Bachelor of Media and Communication

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

La Trobe University

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Media and Communication at La Trobe University is a dynamic 3-year degree (full-time) that equips you with versatile storytelling skills across digital, print, and broadcast platforms, letting you specialize in a major like Journalism or Media Industries while tailoring with minors and electives. It's ideal for creative, curious students passionate about media who want real-world experience, like publishing on La Trobe's student platform *upstart*, and the flexibility of Flex subjects for online or on-campus study at Melbourne or other campuses.

Curriculum structure

Year 1 builds your foundational media skills through hands-on storytelling and critical thinking, introducing you to core concepts in subjects like Introduction to Media Industries and Digital Media Concepts, where you'll explore how content is created and distributed across platforms. You'll also dive into Journalism Foundations, learning ethical reporting and basic news production to kickstart your portfolio early. This year sets you up with practical tools while encouraging you to experiment with different media forms.

Year 2 ramps up specialization as you choose your major, deepening skills in areas like Media Writing and Production for crafting compelling narratives and Audience Research, which teaches you to analyze digital trends and social media strategies. In Journalism, you'll tackle Feature Writing and advanced reporting techniques, often contributing to *upstart* for real publication experience. It's where theory meets practice, helping you refine your voice and build industry connections.

Year 3 focuses on professional polish and capstone projects, with advanced units like Media Industries Project for industry simulations and Global Media Challenges, examining international trends and ethics. Journalism majors culminate in Investigative Journalism and portfolio development, preparing you to showcase work to employers. By graduation, you'll have a standout reel ready for the job market.

Focus areas: Specialize in majors like Journalism (news, features, digital reporting) or Media Industries (content strategy, audience analytics, production), with options for minors in screen media or performance.

Learning outcomes: Gain skills in multi-platform storytelling, ethical media practice, audience engagement, and critical analysis, plus a professional portfolio from platforms like *upstart*.

Professional alignment (accreditation): Aligns with industry standards through practical training; no specific accreditation noted, but prepares for roles in journalism, media production, and communications at outlets like ABC or news agencies.

Reputation (employability rankings): La Trobe ranks in the world’s top 250 for social sciences (Times Higher Education 2025) and top 1% of universities worldwide (QS 2026); 88.1% of domestic undergrads employed within 4 months (QILT 2024).

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At La Trobe University, the Bachelor of Media and Communication dives right into experiential learning from your first semester, where you'll build real-world skills by producing your own magazine-style news program in our professional digital television studio—handling everything from camera work to directing. You'll collaborate in teams just like in media industries, using cutting-edge tools in Mac Labs for podcasting, video editing, and multimedia journalism, all while getting feedback in spaces designed for group projects and pitching ideas. These hands-on experiences turn theory into portfolio-ready work through our student-run platform upstart, prepping you for jobs in media organisations, sports clubs, or businesses via internships that often lead to full-time roles.

Here's what makes our facilities and opportunities stand out for Media and Communication students:
- Digital television studio: Produce broadcast-quality current affairs, magazine, and sports programs, mastering studio directing, vision switching, graphics, and high-end camera operation.
- Mac Labs with latest digital software: Create podcasts, edit videos, and develop multimedia journalism projects—perfect for individual or group work with built-in collaboration booths.
- Digital audio and radio studios: Hone presenting, producing, interviewing, and editing skills for industry-standard podcasts and current affairs packages.
- Upstart newsroom and Media Hub: Dedicated professional-style spaces for student-led news shifts, planning, pitches, and live TV broadcasting to build journalistic experience.
- 40 state-of-the-art mobile journalism kits: Equipped with professional radio mics for on-the-go, cross-platform storytelling anywhere.
- Industry internships and placements: Complete real-world roles (like 100-hour placements) with media orgs, community groups, businesses, or even on-campus teams—many grads land jobs from these.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Media and Communication at La Trobe University develop strong skills in storytelling, digital media production, communication strategy, and critical thinking, preparing them for fast-paced careers across the media and communication industry. This degree suits students who want to work in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, digital content, marketing, and media production, with opportunities to gain real industry experience during their studies. Graduates could expect to earn between AUD 55,000 and 70,000 per annum.

This leads to strong graduate pathways such as: Journalist, Editor, Broadcaster, Digital Content Creator, Media Producer, Public Relations Officer.

This creates strong long-term career opportunities:

• Students are supported through La Trobe’s career services, employability workshops, industry mentoring, work-integrated learning opportunities, and networking events that help them build practical, job-ready skills.

• The program includes hands-on learning in media production environments, including newsroom-style training and access to industry-standard tools and facilities.

• Students gain exposure to real industry settings and projects, helping them build portfolios and professional experience before graduating.

• La Trobe is recognised for strong undergraduate employability outcomes and employer satisfaction in communication-related fields.

• Graduates can pursue careers in media organisations, digital agencies, broadcasting companies, publishing, corporate communication teams, and government communication roles.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing this degree, students may continue into honours study, specialised master’s programs in media, communication, journalism, public relations, marketing, digital media, or research pathways such as a master’s by research or PhD, depending on their career goals.