Bachelor of Creative Industries (Pathway to Master of Communication)

Degree Level Undergraduate

Years

Australian students

Start Date
February
July

Campus
City West

Duration
3 year(s) full-time

Mode
On-campus/Online

Program Code
DBCI

SATAC Code
424953 (Internal)

Study as
Full-time or part-time

Fees
Commonwealth Supported

Entry Requirements
Selection Rank (Internal): 65.00 (for 2024)
Selection Rank (Guaranteed): 65.00 (for 2025)
TAFE/RTO (Guaranteed): DIP
View full entry requirements

Prerequisites
None

Assumed Knowledge
None

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.

Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.

Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they
fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:

Recent secondary education
- Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
- Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
- Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points
Applicants must meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C-.

For some programs, applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on grades for their year 12 subjects.

OR

Higher education study
- Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or
- Complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above
OR

Vocational Education and Training (VET)
- Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Certificate IV or above
OR

Work and life experience
- Qualify for Special Entry, or
- Complete a 12-month UniSA Foundation Studies program, or
- Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past
Essential requirements for admission
Achieve a GPA of 4.0 or above on completion of their second year of study (72 units) to progress onto the postgraduate courses in the third year of the program.
Prerequisites
None

Assumed Knowledge
None
View full entry requirements Hide full entry requirements

Aim

The Bachelor of Creative Industries will provide a creatively focussed and modular structured program to students interested in a career within the creative industries sector or those who aspire to develop their own creative start-up businesses. Students can design their own degree, combining complementary creative and business learning areas that are aligned to their future career plans.

The professional focus of the Bachelor of Creative Industries program will provide students with relevant course content, practical creative and business skills and work experience through student placements and projects, designed to provide enhanced graduate outcomes and smooth transition to employment in the Creative Industries sector.

Content & Structure

The Bachelor of Creative Industries features Industry Majors from a range of creative sectors. These Industry Majors are anchored throughout the program by six core courses that will provide students with the necessary historical and theoretical background of the creative industries, opportunities for community and industry engagement, crucial business and entrepreneurial skills relevant to the creative sector. It will also provide students with an opportunity to gain hands on industry experience through placements and interdisciplinary projects.

Students will select from 6 core courses (27 units), 2 elective courses (9 units), 4 masters courses (18 units), and then choose 1 x Industry Major (36 units) and 1 x minor (18 units) for the remaining 72 units:

The Industry Major options for the Bachelor of Creative Industries are: Animation and Visual Effects, Comicbook Creation, Communication and Media, Contemporary Art Studies, Creative Writing and Literature, Digital Media, Festivals, Film and Television, Games Design and Production, Performing Arts, Social Media and Screen Studies. Additional major and minor options are listed in the Program Notes below.

Students will build a diverse and progressive portfolio of work throughout their program to aid the transition into a Creative Industries career after graduation.

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The University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia are combining their strengths to create a new university for the future, Adelaide University, opening in January 2026.

From 4 August 2025, the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia will no longer be accepting applications for new students.

Apply now to study with Adelaide University in 2026.

What courses you'll study

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units	Reference
FIRST YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2, or 3)
Introduction to Creative Industries	COMM 1081	4.5
Industry Major		4.5	Note(s): 1
Minor		4.5	Note(s): 2,3
Elective 1		4.5	Note(s): 4
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Match Studio Projects	ARCH 2027	4.5
Industry Major		4.5	Note(s): 1
Minor		4.5	Note(s): 2,3
Elective 2		4.5	Note(s): 4
SECOND YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2, or 3)
Freelance and Enterprise for the Creative Industries	COMM 2103	4.5
Industry Major		4.5	Note(s): 1
Industry Major		4.5	Note(s): 1
Minor		4.5	Note(s): 2,3
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5, or 6)
Creative Spaces and Places	COMM 2101	4.5
Industry Major		4.5	Note(s): 1
Industry Major		4.5	Note(s): 1
Minor		4.5	Note(s): 2,3
THIRD YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2, or 3)
Creative Ventures	COMM 3086	4.5
OR
Enterprise Design and Value Creation	BUSS 3102	4.5
Industry Major		4.5	Note(s): 1	Rule(s): 1
Professional Communication	COMM 5081	4.5
Communication and Media: Advanced	COMM 4005	4.5
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5, or 6)
Internship or Project	COMM 3063	4.5
Industry Major		4.5	Note(s): 1	Rule(s): 1
Managing Digital Design	COMM 5068	4.5
Campaigns and Crises	COMM 5005	4.5

Majors, Sub-majors & Minors

Event Management

Human Resource Management

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Management

Marketing

Tourism Management

Digital Media

Film and Television

Journalism

Communication and Media

Creative Writing and Literature

Performing Arts

Games

Social Media

Screen Studies

Cultural Studies

Design Studies

Contemporary Art Studies

Comicbook Creation

Animation and Visual Effects

Games Design and Production

Festivals

Aboriginal Studies
Rules & notes

Rules

1. Courses of the Industry Major in the final year must be at Level 3 (Advanced).

2. In order to retain enrolment in the Pathway to Master of Communication, students are required to attain a minimum GPA of 4.0 at the end of second year.

Notes

1. Students undertake one Industry Major from the selection: Animation and Visual Effects, Comicbook Creation, Communication and Media, Creative Writing and Literature, Contemporary Art Studies, Digital Media, Festivals, Film and Television, Games Design and Production, Performing Arts, Social Media or Screen Studies.

2. Students undertake a second learning area from the Industry Major list above or the following recommended list: Cultural Studies, Design Studies, English Language, Event Management, Games, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Journalism, Marketing, Sports Management or Tourism Management. Information regarding these learning areas can be found at the Majors, Sub Majors, Minors page - http://study.unisa.edu.au/msm/.

3. The Hawke Ambassador International Volunteer Experience (18-units) or Hawke Professional Experience (9-units) can be incorporated into the Bachelor of Creative Industries with approval from the Program Director.

4. All students complete two 4.5 unit electives - See undergraduate elective courses.

5. The following options cannot be selected as major combinations: Creative Writing and Literature with Comicbook Creation; or a combination of any two of Screen Studies, Film and Television or Animation and Visual Effects.

6. Students wishing to select two of the following majors: Film and Television, Screen Studies and/or Animation and Visual Effects should consider the Bachelor of Film and Television (MBME) program.