Master of Design

The Master of Design at Curtin University is a two-year coursework degree for people who want to work at a senior level in graphic design. You study design thinking, typography, brand identity, publication and editorial design, digital and interaction design, and the research methods that sit behind good design decisions. Studio units form the spine of the degree: you work on briefs, present concepts, take critique, and refine work across a semester. Later units let you specialise, often through an independent design project or a minor thesis where you research a question and produce a body of work around it.

Australian master's degrees by coursework usually run one to two years full time and are built from units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You need a set total of credit points to graduate, and most students take four units a semester. Curtin runs a semester model with a study break between, and some units are offered in summer or winter teaching periods. The final stage is typically a capstone: a major studio project, a professional portfolio, or a research thesis, depending on the stream you choose. Assessment is mostly project work, written reflection and presentations rather than exams.

This is a studio-based degree, so expect to spend more time making than memorising. You build a portfolio you can show employers, learn to defend your work in front of a room, and pick up the software and production skills the industry uses. You also learn how to scope a project, work to a brief and a deadline, and collaborate with people from other disciplines. Curtin has design and creative-industry links across Perth and through its international campuses, and coursework master's students often take a placement or industry project unit where they work with a studio, agency or in-house team. If you are coming from another field, the degree gives you a structured way into design practice without starting a bachelor's again.

The degree suits three groups: design graduates who want to deepen their practice or move into a specialist area, people from related fields such as marketing, communications or media who want formal design training, and international students who want an Australian qualification and post-study work rights. Entry is competitive and usually expects a recognised bachelor's degree plus a portfolio or prior study in a design-related area. International applicants need to meet Curtin's English requirement, commonly IELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5 overall for coursework postgraduate study, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and Curtin's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself, so check both. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 103008B, and the official course page has the current unit list and entry details. Confirm everything there before you apply.

• Graphic designer, studios, branding agencies, publishing houses and in-house creative teams across Australia.
• Brand or identity designer, agencies and consultancies that build and maintain visual systems for organisations.
• Digital or interaction designer, tech companies, product teams and digital agencies working on apps, websites and interfaces.
• Art director or senior designer, advertising agencies, media companies and larger design practices.
• Publication or editorial designer, magazines, book publishers and cultural institutions.
• Design researcher or strategist, consultancies and government bodies that use design methods to solve service and policy problems.
• Freelance or studio principal, running your own practice or contracting to clients.
• Design educator or academic, teaching and research roles in TAFE, universities and schools, usually after further study.