Bachelor of Design (Architecture)

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2025 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Design (Architecture)
Deakin course code	S342
Faculty	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment
Campus	Offered at Waterfront (Geelong)
Online	No
Duration	3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS course code	001835D Waterfront (Geelong)
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

Deakin’s Bachelor of Design (Architecture) is a path of discovery, exploring the creative possibilities of architectural design and its potential to make a positive impact on the built environment. Discover architectural ideas through cutting-edge content and develop your creativity. Gain a practical understanding of the built environment and its relationship with the community through meaningful and sustainable design, from houses to high-rise projects.

You will gain practical skills studying real-world projects in a studio environment, developing your ability to generate, analyse and communicate your ideas. You will learn to combine creative thinking with technical necessities and develop skills that enable you to examine and shape the places we inhabit. Gain work-ready skills in computer-aided design, drawing and digital fabrication.

Want to transform your ideas into a rewarding career?

Your learning space will be world class, with Deakin’s extensive a+b studio - an inspiring open-plan space that enables you to work collaboratively and develop your projects.

You will also have access to our purpose-built workshop. This is where 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers and traditional tools and machinery are all at hand for you to fabricate models and experiment with technology, materials and processes.

While producing design concepts, you will explore:

architectural history and philosophy
building science and the environment
construction technologies
computer-aided modelling
drawing and design process
model making
digital fabrications.

Enhancing your technical expertise, you will also collaborate with construction management students through our unique integrated learning approach - just as you will in the real-world. This ensures you graduate with the practical and applied experience that employers value.

Indicative student workload

You can expect to engage in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, workshops, site visits and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Professional recognition

Undergoing regular and rigorous review processes carried out by external professional bodies means that this course maintains its quality and industry relevance.

This course also forms step one of a five-year program comprising the three-year Bachelor of Design (Architecture) followed by the two-year Master of Architecture.

When the five-year program has been successfully completed you have an AACA (Architects Accreditation Council of Australia) accredited academic qualification and are on your way to becoming a registered architect via any state registration boards, such as the ARBV Architects Registration Board of Victoria.

Validated and recognised by the Board of Architects Malaysia (Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia) this course is included on the List of Recognised Architectural Programs, giving you eligibility to register as a Graduate Architect with the Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia.

Career opportunities

Deakin architecture graduates work across the globe, from the UK, Berlin and Oslo to China, Dubai and the US. Our Bachelor of Design (Architecture) graduates have pursued roles in the built environment field including:

3D architectural modeller
architectural consultant or designer
design coordinator.

Graduates who wish to pursue a career as a registered architect can continue onto further studies in Deakin’s Master of Architecture (S700). Once you have completed postgraduate studies and gained registration to practice, you can pursue a career as a practising architect and work in private architectural firms, government organisations, property development, or other building and design fields.

Participation requirements

Elective units may be selected that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

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.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Synthesise knowledge of architecture history, theory, technology and practice to design, develop and manage architecture projects, demonstrating initiative and judgement for professional practice. Apply technical and theoretical knowledge of architectural design to propose diverse, authentic, alternative, and well-rounded responses that are conceptually and physically sustainable to problems in the contemporary built environment. Integrate the knowledge of language of architecture, its meanings, capacities and implications to demonstrate ability and responsibility as reflective practitioners, in making decisions to define the human landscape.
Communication	Communicate clearly, professionally and responsibly in a variety of contexts using oral, visual, digital, graphic and interpersonal communication modes to inform, motivate and persuade specialist and non-specialist audiences about architectural ideas and designs. Imagine, conceive and represent ideas using the language of architecture, its codes and conventions to reflect on possibilities, the implications of hypothetical designs and its applications.
Digital literacy	Apply knowledge of relevant technological tools, methodologies and techniques to locate, collect, analyse, interpret and synthesise complex information. Use architecture theory and practice to analyse, evaluate, produce and disseminate design responses using techniques and technology ethically and responsibly in a digital world.
Critical thinking	Use critical thinking to analyse and provide a rational, reflective and socially responsible response to architectural problems at different scales and complexities in a variety of contexts. Examine causes and consequences of different morphologies to appreciate their capacities and opportunities in order to reproduce, manipulate, and identify conventional and alternative solutions to architectural problems.
Problem solving	Investigate and identify ill-defined real world environmental, cultural, physical and social architectural problems, explain its significance, causes and consequences, and use a methodical approach to formulate a solution. Make appropriate choices to solve problems in complex and contradictory situations based on knowledge of social, economic, environmental and cultural aspects of architectural design to evolve human landscape.
Self-management	Work independently and collaboratively to produce architectural designs and responses in an ethical, responsible and professional manner. Use initiative and judgement to reflect on knowledge and skills, to demonstrate autonomy and capacity to identify opportunities for improving practice.
Teamwork	Work as a team to analyse and evaluate complex problems, and share critical, analytical and creative approaches to select best responses to architectural problems.
Global citizenship	Integrate subjective and objective stakeholder perspectives in the process of formulating architectural and design responses taking into account economic, cultural, social and ethical values inherent in human landscape. Engage with global trends in contemporary architectural design and urbanism in order to recognise cultural diversity, the need for equity in outcomes and implement high ethical and professional standards.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Design (Architecture) students must pass 24 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
SRA010 Safety Induction Program (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
22 credit points of core units
2 credit points of open elective units
a maximum of 10 credit points at level 1
a minimum of 6 credit points at level 3

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.

Course structure

Core

Year 1 - Trimester 1

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)

SRA010

Safety Induction Program (0 credit points)

SRA143

Art and Society

SRC163

Architecture Communication 01: Drawing

SRD163

Architecture Design Studio 01: Thoughtscapes

SRT153

Building Materials Science

Year 1 - Trimester 2

SRC164

Architecture Communication 02: Modelling

SRD164

Architecture Design Studio 02: Matterscapes (2 credit points)

SRT151

Construction and Structures 1

Year 2 - Trimester 1

SRA215

Utopian Ideals in the Modern World

SRD263

Architecture Design Studio 03: Earthscapes

SRT251

Construction and Structures 2

plus one open elective unit (one credit point)

Year 2 - Trimester 2

SRA224

Austral-Asian Architecture

SRD264

Architecture Design Studio 04: Publicscapes (2 credit points)

SRT257

Building Environmental Studies

Year 3 - Trimester 1

SRC362

Architecture Communication 03: Documentation

SRD363

Architecture Design Studio 05: Hybridscapes

SRT358

Building Environmental Services

SRA323

Contemporary Architecture

Year 3 - Trimester 2

SRD364

Architecture Design Studio 06: Superstudio (2 credit points)

SRT351

Construction and Structures 3

plus one open elective unit (one credit point)

Electives

Select from a range of open elective units offered across many courses. You may even be able to choose elective units from a completely different discipline area (subject to meeting unit requirements).

Work experience

You’ll have the opportunity to undertake a discipline-specific industry placement as part of your course. Explore the SEBE WIL program.

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Other learning experiences

You may choose to use one of your elective units to participate in a short-term local or international study program, tour or exchange, many of which will enhance your global architectural awareness and experience. You will also have an opportunity to contribute to the student led, designed and managed end of year curated exhibition.

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.