Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Communication (Journalism)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Queensland University of Technology

Program Overview

This double degree blends strong business training with hands-on journalism expertise. By the time you graduate, you’ll have the business insight to understand how industries work and the storytelling skills to explain them clearly. It’s a great fit if you want to go beyond traditional reporting and explore areas like financial journalism, media strategy, or business analysis.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

Your first year gives you a solid foundation in both business and communication. On the business side, you’ll explore how organisations operate through core subjects such as Business Environment (BSB108), which breaks down the economic, legal, and political forces shaping business today.
At the same time, you’ll step into the communication world by completing six essential communication units that introduce you to the fundamentals of media, messaging, and audience engagement.

Year 2

In your second year, things become more targeted. In business, you may take units like Applied Business Analytics (BSB131), where you learn how to collect and interpret data to support smart decision-making.
For journalism, this is where your specialised training begins. You’ll build core journalistic skills — news writing, research and inquiry, understanding media law — and start shaping your identity as a storyteller.

Year 3

By year three, you’re developing depth in both fields. Business subjects move into areas like corporate responsibility and the role of organisations in society.
On the communication side, your journalism major becomes more advanced. You might explore investigative reporting, multimedia production, or long-form storytelling. The journalism stream is designed to prepare you for a fast-moving industry where factual, cross-platform communication is essential.

Year 4

Your final year pulls everything together. Business studies culminate in a capstone project where you apply your knowledge to real-world business challenges.
In journalism, you’ll take on professional-level experiences — industry internships, newsroom-style assignments, or fieldwork — giving you practical, résumé-ready experience before you graduate.

Focus Areas

Business strategy and ethics
Data analytics and decision-making
News writing and investigative journalism
Media law and communication theory
Multimedia storytelling and digital production
Internships and real-world industry engagement

Learning Outcomes

Blend business insight with journalism expertise to work confidently across both industries
Produce accurate, engaging content for print, digital, and broadcast platforms
Analyse media trends, audiences, and communication data with a critical eye
Apply ethical, well-reasoned judgment in both business and journalism contexts
Collaborate effectively in professional environments while also managing independent work

Professional Alignment & Industry Connections

The business component is delivered by a well-respected business school with strong industry links.
The journalism major is taught by staff who maintain close relationships with media professionals, awards bodies, and industry organisations.
You’ll also have access to work placements, internships, and real-world learning experiences woven throughout the program.

Reputation & Employability

QUT is recognised as a leading institution for media and communication studies in Queensland.
Graduates from this double degree are known for their versatility, making them strong candidates for roles in journalism, media management, corporate communication, and business-focused analysis.
With industry-aligned training and practical experience, the employability outcomes are a major strength of this program.

Why This Degree Could Be Right for You

If you’re someone who’s equally fascinated by storytelling and the business world, this program gives you the best of both. You’ll learn how organisations work — and how to communicate their stories with clarity and impact. Whether you want to report on global issues, interpret financial trends, or help shape media strategy, this double degree equips you with a rare and powerful combination of skills.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

From the very first day in this double degree, you’re not just absorbing theory — you’re stepping straight into real media environments, building industry-ready skills, and learning to think like both a journalist and a business professional. QUT’s hands-on approach means you’ll train in real newsrooms, radio booths, and TV studios rather than just sitting in lectures. It’s the kind of practical experience that genuinely strengthens your portfolio and sets you apart in the job market.

You’ll work with the same equipment used across the media industry, create content for multiple platforms, and take on projects that push you to develop your voice as a storyteller and your mindset as a strategist. Throughout your journey, you'll be guided by highly experienced academics and media professionals from QUT’s School of Communication — a school recognised as a leader in media and communication in Queensland. And thanks to QUT’s Work Integrated Learning program, you’ll have pathways to apply what you learn in real workplaces, gaining credit and confidence at the same time.

Here are some of the hands-on learning opportunities you’ll experience:

Industry internships and work placements
Earn academic credit while working directly with organisations, newsrooms, marketing teams, or communication departments through QUT’s Work Integrated Learning program.

Newsroom and studio training
Produce real news content and train in professional radio, TV, and digital studios. You’ll contribute to QUT News and gain experience using industry-standard broadcast and production facilities.

Capstone and group projects
Work on industry-style briefs where you’ll create campaigns, news reports, longform stories, or communication strategies. These projects mirror the fast-paced workflows found in real media teams.

Social media and audience strategy work
Develop practical skills in digital communication, content management, and analytics through units that explore how to manage, measure, and grow audiences across platforms.

Research and innovation opportunities
Connect with the QUT Digital Media Research Centre, where students and researchers explore cutting-edge topics in media, communication, and automated decision-making.

International study opportunities
Broaden your global perspective through exchange programs or study tours, giving you firsthand insight into different media markets and international communication practices.

With this strong blend of practical training and real-world engagement, you’ll graduate confident, industry-ready, and prepared to step into journalism or media roles — whether reporting on the ground, producing digital content, creating podcasts, or shaping communication strategies. And with the added strength of business skills behind you, you’ll be equipped to stand out in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from this double degree truly sets you up to be industry-ready. You’ll walk away with a powerful mix of business insight and journalism/communication expertise, giving you the kind of versatility employers love. Whether you see yourself in the media world, in a corporate team, or somewhere creative, this program gives you the confidence and real-world experience to step straight into meaningful work.

Typical job roles

With the blend of business and communication training, graduates commonly move into roles such as:

Journalist across print, digital, or broadcast
Digital content producer or designer
Public relations or communications consultant
Media researcher or producer

Detailed insights

University services for career preparation

QUT really leans into hands-on learning. Through their Work Integrated Learning (WIL) program, you can gain real experience via internships, industry projects, and placements — all woven directly into your degree.

There’s also a dedicated undergraduate business internship unit (BSB305). It’s designed to place Business School students into real companies where they can sharpen professional skills, build networks, and earn academic credit at the same time.

If you’re an international student (or domestic), you’ll also have access to QUT’s broad range of career development support, job listings, and practical work-experience opportunities.

And beyond formal programs, the QUT Guild offers additional media and journalism-focused internships through its publications, podcasts, and student-run events — a great way to build your portfolio while still on campus.

Employment outlook & earnings

According to QUT’s published study plans, graduate outcomes are strong. Around 85% of students secure employment soon after graduation, and the median starting salary is approximately AUD 85,000.

More broadly, QUT maintains high employer satisfaction, with recent surveys showing an 83.2% approval rating — a sign that graduates are entering the workforce well-prepared and valued.

Industry partnerships & real-world exposure

QUT has deep connections across industry, which means students get access to partner organisations for internships, community projects, and professional placements.

Communication students in particular benefit from real-world assignments and collaborations in media, government, public relations, and advertising.

On the business side, the Corporate Partners in Excellence (CPIE) program opens doors to internship opportunities and high-value networking with major companies.

Professional recognition

The journalism component of the degree is formally recognised by the Australian Journalists’ Association (part of MEAA), adding professional credibility to your qualification.

Many notable journalists have come through QUT — for example, well-known ABC journalist Leigh Sales is a graduate — and the alumni community remains a strong source of mentorship, career support, and opportunities.

Graduate outcomes

Thanks to the dual skill set, graduates step into a wide range of roles: media production, reporting, corporate communication, consulting, research, and project management across creative or business environments.

Long term, you’ll have the foundation to grow into leadership positions, editorial roles, or even launch your own media or communication venture. The industry connections you build during the program make that progression feel very achievable.

Further academic progression

After completing the degree, you can extend your studies with an Honours year or progress into postgraduate programs like the Master of Digital Communication. You can also explore advanced business pathways such as an MBA, or specialise in media strategy, creative industries, or communication leadership.