Bachelors of Arts

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Canberra

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts at the University of Canberra is a flexible degree that lets you shape your studies around your interests and career goals. Whether you're passionate about communication, media, culture, writing or the creative industries, you'll gain practical skills, critical thinking abilities and real-world experience that prepare you for a wide range of careers.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1
You'll build a strong foundation in arts and humanities while developing essential academic and professional skills. Core units such as Professional Orientation (Arts), Big Stories: Culture, Memory and Power, and Reading Culture, Curating Culture introduce you to key ideas and help you begin your chosen major.

Year 2
As your studies progress, you'll dive deeper into your major and expand your knowledge through electives. Depending on your specialisation, you may study units like Screenwriting, Communication Strategy and Campaign Planning, or Streaming and Social, giving you practical and industry-relevant skills.

Year 3
In your final year, you'll complete advanced units and a professional capstone project that showcases everything you've learned. Units such as Professional Evidence (Arts) and Major Project Studio help you graduate with a strong portfolio and career-ready experience.

Focus areas (in a string):
Communication, media, culture, creative practice, digital media, journalism, writing, marketing communication, heritage, critical thinking, professional practice.

Learning outcomes (in a string):
Research, communication, creativity, critical thinking, digital literacy, problem-solving, collaboration, ethical reasoning, intercultural understanding, professional skills.

Professional alignment (accreditation):
AQF Level 7 Bachelor Degree, recognised pathway to employment and postgraduate study.

Reputation (employability):
The University of Canberra is known for its strong focus on practical learning, industry engagement and producing career-ready graduates.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The Bachelor of Arts at the University of Canberra is designed to connect your studies with real-world experience from the very beginning. Alongside classroom learning, you'll develop practical skills through industry projects, professional placements (where available in your major), and hands-on assessments that reflect the work you'll do after graduation. Depending on your chosen major, you'll also have access to specialist creative facilities, digital media spaces and professional learning environments that help bring your ideas to life:

Complete the core Professional Orientation (Arts) and Professional Evidence (Arts) units, which focus on career planning, portfolio development and professional practice.
Gain practical experience through Work Integrated Learning (WIL) or industry projects available in several majors, including internships and workplace-based learning where applicable.
Work on collaborative projects, presentations and creative portfolios that mirror professional industry practice.
Access specialist facilities such as Media Resource Centre (MRC) production spaces, television studios, radio studios, podcast recording facilities and digital media editing suites for media-related majors.
Use industry-standard digital production equipment, including professional cameras, audio recording equipment and multimedia production facilities for applicable disciplines.
Study and collaborate in the University's Library, which provides extensive print and digital collections, multimedia resources, research databases, group study rooms and academic learning support.
Learn in technology-enabled teaching spaces with access to online learning platforms, digital collaboration tools and discipline-specific software where required by your major.
Benefit from UC's strong industry connections through guest lectures, networking events and employer engagement opportunities integrated into many Arts majors.

Progression & Future Opportunities

A Bachelor of Arts from the University of Canberra opens the door to careers across the public sector, creative industries, media, communications and community organisations. Graduates develop strong communication, research and critical thinking skills that are highly valued by employers, preparing them for roles such as Journalist, Communications Officer, Policy Advisor and Content Writer. To help you launch your career, UC provides a range of employability and industry engagement opportunities:

Access UC Careers, which offers one-to-one career coaching, resume and interview support, employer networking events, career workshops and an online jobs board for students and graduates.
Benefit from Work Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities, internships and industry projects available across many Arts majors, allowing you to gain practical workplace experience before graduation.
Build professional networks through UC's partnerships with government agencies, media organisations, cultural institutions, community organisations and industry partners, particularly in Canberra's unique public sector environment.
Graduate with an AQF Level 7 Bachelor Degree, a nationally recognised qualification that provides a strong foundation for employment and postgraduate study in Australia and internationally.
The University of Canberra consistently ranks highly in Australia for graduate employment and employer reputation, reflecting its strong emphasis on work-ready graduates and practical learning.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the Bachelor of Arts, you can continue your studies with a postgraduate qualification such as a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master's degree in areas including Communication, Creative Writing, Journalism, Public Policy, International Development, Heritage, Education or other related disciplines. The degree also provides a pathway to honours and higher research programs for students interested in academic or professional research.