Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Business

This is a four-year double degree that pairs communication with business, awarding two bachelor qualifications. You study both fields together rather than one after the other. On the communication side, that means units in journalism, public relations, advertising, media production, digital and social media, and media law and ethics. On the business side, you take core units in accounting, economics, marketing, management and business statistics, then choose a major such as marketing, management, human resource management or international business. Western Sydney University runs its programs on a semester basis, with most students taking four units per semester. Across four years you accumulate the credit points required for each degree, and the double degree structure means you graduate with both awards rather than a single combined testamur.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees normally run three years full time; a double degree adds a year because you complete the core requirements of both programs. At Western Sydney, units are worth a set number of credit points, and you need to pass the required number in each discipline to graduate. The communication component includes practical production units where you write, edit and publish, while the business component builds analytical and financial skills. Many students take an internship or industry placement unit as an elective, working with media organisations, marketing agencies, publishers, not-for-profits or corporate communications teams. Some students also complete a capstone or professional project in their final year, pulling together the reporting, strategy and client-management skills from both halves of the degree.

What you actually learn

You learn to write clearly and on deadline, to research a story or a market, to plan a campaign, to read a balance sheet, and to pitch an idea to a client. The mix suits people who want to work in media but also understand how organisations make money and make decisions. Communication graduates who can read a budget or interpret a marketing brief are useful in newsrooms, agencies and in-house teams. Business graduates who can write and produce content are useful in marketing, investor relations and public affairs. The double degree is aimed at students who do not want to choose between the two.

Who it suits and what to check

This course suits school leavers and mature-age students who are interested in media, marketing, public relations or management, and who want a broader qualification than a single degree provides. English proficiency is required for international applicants; IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common undergraduate standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programs accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. International students on a Student visa can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 089211J. Confirm current unit lists, majors, placement options, English requirements and fees on the official university and CRICOS pages before applying.

• Public relations officer or communications coordinator in government, health, education or corporate settings
• Marketing coordinator or brand assistant in agencies, retail, technology or consumer goods companies
• Journalist or content producer for newspapers, online publishers, radio, television or podcasts
• Social media manager or digital content specialist
• Advertising account coordinator or media planner
• Business development or sales support roles
• Human resources or recruitment assistant
• Event and sponsorship coordinator
• Policy or stakeholder engagement officer in the public sector
• Further study in a master's degree in communication, marketing or business