FAQs – Your questions answered

What happens to my completed subjects? 

Your completed subjects up to Autumn 2022 will be carried across as 8cp subjects. Please note that any subjects completed in the Summer session 2021/2022 will be recorded as 8cp subjects.  

What are the subject equivalents that will be reflected on my study plan?

Students will still need to complete their major subject equivalents.  As these subject equivalents are 6cp instead of 8cp subjects, students may also be able to undertake another new subject in their major. To alleviate any shortfalls in your course, you will be able to undertake another subject that will benefit your studies which may include our two new 2cp subjects designed to assist your work transition.

Will I end up completing more subjects? 

As most subjects are 6cp subject equivalents, yes, you will end up having to do more subjects depending on your credit point shortfall. Each student will still need to meet 144 credit points for their course (non-combined course). The shortfall of credit points will depend on the year and session that you started your course. If you commenced in Autumn 2020, you will have fewer credit points to catch up than students who commenced in Autumn 2021. Check out the table on the website. 

How can I take on more subjects in a session? 

Depending on the shortfall, you may have to take on some additional subjects. If you have a 4cp shortfall then you will need to take on the two 2cp online self-directed subjects. Remember that you currently complete 24cp each session if you are following a full-time load as per the typical program. This equates to 3 x 8cp subjects. Next year, with the 6cp subjects, you may need to take on 4 subjects for a session, but still 24cps for that session. The exception (to the 24cp in one session) may be if you still need to complete the 8cp core subject Communicating Difference, or the Cross Disciplinary electives (3 x 8cp), along with major subjects. 

Will my course duration be extended? 

If you have followed the typical program for the year that you commenced, your course duration should not be extended. Please note that you can reduce load in a session by undertaking some electives in Summer session. 

6cp subject assessments versus 8cp assessments. What’s the difference? 

There are usually fewer assessments in a 6cp subject than in an 8cp. In some cases, you might have the same number of assignments but they will be smaller – for example, you might have a smaller word count, or have fewer elements to submit, like four news articles instead of six.  

How can I make up the credit point shortfall? 

If you have a credit point shortfall of 6cp across different parts of your study plan (e.g. 4cp first Major and 2cp second Major), you have the option of completing an additional new 6cp major subject on offer in each Discipline or a new 6cp elective.

If you have an 8cp shortfall across different parts of your study plan, you have a few options: take one 6cp new major subject and one elective 2cp subject; or take one 8cp elective subject from the elective bank; or take one 6cp elective from the elective bank and one 2cp elective.

You will need to submit an erequest nominating the subject or subjects you would like to use to fill the shortfall. You must meet the access conditions of the subjects nominated to fill the shortfall to be able to enrol.

If your shortfall is 4cps, then you will be able to undertake the two 2cp subjects to make up your shortfall.

How do I work out what my shortfall might be? 

Your study plan will be amended prior to 2022 enrolment opening. In the meantime, you can review your study plan and map it out for yourself. From 2022: 

Start with how many cps you have completed prior to Autumn 2022. 

Then work out your outstanding cps for the duration of your course. 

  • Each uncompleted major subject will be 6cp. 

  • Uncompleted core subjects will remain at 8cp. 

  • Uncompleted cross disciplinary electives will remain at 8cp. 

  • Uncompleted electives (students not completing second major) can be either 6cp or 8cp.  

Will the cost of my course now change with these changes? 

Fees are assessed per credit point. The course overall remains 144cp (or 240cp in the case of combined degrees). The fees in your course will either remain the same or, in some cases, may decrease.  

There are different systems in place, depending on when you started your course: 

  • If you commenced your studies prior to 2021, you will remain under the old fee structure and rates.  

  • For students who began in 2021 (when the government’s new fee structure was put in place), you may notice that some of the new 6cp subjects, for instance in Media Arts & Production or some electives, will be less expensive going forward. 

From 2022, new students can access 8 major subjects, yet I can only study the equivalent 6cp subject. Will I be able to also study the new subjects in the major? 

Any subjects you are yet to complete in your major will be replaced in your study plan with the new major subject equivalents. This means you will be doing these new subjects. In addition, if you have a shortfall of more that 6cp from 2022, then you will be able to undertake an additional major subject other than the major subjects deemed equivalent to your current 8cp major subjects. Below is a list of the two subjects in your major that you can choose to do if you have at least a 6cp shortfall once you’ve completed your other major subjects etc. Some may not be available to you because they may have been deemed too similar to one you’ve already done (an antirequisite). You’ll need to check this. 

JOURNALISM  52640 Media Law and Ethics  6cp
  52644 Visual Journalism  6cp
     
MEDIA ARTS & PRODUCTION  52650 Screen Story  6cp
  52656 Creative Project Development  6cp
     
PUBLIC COMMUNICATION  Advertising students - PR subjects  6cp
  PR students - Advertising subjects  6cp
     
SOCIAL & POLITICAL SCIENCES  52671 Histories of the Present  6cp
  52672 Comparing Indigenous Histories and Politics  6cp
     
CREATIVE WRITING  52650 Screen Story  6cp
  52694 Publishing Cultures  6cp
     
DIGITAL & SOCIAL MEDIA  52680 Digital Media Industries  6cp
  52684 Digital Activism  6cp

How do I find out more information on the new subjects?

Check out the 2022 online handbook for details of each of the new subjects. An easy way to check is by completing a search of the subjects in the alphabetical list in the handbook.

What about my elective options?

All students will still need to complete 24cp of cross disciplinary electives. This elective list will still consist of a list of 8cp subjects.

Students who have chosen not to complete a second major will be undertaking electives instead. These students will be able to choose from a list of 6cp and 8cp elective options. Please note that students will still need to complete 32cps of electives once they have completed their 16cp second major stream. There are also some 2cp subjects added to this list to make up any shortfall of credit points that students may have.

What are the 2cp subjects? 

We are introducing two 2cp subjects to assist students with the transition and the issues around shortfall of credit points. These subjects have been designed to enhance your soft skills for the workplace, to help you become more confident and practised in negotiating the complexities of work after graduation. 

These subjects will be delivered online and will be self-directed over a six week period. 

  • Active resilience in the workplace (2cps) 

  • Navigating workplace conflict (2cps) 

Please note that these subjects will only be offered until the end of 2023. Students should enrol accordingly as they will not be available in 2024.

I am an Insearch/UTS College student. Will these changes affect my study plan?

Yes, there will be some changes to your study plan. Please review the revised programs of study for students who previously joined us from Insearch/UTS College. (students who joined us in 2021)

I am in the current version of the Bachelor of Communication course and would like to move across to the new version of the Bachelor of Communication course. What do I need to do?

It is strongly recommended that you remain in your current course version. Subject equivalents are in place in order for you to complete the course that you commenced in. You will also be able to access the new subjects in your current course version.

I am in a combined BComm course. Will these changes affect me? 

Yes, these changes will affect the Communication component of your course. 6cp subject equivalents will be in place for your major subjects. Core and cross disciplinary electives will remain at 8cp.

I am in the Bachelor of Communication (Creative Writing) M Teaching in Secondary Education. Will these changes affect me? 

Yes, the 96cp of your Communication degree in this combined course will be affected by these changes. As with students doing a single degree, your study plan will change to reflect the new subjects that are equivalent to the subjects you have yet to do to complete your course. The Creative Writing major subjects will be 6cp subjects, but the core stay at 8cp and so do the cross disciplinary electives. 

I am in the combined Bachelor of Communication course and wish to drop the combined component to the course. How do I proceed?

Students in a combined course wishing to drop Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (BAIS) or the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence in Innovation (BCII) should remain in their combined course and submit an ‘Internal Course Transfer – Graduating’ within the final session of completing their course. 

I am in the Bachelor of Communication course and wish to add the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (BAIS) or the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence in Innovation (BCII) to my degree. How do I proceed?

Check out how to do this on the website.

Where can I find information on the typical program that I need to follow?

Please check the Undergraduate Bachelor of Communication transition arrangements page as programs of study have been provided to assist with enrolment. The programs are based on the assumption that students have been following the typical program for the Year and Session that they commenced in as outlined in the UTS Handbook

I was unable to attend the information session held on 24th August. Is there a recording?

We are sorry that you were not able to attend the information session. Hopefully the information on this page can assist you with any questions that you have. (A recording will be made available soon) Meanwhile, check out the presentations for each major below.

I am having issues with enrolling for 2022. Where can I get assistance?

If you can’t find an answer to your questions here, please Ask UTS as per the normal process.

  • Phone: 1300 ASKUTS (1300 275 887) OR +61 2 9514 1222 (outside Australia)
  • Online: ask.uts.edu.au

 

 

 

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.