Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Creative Industries

This is a four-year double degree at Western Sydney University that pairs serious music training with the business and production side of the creative industries. You graduate with two bachelor awards, which means you spend your time in both the practice room and the project room. On the music side, expect core studies in performance, music theory, aural skills, history and ensemble work. On the creative industries side, you look at how creative work actually gets made, funded, marketed and delivered, writing, media production, event and project work, audience and industry studies. The exact unit list changes, so check the official course page for the current structure.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are built from units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. A full-time load is usually four units a semester, and this double degree runs over four years rather than the standard three because you are completing the requirements of two awards. Western Sydney University runs on a semester model. You will complete core units in both disciplines, choose from a pool of majors or minors, and finish with a capstone or major project in your final year. That capstone is where the two halves meet, a recording, a performance season, a festival proposal, a digital release or a research project, depending on your interests. Some students add an honours year after the bachelor degree if they want to move into research.

Skills you build

You learn to perform or compose to a professional standard, read and analyse music, and work with others in an ensemble. Alongside that you pick up the practical skills creative organisations hire for: budgeting a project, pitching an idea, running a small event, recording and editing audio, writing for different audiences, and understanding copyright and contracts. Group work is a big part of it. So is getting in front of an audience or a client and delivering something on time.

Who it suits

This suits someone who wants to make music but does not want to rely on one income stream. If you are interested in performing, teaching privately, producing, running a label, working in arts administration, or building a career across several creative roles, the double degree gives you both the craft and the industry knowledge. It also suits students who are not sure yet whether they want to be on stage or behind it, because you get to try both. Western Sydney has a large and active arts sector, and the university has long-standing links with music and creative organisations across the region, which shows up in placements, industry projects and guest practitioners. English proficiency requirements are published by the university; international applicants should check the current IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or equivalent requirements, and note that the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. Tuition is listed on the CRICOS register under course code 095719G. Confirm all details, including unit structure and placement options, on the official course page.

• Performer or session musician
• Composer or arranger for film, games and media
• Music producer or recording engineer
• Private music teacher or school music support staff
• Arts administrator or arts project officer
• Event coordinator for festivals, venues and community arts organisations
• Artist manager or booking agent
• Content producer or social media producer for creative brands
• Music journalist, copywriter or publicist
• Community arts worker

These roles sit across live music venues, recording studios, arts centres, festivals, local councils, community organisations, media companies, advertising and marketing agencies, schools and private teaching practices. Many graduates work across several of these at once.