen to every day, making it one of the most flexible and fast‑moving ways to build a career.

Although your wage can vary depending on your specialisation, the average salary for content creators in Australia is $78,000 per year*.

Writer

The average salary for a Writer in Australia is $110,000 per year*.

Editor

The average salary for an editor in Australia is $125,000 per year*.

Publisher

The average salary for a publisher in Australia is $100,000 per year*.

*Source: www.seek.com.au 2026

Entry requirements and admissions

You must have successfully completed the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) (or equivalent qualification).

Prerequisites

Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) units 3 and 4:

  • a study score of at least 25 in English other than EAL; or
  • a study score of at least 27 in English as an Additional Language (EAL)

or equivalent studies.

Rankings and adjustment factors

Entry to this course is competitive. Applicants are ranked and selected in order of merit based on the assessment of their selection task.

Selection task

Semester 1, 2027

VTAC and Direct applicants

You must complete and submit the Creative Writing selection task.

Applications are assessed in the order that they are received until the selection task dates below, if places are still available.

For your best chance at admission into this degree, you are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Pathway applicants

Applicants who are applying via one of the RMIT pathways for this degree are exempted from the selection task requirements.

To specify that you are applying via one of the pathways, submit your response through the selection task.

Selection task dates

Selection task dates for VTAC applicants

If you are applying via VTAC, you must complete and submit the Creative Writing selection task by one of the dates below to be considered for selection in that VTAC round:

VTAC applicants Register and submit the selection task by
November round (local post-school applicants only) 30 September 2026
December round (current Year 12 applicants only) 20 November 2026
January round 1 (all applicants) 20 November 2026
If places are available after the January round 1: 
January round 2 (all applicants) 27 November 2026
February round 1 (all applicants) 15 January 2027
February round 2 (all applicants) 22 January 2027
February round 3 (all applicants) 5 February 2027

Selection task dates for direct applicants

You must complete and submit your direct application. The link to submit your selection task will appear on the applicant dashboard after you have submitted your application. Please see the Apply page for information on eligibility to apply direct.

Applicant type Register and submit the selection task by
Direct applicants 26 February 2027

Selection task requirements

Usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools

You must not use any Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to generate any materials, content, or ideas related to this selection task. ChatGPT and other similar AI tools must not be used for any written work.

Outline your interests and background in creative writing, reading, or literary studies (maximum 500 words). This could include:

  • Examples of creative writing (such as books, scripts, etc) you admire, how these examples have influenced your work and writing ambitions.
  • A description of your approach to creative writing, which may refer to ideas, inspirations and/or processes.
  • Any relevant work experience or engagement with creative industries, such as submissions, volunteering, and attendance at events.

Prepare 3 to 4 different pieces of creative writing. This can be a combination of fiction or non-fiction, prose, poetry, script, essay (maximum 2000 words in total).

Submission instructions

You must collate all of your responses, including the applicant statement and sample writing pieces, in a single PDF.

Semester 2, 2027

Selection task details and submission dates will be available early March 2027.

Selection criteria by applicant type

The highest level of education you have previously completed will determine which category applies to you.

You must have successfully completed the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) (or equivalent senior secondary school) qualification.

Adjustment factors available only to applicants currently studying Year 12

School Network Access Program (SNAP)

The SNAP access scheme is designed to increase tertiary participation by giving priority access to RMIT diploma and degree programs to eligible applicants currently studying Year 12 at a SNAP partner school.

Adjustment factors available only to applicants currently studying Year 12 or whose highest qualification is a completed Year 12.

Equity access schemes

  • Equity access schemes take into account personal information and location, difficult family and life circumstances, financial hardship and living with a 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 VTAC Equity schemes and scholarships and RMIT access categories.
  • If you are applying through VTAC you should apply for the Equity schemes and scholarships.
  • 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 and Performer Program

The RMIT Elite Athlete and Performer Program supports eligible elite and emerging athletes and performers to achieve academic excellence while reaching high performance in sport or the performing arts, by allowing students to balance the demands of both their studies and their athletic or performing arts responsibilities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

The Indigenous Access Program supports your application to RMIT through an informal interview process where you will receive help from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Additional consideration will be given if you have relevant life, work, education or training experience.

You must have successfully completed an Australian Certificate IV or above (or equivalent).

Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

You may satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice and achieving a minimum overall score of 156.

Your STAT results are valid for two years prior to the commencement of study.

If you are applying to RMIT as an applicant with vocational education and training study, 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.

You are still required to meet all other program prerequisites or equivalents.

Learn more about the STAT and STAT results.

You may be eligible for the following adjustment factors:

Equity access schemes

  • Equity access schemes take into account personal information and location, difficult family and life circumstances, financial hardship and living with a 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 VTAC Equity schemes and scholarships and RMIT access categories.
  • If you are applying through VTAC you should apply for the Equity schemes and scholarships.
  • 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 and Performer Program

The RMIT Elite Athlete and Performer Program supports eligible elite and emerging athletes and performers to achieve academic excellence while reaching high performance in sport or the performing arts, by allowing students to balance the demands of both their studies and their athletic or performing arts responsibilities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

The Indigenous Access Program supports your application to RMIT through an informal interview process where you will receive help from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Additional consideration will be given if you have relevant life, work, education or training experience.

You must have successfully completed at least two courses (subjects) in an Australian bachelor degree or four courses (subjects) in an Australian associate degree, or overseas equivalent.

Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

You may satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice and achieving a minimum overall score of 156.

Your STAT results are valid for two years prior to the commencement of study.

If you are applying to RMIT as an applicant with higher education study, 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.

You are still required to meet all other program prerequisites or equivalents.

Learn more about the STAT and STAT results.

You may be eligible for the following adjustment factors:

Equity access schemes

  • Equity access schemes take into account personal information and location, difficult family and life circumstances, financial hardship and living with a 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 VTAC Equity schemes and scholarships and RMIT access categories.
  • If you are applying through VTAC you should apply for the Equity schemes and scholarships.
  • 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 and Performer Program

The RMIT Elite Athlete and Performer Program supports eligible elite and emerging athletes and performers to achieve academic excellence while reaching high performance in sport or the performing arts, by allowing students to balance the demands of both their studies and their athletic or performing arts responsibilities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

The Indigenous Access Program supports your application to RMIT through an informal interview process where you will receive help from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Additional consideration will be given if you have relevant life, work, education or training experience.

You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent qualification) and meet the stated prerequisites. You may satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice.

Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

You may satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice and achieving a minimum overall score of 156.

Your STAT results are valid for two years prior to the commencement of study.

If you are applying to RMIT as an applicant with work and 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.

You are still required to meet all other program prerequisites or equivalents.

Learn more about the STAT and STAT results.

You may be eligible for the following adjustment factors:

Equity access schemes

  • Equity access schemes take into account personal information and location, difficult family and life circumstances, financial hardship and living with a 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 VTAC Equity schemes and scholarships and RMIT access categories.
  • If you are applying through VTAC you should apply for the Equity schemes and scholarships.
  • 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 and Performer Program

The RMIT Elite Athlete and Performer Program supports eligible elite and emerging athletes and performers to achieve academic excellence while reaching high performance in sport or the performing arts, by allowing students to balance the demands of both their studies and their athletic or performing arts responsibilities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

The Indigenous Access Program supports your application to RMIT through an informal interview process where you will receive help from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Additional consideration will be given if you have relevant life, work, education or training experience.

Additional information

Art and Design application tips

View the following videos for some practical application advice:

Female student looking at an art folio

Applying for Art and Design courses

Here's some advice for preparing folios and pre-selection kits to help make the process easier.

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Art and design selection interviews

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View the ATAR profile and selection rank from students offered a place into this course wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in the most relevant recent intake period.

The student profile provides insight into the likely peer group for this course.

*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 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 admission to RMIT.

You need to satisfy all of the following requirements to be considered for entry into this course.

You must have successfully completed a qualification recognised by RMIT as equivalent to the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) with a minimum average of 65% (see calculator below).

Equivalent qualifications may also include completion of the RMIT Foundation Studies course 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.

Entry score calculator
Minimum Score Required

Don’t meet the requirements?

ATAR information for international students studying year 12 in Australia

If you are an international student studying year 12 in Australia, you may be able to apply via VTAC with your ATAR.

Find information about the ATAR selection rank* for this course in our ATAR for International students course finder.

*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 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 admission to RMIT.

There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.

All applicants are required to complete and submit a selection task for this course. See below for full selection task details.

Selection tasks by applicant type

Semester 1, 2027

VTAC applicants

You must complete and submit the Creative Writing selection task by one of the dates below to be considered for selection in that VTAC round.

Selection task dates for VTAC applicants

VTAC applicants Register and submit the selection task by
December round (current Year 12 applicants only) 20 November 2026
January round 1 (all applicants) 20 November 2026
If places are available after the January round 1: 
January round 2 (all applicants) 27 November 2026
February round 1 (all applicants) 15 January 2027
February round 2 (all applicants) 22 January 2027
February round 3 (all applicants) 5 February 2027

Selection task requirements

Usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools

You must not use any Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to generate any materials, content, or ideas related to this selection task. ChatGPT and other similar AI tools must not be used for any written work.

The selection task requires:

  1. A statement outlining your interests and background in creative writing, reading, or literary studies (maximum 500 words). This could include:
    • Examples of creative writing (such as books, scripts, etc) you admire, how these examples have influenced your work and writing ambitions.
    • A description of your approach to creative writing, which may refer to ideas, inspirations and/or processes.
    • Any relevant work experience or engagement with creative industries, such as submissions, volunteering, and attendance at events.
  2. Three to four different pieces of creative writing. This can be fiction or non-fiction, prose, poetry, script, essay, etc. (maximum 2000 words in total).

You must collate all of your responses, including the applicant statement and sample writing pieces, in a single PDF.

Selection task: You are required to submit a completed selection task along with your application.

Art and Design application tips

View the following videos for some practical application advice:

Female student looking at an art folio

Applying for Art and Design courses

Here's some advice for preparing folios and pre-selection kits to help make the process easier.

two students looking at artwork

Art and design selection interviews

Wondering how an art and design selection interview works? Here's everything you need to know.

To study this course 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) for Australia: 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.

Note: RMIT does not accept scores from 'at-home' or 'online' testing.

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 Language Pathways (Academic English) Advanced at RMIT University Pathways (RMIT UP).

Pathways and further study

A pathway is an alternative way to get into a course. RMIT's pathways can help you move through different levels of study to reach the qualification you're aiming for, even if you don't meet the requirements for your destination course.

Pathways into the Bachelor of Creative Writing

This course has pathways available.

Further study

When you successfully complete this degree, you may be eligible for entry into an RMIT Honours or Postgraduate degree.

When you successfully complete the Associate Degree in Professional Writing and Editing you are guaranteed entry into the Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing) with 3 semesters of advanced standing (equivalent to 144 credit points).

Alternatively, you can gain entry from RMIT Foundation Studies or a range of vocational study courses.

Coming from a partner institution?

RMIT has pathway arrangements with many partner institutions around the world.

If your institution has a pathway arrangement with RMIT you may be able to receive credit and reduce the time it will take to complete your preferred RMIT course.

Find out if your institution has a pathway arrangement with RMIT

If you have qualifications from an institution that is not an RMIT partner, credit into your RMIT course will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

When you successfully complete this course, you may be eligible for entry into an RMIT honours or postgraduate degree.

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.

Credit and exemptions will be assessed consistent with the principles of the RMIT Credit Policy.

Credit may reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant study experience.

When you are submitting an application, please indicate that you want to be considered for credit and provide detailed course syllabus (also known as course outline), outlining volume of learning, course content and weekly topics, learning objectives/outcomes, assessment types and their weightings, and reference to the learning resources such as prescribed textbooks and recommended readings.

Fees

2027 indicative fees

In 2026, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$4,738 to AU$17,399.

In addition to your tuition fees, you will be expected to pay for additional expenses including:

  • Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$386 maximum fee for 2027*.
  • 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.

Paying your fees and applying for refunds

For information on how to pay your fees or how to apply for a refund, please see Paying your fees and applying for refunds.

If you are offered a Commonwealth supported place, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government.

Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set on an annual basis by the government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of your individual enrolled courses, not the overall program.

How much can I expect to pay for my Commonwealth supported place?

The Australian Government has introduced changes to university funding and student contribution fees under its Job-ready Graduates Package

The fees in the table below apply to students who commence their degree in 2027. Fees for continuing students are available at fees for Commonwealth supported students.

Each subject (course) falls into a band. The band determines the student contribution amount for the subject.

Amounts listed in the table below are based on a standard, full-time study load (96 credit points per year) with all subjects in the same band. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load or for enrolment in 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 2027 for commencing students

Student contribution band by subject

Maximum annual student contribution amount (per EFTSL) in 2027

Education, Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, English, Mathematics, Statistics, Nursing, Indigenous and Foreign Languages, Agriculture $4,908 per standard year
$613 per standard (12 credit point) course
Allied Health, Other Health, Built Environment, Computing, Visual and Performing Arts, Professional Pathway Psychology, Professional Pathway Social Work, Engineering, Surveying, Environmental Studies, Science, Pathology $9,880 per standard year
$1,235 per standard (12 credit point) course
Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Science $14,046 per standard year
$1,755 per standard (12 credit point) course
Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Communications, Society and Culture $18,025 per standard year
$2,253 per standard (12 credit point) course

Student Learning Entitlement

On 1 January 2022, the Government implemented the Student Learning Entitlement (SLE).

  • The SLE allows students 7 years of full-time subsidised study in Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP).
  • Your total SLE amount will be reduced in accordance with your overall study load in a CSP. 
  • Once you have utilised all your SLE, you can no longer study in a CSP.

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 FEE-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to 100% of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.

You 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 2027 is $386.

You may also be required to purchase other items related to your course, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from course to course.

Additional costs

In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:

You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.

Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)

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 2027 is $386. 

How your fees are calculated

Find out more details about how fees are calculated and the expected annual increase.

Applying for refunds

Find information on how to apply for a refund as a continuing international student.

Scholarships

Check your eligibility for a scholarship

RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.

Check your eligibility for a scholarship

RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Looking for answers or more general information?

Use our Frequently Asked Questions to learn about the application process and its equity access schemes, find out how to accept or defer your offer or request a leave of absence, discover information about your fees, refunds and scholarships, and explore the various student support and advocacy services, as well as how to find out more about your preferred program, and more.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Indigenous cultures