Key facts
Duration
1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Locations
Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online
Course overview
Explore advanced creative projects and research through a Bachelor of Communication and Creative Arts (Honours). Honours is a year of specialised study that allows you to combine the theory and practical skills gained throughout your undergraduate degree. While undertaking an individual creative project, you will be supported in your development as an independent practitioner as you build your skills, critical engagement and depth of knowledge in your chosen area of study.
It is an opportunity to expand your knowledge in a field you are passionate about and to develop invaluable research and life skills that will stay with you throughout your career.
Do you want to find your creative practice in the field and critically engage with the work of your contemporaries?
With a strong interdisciplinary focus, this course enables students from all communication and creative arts disciplines – dance, theatre, film, television, animation, photography, design, communications, digital media and visual arts – to learn from each other and develop their creative arts practice and scholarly research skills.
You will form ongoing relationships with practitioners and peers in related creative areas through critical feedback with industry connections and research experts from government-run and community arts organisations.
Whether you choose to work in industry as an individual practitioner, or within a creative team, this honours program will help you develop as a critically engaged thinker and highly skilled practitioner and researcher.
After graduating, you can further your studies in research or professional practice by applying for direct entry into the second year of the Master of Creative Arts by coursework, a Master of Arts by Research, or you could pursue a PhD.
Current Deakin students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
- Award granted
- Bachelor of Communication and Creative Arts (Honours)
- Year
2026 course information
- Deakin code
- A450
- CRICOS code?Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students
- 118467G Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
#1 Victorian uni for graduate employment
Choose a Deakin degree for vital industry experience on placements, hands-on learning in world-class facilities and guidance from industry-expert academics. We offer lifetime career support and are the #1 Victorian university for graduate employment.
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Communication and Creative Arts (Honours), you must pass 8 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 8 credit points of core units
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
Units
Students will be supported to choose one unit from:
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
- Start date: March
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
- Online
Deakin splits the academic year into three terms, known as trimesters. Most students usually undertake two trimesters each year (March-June, July-November).
CHOOSE DEAKIN, THE #1 VICTORIAN UNIVERSITY FOR COURSE SATISFACTION
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Participation requirements
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements or higher to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.
To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet the following criteria:
- completion of a bachelor degree or higher or major in a related discipline* with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) (or equivalent average grade indicator) of at least 65 in third year units, or where relevant, final year units.
*Examples of related disciplines include but are not limited to film, television and animation, dance, theatre, visual arts, photography, journalism, advertising, digital and social media, public relations, communication design and UX design.
References
Applicants are also advised to read further information and complete requirements outlined in the Information and Application form. These requirements may include work experience, reasons for undertaking the course, previous academic information and your research proposal.
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) English Units 3 and 4: Study score of 25 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or 20 in any other English
- IELTS overall score of 6 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
- other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)
Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Estimated tuition fee - (CSP) ?Enrolling in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) means the Australian Government pays part of your course fees directly to Deakin, and you pay a 'student contribution'.
$9,537 for 1 yr full-time - Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
Learn more about fees.
The tuition fees you pay will depend on the units you choose, as each unit has its own cost. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical first-year tuition fees for students enrolled in this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.
Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together 8 credit points of a typical combination of units for this course. Eight credit points is used as it represents a typical full-time enrolment load for a year. You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook.
Learn more about fees and available payment options on our Current students fees website or estimate your tuition fees.
Scholarship options
We want to help you excel at Deakin. Our scholarships recognise your dedication and achievements, providing financial support that can ease the cost of living and studying. With less pressure, you’ll have more freedom to focus on what matters most – your education and future success.
Apply now
Apply directly to Deakin
Applications for Trimester 1, 2027 open in July.
In the meantime, why not speak to our student advisers about your course and career options? It’s the best way for future students like you to get expert advice on preparing your application.
Additional applicant instructions
Please refer to the additional requirements in the expression of interest document. Please have the document completed, ready to upload to the applicant portal.
Career outcomes
The Bachelor of Communication and Creative Arts (Honours) supports your development as a creative arts practitioner and builds your research skills. You will graduate as a specialist in your field of study with the transferable soft skills to thrive in industry – including critical and creative thinking, the ability to effectively communicate and to work both autonomously and collaboratively. The degree provides a pathway for further learning and for practice within creative arts and cultural industries.
You will graduate ready to adapt to changing career opportunities relevant to your specialisation in:
- dance
- visual arts
- film
- animation
- communication design
- theatre
- interactive design
- communication
- digital media
- television
- user experience design
- photography
For more information go to DeakinTALENT.
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Identify and apply critical analysis, engagement and evaluation within discipline specific contexts. |
| Communication | Articulate discipline specific and interdisciplinary ideas, through a range of practical creative processes, to inform discussions of approach and relevant contemporary ideas. |
| Digital literacy | Utilise a range of technologies and digital strategies to research, develop and actualize projects within discipline specific contexts |
| Critical thinking | Engage in high-level independent critical thinking to investigate, describe and synthesize ideas and their application within discipline specific discourses. |
| Problem solving | Identify, evaluate and select the methods, techniques, concepts and processes to investigate and apply effective solutions. |
| Self-management | Exercise autonomy, adaptability, responsibility and a continued commitment to learning and skills development in professional, creative and scholarly contexts. |
| Teamwork | This Course Learning Outcome is not explicitly assessed |
| Global citizenship | Apply self-reflexivity and critical analysis to personal cultural values, privileges, and biases while engaging with diverse perspectives, particularly Indigenous Knowledges, in the development of research and creative and industry specific works. |
Approved at Faculty Board May 2025
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. For more information, visit our University rankings page.
