Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences)

Note

Students who commenced the Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) before 2022 can view their revised program of study here.

The Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) at UTS is designed for those passionate about influencing key areas of public policy like climate change, human rights or issues facing Indigenous Australians and migrants. In the course, students explore current social issues, investigate society and analyse the implications of change in Australian and global communities. In this practice-led course, students work with experienced practitioners to develop their skills as researchers, analysts, critical thinkers, effective communicators and advocates, and bring key policy issues to life with their interpersonal and public communication skills.

The Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) will provide students with a theoretical framework rooted in historical and philosophical perspectives on how societies function, bolstering this with applied learning in qualitative and quantitative research methods. Students learn how to tackle key social issues and make a real difference through research and communication, contributing to new and ongoing debates. They graduate with a multifaceted skillset to bring to diverse organisations striving for social change.

Make an enquiry

Innovation and Transdisciplinary program

Transdisciplinary Electives at UTS Employers tell us the skills our graduates acquire from undertaking a Transdisciplinary Elective sets them apart from the crowd. That’s why we have embedded this program into every undergraduate degree. All you need to do is choose the Elective that inspires you the most. Transdisciplinary Electives integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines, allowing you to approach complex problems from a range of perspectives. By combining methods and insights from various disciplines, transdisciplinary learning often leads to breakthrough ideas and creative innovations that may not be possible within the confines of a single discipline. If you find yourself rapt by the world of innovation – you can pair your core degree with a Diploma in Innovation, graduating with two qualifications in the same timeframe. In both instances, you’ll work on a real-world challenge presented by an industry partner organisation – partners who often create career pathways for our graduates. * Excludes students concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation.

UTS Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) video transcript

[Text] UTS Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences)

[Music]

Aerial shot of UTS campus

Shot of student interviewing at a business

[Text] Drive meaningful social change in business, government and more

[Text] Research social issues and analyse the outcomes of change

A student works on a laptop near the Alumni green

Students walk and talk across the Alumni green

[Text] Apply practical solutions to issues you care about

A student writes in a notebook

Students and staff walk down a staircase in Building 10

[Text] Combine with one of six other majors for cross-disciplinary study

[Text] Work in social policy, media, social services, advocacy, development, social and political sciences

[Text] Study social and political sciences

[Text] Copyright University of Technology Sydney 2023, CRICOS 00099F, TEQSA PRV12060

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.

Please make a selection:

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
Self and Society	52670	6
Histories of the Present	52671	6
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Stream choice	cbk92065	18

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Digital Literacies	54001	8
Comparing Indigenous Histories and Politics	52672	6
Select 12 credit points from the following:		12
Stream choice	cbk92065	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
Political Ideas and Change	52673	6
Global Economies	52674	6
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Second Major Choice	cbk92063	48
Electives	cbk92066	30

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Investigating Urban Change	52675	6
Select 8 credit points from the following:		8
Elective Choice	cbk92062	24
Select 12 credit points from the following:		12
Second Major Choice	cbk92063	48
Electives	cbk92066	30

Third year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Policy and Advocacy	52676	6
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Second Major Choice	cbk92063	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 Placement	52677	6
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Second Major Choice	cbk92063	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
Histories of the Present	52671	6
Comparing Indigenous Histories and Politics	52672	6
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Stream choice	cbk92065	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
Self and Society	52670	6
Select 12 credit points from the following:		12
Stream choice	cbk92065	18

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Global Economies	52674	6
Investigating Urban Change	52675	6
Select 12 credit points from the following:		12
Second Major Choice	cbk92063	48
Electives	cbk92066	30

Third year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Political Ideas and Change	52673	6
Policy and Advocacy	52676	6
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Second Major Choice	cbk92063	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 Placement	52677	6
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Second Major Choice	cbk92063	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.
Communicating Difference	54002	8
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Second Major Choice	cbk92063	48
Electives	cbk92066	30
Select 8 credit points from the following:		8
Elective Choice	cbk92062	24

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 $876. 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.

Career options include research in think tanks and academia, policy research, analysis and program management in government and private organisations, management of social services and welfare organisations, and advocacy in a variety of fields, such as environmental, Indigenous affairs, human rights, overseas development, and trade unions.

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

All subjects provide students with practical research skills that are applied in real-world settings. The final three subjects are project-based, allowing students to work on topical issues and be placed with a community, corporate or government organisation, or within NSW Parliament.

Students can also elect to undertake a professional internship in industry.

Course completion requirements

Requirement	Credit Points
STM91104 Communication core	24
MAJ09476 Social and Political Sciences	48
CBK92062 Elective Choice	24
CBK92061 Second Major/ Electives	48
Total	144

Additional information

Course duration

The course is offered on a three-year, full-time basis.

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 students

Visa 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 Communication 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 Communication students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For Communication students

Download a course guide

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Course Guides

UTS: Handbook

See the Bachelor of Communication (Social and Political Sciences) 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

Bachelor of Communication FAQ

Do you have a question about one of our courses? Find the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions about admission, careers, assessments, internships and more.
Undergraduate testimonials

Find out from our current students what it's like to study Education, Communication or International Studies at UTS.
Download a course guide

Download a handy course guide for all the latest info on courses offered through the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS).
FASS Lane blog

Gain some insider knowledge thanks to our handy student-written blogs and how-to guides.
Reputation and facilities

Find out how FASS courses rank, and explore our industry-standard equipment and facilities; from sound studios and animation suites to visual arts studios and science labs.
International opportunities

Find out about In-country study (ICS) programs FASS has on offer for students wanting to study overseas as part of their degree.

Domestic students

Before you apply

Here are a few important things for you to check out before you apply:

admission requirements for this course.
These can be found on the overview tab and there may also be additional entry requirements
required levels of English proficiency for the course you're interested in.
recognition of prior learning guidelines if you've undertaken previous study that might be credited towards your course at UTS.

How to apply

Domestic applicants can apply via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) (opens an external site)

UAC code(s): 600028 (Autumn session, Spring session, Spring session)

Make a note of the relevant UAC code before starting the UAC application.

Intake

Autumn Session 2025
Spring Session 2025

Important dates

NOVEMBER 2024
1	Closing date for change of preferences (November Round 1)
8	UAC offers released (November Round 1)
14	Closing date for change of preferences (November Round 2)
21	UAC offers released (November Round 2)
28	Closing date for change of preferences (December Round 1)

DECEMBER 2024
5	UAC offers released (December Round 1)
18	UTS Info Day
18	Closing date for change of preferences (December Round 2)
23	UAC offers released (December Round 2)

JANUARY 2025
2	Closing date for change of preferences (January Round 1)
9	UAC offers released (January Round 1)
16	Closing date for change of preferences (January Round 2)
23	UAC offers released (January Round 2)
30	Closing date for change of preferences (February Round 1)

FEBRUARY 2025
3 - 14	Autumn session orientation
6	UAC offers released (February Round 1)
7	Closing date for change of preferences (February Round 2)
13	UAC offers released (February Round 2)
17	Autumn session commences (main calendar)
27	Closing date for change of preferences (March Round 1)

MARCH 2025
3	Last day to enrol for Autumn session
6	UAC offers released (March Round 1)
20	Autumn census date – last day to withdraw from subjects or apply for leave of absence

Need more information?

Ask UTS

Scholarships, prizes and awards

Scholarships

For Communication students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For Communication students

International students

Before you apply

Here are a few important things for you to check out before you apply:

admission requirements for this course.
These can be found on the overview tab and there may also be additional entry requirements.
required levels of English proficiency for the course you’re interested in.
recognition of prior learning guidelines if you’ve undertaken previous study that might be credited towards your course at UTS.

You can meet an international student advisor at one of our events worldwide to ask questions and submit an application.

Important dates

Visit the UTS Handbook for full academic dates. Visit essential information for international students for the application closing dates.

How to apply

International applicants can apply to study through UTS International.

International applicants who are currently doing:

an Australian Year 12 qualification in or outside Australia
an International Baccalaureate, or
a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3

can apply through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) (opens external site).