Collarts (Australian College of the Arts)

Being an independent tertiary college allows Collarts to offer a more specialised experience than a traditional university. Students are taught by industry leaders who have collectively worked with the world’s best music acts, produced and recorded award-winning albums, managed some of Australia’s best-known events, and created editorial and creative content for some of the world’s leading media outlets.

By offering a hands-on, collaborative approach to learning, Collarts supports those who want to succeed in the creative and entertainment industries, both nationally and internationally. Throughout their education, students are given opportunities to gain work experience at music festivals, entertainment venues, recording facilities, radio stations, and with brands and organisations at the forefront of contemporary culture. As part of each bachelor’s degree, students also undertake a comprehensive work placement.

Collarts offers fully accredited two-year bachelor degrees or diplomas in:

• Music Performance
• Audio Production
• Entertainment Management
• Music Production
• Content Creation
• Entertainment Journalism (Diploma only)

Collarts works on a trimester schedule, which means a year is divided into three study periods (called trimesters) instead of two (semesters) like most universities. Because of this trimester structure, students can graduate with a bachelor’s degree after two years of study.

Study Abroad

Students from all degrees at Collarts can apply to its international student exchange program, which takes place in Trimester 3 of each calendar year. More about this…

Collarts welcomes applications from international students. If they fulfil the entry requirements, they must complete the online application form and a staff member will contact them with the following up and to organise their interview and/or audition. 

Audio Production or Entertainment Management Degrees
Students will have a 30-minute online interview done usually over Skype. This interview is not a test of English and will involve a range of questions on their previous knowledge and experience. Students will be asked why they are interested in the degree and what their study and career goals are.

Music Degree
Students are required to prepare for a video audition. The audition involves students performing two musical pieces (of different music genres) on their primary instrument. If they are songwriters, one of their pieces must be an original composition. After the audition (this usually goes for under 10 minutes), students will have an interview. This is not a test of English and will involve a range of questions on their previous knowledge and experience. Students will be asked why they are interested in the degree and what their study and career goals are. This interview usually goes for 20 minutes.

As well as a successful interview and/or audition, students must be able to submit the following documents: 

• Copy of high school transcripts that demonstrate successful completion of Year 12 or equivalent. These transcripts must be certified and translated (if originals are not in English)
• A copy of English test score results from the last 18 months, evidencing IELTS 6.0 or equivalent (TOEFL or PTE can also be accepted). Collarts can also recommend English language colleges with a direct pathway if students need to study English before they start
• Certified copy of their passport 

Fees

Fees are AUD2,620 per unit, which is AUD10,480 per trimester for a full-time study load. The total cost for the two-year (six trimester) degree is AUD62,880. International students must pay the trimester fee at least two weeks prior to the trimester commencement. 

Collarts provides a wide range of experience-based scholarships and students may be eligible to apply depending on their circumstances and must contact the College to check if they qualify. 

Some of its scholarships include:

• Taking part in an intensive International Summer Camp, Band and Business Camp, or Songwriter Week at Popakademie, Germany.
• Spending a Trimester studying abroad at Drexel University in Philadelphia, USA.
• Having music professionally recorded and produced with the ‘Collarts Music: Career Start Scholarship’
• Experience of working at Laneway Festival or Paradise Festival
• Attending the Big Sound Conference in Brisbane
• Attending the Face the Music Conference in Melbourne
• Undertaking a major internship with Music Victoria

Collarts provides on-campus courses in Melbourne, Australia. Its students enjoy learning across three incredible inner-city campuses, located in South Melbourne, Fitzroy, and the Melbourne CBD. 

Its primary campus in South Melbourne includes classrooms, state-of-the-art music studios and post-production rooms, a live performance auditorium, Mac-Labs and rehearsal spaces suitable for all of its cohorts.

The Fitzroy campus features 9 sound-proofed rehearsal spaces and 2 music studios for music performance and music production students to use.

Its CBD campus includes classrooms and Mac-Labs, as well as a television studio for entertainment journalism, entertainment management, and content creation students. 

More about campuses...