Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production) (B-FAPRO)

Bachelors DegreeYear: 2024 Delivered: On Campus (Southbank)

You’re viewing the 2024 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks
You’re currently viewing the 2024 version of this course

Overview

Award titleBachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
Year & campus2024 — Southbank
CRICOS code093586K
Fees informationSubject EFTSL, level, discipline and census date
Study level & typeUndergraduate Coursework
AQF level 7
Credit points300 credit points
Duration36 months full-time

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production) is a three-year full-time degree that offers studies in the creation and production of live performance. Students are able to specialise in the areas of Design, Stage Management, Set and Props, Costume, Lighting, Digital Media and Projection, and Sound. Theoretical knowledge and practical skills are developed through an immersive and practical curriculum in studio and production environments.

The course incorporates broad foundation training in live production processes. Students cultivate their skills in their chosen specialisations as they progress through the course, integrating conceptual and technical skills within studio-based environments.

Students are involved in sustained exploration and experimentation through collaborations on Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) Theatre, Dance and Music Theatre productions. Students undertake design, technical and management roles, increasing in responsibility and endeavour as they advance through the course. This environment provides students with a unique opportunity to develop interdisciplinary collaboration skills with peer and professional theatre makers.

The course is delivered and supported by Academic staff and mentors with contemporary industry practice. As a way of furthering their understanding of the industry and developing their own professional network, all students are required to complete an industry internship in their final year with a professional company or individual practitioner. The course promotes sustainable independent practice to optimally position students to forge strong career pathways in national and international performing arts industries.

Links to further information

This course is available in My Course Planner

My Course Planner is an interactive web application that allows you to explore your study options and decide which subjects and major(s), minors and/or specialisations are right for you.

 

Entry requirements

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed one of:

  1. the Victorian Certificate of Education including; VCE Units 3 and 4 either a study score of at least 25 in English/English Language/Literature or a study score of at least 30 in English as an Additional Language;
  2. the International Baccalaureate Diploma including at least Grade 4 in English or English B (Standard Level or Higher Level);
  3. a senior secondary program, foundation studies program or equivalent approved by Academic Board including appropriate English language studies.

Applicants are also required to complete an audition, test, interview, workshop, portfolio or folio presentation, as prescribed by the Academic Board for the stream to which entry is sought.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

  • prior academic performance, and
  • performance in an interview, workshop, portfolio or folio presentation.

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. For applicants who have not completed the Victorian Certificate of Education or the International Baccalaureate Diploma, the undergraduate English language requirements must be met.

Note. For applicants through the Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre, “middle-band” selection adjustments are made only on the basis of eligibility for Access Melbourne.

Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)

Inherent requirements are the abilities, knowledge and skills needed to complete this course that must be met by all students. For information on the inherent requirements specific to this course contact the course/program coordinator. In some circumstances reasonable adjustments may be available to enable students to meet these requirements while still preserving the academic integrity of the university's learning, assessment and accreditation processes. For more information on how to seek these adjustments refer to the Student Equity and Disability Support website: https://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this course, graduates will be able to:

  • employ conceptual and practical skills to a professional level across a range of technical production and design areas in the performing arts;
  • apply a holistic approach to the production process for live performance;
  • critically examine creative and technical concepts, articulate ideas and communicate them effectively;
  • work collaboratively within a creative process in the realisation of live performance;
  • present a body of work generated from collaborations on a variety of productions;
  • build professional industry connections creating a pathway to future employment;
  • establish and maintain an independent creative practice.

Generic skills

Refer to Graduate Attributes.

Graduate attributes

Graduates of the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production) will have developed the following skills and attributes that allow them to be:

Artistically excellent:

  • demonstrate a flexible and innovative approach to the national and international challenges for the professional artist/practitioner in the 21 Century;
  • have a strong sense of intellectual integrity and of the ethics of artistic practices and scholarship;
  • have in-depth knowledge of their specialist discipline(s);
  • reach a high level of achievement in artistic practice, writing, generic research activities, problem-solving and communication;
  • be critical and creative thinkers, with an aptitude for continued self-directed learning;
  • be adept at learning in a range of ways, including through information and communication technologies.

Knowledgeable across disciplines:

  • critically examine, synthesise and evaluate knowledge across a range of disciplines;
  • expand their analytical and cognitive skills through learning experiences in diverse subjects;
  • have the capacity to participate fully in collaborative learning and to confront unfamiliar problems;
  • have a set of flexible and transferable skills for different types of employment.

Leaders in communities:

  • initiate and implement constructive change in their communities, including professions and workplaces;
  • have excellent interpersonal and decision-making skills, including an awareness of personal strengths and limitations;
  • mentor future generations of learners;
  • engage in meaningful public discourse, with a profound awareness of community needs.

Attuned to cultural diversity:

  • value different cultures and their cultural forms of practice;
  • be well-informed citizens able to contribute to their communities wherever they choose to live and work;
  • have an understanding of the social and cultural diversity in our community;
  • respect Indigenous knowledge, cultures and values.

Active global citizens:

  • understand their relationship with and responsibility to their cultural environment and society;
  • accept social and civic responsibilities;
  • be advocates for improving the sustainability of the environment;
  • have a broad global understanding, with a high regard for human rights, equity and ethics.

Course structure

The Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production) requires the successful completion of 300 credit points.

Compulsory subjects

  • 237.5 credit points of Compulsory subjects including
    • 75 credit points of Level 1 Compulsory subjects
    • 75 credit points of Level 2 Compulsory subjects
    • 87.5 credit points of Level 3 Compulsory subjects

Electives

  • 12.5 credit points of Production Electives

Breadth

Progression Rules

  • Completion of CREA10002 Stories of Place in the first semester of study
  • Completion of all Level 1 Compulsory subjects before proceeding to the next year level's Compulsory subjects
  • Completion of all Level 2 Compulsory subjects before proceeding to the next year level's Compulsory subjects
  • Note: Compulsory subjects in this program have prerequisites. Refer to individual subject entries.

For students who commenced prior to 2021

**This information only applies to students who commenced the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Design and Production) in 2019 and 2020**

In 2021, the University introduced an updated Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) curriculum, in which - in addition to practical studio-based classes with a structured program of high-level skills training and theoretical subjects in your chosen discipline - commencing students will be required to undertake Breadth studies in subjects from outside their core discipline.

Students who commenced the Bachelor of Fine Arts prior to 2021 will transition into the new core curriculum in 2021.

Students who commenced the Bachelor of Fine Arts prior to 2021 can view Sample Study Plans with subject options at the link below:

https://finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/current-students/course-planning/bfa-curriculum-update

Subject Options

Level 1 Compulsory subjects

Code Name Study period Credit Points
CREA10002 Stories of Place
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 6.25

Note: All students must take Stories of Place in their first semester of commencement in this course

Code Name Study period Credit Points
DPSS10008 Artefact and Performance 1
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
DPSS10009 Production Studio 1
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 18.75
DPSS10010 Production Studio 2
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 25
DPSS10005 Artefact and Performance 2
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5

Level 2 Compulsory subjects

Code Name Study period Credit Points
DPSS20010 Production Practice 1
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
DPSS20011 Production Studio 3
Semester 1 (On Campus - Southbank)
 25
DPSS20012 Production Practice 2
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
DPSS20013 Production Studio 4
Semester 2 (On Campus - Southbank)
 25

Level 3 Compulsory subjects

Code Name Study period Credit Points
DPSS30010 Professional Practice and Internship
Year Long (On Campus - Southbank)
 12.5
DPSS30008 Production Practice 3 - Part A
Semester 1 (Extended) (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 2 (Extended) (On Campus - Southbank)
 37.5
DPSS30009 Production Practice 3 - Part B
Semester 1 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Southbank)
Semester 2 (Early-Start) (On Campus - Southbank)
 37.5

Note:

Production Practice 3 requires two consecutive study periods of enrolment. Students commence Production Practice 3 - Part A and must continue Production Practice 3 - Part B in the following study period. Upon successful completion of the Production Practice 3 - Part A and Part B, students will receive 75 credit points.

Production Electives

Code Name Study period Credit Points
DPSS10007 The History of Cool: Fashion & Attitude
Semester 2 (Online)
 12.5
DPSS20009 Travelling Design & Performance Studio Not available in 2024 12.5
THTR20043 Design and the Moving Image
June (On Campus - Southbank)
June (Online)
 12.5
DPSS30007 Design and Production Global Atelier Not available in 2024 12.5
DPSS30011 Design and Production Melbourne x Berlin Not available in 2024 12.5
THTR30042 Hashtag Cyberstar
Summer Term (Online)
February (Online)
Winter Term (Online)
July (Online)
 12.5

Note:

Level 3 subjects are recommended

Breadth requirements

50 points of breadth subjects including at least 12.5 points at Level 2 or Level 3.

Find breadth subjects

Use the Handbook Search function to find subjects that can be used as breadth studies in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)

Reassessment is available in this course

Reassessment is a second attempt at passing a compulsory subject if a borderline failure in a single subject has a significant impact on the student's progression through their course. A borderline failure is usually a mark of 45% or more. Reassessment is not available if failure in the subject is a result of a finding of student academic misconduct; or a student was awarded a NH grade due to failure to participate in a component of assessment that was a hurdle requirement or failure to attend or participate in the subject as required. 

Refer to Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326): https://policy.unimelb.edu.au/MPF1326

Last updated: 21 February 2025