Bachelor of Creative Industries (Screen Media)

The Bachelor of Creative Industries (Screen Media) at the University of the Sunshine Coast is a three-year degree for people who want to make screen content, film, television, online video, documentary, and understand how the industry actually works. You study production across the board: writing for the screen, directing, cinematography, editing, sound, and production management. The 'Creative Industries' part matters too. You learn how projects get funded, marketed and distributed, and how to build a career as a freelancer or inside a production company.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are made up of units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You need to pass a required total to graduate, usually 24 units or 288 credit points over three years of full-time study. The academic year runs in semesters at most universities, with a break between them. Your first year is normally core units that give you the basics. Later years mix advanced production units with electives you choose from across the creative industries, so you can lean towards directing, editing, producing or writing. Many students finish with a capstone project, a short film, documentary or screen work they can show to employers, and some degrees include a professional placement or industry internship as an elective or required unit. USC has strong links to the screen sector in South East Queensland, and work-integrated learning is common in this field, so expect to spend time on set or in a studio rather than only in a lecture theatre.

What you learn

You graduate able to take an idea from script to screen. That means writing a treatment, planning a shoot, running a camera, cutting a scene, mixing sound, and managing a small crew and budget. You also learn to pitch, to work to a brief, and to collaborate, because no screen production happens alone. Assessment is mostly practical: you make things, screen them, and get feedback from staff who have worked in the industry.

Who it suits

This degree suits school leavers and career changers who already make videos, run a YouTube channel, or just know they want to work in film and television. It also suits people who want to work in advertising, corporate video, streaming or social media content. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English requirements for this course are published by the university, check the official page for the exact IELTS or equivalent score you need, and note that the Department of Home Affairs sets its own English threshold for the Student visa. Tuition is listed on the CRICOS register under course code 098460F. Confirm all details, including unit lists and placement options, on the official USC page before you apply.

• Director, producer or production manager in film and television
• Editor, cinematographer or sound recordist
• Screenwriter or script editor
• Content producer for streaming platforms, advertising agencies and media companies
• Video producer for corporate, government and not-for-profit organisations
• Social media and online video specialist
• Production coordinator or location manager
• Post-production and visual effects assistant

Screen media graduates work across Australia's film and television industry, advertising and marketing agencies, broadcasters, streaming services, and the growing online content sector. Many work freelance on short productions before moving into ongoing roles.