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Course snapshot
Domestic snapshot
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Start Date
March
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Duration
3 years full-time; 6 years part-time
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Location
Lismore
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Placement
Yes Learn more
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ATAR
60
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Inherent Requirements
No Learn more
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Language Requirements
IELTS Overall Score 6.0
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Entry Requirements
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Course abbreviation
BAD
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Course code
3007160
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Credit points
288
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Equivalent units
24
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Scholarships
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Indicative fee
Please note, some locations may not have all intake periods available. See the full availability details for further information.
International snapshot
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Start Date
February
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Duration
3 years full-time
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Location
Lismore
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Placement
Yes Learn more
-
ATAR
60
-
Inherent Requirements
No Learn more
-
Language Requirements
IELTS Overall Score 6.0
-
Entry Requirements
-
Course abbreviation
BAD
-
Course code
3007160
-
Credit points
288
-
Equivalent units
24
-
Scholarships
-
Indicative fee
-
CRICOS
Please note, some locations may not have all intake periods available. See the full availability details for further information.
Overview
Do you dream of showcasing your creative work in galleries and exhibitions around the world? If so, you can take inspiration from the many Southern Cross University graduates whose careers are thriving after completing our Bachelor of Art and Design.
This internationally acknowledged degree is designed to enhance your artistic flair and develop your career options as an artist, curator or designer. Students are immersed in a rich studio experience with an atmosphere that inspires creativity with access to the dynamic arts scene of the Northern Rivers.
From our purpose-built, well-equipped studios, you'll develop your skills in painting, printmaking, ceramics and sculpture, digital arts and design, and drawing.
Our graduates have featured in some of Australia's most prestigious arts awards, and their work features regularly in commercial and public settings, both nationally and internationally.
You may also use this degree as a precursor to further study, through Honours and PhD, with a view to careers in research and education.
Learn more about this degree in our arts showcase.
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"The lecturers were so amazing and taught me that art isn’t actually about your creative skills; it’s about your ideas and how you bring those ideas into the world.”
The Southern Cross Model is a game-changer in higher education study.
Our students now engage in shorter, six-week unit structures designed around immersive and interactive learning experiences. The shorter unit structure gives students a greater sense of momentum as they achieve milestones quickly, resulting in increased student success rates, and course and teacher satisfaction. Lectures are a thing of the past - students will be engaged in active, interactive and discussion-based learning.
On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes.
Our online study option is highly interactive and may include a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes.
The method of teaching and assessment may vary from unit to unit.
Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes (GA).
| Course Learning Outcome |
|---|
GA1: Intellectual rigour Apply technical skills and specialist knowledge to realise artworks, artefacts and related forms of creative expression Develop, express and evaluate ideas, concepts and processes by thinking creatively, critically and reflectively |
GA2: Creativity Apply technical skills and specialist knowledge to realise artworks, artefacts and related forms of creative expression Demonstrate skills and breadth of knowledge of the practices, languages, forms, materials, technologies and techniques in art and design |
GA3: Ethical practice Recognise and reflect on cultural, ecological and ethical issues, and apply historical and theoretical perspectives to practice in art and design |
GA4: Knowledge of a discipline Apply technical skills and specialist knowledge to realise artworks, artefacts and related forms of creative expression Demonstrate skills and breadth of knowledge of the practices, languages, forms, materials, technologies and techniques in art and design Recognise and reflect on cultural, ecological and ethical issues, and apply historical and theoretical perspectives to practice in art and design Develop, express and evaluate ideas, concepts and processes by thinking creatively, critically and reflectively |
GA5: Lifelong learning Work independently and collaboratively in response to project demands |
GA6: Communication and social skills Apply appropriate academic skills to communicate and present ideas, problems and arguments in modes suited to a range of audiences |
GA7: Cultural competence Recognise and reflect on cultural, ecological and ethical issues, and apply historical and theoretical perspectives to practice in art and design Demonstrate skills and breadth of knowledge of the practices, languages, forms, materials, technologies and techniques in art and design |
Students have the opportunity to undertake an internship in the dynamic arts industries of the New South Wales North Coast. They can also study for a session at universities overseas including the prestigious Pratt Institute in New York, University of Hertfordshire in England, Universitat de Barcelona in Spain, University of Massachusetts in USA, and Kansai Gaidai University in Japan.
Students complete core studies in:
- Studio studies: painting, printmaking, mixed-media, 3D studies
- Art theory
- Curating
- Studio drawing
- Design.
In second and third year, students select from a range of creative and media arts units and/or units from across the University to complement their areas of interest.
| Location | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| Lismore | Term 1 |
| Location | Teaching period | Annual Fees | CRICOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lismore | Term 1 | $30,832 ($3,854 per unit) | 096003C |
Tuition fees are in Australian dollars, and are subject to change, including annual increases over the duration of a course. Annual tuition fee is based on completing 8 units per year. In addition students are required to pay OSHC for the duration of their visa in advance. Non-tuition fee covers textbooks, stationery and excursions. | |||
Career Outcomes
Requirements
We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.
Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.
Entry requirements
Language requirements
English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Overall | 6.0 |
| Listening | minimum 5.5 |
| Reading | minimum 5.5 |
| Speaking | minimum 5.5 |
| Writing | minimum 5.5 |
Credit for prior learning
Candidates who can demonstrate artistic expertise at a professional level may be granted advanced standing of up to 4 Art and Design units, provided such artistic expertise has been demonstrated within 5 years prior to admission to candidature.
Course requirements
To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Art and Design, students must complete the equivalent of 24 units (288 credit points), comprising:
- 20 core units (240 credit points), and
- 4 equivalent elective units (48 credit points).
Exit Awards
Students may be eligible to receive the Associate Degree of Art and Design after completing the equivalent of 16 units (192 credit points), comprising 14 core units (168 credit points), and 2 option units (24 credit points).
Students may be eligible to receive the Diploma of Art and Design after completing the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points), comprising 8 core units.
Other things to consider
As part of our commitment to admissions transparency, the University provides a snapshot of how students were admitted to their courses and the profile of students studying with us here.
There are different pathways into an undergraduate degree.
Whether you are returning to study after some time or you have just finished school and you need some extra academic preparation before embarking on a degree, Southern Cross University offers two excellent, fee-free academic preparation programs that develop the skills you need to be successful at university.
SCU College also offers a range of one-year Diplomas that provide extra academic support as you commence university. Diplomas are a great pathway to a degree and may also prepare you for diverse paraprofessional roles.
Credit for Prior Learning, also referred to as ‘Advanced Standing’ or Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL), is the process of looking at your prior study and/or experience to assess if you can be awarded academic credit or gain entry to a course on the basis of your existing knowledge and skills.
The Early Offer program allows Year 12 students to secure a place in a Southern Cross University undergraduate degree before Year 12 results are released. It’s designed to remove some of the pressure from Year 12 and provide a pathway directly into university study that is not based solely on Year 12 results.
Course structure
Why Music and Creative Arts at SCU
Major festival connections
Such as Splendour in the Grass, Mullum Music Festival and Byron Writers Festival
Extensive facilities
Outstanding visual arts, recording and performing studios
Graduate satisfaction
85% of graduates rated the facilities and resources highly, well above the median national average of 79%
(QILT 2020)Fees and Scholarships
Domestic students
You are a domestic student if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, New Zealand citizen, or Australian humanitarian visa holder. Your course will either be a Commonwealth Supported Place or a full fee-paying place. This is noted in the course snapshot.
Commonwealth Supported Places:
In a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), the Government pays some of your fees and you pay the rest as the Student Contribution Amount (SCA).
SCA is calculated per unit, not per course. Eligible students can defer the SCA through a HECS-HELP loan.
Full Fee-Paying Places:
A full fee-paying place is where you pay the full (unsubsidised) tuition fee for your course. Eligible students can defer the payment of their tuition fees through the FEE-HELP scheme (including employer-reserved places for The Hotel School courses).
Also known as SSAF, the Student Services and Amenities Fee is a compulsory fee for most students used to provide important services and amenities to students both on and off campus. It’s charged per unit, based on the unit’s credit point value. Eligible domestic students have the option of deferring this fee through the SA-HELP loan scheme. More about SSAF
Depending on your course, your costs could also include computer equipment and software, books, stationery, field trips, uniforms or other course-specific expenses such as art materials, musical equipment or travel for practicums, internships, vaccinations or industry experience.
Scholarships vary in amount, from a few hundred to several thousand dollars each year. Eligibility isn't limited to top-performing students or those facing financial challenges; there are opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds and with different accomplishments. This ensures that education remains accessible to all, changing lives and helping individuals achieve their goals for a brighter future.
Fees and Scholarships
International Students
If you're an international student, you can find the annual course cost in Australian dollars (AUD$) on our International Courses and Fees page or on the web page for your course under fees.
Also known as SSAF, the Student Services and Amenities Fee is a compulsory fee for most students used to provide important services and amenities to students both on and off campus. It’s charged per unit, based on the unit’s credit point value. Eligible domestic students have the option of deferring this fee through the SA-HELP loan scheme. More about SSAF
Depending on your course, your costs could also include computer equipment and software, books, stationery, field trips, uniforms or other course-specific expenses such as art materials, musical equipment or travel for practicums, internships, vaccinations or industry experience.
Southern Cross University offers a range of scholarships designed to support you while you study, available for a variety of backgrounds and achievements. Scholarships range from a few hundred dollars a year to several thousand dollars a year. Southern Cross has also introduced Access25, a new initiative for 2025 to deliver a quality education combined with a straightforward tuition model, ensuring every international student has equal access.
Apply now
Preparing to apply
- Check requirements
- Get supporting documents ready
- Choose where and when from the available options
Click the Apply button to start your application in our Application Portal.
Dates for the diary
Our shorter, more focused six-week unit structure gives students a greater sense of momentum and motivation as they achieve milestones quickly. Application dates per Term are shown on each course page however refer to our key dates and teaching calendar for detail on when enrolment opens, studies commence and when grades are published. There are also Dual Term and Tri Term calendars for those who have specific subjects.
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How can we help?
Credit Transfer
Get a head start on your degree. Find out if you’re eligible for credit from previous studies.
Go to credit assessorEntry Pathway
We believe in equal access to further education, so we offer a range of pathways to university.
Find a pathway