Apply for Bachelor of Design

Arts and creative industries student
B-DESIGN

Design

Bachelor degree

Learn to design through project-based activities using industry-standard equipment, technologies and media platforms.

This offering version is phasing out and no longer taking applications. You may be able to apply for a later version.

Course outline
  • ATAR

    ATAR

    Guaranteed ATAR 70
  • Qualification
    Bachelor of Design
  • Duration

    Duration

    3 years full-time
  • Credit

    Credit

    600
  • CRICOS

    CRICOS

    098137F
Course outline

Outline

Outline

This information is relevant for students commencing study in 2019. If you plan to commence study in 2020, please view the planned offering.

If design is your passion, this degree offers exciting majors that teach contemporary design practices in a global context – so you can take your career anywhere in the world.

This course allows you to tailor your degree to suit your career aspirations by studying your chosen design major in combination with another design major or minor/s.

This flexibility enables you to be more competitive in the graduate job market.

You’ll learn through project-based activities, collaborating with students from other disciplines, and use industry standard equipment, technologies and media platforms.

Upon graduating, you’ll have a comprehensive portfolio that promotes your skills to employers – whether in Australia or internationally.

If you have interests outside the field of design, you may choose electives in a complementary study area such as business, arts or languages to gain a wider skill set.

STEP A: CHOOSE A MAJOR
Specialise in an area that inspires you: 

STEP B: COMPLETE YOUR DEGREE STRUCTURE
This step usually happens after you accept Curtin’s offer for your chosen major.

Each option is subject to availability.

Option 1: a second major
With this option you benefit from studying two design majors in equal depth, graduating with a double major.

Option 2: two minors
You can study up to two minors in design. This option allows you to gain expertise in two additional areas of design to complement your chosen major. It also enhances your skill set providing you with the flexibility to work across multiple disciplines.

Option 3: minor and electives
You can choose to study a design minor with electives from business or arts to diversify your skill set. This option allows you to customise your degree to stand out from the crowd, enhancing your employability.

Option 4: electives
You’ll complement your major with elective minors within or outside the field of design, which diversifies your skill set and enhances your employability. 

High achieving students may complete an additional honours year enabling them to undertake their own significant research project.

Please refer to the handbook for additional course overview information.

How this course will make you industry ready

In your final year you will be given the opportunity to complete a capstone unit. You will explore interdisciplinary themes through the creation of design-focused projects. The networks and skills developed in this unit will ensure you graduate industry ready as you benefit from strong links with industry across the design majors.

What you'll learn

  • apply discipline knowledge to critically review, analyse, consolidate and contribute to evidence-based practice in their chosen design discipline
  • demonstrate cognitive and technical skills in both a broad understanding of design and with depth in at least one discipline
  • use and discern between a range of design technologies and media platforms in the production of design-based solutions
  • demonstrate effective visual, spoken, written and technical communication appropriate to their chosen design discipline and apply effective self-directed learning skills
  • demonstrate personal awareness of a design specific practice and sustain an engagement with contemporary practices, technologies and the creative industries
  • develop a predictive overview of future trends that will influence design and design practices
  • recognise the importance of social, ethical and cultural diversity and consider local and international perspectives in design activities, studio practice and production
  • demonstrate how intercultural awareness and understanding impacts on personal and professional skills and on the ability to lead
  • work independently and collaboratively on design projects and respond to project demands

Professional recognition

Graduates may convert student memberships of national professional design and industry bodies, such as the Design Institute of Australia, into full professional memberships following qualification and professional experience.

Admission criteria

What you need in order to get into this course. There are different pathway options depending on your level of work and education experience.

Select an option that best suits you:

You’re considered a high school leaver if you:

  • Completed year 12 in Australia or overseas in the past two years, or
  • Completed TAFE or VET studies in the past two years.

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 70

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 70

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    There are no essential WACE subjects for this course.

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    There are no desirable WACE subjects for this course.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

StepUp Entry

StepUp Entry

Successful StepUp Entry and StepUp Equity Adjustment Admission Pathway (StepUp Bonus) applicants will be eligible to be considered for admission into this course.

Alternative pathways

  • Portfolio entry

    Portfolio entry is available for those who can demonstrate equivalence to Curtin’s ATAR entry through the submission of a portfolio that includes evidence of your academic achievements, qualifications and ability.

  • UniReady

    If you don’t meet our minimum admission criteria, the UniReady Enabling Program can help you qualify for entry into a range of undergraduate courses.

  • Certificate IV + English Competency

    The certificate IV is the minimum requirement for university entry. It qualifies you for entry to Curtin courses with a 70 ATAR. You must also meet English language proficiency.

  • Indigenous applicant

    If you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander applicant who hasn’t met Curtin’s minimum admissions criteria, the Centre for Aboriginal Studies offers bridging courses that are tailored to help you gain entry into this course.

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    Written English, MC Verbal and Quantitative*

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.5

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

How others gained admission

View the ATAR breakdown to see the low, median and high ATAR scores of students who started studying this course recently.

To see the other pathways students have taken, see the pathway breakdown.

Application Requirements

You’re considered someone with work and life experience if:

You have left secondary education more than two years ago (i.e. who are not classified as recent secondary education applicants) and have not undertaken vocational education training (VET) or higher education study since then.

How we define ‘experience’
‘Experience’ includes a combination of factors sufficient to demonstrate readiness for higher education such as mature-age entry, professional experience whether completion of the Special Tertiary Admission Test (STAT) is required or not, community involvement or work experience. Applicants may have undertaken non-formal programs that have helped prepare them for tertiary education or are relevant to the proposed higher education field of study.

Pathways

  • Portfolio entry

    Portfolio entry is available for those who can demonstrate equivalence to Curtin’s ATAR entry through the submission of a portfolio that includes evidence of your academic achievements, qualifications and ability.

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    Written English, MC Verbal and Quantitative*

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 70

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 70

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    There are no essential WACE subjects for this course.

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    There are no desirable WACE subjects for this course.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.5

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Application Requirements

You’re considered someone who studied at TAFE or have done an apprenticeship if:

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a VET course. This includes study at a public TAFE or other VET provider, whether a qualification was completed or not. Applicants with VET study may have other qualifications such as a Year 10 or Year 12 secondary school certificate.

Pathways

  • Portfolio entry

    Portfolio entry is available for those who can demonstrate equivalence to Curtin’s ATAR entry through the submission of a portfolio that includes evidence of your academic achievements, qualifications and ability.

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    Written English, MC Verbal and Quantitative*

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 70

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 70

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    There are no essential WACE subjects for this course.

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    There are no desirable WACE subjects for this course.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6.0

Speaking

6.0

Reading

6.0

Listening

6.0

Overall band score

6.5

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Application Requirements

Unsure what option suits you?

We’re here to help you navigate the complexities of university admission. Choose the support you need from the options below.

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool
Credit for recognised learning (CRL)

Use your experience to get credit towards your degree

Finish your course sooner with credit for your previous study or work experience.

Fees and charges

Fee information is not available for this course at this time. Find estimated course fees.

Looking for more detail on the course structure?

View course structure

Frequently asked questions

Search our FAQs
  • The offering information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.

    The information on this page may be subject to change. In particular, Curtin University may change the content, method or location of delivery or tuition fees of courses.

    While Curtin uses reasonable efforts to ensure that the information provided on this page is accurate and up to date, errors and omissions sometimes occur. Curtin makes no warranty, representation or undertaking (expressed or implied) nor does it assume any legal liability (direct or indirect) for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information.

    View courses information disclaimer.

  • Curtin course code: B-DESIGN
  • CRICOS code: 098137F
  • Last updated on: 28 March 2024

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