Pathways to Communication

At UTS, we offer a Bachelor of Communication, with majors available in:

• Creative Writing
• Digital and Social Media
• Journalism
• Media Arts and Production
• Public Communication
• Social and Political Sciences

Each major has a specific ATAR that varies each year. However, in previous years, majors such as Creative Writing and Social and Political Sciences have had ATARs that are lower than others. With the Bachelor of Communication, all students select a second major once they commence the course. This means students have the opportunity to study a major with a typically higher ATAR, such as Journalism or Public Communication, even if they don't meet the ATAR requirements. How does it work? Students complete one subject from each major each semester. At the end of their first year, students who meet the minimum GPA can continue to study the second major stream. Students who do not meet the minimum GPA are able to select electives instead. Please note, the only exception to this pathway is Media Arts and Production, which is not available as a second major. 

Example

A student wants to study Journalism (which had a 2019 intake ATAR of 83.15) but receives an ATAR of 72.30 and is not made an offer. Instead, they receive an offer to their second preference of Creative Writing, which typically has a lower ATAR requirement (72.10 for the 2019 intake). The student accepts the offer and selects Journalism as their second major stream. After the first year of study, they receive a GPA of 2.90 and can continue to study both Creative Writing and Journalism. 

To find out more about this pathway option, visit our Second Major FAQ. 

UTS Year 12 Adjustment Factors (previously known as Year 12 Bonus Points) awards points towards a student's selection rank, based on their performance in selected high school subjects that are relevant to the course they have applied for. Students applying for the Bachelor of Communication can receive up to a total of 5 points for performing well in subjects such as English, Economics and History. 

Students do not need to complete a separate application for this scheme. If a student selects a UTS course that awards adjustments as one of their UAC preferences,  UTS will automatically apply any applicable adjustment factors. 

Please note, students must receive a minimum ATAR of 69.00 to be eligible for adjustment factors at UTS. 

Example

A student wants to study a Bachelor of Communication (Media Arts and Production) and receives an ATAR of 85.50. The student is automatically awarded 5 adjustment factors; 3 for getting a Band 6 in Ancient History and 2 for a Band 5 in English Advanced. This increases the student's selection rank to 90.50 and they receive an offer to the course (the ATAR for 2019 intake was 89.00). 

Visit the adjustment factors table to see which HSC subjects are eligible for adjustment factors for at UTS. UAC provides details of the NSW HSC subjects that are comparable to interstate HSC subjects (opens an external site) and to the International Baccalaureate (IB) (opens an external site).

UTS College, our premium pathway provider, offers a Diploma of Communication. Students who complete the Diploma may be eligible to receive 48 credit points towards a UTS Bachelor of Communication course. UTS has a guaranteed entry scheme for domestic students who complete the College diploma and achieve the required minimum GPA. If domestic students do not meet the GPA, they still have the opportunity to compete with other non-current school leavers for an offer at UTS. 

Students wanting to study a Bachelor of Communication with majors in Public Communication or Digital and Social Media can fast-track straight to their second year of the degree. For other majors, the 48 credit points apply to the duration of the degree, allowing for a reduced workload.

Example

A student does not receive an offer to a UTS Communication course and instead decides to complete a Diploma of Communication at UTS College. They finish the diploma in 12 months and apply for a Bachelor of Communication (Digital and Social Media) for the following year. As they meet the guaranteed domestic UTS entry GPA for that course (currently 3.25 on a 7-point scale), they are able to transfer straight into the second year of the degree. 

Find out more about the UTS College Diploma of Communication (opens external link). 

Students can also gain entry to UTS if they've completed a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification, such as an AQF diploma, advanced diploma or the Tertiary Preparation Certificate (TPC) through TAFE or another college. 

You should consider completing a diploma or advanced diploma course at TAFE or a private college if you:

• don’t get accepted to UTS straight from school,
• or are unsure about the degree that you want to study.

We also offer recognition of prior learning to students who are transferring from another course. Recognition of prior learning could fast-track completion of your degree by crediting you for UTS subjects, on the basis of your previous studies. We publish some of our standard recognition of prior learning agreements through the recognition of prior learning database, but we also consider applications on a case-by-case basis. 

Visit our Hard Work Deserves Credit page for information and advice around how you can turn your VET studies into a UTS degree.  

If disadvantageous circumstances have impacted on your vocational education, you may also be eligible for adjustment points as part of our educational access scheme inpUTS.

UNISTART is a new direct entry program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who want to gain entry into a university degree.

The program offers you total development – culturally, personally and academically at no cost to you. UNISTART will ease you into campus life and give you a realistic taste of what university life is all about.

Consider UNISTART if you:

• are mature aged with a wealth of life and work experience and you’re looking for new opportunities
• have completed TAFE or vocational qualifications and are looking for further study opportunities
• have not completed year 12
• have completed year 12 but do not have a university entrance score.

UTS also offers the Jumbunna Pathways Program for prospective undergraduate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. This program is an opportunity for students to illustrate their capability for higher education via a testing, assessment and interview process. Selection is also based on factors including previous life, education and work experience.

For more details, please visit the Jumbunna Pathways Program webpage.