Bachelor of Communication

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Edith Cowan University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Communication at Edith Cowan University equips you with practical skills for thriving in dynamic fields like advertising, public relations, digital communication, and community engagement, perfect for creative students eager to shape brands and stories in today's media landscape. You'll dive into strategic theories, campaign design, ethics, diversity, and hands-on projects that build real-world portfolios, making it ideal if you're passionate about influencing audiences through innovative content.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1

Lays a strong foundation by introducing core communication concepts and digital tools, helping you grasp how to create compelling content in a crowded media world. Courses like digital content creation and social media strategies teach you to engage audiences effectively, while arts management explores organizing creative projects with real impact. This year builds your confidence in strategic communication basics, setting you up for more advanced work ahead.

Year 2

Ramps up with a focus on strategic practices, where you'll design advertising and public relations campaigns that emphasize ethics, environmental issues, and diversity. Key units such as public affairs and community relations/engagement show you how to build trust and awareness for organizations, blending theory with practical planning. You'll start seeing how your ideas connect to broader societal needs, sharpening your skills for professional scenarios.

Year 3

Culminates in a capstone unit that simulates a creative agency, where you'll produce industry-standard portfolios for actual clients, tying together everything from digital communication to campaign execution. This hands-on experience in contemporary communication planning ensures you're job-ready, with a deep understanding of global trends and ethical practices.

Focus areas: Advertising, public relations, digital communication, public affairs, and community relations/engagement.

Learning outcomes: Develop knowledge of strategic communication theories; design advertising and PR campaigns; explore ethics, environmental issues, diversity, and digital practices; gain hands-on agency experience for real client portfolios.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Prepares you for diverse communication careers with emphasis on practical, industry-relevant skills—no specific external accreditation noted, but aligned to evolving sector needs through ECU's creative humanities framework.

Reputation (employability rankings): ECU ranks #1 in Australia for overall undergraduate experience among public universities, with strong industry partnerships like Channel 7 for real-world projects, boosting graduate portfolios and employability.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Communication at ECU is designed to give you hands-on, real-world experience from day one. Rather than just sitting in lectures, you'll work with industry-standard tools and facilities that professional communicators use every day. This means you're not just learning *about* communication—you're actually *doing* it, building a portfolio and skills that employers are looking for the moment you graduate.

ECU has invested heavily in creating an immersive learning environment where theory meets practice. Here's what you'll access throughout your degree:

- State-of-the-art broadcasting studios including industry-standard radio and television production facilities for hands-on broadcasting and digital journalism work
- Motion capture film studio and spatial sound lab at ECU City, giving you access to cutting-edge technology used in professional film and media production
- Work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities embedded directly into your units, meaning practical experience is built into your coursework, not added as an afterthought
- Professional internship and placement units through SAH2650 (Professional Experience: Internship or Project) and SAH3660 (Professional Placement 2), giving you structured pathways to real workplace experience
- Project WA—an exclusive third-year opportunity where you'll produce programs that are actually broadcast on Channel 7, getting genuine broadcast experience with real audiences
- Modern campus facilities across all ECU locations, including 24-hour access to computer labs, libraries with open study spaces, and wireless internet—everything you need to work on projects whenever inspiration strikes
- Creative agency capstone experience in your final year, where you'll engage in a comprehensive, hands-on project that simulates real professional practice
- Flexible study options available full-time, part-time, or online across multiple campuses (City Campus, Mount Lawley, Online, and South West), so you can balance study with work or other commitments
- Study at ECU City from February 2026, with new facilities and industry-immersive studios specifically designed for broadcasting and digital journalism

The program covers digital content creation, social media, arts management, advertising, public relations, screen production, and journalism—and you'll choose a mix of subjects that match your career goals. You'll develop both creative and critical thinking skills while building a professional network through internships and real broadcast projects.

For a detailed look at all available facilities and resources, you can explore ECU's comprehensive facility overview on their website.

Progression & Future Opportunities

At Edith Cowan University, the Bachelor of Communication dives right into hands-on learning, where you'll build real-world skills in digital content creation, social media strategies, and arts management from day one. You'll get access to cutting-edge facilities like state-of-the-art radio and television studios at our new ECU City campus, plus immersive creative labs that mirror industry environments, helping you create professional portfolios that stand out to employers. Whether it's producing your own broadcasts or collaborating on projects, these experiences turn theory into practical expertise you can showcase immediately.

This practical focus shines through in specific opportunities tailored to the program:

- Industry-standard studios: Work in acclaimed radio and TV studios as part of our Broadcasting and Digital Journalism integration, producing real programs like Project WA broadcast on Channel 7 for your showreel.
- Work-integrated learning (WIL): Engage in units from related fields like Journalism and Broadcast Media, plus options for professional internships and placements such as SAH2650 Professional Experience: Internship or Project and SAH3660 Professional Placement 2.
- Group projects with real impact: Collaborate on uncovering West Australian stories and producing broadcast content, just like third-year students do for exclusive Channel 7 airtime.
- Mount Lawley and ECU City campuses: Train at Mount Lawley for core years with access to creative spaces, transitioning to ECU City's motion capture film studio and spatial sound lab for advanced media production.
- Digital tools and emerging tech: Leverage next-generation creative labs, experimental sandboxes, and industry tech for digital content and social media, all in open collaborative spaces near Perth's business hub.

Country Requirements

Canada: General High School Diploma required; specific requirements vary by province, Ontario requires average of 4 best Ontario Academic Courses with final year average of 60–75%, diploma completion required unless medium of instruction is French.
China: National College Entrance Exam (Gao Kao) or one year of tertiary study required; standard entry minimum 65.6% overall score, higher entry 70% overall score.
France: Completion of Baccalauréat Général or Baccalauréat Technologique (high school leaving certificate) required; standard entry minimum score 10, higher entry minimum score 12.
Germany: Successful completion of Abitur / Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife or Reifezeugnis required; standard entry overall grade 4, higher entry 3.5, or Abitur 3 or better with English average of 8 points or above.
India: Higher Secondary Certificate (from a recognised board; Punjab and Haryana State Boards not accepted) or equivalent required; standard entry minimum 70%, higher entry minimum 80%.
Nepal: Higher Secondary School Certificate (Grade XII) or School Leaving Certificate (Grade XII) required; standard entry minimum 65% or GPA 2.61, higher entry minimum 78% or GPA 3.13.
Pakistan: Higher Secondary School Certificate/Intermediate Certificate required; standard entry minimum 65%, higher entry minimum 78%.
Saudi Arabia: Successful completion of one year of tertiary study or a recognised completed Diploma at a recognised tertiary or higher education institution
South Africa: National Senior Certificate (NSC) required (excluding Life Orientation); standard entry average 60% in best six subjects, higher entry 70% in best six subjects; English minimum C/60/5 required.
Turkey: Successful completion of one year of tertiary study at a recognised tertiary or higher education institution
United States of America: High School Diploma required with ACT (standard 24, higher 29 with no section below 20) or SAT (pre-2016: 1500/2400 standard, 1875 higher; post-2016: 1090/1600 standard, 1330 higher with required section minimums), or AP pathway (minimum 2 AP subjects with 7 points for standard entry or 8 points for higher entry; English AP score 3 required in Language or Literature).