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Bachelor of Communication (Journalism)
Note
Students who commenced the Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) before 2022 can view their revised program of study here.
For those interested in investigating world issues like politics, climate change or global relations, and sharing them with the public, journalism is an exciting and broad career option. It combines skills in writing, production, research and critical thinking to develop students’ capacities to frame world issues and affairs in accessible and relevant ways. UTS teaches journalism on the principle that it is a public good, and that any functional society requires a free and robust media. We encourage our graduates to be critical thinkers and train them in the ethical, intellectual, and political foundations needed to start their professional lives.
Situated in the heart of Sydney in close proximity to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) is a practice-based course, providing opportunities to engage with real reporting through UTS Central News and industry leaders like the ABC, The Guardian and more. The Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) gives students a crucial understanding of the role journalists play in a democracy, with journalism providing a forum for public debate and giving voice to all communities. Through hands-on practice, students also gain the skills in production, digital content creation, news reporting and analysis and writing required to excel in this diverse industry. These skills can be applied in various media platforms, including online, audio, television, video, print and social media.
Innovation and Transdisciplinary program
Transdisciplinarity and Innovation at UTS
All UTS students have the opportunity to develop distinctive capabilities around transdisciplinary thinking and innovation through the TD School. Transdisciplinary education at UTS brings together great minds from different disciplines to explore ideas that improve the way we live and work in the world. These offerings are unique to UTS and directly translate to many existing and emerging roles and careers.
Diploma in InnovationThe Diploma in Innovation (C20060) teaches innovation, supports personal transformation and provides the hard skills needed to support the inventors and inventions of the future. Students come out of the Diploma in Innovation, with the hard skills to create and support sectoral and societal transformation. Graduates are able to fluently integrate ideas, across professional disciplines and are inventors of the future.
All UTS undergraduate students (with the exception of students concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation) can apply for the Diploma in Innovation upon admission in their chosen undergraduate degree. It is a complete degree program that runs in parallel to any undergraduate degree. The course is offered on a three-year, part-time basis, with subjects running in 3-week long intensive blocks in July, December and February sessions. More information including a link to apply is available at https://dipinn.uts.edu.au.
Transdisciplinary electives programTransdisciplinary electives broaden students' horizons and supercharge their problem-solving skills, helping them to learn outside, beyond and across their degrees. Students enrolled in an undergraduate course that includes electives can choose to take a transdisciplinary subject (with the exception of students concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation). More information about the TD Electives program is available here.
Study plan
Typical course programs are shown below for students commencing in either Autumn or Spring session who are completing 8 credit point elective subjects. Students also have the option to complete 6 credit point elective subjects under CBK92062 Elective Choice instead.
All students choose a second major stream when enrolling in their first session. This 18 credit point stream consists of three major subjects from another major (excluding Media Arts and Production).
Students who choose not to continue with their second major choice can continue in their course by choosing 30 credit points of electives (i.e., five 6 credit point subjects) - this should be requested via eRequest.
First year
| Autumn session | Subject Code | Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects. |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship and Communication | 54000 | 8 |
| Media Law and Ethics | 52640 | 6 |
| News Now | 52641 | 6 |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6 | |
| Stream choice | cbk92087 | 18 |
| Spring session | Subject Code | Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects. |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Literacies | 54001 | 8 |
| Multimedia Features | 52642 | 6 |
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12 | |
| Stream choice | cbk92087 | 18 |
Second year
| Autumn session | Subject Code | Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects. |
|---|---|---|
| Communicating Difference | 54002 | 8 |
| Sound Journalism | 52643 | 6 |
| Digital Journalism Research | 52645 | 6 |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6 | |
| Second Major Choice | cbk92081 | 48 |
| Electives | cbk92066 | 30 |
| Spring session | Subject Code | Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects. |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Journalism | 52644 | 6 |
| Select 8 credit points from the following: | 8 | |
| Elective Choice | cbk92062 | 24 |
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12 | |
| Second Major Choice | cbk92081 | 48 |
| Electives | cbk92066 | 30 |
Third year
| Autumn session | Subject Code | Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects. |
|---|---|---|
| Investigations, Data and Collaboration | 52646 | 6 |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6 | |
| Second Major Choice | cbk92081 | 48 |
| Electives | cbk92066 | 30 |
| Select 8 credit points from the following: | 8 | |
| Elective Choice | cbk92062 | 24 |
| Spring session | Subject Code | Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects. |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Project | 52647 | 6 |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6 | |
| Second Major Choice | cbk92081 | 48 |
| Electives | cbk92066 | 30 |
| Select 8 credit points from the following: | 8 | |
| Elective Choice | cbk92062 | 24 |
Honours
The Bachelor of Communication (Honours) (C09047) is available with an additional year of full-time study for eligible students.
First year
| Spring session | Subject Code | Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects. |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Literacies | 54001 | 8 |
| News Now | 52641 | 6 |
| Multimedia Features | 52642 | 6 |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6 | |
| Stream choice | cbk92087 | 18 |
Second year
| Autumn session | Subject Code | Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects. |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship and Communication | 54000 | 8 |
| Media Law and Ethics | 52640 | 6 |
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12 | |
| Stream choice | cbk92087 | 18 |
| Spring session | Subject Code | Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects. |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Journalism | 52644 | 6 |
| Select 12 credit points from the following: | 12 | |
| Second Major Choice | cbk92081 | 48 |
| Electives | cbk92066 | 30 |
| Select 8 credit points from the following: | 8 | |
| Elective Choice | cbk92062 | 24 |
Third year
| Autumn session | Subject Code | Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects. |
|---|---|---|
| Sound Journalism | 52643 | 6 |
| Digital Journalism Research | 52645 | 6 |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6 | |
| Second Major Choice | cbk92081 | 48 |
| Electives | cbk92066 | 30 |
| Select 8 credit points from the following: | 8 | |
| Elective Choice | cbk92062 | 24 |
| Spring session | Subject Code | Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects. |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Project | 52647 | 6 |
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6 | |
| Second Major Choice | cbk92081 | 48 |
| Electives | cbk92066 | 30 |
| Select 8 credit points from the following: | 8 | |
| Elective Choice | cbk92062 | 24 |
Fourth year
| Autumn session | Subject Code | Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects. |
|---|---|---|
| Select 6 credit points from the following: | 6 | |
| Second Major Choice | cbk92081 | 48 |
| Electives | cbk92066 | 30 |
| Investigations, Data and Collaboration | 52646 | 6 |
| Communicating Difference | 54002 | 8 |
Course fees
For relevant fee information, please choose from the following:
Local student
All students at UTS pay tuition fees to contribute towards the cost of their studies.
In 2024 all offers made to domestic undergraduate students will be for Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP), which means that the Australian government makes a substantial contribution towards the cost of your education, and you pay the balance through student contributions.
The amount you pay depends on your area of study and the number of credit points (cp) in which you enrol. At UTS 48 credit points is considered to be one Equivalent Full Time Study Load (EFTSL).
The table to the right shows the amount a student can expect to pay for one year of full-time study (1.0 EFTSL).
Students can choose to pay their student contribution upfront, or if eligible, can defer their fees through HECS-HELP.
In addition to tuition fees, students are required to pay a Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). The purchase of textbooks and other course materials may also result in additional cost.
You can calculate your student contribution as a percentage of the amounts shown on the table. Fee rates are divided into four bands covering broad discipline areas. It is important to note that a particular subject within a course may fall within a different band.
For example, if you are enrolled in a 6-credit point Architecture subject, your contribution would be 6/48 x $9,314 = $1,164.
Student contribution amounts for 2025 commencing students
| 2025 student contribution - Area of Study | Amount for 48 cp |
|---|---|
| Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Communications and Society and Culture | $16,992 |
| Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science | $13,241 |
| Allied Health, Other Health, Built Environment, Computing, Visual & Performing Arts, Professional Pathway Psychology, Professional Pathway Social Work, Engineering, Surveying, Environmental Studies, Science and Pathology | $9,314 |
| Education, Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, English, Mathematics, Statistics, Nursing or Foreign Languages and Agriculture | $4,627 |
International student
Tuition fees for international undergraduate students can be found using tuition fees search.
Tuition fees must be paid in advance each session and are subject to annual increase. Fees for future year(s) published in fees search, whilst unlikely to change, are estimates only. UTS makes every effort to provide up to date future year(s) fee estimates and to limit any changes, however, UTS reserves the right to vary fees for future year(s) at any time.
For this course, the cost per credit point for 2025 is $1007. The total credit points are 144.
All international students should familiarise themselves with the following documents:
- Protocol on refund of fees for international students - contains the refund of fees information for international students.
- Tuition Protection Service - designed to ensure that students receive the tuition they have paid for
In addition to tuition fees, students may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). Textbooks and other course materials will also result in additional costs.
UTS Alumni save 10%: alumni.uts.edu.au/advantage
For further information on costs related to your study at UTS, visit the international students' fees information page.
Careers
To increase career flexibility, students can add a second major from five of the other majors offered in the Bachelor of Communication, and build further skills and portfolios that equip them for a range of work options in media and communication. These courses give students practical and transferrable skills for the expanding media industries.
Graduates leave with access to many career options, including reporter, producer, editor, social media editor, sub-editor, feature and freelance journalist, investigative journalist, researcher, and print, broadcast and online media content producer. In areas related to journalism, graduates may wish to pursue roles such as media advisors, communication consultants, content producers, or work in government and non-government organisations in a communication role.
Course structure
Course structure explained
Students must complete 144 credit points consisting of 24 credit points of core subjects, a 48-credit-point major, a potential 48-credit-point second major, and 24 credit points of electives.
Industrial training/professional practice
Students take part in relevant and applied journalism tasks throughout the course, and must undertake a professional internship with a media organisation.
Course completion requirements
| Requirement | Credit Points |
|---|---|
| STM91104 Communication core | 24 |
| MAJ09478 Journalism | 48 |
| CBK92062 Elective Choice | 24 |
| CBK92093 Second Major/ Electives | 48 |
| Total | 144 |
Additional information
Course duration
The course is offered on a three-year, full-time basis.
Full time, on campus
Admission requirements
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL iBT: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International studentsVisa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
Check to see if there are additional admission requirements for this course.
Additional information relating to this course, including the ATAR profile of domestic students who commenced this course in Autumn 2022, is located under UTS' admissions requirements, alongside information relating to the commencing student cohort who were enrolled in this course past the Autumn 2022 census date.
If you don't meet the admission requirements for this course, there may be alternative pathways to help you gain admission.
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential to the successful completion of a course. For more information about inherent requirements and where prospective and current students can get assistance and advice regarding these, see the UTS Inherent requirements page.
Prospective and current students should carefully read the Inherent Requirements Statement below and consider whether they might experience challenges in successfully completing this course.
UTS will make reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional experiences, course related work experience and other course activities to facilitate maximum participation by students with disabilities, carer responsibilities, and religious or cultural obligations in their courses.
For course specific information see the Bachelor of Music and Sound Design, Bachelor of Communication (Media Arts and Production), Bachelor of Communication (Journalism), Bachelor of Animation Production Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement.
ATAR and selection ranks
To find out further information regarding ATAR and selection ranks from previous applicants who received an offer to this course, please visit our Admissions Stats Tool
Year 12 adjustment factor scheme
To see a list of courses where HSC subjects provide adjustment factors, please refer to the Year 12 adjustment factors page.
Alternative entry
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has established credit recognition packages with the following institutions:
- UTS College: Diploma of Communication
- Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore
- Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore
- Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore
Scholarships and prizes
Scholarships
For Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) students
For Communication students
- ARC Linkage Project in digital-twin driven prognostics for the mining industry
- Crescent Leadership Scholarship
- Ericsson Technology Scholarship
- Global Exchange Scholarship
- International Research Training Program Scholarship (IRTP)
- Mentoring of Women in Engineering and IT Scholarship
- RACE for 2030 CRC Industry PhD Scholarship
- Rosemary Johnston HDR Scholarship
- Ross Milbourne Elite Athlete Scholarship
- Telstra Enterprise Certitude Scholarship
- Thrive: Next Generation Graduates - PhD – Social Science and Policy
- UTS Diploma to Degree Pathway Scholarship
- UTS Diploma to Degree Scholarship for High School Graduates
- UTS Housing Resident Networker Scholarship
- UTS Scholarship for European Undergraduate Students
- UTS Undergraduate Tuition Fee Scholarship
- UTS-Vietnam Government Project 89 PhD Scholarship
- Wikipedia and Australian history and events
Only for international students
- Australia Awards Scholarships (Australian Government Scholarships)
- Diploma to Degree Scholarship
- Scholarship for Gaokao Students from People’s Republic of China
- Undergraduate Academic Excellence International Scholarship
- UTS Academic Excellence International Scholarship
- UTS Academic Merit International Scholarship
- UTS Academic Merit International Scholarship – South Asia
- UTS Chinese Undergraduate Tuition Fee Scholarship
- UTS College to UTS Pathways Scholarship
- UTS Diploma to Degree Pathway Scholarship (China)
- UTS GCE A Level and International Baccalaureate (IB) Scholarship
- UTS Humanitarian Scholarship
- UTS MACC Undergraduate Scholarship
- UTS Study Abroad Excellence Scholarship
- UTS Vice-Chancellor’s International Undergraduate Scholarship
For all domestic students
- Elite Athlete Program
- Endeavour Cheung Kong Student Exchange Program Scholarships
- Equal Access Scholarship (Institution Equity Scholarship)
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Undergraduate Student Merit Scholarship
- Lawrence Vidoni Memorial Scholarship
- New Colombo Plan Mobility Program
- New Colombo Plan Scholarships Program
- Ross Milbourne Research Scholarship in Economics
- Scape Accommodation Scholarship
- Tertiary Access Payment (TAP)
- The Gradwell Brungs Scholarship
- The Wanago Access Scholarship for Young Women
- Vice-Chancellor's Merit Scholarship
- Vice-Chancellor's Outstanding Achievement Scholarship
Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students
- Bruce and Carol Kendall Undergraduate Memorial Scholarship
- Indigenous Education Costs Scholarship
- Indigenous Relocation and Accommodation Scholarship
- Jumbunna Accommodation Scholarship
- Jumbunna Commencement Scholarship
- Jumbunna Honours Scholarship
- LEVO Indigenous Technology Scholarship
- The GO Foundation Indigenous Scholarship
- Transgrid Indigenous Scholarship for Engineering and Information Technology
- UTS Council Indigenous Scholarship
Prizes and awards
For Communication students
- Alan Chappel Engineering Innovation Prize
- Australian Steel Institute (ASI) Undergraduate Design Award
- Best Capstone Poster Prize
- CommBank & Telstra UTS Best Venture Prize
- Dame Mary Gilmore Memorial Prize in Journalism
- Daniel Sawicki Prize for Outstanding New Media Talent
- Dean's Merit List for Academic Excellence (Business)
- Dean’s Capstone Presentation Prize
- Doug & Silvia Thompson Memorial Prize
- dwp Design Excellence Prize
- Engineering Undergraduate Achievement Prize
- Gareth Ivory Memorial Prize in Journalism
- George J Haggarty Civil Engineering Prize
- Guy Morrison Prize for Excellence
- Henry Davis York Prize
- Industrial Relations Society of NSW Prize for Excellence in Industrial Relations Undergraduate Study
- Information Technology Undergraduate Achievement Prize
- Jack Kaganer Prize
- King Living Foundation 1st Year Achievement Prize
- Lance Jolly Prize
- Robert Greenwood QC Memorial Prize
- Rodney Gray Prize for Internal Communication
- SIEMENS ‘CONTROL SYSTEMS’ PRIZE
- Sir Asher Joel Prize for Public Communication
- Teachers Mutual Bank Rural Student Placement Prize
- The Carla Zampatti Foundation Design Award
- The Lawrie Fitzgerald Memorial Prize in Innovation and Creativity
- The Sanjin Mujic Memorial Award
- The Toby’s Estate Closed Loop Design Prize
- The Victor E Shalala Memorial Achievement Award
- Trevor Buchner Design Prize
- UTS Anthology Writing Prize
- UTS Insearch International Student Prize in Accounting
- UTS Insearch International Student Prize in Business
- UTS Insearch International Student Prize in International Business
- Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation Regional Journalism Prize
Professional recognition
- Graduates are eligible to apply for professional level membership of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA).
- Students are eligible for student membership of the MEAA and access to the MEAA, Women in Media and Walkley Foundation network which provides skill development programs.
- The course is recognised by the MEAA and the Australian Press Council.
Download a course guide
UTS: Handbook
See the Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) in the UTS: Handbook for comprehensive course details.
Information for international students
Find out about support services, the Australian education system, accommodation and more to help you get the most out of your study at UTS.
Part of UTS Arts and Social Sciences
