What is a bachelor degree?
Bachelor degrees, also called undergraduate degrees, are often the first university experience for school leavers – but they’re open to anyone at any life stage.
Undergraduate degrees take between three and five years to complete. With part-time, flexible and online study options on offer, there’s a bachelor degree that suits your needs at Swinburne.
Real industry experience is guaranteed in all Swinburne bachelor degrees through our Work Integrated Learning program. You’ll get on the direct line to your career with projects, placements and internships that connect you with industry before you graduate.
What is a double degree?
Double degrees let you study two areas at once, graduating with broad expertise. Combine your passions or pair complementary skills to open up diverse career pathways. You'll finish both qualifications faster than taking them consecutively, and gain a competitive edge.
What is an honours year?
An honours year takes your bachelor degree further through specialised research. You'll complete cutting-edge research and produce a thesis that demonstrates your expertise. Honours can be a gateway to career opportunities and postgraduate research degrees.
There are a few reasons you might do an honours year:
It’s built-in to your bachelor degree: degrees including honours have an honours year built into the course – like the Bachelor of Film and Television (Honours).
You can choose to add an honours year: in some study areas, like science, Swinburne offers a standalone honours year which you can apply for after completing your undergraduate degree.
It’s required for accreditation: accreditation in some fields, like engineering or psychology, requires you to complete a honours year.
Browse our bachelor degree
Popular bachelor degrees
-
Bachelor of Arts
60.0
Guaranteed Entry ATAR or more entry options3 years full-time or equivalent part-time 3 years full-timeHawthornSemester 1Semester 2Choose your major
Climate and Social Justice
Be ready to make your mark on a greener, more equitable future by developing a critical understanding of the social impacts of climate change.
Criminology and Social Change
Explore crime, its causes, policing, global issues, cybercrime, and policy-making to analyse trends and prevent criminal behaviour.
Ethics and Technology
Examine the use of data-harvesting by private corporations and governments and the plethora of resulting ethical issues – from privacy and surveillance to human rights, equity and security.
Indigenous Studies
Delve into Indigenous ways of being and doing, which are increasingly appreciated not only their historical value, but also for their place in contemporary society.
Literature and Creative Writing
Learn to harness the power of words to tell compelling stories that inform and inspire the world. Explore the traditional and latest methods to hone your writing practice.
Perspectives on Globalisation
Learn how globalisation has transformed our society. Understand international relations. Develop cultural competency skills and open your mind to world cultures.
Politics, Power and Technology
Question political structures and how new media technology has created opportunities for democratic mobilisation and participation, while opening up new ways to corrupt democratic processes.
Screen Studies and Popular Culture
Chart the history of screen technologies and use your creativity and initiative to anticipate what the future of entertainment will be.
-
Bachelor of Business
60.0
Guaranteed Entry ATAR or more entry options3 years full-time or equivalent part-time 3 years full-timeHawthornSemester 1Semester 2Choose your major
Accounting
Learn to deliver insights that drive business outcomes, while appreciating how profit and purpose are the foundations of future, sustainable business.
Business Administration
Gain an essential understanding of business operations, including organisational behaviour and managing workplace relations, alongside a range of practical skills.
Business Analytics and Analysis
Business analysts often act as bridges between management and those with more technological leanings. This major will teach you how to speak both business and tech languages.
Entrepreneurship
Develop the type of fresh thinking required to build, launch and scale a start-up business or social venture.
Finance
This CFA-affiliated program is designed to build careers in investment banking, financial consultancy, asset management, financial securities, trading stocks and brokerage.
Human Resource Management
Discover how to manage people, create a productive working environment and build a positive workplace culture.
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Equip yourself with the skills needed to access career opportunities in logistics and supply chain management, international trade, procurement, inventory management and distribution.
Management
Learn about the role of management in business and discover how key resources must be strategically planned, effectively deployed, monitored and controlled to meet strategic business objectives.
Marketing
Develop the advanced marketing and managerial skills needed to think strategically and succeed in this exciting industry.
Sports Management
Develop the business mindset needed to run sport organisations and venues, identify risks and seize opportunities.
-
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
75.0
Guaranteed Entry ATAR or more entry options4 years full-time or equivalent part-time 4 years full-timeHawthornSemester 1Semester 2Choose your major
Architectural
This major combines structural and environmental building engineering with architectural creativity. You'll be creating the buildings of tomorrow in both on-site class and unique industry placements.
Biomedical
Learn to improve health care and quality of life through the application of electrical, electronics and systems engineering in medicine and biology.
Civil
Build the future – literally – with a Swinburne civil major, featuring technical excellence and a host of real-world industry learning opportunities.
Electrical and Electronic
Gain technical expertise in power system design, electronics, control systems, signal processing and embedded systems.
Mechanical
Learn the core concepts of mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and energy as you participate in industry-based projects and practical workshops.
Product Design
The product design major combines the creativity and human-centred approach of industrial design with the academic rigour of engineering science and innovation.
Robotics and Mechatronics
Discover three traditional engineering disciplines – mechanical, electronics and software – as you bolster your CV with real industry experiences.
Software
Dive into a career in advanced software engineering with an emphasis on teamwork, problem solving and practical software engineering skills.
Why study with Swinburne?
Top 300 globally
Recognised in the QS World University Rankings 2026 top 300
Real experience guarantee
Work Integrated Learning is guaranteed in all our bachelor degrees
Five-star student experience
Rated five stars by our undergraduate students for overall experience, student:teacher ratio and student support.
Frequently asked questions
There’s no single pathway into a bachelor degree at Swinburne – no matter where you’re starting from, there’s an entry point for you.
VTAC: Year 12 students can make Swinburne their number one VTAC preference to apply for a bachelor degree.
Direct entry: Non-year 12 students can apply to Swinburne directly via our online application portal.
Pathways: If you don’t meet the traditional academic requirements to get into the course you want, don’t worry – we offer a variety of pathway options to help get you there.
Explore our pathways to university to learn more about options like UniLink diplomas, TAFE, Fee-Free UniReady and more.
Most bachelor degrees take between three and six years to complete, depending on whether you choose to study:
Full-time or part-time
During summer and winter terms
A double degree – these have more units overall and add time to your degree.
A professional degree – this adds a 12-month, paid placement to your bachelor degree.
TAFE diplomas and bachelor degrees differ in duration, focus and study pathways.
Diplomas take six weeks to two years and emphasise hands-on technical skills, while bachelor degrees require three to five years of study and cover deeper theoretical and technical knowledge.
Many diplomas provide direct entry into bachelor programs, whereas bachelor degrees lead to postgraduate study like graduate certificates, graduate diplomas and master degrees.
Note that, unlike TAFE diplomas, graduate diplomas are advanced postgraduate qualifications requiring a bachelor degree or significant work experience.
Yes, you can complete multiple bachelor degrees. If you want to combine your passions, get a competitive edge and gain two bachelor degrees at once, you can undertake a double degree.
Yes, you can choose to study a double degree. You can also transfer into a double degree at any time during your undergraduate degree.
Generally, a three-year bachelor degree has 24 units. Your course breakdown can include:
Core units
Units for your major
Elective units
Course options allow you to study in an area that isn’t directly related to your degree, in the form of a co-major, minor, advanced minor or elective.
If you choose to study a double degree or honours year, you’ll need to complete additional units.
Standard bachelor degree: 24 units
Double degree:
Honours year:
Yes, a bachelor degree can bring you career opportunities, higher earning potential, and the satisfaction of working in a field that matches your passions and interests. For some professions, a bachelor degree is required – or the first step towards a professional accreditation.
With real industry experience built-in to all our bachelor degrees, you can walk into your next career stage armed with industry-level skills and confidence.
