Bachelor of Design

Course summary for international students

Year	2026 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Design
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online
Length	3 years full-time
Fee paying annual fee - commencing 2026	$39,400 for 1 yr full-time AUD
CRICOS code	109273C Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Level	Undergraduate
Deakin course code	A319
VTAC codes	1400311403 - Waurn Ponds (Geelong), International full-fee paying place 1400511403 - Burwood (Melbourne), International full-fee paying place
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Harness your creativity to make an impact in an ever-changing world when you study a Bachelor of Design at Deakin.

Design is a tangible way to influence people and solve complex problems. No two days will be the same, you will learn the tools, strategies and methodologies required to drive innovation in business, as well as how to utilise cutting-edge technology and the creative practices of design to create memorable work. Develop critical skills across a range of related disciplines – from communications design to interactive UX, to brand and design thinking – and work towards a sustained creative career doing what you love.

Want to build a sustained design career doing what you love?

Design has the power to drive change and enhance the way we function in society. If you are a creative person who wants to use your flair for design to deliver impactful solutions, then studying a Bachelor of Design is a great first step towards a dynamic and creative future career.

Studying the challenging and rewarding field of design allows your creativity to run free, preparing you to work across all industry sectors, including digital and publishing, packaging, game engines, software and mobile apps, the web, immersive and interactive virtual experiences, and more.

Explore core themes and methods across design thinking and design collaboration labs and discover how to develop positive design solutions for social and cultural change. Be empowered to become an adaptive and agile designer of the future by exploring new mediums and ideas when you combine studies from related disciplines – including photography, animation, Indigenous studies and more.

You will learn in a supportive environment from our leading academics and passionate practitioners, who’ll challenge you to take your love for creativity to new levels. Enhance your skills every day by using the same tools and technologies professionals use in our world-class design facilities.

Throughout your degree, you will work on real-world projects and learn how to interpret client briefs. you will form connections with industry through programs, internships, and volunteering opportunities. You will be supported by Deakin to design your internship. Choose from 600+ employers or craft your own. Plus, you will have opportunities to network with industry and share your designs with the public, ensuring you graduate with the entrepreneurial mindset and leadership skills required to thrive in the rapidly changing field of design.

Build towards a future career in design where you will be surrounded by a like-minded community of innovators and creative thinkers, where the possibilities are limitless.

Online studies

Deakin offers many courses which can be studied by distance education overseas.

However, international students living in Australia on a student visa, in each compulsory trimester (that is, Trimesters 1 and 2), must enrol in at least one unit that is offered as a Campus located unit and can, in addition enrol in units offered online. International students may undertake a maximum of up to one third (or equivalent) of their study as online study. Please note enrolment in one face to face unit in compulsory study periods is only allowed if the student is completing their final unit of study and will not exceed maximum one third (or equivalent) online requirement.

Professional recognition

Deakin’s Bachelor of Design is recognised by the Design Institute of Australia (DIA), so you will be up-to-date with the current industry practices and developments. The DIA also offers student membership and access to some of the biggest design events and experts in the nation.

Fees and charges

The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical first-year tuition fees for students enrolled in this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.

One year full-time study load is typically represented by eight credit points of study. Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together eight credit points of a typical combination of units for your course.

You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook. Learn more about fees and available payment options.

Career opportunities

Deakin is the #1 Victorian university for graduate employment.* With us you can step-into your future with confidence. Utilise your love for creative thinking and design to solve complex problems in this innovative field. When you study a Bachelor of Design at Deakin, you are working towards a sustainable creative career doing what you love.

Designers work across all industry sectors, including digital and publishing, advertising, online, immersive and interactive virtual experiences, arts organisations, corporate companies, NGOs, and more. Or create your own future freelance career and become an entrepreneurial self-starter.

Graduates are open to many opportunities, including the following design careers:

AR and VR (mixed reality) designer
animation/motion designer
art director/creative director
brand designer
communication designer
digital designer
game designer
graphic designer
illustrator and digital artist
interactive designer
motion graphics designer
social media designer
systems designer
UI designer
UX designer
web designer

For more information go to DeakinTALENT.

^*Australian Graduate Survey 2010–2015, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2016–2023, Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT). The #1 graduate employment is based on overall employment for domestic undergraduates of Victorian universities, 4–6 months after course completion, with an equal overall employment rate with Monash University.

Course learning outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Apply theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the forms, functions, processes, languages and materials of communication design to meet client requirements in a rapidly changing industry setting.
Communication	Articulate ideas using design-specific language, concepts, and media to initiate, resolve and generate professional outcomes in response to design briefs.
Digital literacy	Identify, evaluate and navigate a complex and ever-changing range of digital tools in order to strategically achieve successful outcomes in dynamic industry environments.
Critical thinking	Critically analyse and evaluate design methodologies, concepts, modes and media in order to generate ideas and resolve complex problems to achieve professional industry-based outcomes.
Problem solving	Strategically evaluate design research methodologies to identify appropriate approaches to complex and ill-defined problems that generate and deliver diverse communication solutions.
Self-management	Critically reflect on professional performance and growth in order to prioritise needs and maintain professional accountability in communication design settings.
Teamwork	Lead, deliver and perform respectfully and inclusively within a collaborative and professional team, applying agile and responsive approaches in the delivery of industry standard outcomes.
Global citizenship	Evaluate and apply design’s capacity to act as an agent of change that is responsive to the social, cultural and ethical needs of diverse communities in global contexts.

Approved by Faculty Board February 2022

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Design, you must pass 24 credit points. This includes:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your study period
1 credit point of Thematic core unit
3 credit points of Employability sequence units
one of:
- 2 majors (8 credit points each). At least one major must be chosen from the Design majors
- 1 major (8 credit points) from the Design majors, plus 1 minor (4 credit points)
remaining credit points which may comprise of:
- 1 additional minor
- open elective units
- a combination of the above
a maximum of 10 credit points at level 1
a minimum of 6 credit points at level 3

Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.

All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Majors

All Bachelor of Design students are required to complete at least one major sequence from the following list:

Bachelor of Design major sequences

^UX refers to User Experience

Students may choose to complete a second major sequence from the following list:

School of Communication and Creative Arts major sequences

Please check the rules of each major sequence to see which units you need to complete to achieve the required credit points.

Refer to the details of each major sequence availability and sequence notes relating to incompatibility.

Minors

^ UX refers to User Experience

Please check the rules of each minor sequence to see which units you need to complete to achieve the required credit points.

Students are advised to refer to the details of each major or minor sequence for availability as some may be offered in campus and/or online mode only.

Course structure

Core units

Compulsory 0-credit point module

To be completed in the first trimester of study:

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin

Thematic core

ADD101

Design and Creative Thinking

Employability sequence units

AWL100

Your Future Direction

Plus 1 credit point from:

AWL200

Leadership and Transformation

AWL201

Communication and Persuasive Presentation

AWL202

Entrepreneurial Mindset

AWL203

Expand Your Experience

Plus 1 credit point from:

AWL300

Internship

AWL301

Enhance Your Experience

AWL302

Your Professional Story

Admission criteria

Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.

A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.

If you don't meet the academic entry requirements as outlined in the tabs below, or haven't completed Year 12, or don't hold any relevant qualifications, the STAT (Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test) Multiple Choice (MC) may be an option for you to meet course entry requirements.

Academic requirements

Academic requirements - Higher education study

If you’re currently studying Year 12, or completed Year 12 in the last two years, you will need to meet all the following criteria to be considered for admission to this degree:

Year 12 prerequisite subjects

Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English EAL (English as an Additional Language) or at least 20 in English other than EAL

ATAR

Senior Secondary Certificate of Education with an unadjusted ATAR of at least 50 or equivalent

Academic requirements - Higher education study

If you have undertaken higher education studies after secondary schooling, you will need to meet all the following criteria to be considered for admission to this degree:

successful completion of at least two bachelor level or above units (AQF Level 7 or equivalent)

Academic requirements - VET study

If you have undertaken any Vocational Education and Training (VET) study after secondary school, you will need to meet at least one of following criteria to be considered for admission to this degree:

completion of a certificate IV or higher in a related discipline
completion of a diploma or higher in any discipline
at least 50% completion of a diploma or higher in a related discipline

Academic requirements - Work and life experience

If you finished Year 12 more than three years ago, or did not finish Year 12, and have not undertaken any further study, you may be considered for admission to this degree based on your work, volunteer and/or life experience.

Submit a personal statement outlining your motivation to study, previous education and employment history, and how this course can assist your career aspirations or progression. Think of it as a job application cover letter – it should be relevant and demonstrate your commitment and interest in this course or study area.

English language proficiency requirements

To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) English Units 3 and 4: Study score of 25 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or 20 in any other English
IELTS overall score of 6 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)

Admissions information

Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning. We're also committed to admissions transparency. Read about our first intake of 2026 students (PDF, 879KB) – their average ATARs, whether they had any previous higher education experience and more.

Not sure if you can get into Deakin? Discover the different entry pathways we offer and study options available to you, no matter your ATAR or education history.

Credit for prior learning - general

If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for credit transfer. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your credit transfer.

Your credit transfer is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.

You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.

Articulated courses

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) (A400)
Bachelor of Communication and Creative Arts (Honours) (A450)

Course duration

You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.

Work experience

Prepare for your future by getting real world experience and the employability skills to succeed, while completing your degree. The Employability Stream is tailored to support you to be future ready. Deakin’s suite of Work Integrated Learning programs can connect you with internships, social impact programs and opportunities to extend your skills in settings across the globe.

Elective units may also provide additional opportunities for Work Integrated Learning experiences.

Participation requirements

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.