Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Creative Industries (1841)

  • Approved Abbreviation: BMus/BCrInd
  • Western Sydney University Program Code: 1841
  • AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 095719G

This program applies to students who commenced in 2021 or later. 

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

For Commencement Year 2017 - 2020 - please refer to: 1841.1 Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Creative Industries

Music graduates are now entering an industry where they are able to self-publish their work to the world, and in which they require a more entrepreneurial approach than that previously required of a musician or music technologist. This double degree brings together the existing Music program with emerging creative industries and allows students who are interested in pursuing careers in music to also engage with new paradigms of creative and cultural production, developing skills in entrepreneurship and working in collaborative projects with creative industries in Greater Western Sydney (GWS).

Students may be required to travel to Parramatta campus for a portion of the Creative Industries component.

  • Director of Academic Program - Associate Professor Andrew Milne

Study Mode

Four years full-time or eight years part-time.

Program Advice

enquiriesHCA@westernsydney.edu.au

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Campus Attendance Mode Advice
Penrith Campus Full Time Internal See above
Penrith Campus Part Time Internal See above

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Creative Industries is accredited by professional organisations including the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and the Media Foundation of Australia (MFA).

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline.  This program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

 

There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this program.  Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.

International students should also refer to the link below for more information and a link to the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

Admission

Students are admitted on the basis of their ATAR score.

In addition, applicants will be selected by one of three methods:

1. Attain an HSC Music result in band 4 or above. No audition is required.

2. Hold the following AMEB or equivalent (e.g. Trinity College) qualification:
     a. PASS standard (minimum) of 6th Grade Performance (instrument or voice) AND
     b. PASS standard (minimum) of 4th Grade musicianship and/or theory.
No audition is required.

3. Attend an audition in person as a performer and/or composer. Applicants applying as a composer will need to bring recordings and/or scores of original compositions to the audition. After applying to UAC or Directly to Western applicants are required to book an audition online.

Online audition booking system

If not auditioning, applicants wishing to pursue a Music specialisation will need to upload their supporting documentation (e.g. AMEB certificates demonstrating level of achievement in performance and musicianship and/or music theory).

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.  

International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Program Structure Current

If you commenced in 2023  please refer to the Structure 2023 tab for details.

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points.

Students must complete:

  • 80 credit points of Music core subjects
  • 80 credit points of Creative Industries core subjects (which includes one Introduction to Major pool subject)
  • 80 credit points of Music Studies Major
  • 80 credit point Creative Industries Major

Introduction to Major Subject Pool

Students select one of the following subjects as their Introduction Major subject, to correspond to the Creative Industries major selected.

Subject Title Credit Points
MKTG 1001Advertising: An Introduction10
COMM 1010Creative Writing: The Imaginative Life10
HUMN 1066Introduction to Culture and Society10
LAWS 1003Fundamentals of Australian Law10
DESN 1011Image Design10
COMM 1018News and Media Today10
LANG 1015Introduction to Literary Studies10
COMM 1039Introduction to Screen Media10
BUSM 1026Organisational Behaviour10
MKTG 1009Public Relations Theory and Practice10
DESN 1021Web and Time-based Design10

Majors

Music

NOTE: Please enrol in this major via your MySR account.  If you need help, please refer to the details under 'Field of Study and Subjects' at the How to: Register page.

Students must successfully complete the following major:


Creative Industries

The major for the Bachelor of Creative Industries component should be selected from the following.

Recommended Sequence Current

If you commenced in 2023 please refer to the Sequence 2023 tab for details.

The recommended sequence is subject to variation based on the student's nominated Creative Industries major.

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.

Full-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
PERF 1015 Music Theory Fundamentals 10
PERF 1014 Music Production 10
PERF 1010 Music Performance 1 10
COMM 1036 Introduction to the Creative Industries 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
PERF 1012 Music Performance 2 10
PERF 1024 Music Theory and Songwriting 10
PERF 1025 Sound Design 10
Select one Creative Industries Introduction to Major Subject 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
PERF 1023 Western Art Music History 10
PERF 2004 Composition and Creativity 10
Select two Creative Industries Major Subjects 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
PERF 1016 Popular Music Histories 10
BUSM 1010 Financing Enterprises 10
BUSM 1008 Enterprise Leadership 10
Select one subject from the Music Studies Major 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
PERF 3014 Music and Critical Thought 10
Select one subject from the Music Studies Major 10
Select two Creative Industries Major Subjects 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
COMM 3011 Creative TEAMS 1 10
PERF 3009 Music Research Methods 10
Select one subject from the Music Studies Major 10
Select one Creative Industries Major Subject 10
 Credit Points40
Year 4
Autumn session
BUSM 1006 Enterprise Innovation and Markets 10
COMM 3012 Creative TEAMS 2 10
Select one subject from the Music Studies Major 10
Select one Creative Industries Major Subject 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
COMM 3010 Creative Industries Professional Project or Internship 10
Select two Creative Industries Major Subjects 20
Select one subject from the Music Studies Major 10
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points320

Program Structure 2023

If you commenced in 2024 or later please refer to the Structure Current tab for details.

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points.

Students must complete:

  • 80 credit points of Music core subjects
  • 80 credit points of Creative Industries core subjects (which includes one Introduction to Major pool subject)
  • 80 credit points of Music Studies (consisting of two 40cp minors)
  • 80 credit point Creative Industries Major

Introduction to Major Subject Pool

Students select one of the following subjects as their Introduction Major subject, to correspond to the Creative Industries major selected.

Subject Title Credit Points
MKTG 1001Advertising: An Introduction10
COMM 1010Creative Writing: The Imaginative Life10
HUMN 1066Introduction to Culture and Society10
LAWS 1003Fundamentals of Australian Law10
DESN 1011Image Design10
COMM 1018News and Media Today10
LANG 1015Introduction to Literary Studies10
COMM 1039Introduction to Screen Media10
BUSM 1026Organisational Behaviour10
MKTG 1009Public Relations Theory and Practice10
DESN 1021Web and Time-based Design10

Equivalent Subjects

The subject listed below counts towards completion of the Introduction to Major Pool Subject for students who passed this subject in 2021 or earlier. 

HUMN 1017 - Everyday Life, replaced by HUMN 1066 Introduction to Culture and Society

Majors and Minors

Music

The Bachelor of Music component will consist of two minors. Select from the following three minors.

Because any two music minors result in the student completing seven rather than eight subjects as they share one common subject, students are required to enrol in an additional Music subject to meet the 160 credit points requirement for the Music component of the degree and eventually the 320 credit points requirement for this double degree. The additional Music subjects include the following.

Subject Title Credit Points
PERF 3031Arranging Music10
PERF 3013Music and Analysis10
PERF 3014Music and Critical Thought10
PERF 2030Musicology as a Professional Practice10
PERF 2028World Music10
Or select any subject from the minor that the student is not enrolled in.

Creative Industries

The major for the Bachelor of Creative Industries component should be selected from the following.

Note: each major must have no more than three Level 1 subjects (including the introduction to major subject) and a minimum of three Level 3 subjects).

Note: for the purposes of this double degree, students may not undertake the Music major offered for Bachelor of Creative Industries. Therefore, PERF 1014 Music Production cannot count as an Introduction Major Subject in this program.  It is to be completed as a component of the Bachelor of Music core.

Equivalent Subject

The subject listed below counts towards completion of this program for students who passed this subject in 2021 or earlier.

PERF 2018 Music, Culture and Discourse, replaced by PERF 2030 Musicology as a Professional Practice

The subject listed below counts towards completion of this program for students who passed this subject in 2023 or earlier. 

PERF 2001 Arranging Music, replaced by PERF 3031 Arranging Music

Recommended Sequence 2023

If you commenced in 2024 or later please refer to the Sequence Current tab for details.

The recommended sequence is subject to variation based on the student's nominated Creative Industries major.

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 320 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.

Full-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
PERF 1015 Music Theory Fundamentals 10
PERF 1014 Music Production 10
PERF 1010 Music Performance 1 10
COMM 1036 Introduction to the Creative Industries 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
PERF 1012 Music Performance 2 10
PERF 1024 Music Theory and Songwriting 10
PERF 1025 Sound Design 10
Select one Creative Industries Introduction to Major Subject 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
PERF 1023 Western Art Music History 10
Select one Music Minor Subject 10
Select two Creative Industries Major Subjects 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
PERF 1016 Popular Music Histories 10
BUSM 1010 Financing Enterprises 10
BUSM 1008 Enterprise Leadership 10
Select one Music Minor Subject 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
Select two Music Minor Subjects 20
Select two Creative Industries Major Subject 20
 Credit Points40
Spring session
COMM 3011 Creative TEAMS 1 10
Select two Music Minor Subjects 20
Select one Creative Industries Major Subject 10
 Credit Points40
Year 4
Autumn session
BUSM 1006 Enterprise Innovation and Markets 10
COMM 3012 Creative TEAMS 2 10
Select one Music Minor Subject 10
Select one Creative Industries Major Subject 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
COMM 3010 Creative Industries Professional Project or Internship 10
Select two Creative Industries Major Subjects 20
Select one additional Music Subject 10
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points320