Bachelor of Creative Industries

Get your creative juices flowing by working on real briefs from our partner organisations ranging from start-ups, creative agencies, and not-for-profits. Choose from creative writing, advertising, public relations, sound production and many more majors to jumpstart your creative career.

Bachelor of Creative Industries

Duration

Full Time: 3 Years (Available Part Time)*

Next Start Date

04 March 2024

Closing Date

Campuses
LSR
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Parramatta South UAC 720730
60
Domestic Student Fees
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Indicative annual fee from $11,885

Additional Information

Program Code: 1838

CRICOS Code: 093321B

A creative degree that gets down to business

Australia’s creative industries are a major driver of our economy, worth an estimated $30 billion and employing hundreds of thousands. If you’re thinking about a creative career, don’t let anyone tell you it isn’t a serious business. Accredited by professional organisations including the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and the Media Foundation of Australia (MFA), our Bachelor of Creative Industries prepares you for a creative career path, with practical projects and real-world experience. You’ll graduate with solid creative skills and the know-how to create your own opportunities. You’ll study core subjects in innovation, ideation, and collaboration plus a selection of entrepreneurial, communication and business subjects. Specialise in one of the discipline areas, such as advertising, graphic design, public relations, journalism, screen media, creative writing, enterprise innovation or music/sound production. Or you can combine two areas, for greater career flexibility.
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DISCOVER WESTERN WEBINARS

Join us online from 27 February - 11 April to find your perfect course and discover what subjects you will study, career options, early offers and alternative entry.

We’ll also take you on a virtual tour into some of our world-class facilities and teaching spaces.

Plus, our friendly Future Students team will be available to answer all of your questions about studying at Western.

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As an Adobe Creative Campus, Western Sydney University gives all students complimentary access to the Adobe Creative Cloud, so you can level up your digital skills with FREE access to the Adobe Creative Cloud apps. It's like your very own innovation toolkit, where technology meets creativity!

Adobe Creative Cloud is a comprehensive suite of software tools and services which provide a one-stop platform for professionals and enthusiasts in various creative fields, offering a wide range of applications for graphic design, video editing, web development, photography, and more!

Explore your potential in our $2 million, purpose-built media studio and industry-recognised television production unit at Parramatta South campus.

Working in the classroom and in the field with expert industry partners, you’ll get the kind of hands-on practical experience that employers love to see. Our graduates are working at Google, Universal Music Group, McCann Worldwide, the Australian Ballet, SBS, ABC, The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Sydney Morning Herald, Sky News, Discovery Channel, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Beyond, and Hill and Knowlton, just to name a few.

What you can expect to study

The program structure is outlined in our handbook. Here you can view all of the subjects you will be studying.

B Science/B Arts

The Advertising major provides a thorough grounding in current advertising practice, exposing students to authentic agency experiences and sharpening their skills as communicators and persuaders. Areas of study include advertising strategy, media, copywriting and design, client and account management, digital and social media contexts, the creation and delivery of advertising campaigns, plus an internship. Students will develop the skills they need to succeed in a range of contexts, from client liaison and campaign development, to creative messaging and media planning.

The Creative Writing major provides students the opportunity to produce their own creative writing and to edit and publish their work. Students study with professional authors, editors and publishers from the Writing and Society Research Centre and staff from the School of Humanities and Communication Arts. In addition, students have the opportunity to study contemporary approaches to language and literary studies, including literary criticism and theory, linguistic analysis, genre and textual study, and to read and examine a wide selection of modern and classic literatures. Career prospects include publishing, editing, teaching, writing and advertising.

Culture and Society is an interdisciplinary major developing knowledge, research skills and analytic capacities relevant to understanding and interpreting landscapes of cultural diversity and social difference in our contemporary world, both in terms of the broad contours, as well as specific micro-social environments. This major provides grounding in contemporary debates and methodologies in cultural studies and social theory, and draws on various disciplines including history, sociology, communications, and linguistics. Topics include popular culture, everyday urban life, cultural and social impacts of scientific theories and new technologies, multiculturalism, and contemporary spirituality. Study in this area is relevant for work involving commentary and analysis of contemporary social issues and cultural practices (e.g. journalism, teaching, activism) and fields concerned with designing, delivering and evaluating cultural and artistic productions, and education, communication, welfare or health services, in culturally diverse communities.

The English major invites students to explore contemporary approaches to language, literary study and writing, including literary criticism and theory, linguistic analysis, genre and textual study, and creative writing. The English major focuses on the imaginative workings of language, and students can study a wide selection of modern and classic literature, as well as the relationships between written texts and other media such as film and information technology. Students also have the opportunity to produce their own creative writing and to edit and publish their work. Career prospects include publishing, editing, teaching, writing and advertising.

The Enterprise Innovation major equips you with the expert skills to create a career as a management specialist. You will be prepared to succeed in a range of roles in contemporary private, public, and not-for-profit organisations in Australia and abroad. In this major you will develop strategic management knowledge to enable effective organisational decision making. The subjects in this major focus on organisational learning and development and behaviour, operations management, leadership and entrepreneurship, change and innovation, and policy. You can look forward to a range of careers in the broad and complex field of management.

This major combines social science, business and public relations subjects to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to organise, manage and promote festivals and events. Students will learn about the social and cultural significance of festivals and events, and the roles and responsibilities of a variety of stakeholders. The major also explores the important role festivals and events play in tourism and visitor economies. Students who choose to complete the Visitor Economy Professional Placement subject will complete a work placement with a festival/event organiser, providing a stepping-stone to employment.

The Graphic Design major provides students from outside the Design program with a comprehensive introduction to fundamental skills and knowledge in graphic design. The major is delivered through a series of practice-based and theoretical subjects and you will study areas such as image design, contextual design studies, web design and branding. In addition, you will have the opportunity to choose a practice-based specialisation from the areas of interactive design; digital design; illustration and photomedia.

The Journalism Major provides practical experience in preparing and presenting news and digital content for online, print and broadcast platforms. It provides an understanding of how the news media works and the importance of journalism in society. Students develop communication, journalism and  storytelling skills suitable for all forms of new, digital and traditional media, including community, corporate and niche platforms.

The Law and the Creative Industries major equips you with specialised legal skills and knowledge to support your career in the creative industries in Australia. In this major you will develop tailored, strategic knowledge to enable you to effectively contribute to business decision making and to appreciate the legal and regulatory challenges within the context of creative and innovative enterprises. The subjects in this major focus on the fundamentals of Australian law, critique and analysis of law, contracts, torts, alternative dispute resolution and media law, with the option to also incorporate studies in competition and consumer law, intellectual property and law within the employment context. The legal and regulatory focus of this major will provide you with specialised knowledge and skills designed to enhance your access to a range of careers within the creative industries sector. Students are advised that this field of study does not qualify students for admission to legal practice in NSW. Students wishing to pursue a career in legal practice should apply for one of the relevant Bachelor of Laws programs. For further information, please contact the Academic Program Advisor for the Bachelor of Laws as noted below.

The Music major provides students from outside the Music program with a comprehensive introduction to current practice in the fields of music, performance and sound production for sound design, composition and performance. Foundation level subjects examine the fundamentals of music performance, acoustics, stereo recording and mixing, MIDI systems and sequencing, sound synthesis, and composition utilising environmental sound. Technical concepts are contextualised within a survey of electroacoustic music and sonic arts practice. Students will also examine studio techniques, new performance technologies, and composition and design for screen media.

The Public Relations major provides a thorough grounding in the skills and knowledge required in the profession of public relations. Areas of study include strategies and tactics, event management, issues and crisis management, digital and social communication, account and client management, campaign development and evaluation, and an industry internship. The major focuses on the role of the public relations practitioner (both in-house and consultancy) and provides a theoretical framework of the industry. Students engage with both theory and practical projects, and engage with industry throughout the program.

The Screen Media major provides students with fundamental skills and knowledge in screen media. Areas of study include the exploration of different screen genres and approaches, practical hands-on experience creating commercial, narrative and documentary projects, enhancing screen content using animation and visual effects, plus the application of immersive augmented/virtual reality. This major enables professional communicators to effectively create impactful content in a range of diverse industries (for example within a corporation or for their own business, or within a Public Relations/Advertising Agency).

Career Opportunities

As a graduate of this degree, you can look forward to a broad range of exciting career opportunities in different sectors and industries. Below are some examples of the possible careers you can pursue with this degree:

  • Writer
  • Market researcher
  • Advertising 
  • Creative Director
  • Photographer
  • Media producer
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Alumni

"Extremely insightful and enjoyable program where you are able to obtain real-world skills and knowledge of a constantly evolving industry."

— Rachael Horne, Bachelor of Creative Industries

B Psychological and Social Sciences

Entry requirements for domestic students

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website. Find out more here.

Admission

Students are admitted on the basis of their ATAR score.

In addition, applicants wishing to pursue a major in Music will be selected by one of three methods:

  1. Attain an HSC Music result in band 4 or above. No audition is required.
  2. Hold the following AMEB or equivalent (e.g. Trinity College) qualification:
    1. PASS standard (minimum) of 6th Grade Performance (instrument or voice) AND
    2. PASS standard (minimum) of 4th Grade musicianship and/or theory.
      No audition is required.
  3. Attend an audition in person as a performer and/or composer. Applicants applying as a composer will need to bring recordings and/or scores of original compositions to the audition. After applying to UAC or Directly to Western applicants are required to book an audition online.

If not auditioning, applicants wishing to pursue a Music major will need to upload their supporting documentation (e.g. AMEB certificates demonstrating level of achievement in performance and musicianship and/or music theory).

Please consult the handbook for more information.

B Psychological and Social Sciences

Entry requirements for international students

**The Part-time option is not available to International Students on a Student Visa.

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.

All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.  

International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Please consult the handbook for more information.

Indicative annual fee

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A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is one that is subsidised by the Commonwealth and applicable only to Domestic students. This means that the Australian Government pays part of your fees towards your program, therefore reducing your program fees, and the remaining amount is paid by you, this is considered your Student Contribution.

To work out how much your Student Contribution will be before you study, you will first need to find out the Student Contribution band your subjects fit into based on their general discipline area.

You can then calculate your student contributions to work out the total amount of your contribution.

The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) is a range of loans introduced by the Australian Government from 2005 to provide fee payment assistance to eligible students. Loans are for Australian citizens studying in Australia or overseas. Permanent residents who hold a humanitarian visa are also eligible if studying in Australia.

If eligible you may be able to defer all or part of your Student Contribution through the HECS-HELP loan program. You may also be eligible for OS-HELP if undertaking studies overseas.

New Zealand citizens and holders of an Australian permanent resident visa (other than an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) are generally not entitled to HECS-HELP assistance. If you are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident your Student Contribution amount must be paid in full by the census date.

However, the Australian Government has passed new legislation that changes the way some New Zealand citizens, who hold a Special Category Visa (SCV), studying in Australia will pay their fees. More information is available on the Changes to fees for New Zealand Citizens webpage.

Find out more about HECS-HELP

Find out more about OS-HELP

Apply as a Domestic Student

If you are a domestic student, you can apply through our Western Application system which is free of charge.

Domestic students are:

  • Australian Citizens
  • New Zealand Citizens
  • Australian permanent residents
  • Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders

Scholarships

Western Sydney University recognises and rewards students who demonstrate community engagement, outstanding academic ability and superior leadership skills. Donor-funded scholarships are also available, providing support for students based on both academic achievements and equity considerations. There are also scholarships available for specific degrees. 

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Apply as an International Student

If you are an international student, you can apply for free through our international student application system or through an agent representative.

International students are:

  • Not an Australian citizen;
  • Not a New Zealand citizen; and
  • Not a permanent resident of Australia.

If you are an international student completing the Australian HSC, IB or NCEA, apply direct via UAC International.

Admission to Western Sydney University is on the basis of meeting minimum academic and English language requirements. For more information about tuition fees and other costs, visit the Fees and Costs page.

Scholarships

When you apply to Western, you’re automatically assessed for a Scholarship, no additional application required! We’re offering multi-year scholarships (for up to 3 years) valued at $6,000 or $3,000 and even 50% off tuition fees. Scholarships are awarded on academic merit.

B Education (Early Childhood)

FAQs

We've gathered common questions to provide you with quick, clear answers about this program. Whether you're exploring admission requirements, details about the degree or career prospects, you'll find valuable insights here. If you need more information, our support team is ready to assist you on your journey to Western. You can find their details below.

The Bachelor of Creative Industries is accredited by professional organisations including the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and the Media Foundation of Australia (MFA).

The type of career you can go into with this program would depend on your chosen major. Graduates of this program are working at Google, Universal Music Group, McCann Worldwide, the Australian Ballet, SBS, ABC, The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Sydney Morning Herald, Sky News, Discovery Channel, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Beyond, and Hill and Knowlton, just to name a few. Career opportunities include writer, media producer, photographer, market researcher, and advertising creative director.

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Want to know more?

We're here to provide clarity.

If you're uncertain about your study journey, enquire about our program today and gain the confidence to move forward.

Australian students
1300 897 669

International students
+61 2 9852 5499

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Kingswood campus

OTHER STUDY OPTIONS

Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Creative Industries

Full Time: 4 Years (Available Part Time)*

Bachelor of Music / Bachelor of Creative Industries

Full Time: 4 Years (Available Part Time)*

Bachelor of Communication / Bachelor of Creative Industries

Full Time: 4 Years (Available Part Time)*

Diploma in Communication Extended - Creative Industries (Bachelor Pathway)

Full Time: 1.5 Years

The tuition fees quoted above are the fees for the normal full-time study load of the program (80 credit points) per annum. International students will be subject to a variable fee regime; i.e. enrolled students will be required to pay fees during their program based on the approved fee for each calendar year. Fee changes (if any) will occur at 1 January each calendar year. Students who extend their program past the normal finish date of the program will be required to pay additional fees based on the prevailing fee level. Western Sydney University is a multi-campus institution. The University reserves the right to alter the location of its programs between campuses and other locations as necessary. Students should be aware of the possibility of change of location for the whole or part of programs for which they enrol and should plan for the need to travel between Western Sydney campuses.