Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation

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.

Taking a transdisciplinary approach, the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation utilises multiple perspectives from diverse fields, integrating a range of industry experiences, real-world projects and self-initiated proposals, equipping graduates to address the wicked problems, complex challenges and untapped opportunities in today's world.

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.

By focusing on the high-level conceptual thinking and problem-solving practices that lead to the development of innovative, creative and entrepreneurial outcomes, students of the combined degree also gain leading edge capabilities that are highly valued in the globalised world, including dealing with critical and creative thinking, invention, complexity, innovation, future scenario building and entrepreneurship, and the ability to work on their own across disciplines. These creative intelligence competencies enable graduates to navigate a rapidly changing world.

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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 Innovation

The 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 program

Transdisciplinary 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

The following example shows a typical full-time program.

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

July session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Problems to Possibilities	81511	8

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

December session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Creative Practice and Methods	81512	8

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
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Second Major Choice	cbk92081	48
Electives	cbk92066	30
Digital Journalism Research	52645	6

July session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Past, Present, Future of Innovation	81513	8

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

February session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Creativity and Complexity	81514	8

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

July session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Leading Innovation	81515	8

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

December session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Initiatives and Entrepreneurship	81516	8
Innovation Internship A	81522	6

Fourth year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Industry Innovation Project	81531	12

March 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
Envisioning Futures	81521	6
New Knowledge-making Lab	81528	6

July 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
Innovation Internship B	81525	6
Speculative Start-up	81523	6

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Transdisciplinary Practice at the Cutting Edge	81524	6
Creative Intelligence Capstone	81532	12

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 240.

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.

By being creative thinkers, initiators of new ideas, scenario planners, global strategists, open network designers or sustainable futures innovators within their chosen field of study, graduates maximise the potential of their chosen profession, making them highly sought after graduates with the ability to identify and develop solutions to some of the most complex issues that face their disciplines and society.

Course structure

Course structure explained

Students must complete 240 credit points consisting of 24 credit points of core subjects, a 48-credit-point major, a potential 48-credit-point second major, 24 credit points of electives and a 96-credit-point creative intelligence and innovation core.

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.

In the final year of the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation, students can undertake between 6 and 12 credit points of internship (work experience) that relates to innovation within their research, career development or core degree specialisations. For students undertaking 12 credit points of internship, international internships may be negotiated.

This course involves significant industry engagement as part of the learning process. Students may be required to relinquish intellectual property when they opt in to certain industry-related experiences, particularly relating to internships and capstone projects.

Course completion requirements

Requirement	Credit Points
STM91104 Communication core	24
MAJ09478 Journalism	48
CBK92229 Elective Choice	24
CBK92093 Second Major/ Electives	48
STM90839 Core subjects (Creative Intelligence and Innovation)	96
Total	240

Additional information

Course duration

The course is offered on a four-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.

Admission to the combined degree is on merit according to the admissions policy for the Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) (C10361).

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 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.

Scholarships and prizes

Scholarships

For Communication and Creative Intelligence and Innovation - 2 students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For Communication and Creative Intelligence and Innovation - 2 students

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

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Course Guides

UTS: Handbook

See the Bachelor of Communication (Journalism) Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation 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

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): 609505 (Autumn session)

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

Intake

Autumn Session 2025
July 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 and Creative Intelligence and Innovation - 2 students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For Communication and Creative Intelligence and Innovation - 2 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).