Send me a PDF copyHighlights
- Learn how visual communication and visual design impact persuasive communication across digital platforms.
- Understand the role of digital media analytics and learn how to create social media strategy.
- Become qualified for roles in social media content, visual and digital design, branding, advertising or strategic communications.
- Learn from leading researchers and staff that have made QUT the world number 19 and number 1 in Australia for media and communication studies. (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2026).
Highlights
- Learn how visual communication and visual design impact persuasive communication across digital platforms.
- Understand the role of digital media analytics and learn how to create social media strategy.
- Become qualified for roles in social media content, visual and digital design, branding, advertising or strategic communications.
- Learn from leading researchers and staff that have made QUT the world number 19 and number 1 in Australia for media and communication studies. (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2026).
Why choose this course?
In today’s digital environment, communicating effectively means more than just reaching audiences. It requires the ability to shape how products, ideas, and identities are presented and understood.
If you are looking for a career to help you stand out in today’s fast-evolving communication landscape, this major uniquely blends advertising, public relations, content marketing, social media strategy, visual design, and digital analytics - reflecting how these fields now all work together in the real-world.
You’ll develop the hybrid skillset employers demand to shape how brands, ideas, and identities are seen and understood across all media channels. With hands-on experience in digital platforms, audience analytics, and creative design, you’ll learn to craft compelling campaigns and visual content that engage audiences and build strong brand experiences. Whether you’re launching a social campaign, developing a visual identity, or managing a digital brand, this course empowers you to connect creative thinking with strategic insight and prepares you to thrive in the dynamic world of modern communication.
Real-world learning
Throughout your degree, you’ll apply what you learn to practical challenges that reflect the realities of today’s communication industries.
In your final year, you’ll complete a major capstone project developing a full communication strategic plan based on a real-world client brief. In this project you will implement the skills you have learnt in the degree such as outlining intended audiences, communication objectives, strategies, and tactics to address problems as well as making recommendations for delivering sustained values for organisations, society, and culture.
You will also produce a portfolio consisting of original communication products such as advertisements, posters, publicity stunts, branded designs or media releases that will help you highlight your talents and help you land a job in marketing, design, advertising or public relations industries.
Past students have completed placements with media networks, advertising agencies and non-profit organisations, which giving them valuable insights and professional networks before graduation.
Take part in international study tours to South‑East Asia, Europe and the US — a great opportunity to experience how promotional communication operates in different cultures and societies.
Real-world learning
Have the option to gain industry experience through internships and work placements in a multitude of organisations. Students have completed placements with Network Ten, Brisbane Festival, Hyperplex Cinemas and plenty more.
You will learn from teaching staff who both work in the field and are at the cutting-edge of research in media and communication. If a modern trend emerges in communications, you’ll understand what it means, and how it fits into the broader fabric of the media landscape.
Learn how to inspire action, make change and influence decisions. You will build the critical thinking skills to develop ethical and socially responsible communication strategies that shape industries, communities and cultures for a more just and inclusive world.
Explore this course
Your studies will begin with subjects in visual communication and image design where you will learn the principles and techniques of visual storytelling across multiple media forms such as print, screen and space. You will also start to develop complex and creative portfolio pieces from your first year.
You will progress to learn more about persuasive communication, digital media platforms and how digital media analytics work to evaluate campaigns and creative.
Later in your degree you can choose to specialise your degree in social media strategy or gain industry experience through internships and work placements study tours.
Flexible course options
Pairing promotional communication with a communication second major such as journalism, screen industries, or media and communication industries gives you a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Or you might like to add minors such as strategic communications, news and factual media, or social media strategy to specialise in areas that complement promotional communication. These options allow you to tailor your degree to your interests and career goals, opening pathways into content creation, and digital strategy.
In the promotional communication major you will learn to design and deliver communication that connects - integrating media, messaging and design across today’s most influential channels. Whether working on a social campaign, developing a visual identity or building a brand experience, you’ll gain the skills to combine creative thinking with strategic insight.
With modern communications roles and career paths growing by the day, the demand is there for graduates with any number of specialisations and skill sets. To help support a diverse, strong cohort of graduates with unique capabilities, QUT lets you tailor your communication degree to suit your interests.
How to apply for the Bachelor of Communication
Entry for all four communication majors goes through one application.
You’ll be required to undertake:
- Bachelor of Communication core units
- a communication first major.
From there, you can add one of the following options to your studies:
- a second communication major
- two communication minors (shortened, condensed forms of studying majors)
- one communication minor and your chosen electives
- a series of chosen electives, tailored to your interests.
Double degrees
Maximise your career opportunities and create your own specialist career niche within the communication industry by combining your degree with a complementary study area. A double degree allows you to graduate with two degrees in as little as four years (study area depending). See our website for the full range of double degrees on offer.
Double degrees
Maximise your career opportunities and create your own specialist career niche within the communication industry by combining your degree with a complementary study area
Combine business expertise with advanced media and communication skills to lead in digital marketing, media management, and global communication industries through real-world projects and internships.
Combine communication and law to develop the legal expertise needed for complex communication roles, or to pursue a legal career in a range of industries.
Careers and outcomes
Graduates from this major are well-prepared for a diverse range of dynamic and evolving roles across several industries including marketing, advertising, visual design and branding, communication, events promotion and more.
Possible careers
- Advertising professional
- Brand communication coordinator
- Campaign manager
- Communication specialist
- Communications consultant
- Community engagement officer
- Content marketing manager
- Digital content producer
- Digital marketing analyst
- Marketing and engagement specialist
- Media and communications advisor
- Media planner / buyer
- Social media manager
In order to complete this course you must complete a total of 288 credit points comprising:
Six common units - 72 credit points
A Communication major - 96 credit points from one of the following disciplines:
- Media and Communication Industries
- Journalism
- Screen Industries
- Promotional Communication
Complementary studies - 96 credit points chosen from:
- one 96 credit point second major (Communication second major or Uni-wide second major); OR
- two 48 credit point minors (Communication minor or Uni-wide minor); OR
- one 48 credit point minor and 48 credit points chosen from unit options (electives) (Creative Industries Work Integrated Learning Unit Options or Uni-wide unit option unit); OR
- 96 credit points chosen from unit options (electives) (Creative Industries Work Integrated Learning Unit Options or Uni-wide unit option unit)
Four QUT You units - 24 credit points comprising 4 x 6 credit points units.
In order to complete this course you must complete a total of 288 credit points comprising:
Six common units - 72 credit points
A Communication major - 96 credit points from one of the following disciplines:
- Media and Communication Industries
- Journalism
- Screen Industries
- Promotional Communication
Complementary studies - 96 credit points chosen from:
- one 96 credit point second major (Communication second major or Uni-wide second major); OR
- two 48 credit point minors (Communication minor or Uni-wide minor); OR
- one 48 credit point minor and 48 credit points chosen from unit options (electives) (Creative Industries Work Integrated Learning Unit Options or Uni-wide unit option unit); OR
- 96 credit points chosen from unit options (electives) (Creative Industries Work Integrated Learning Unit Options or Uni-wide unit option unit)
Four QUT You units - 24 credit points comprising 4 x 6 credit points units.
- ATAR/selection rank threshold
- 70.00
These thresholds are the lowest adjusted scores to which QUT made an offer in Semester 1, 2026.
Don't have a ATAR/selection rank?
- Course code
- KC40
- QTAC code
- 421351
- CRICOS code
- 096577J
-
- Kelvin Grove
-
- Kelvin Grove
- 3 years full-time
- 6 years part-time
- 3 years full-time
- February and July
- February and July
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course, we assume you have sound knowledge of the subject/s listed below. If you don't have the subject knowledge, you can still apply for the course but we strongly encourage you to undertake bridging studies to gain the knowledge:
- English, or Literature, or English and Literature Extension, or English as an Additional Language (Units 3 & 4, C)
Year 12 early offer scheme
If you're a current Queensland Year 12 student, you may be eligible to receive an offer for this course on the last day of Queensland Year 12, before receiving your ATAR or selection rank.
Find out more about the QUT Year 12 Early Offer Scheme
Helping you to get into your course
If you don't think your ATAR or selection rank is high enough to get into this course, you can guarantee your entry with guaranteed advanced standing by upgrading through one the following programs which you can select as one of your QTAC preferences:
QUT College Diplomas
As a QUT College Diploma in Creative Industries graduate you will automatically receive an offer to start the Bachelor of Communication within one week after completion of the diploma. You will also automatically receive up to 1.0 year (96 credit points) credit transfer and be able to complete the degree in 2 years as a full-time student (or equivalent part-time).
Find out more about the QUT College Diploma in Creative Industries
Offer guarantee
If you achieve an ATAR or selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course in the Semester 1 offer rounds, up to the main offer round in mid-January.
VET guarantee
If you have completed an AQF certificate IV, diploma or higher, and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course in the Semester 1 offer rounds.
Advanced standing
If you have prior studies or work experience, you may be eligible for advanced standing (credit). You can apply for advanced standing once you've been accepted to QUT. If you're in your first semester of study, you must apply for advanced standing within 10 days of receiving your offer.
Deferment
You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year.
More about deferring your offer
Adjustments to your ATAR/selection rank
Any adjustments you receive to your ATAR or selection rank will be applied to this course.
Find out if you’re eligible for an adjustment to your ATAR or selection rank
Offers we made to school leavers in Semester 1, 2025
The figures listed in the tables below reflect the offers that were made to recent ATAR students. The entry thresholds box at the top of this page shows the lowest adjusted ATAR/selection rank required to receive an offer for all applicants for the most recent January QTAC offer round.
| Excluding adjustments | Including adjustments | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer |
Selection rank
96.80
|
Selection rank
96.80
|
| Median ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer |
Selection rank
81.20
|
Selection rank
83.45
|
| Lowest ATAR/selection rank to receive an offer |
Selection rank
65.55
|
Selection rank
71.20
|
You can find out more about your fellow students’ backgrounds with this course’s student profile.
Other admission options
If you are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, you may be eligible for admission through our Centralised Assessment Selection Process (CASP).
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide to the grades you need to apply for this course.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
I completed secondary school in Australia
- ATAR/selection rank
- 70.00
Offer guarantee
If you completed secondary school in Australia and achieve an ATAR/selection rank of 70.00 or higher (including any adjustments) and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
VET guarantee
If you have completed an AQF certificate IV, diploma or higher, and satisfy all other admission requirements, you are guaranteed an offer for this course.
Minimum English language requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.
Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests undertaken in a secure test centre. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.
| English Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic / One Skill Retake | 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
|
Cambridge C1 Advanced
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website. |
176 | 169 | 169 | 169 | 169 |
| PTE Academic | 58 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| TOEFL iBT Australia Test (120 scale) | 79 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 18 |
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2027 fees
2027: Fee available from October
2027 fees
2027: Fee available from July
2026 fees
2026: CSP $17,200 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2026 fees
2026: $40,000 per year full-time (96 credit points)
Student services and amenities fees
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
International Merit Scholarship
A high achievement scholarship for future international undergraduate and postgraduate students.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
International Talent Scholarship
A new scholarship for 2026 that covers tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
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