Bachelor of Design

The Bachelor of Design at Edith Cowan University is a three-year degree built around graphic design. You'll spend most of your time in studios, not lecture theatres. Expect to work on typography, branding, layout, publication design, packaging, and digital and screen-based work. You'll learn the software the industry actually uses, but the degree is not a software course. The focus is on ideas: how to research a brief, develop a concept, and defend your design decisions to a client or a tutor who plays one.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are made up of units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. A full-time load is usually four units a semester, and you need to pass a required total of credit points to graduate. ECU runs most of its undergraduate teaching across two semesters a year, with some units available in summer or winter sessions. Your first year usually covers core design units, drawing, design principles, digital media, design history and theory. Later years give you more choice, with specialisation units and electives you can pick from across the university.

Most design degrees finish with a capstone unit, often a major studio project or portfolio. That's where you pull together everything you've made into a body of work you can show an employer. Work-integrated learning is common in this field. Placements or industry projects let you work with a real client, an agency or a community organisation, and count it towards your degree. ECU has strong links with Perth's design and advertising industry, and the city's arts sector, so projects often come from local organisations.

What you'll get good at

By the end you should be able to take a messy brief and turn it into a clear visual outcome. That means research skills, concept development, typography, colour, composition, and the ability to present your work and take criticism. You'll also build a portfolio, which is what gets you hired in graphic design. The degree teaches you to work to deadlines, collaborate with other disciplines, and understand how design fits into business and culture.

Who it suits

This degree suits people who like making things and thinking about why they look the way they do. You don't need to be a brilliant illustrator to start. Curiosity and a willingness to redo work matter more. It's a good fit for school leavers, but also for mature-age students changing careers or coming from a TAFE design qualification. If you're an international student, you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session. After you graduate, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may let you stay and work in Australia, depending on your circumstances. Check the current rules with the Department of Home Affairs. English requirements for entry are published by ECU, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common undergraduate standard, with equivalents accepted. The Student visa has its own English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs. Tuition is listed on the CRICOS register. Always confirm the latest details on the official course page.

• Graphic designer, design studios, advertising agencies, in-house marketing teams, government and not-for-profits across Australia.
• Brand or visual identity designer, branding consultancies and design firms working with corporate and cultural clients.
• Digital designer, web, app and social media teams in tech companies, media organisations and agencies.
• Publication or editorial designer, magazines, book publishers, newspapers and online publications.
• Packaging designer, consumer goods companies, packaging agencies and retail brands.
• Studio or production coordinator, design and advertising studios managing workflow and client jobs.
• Freelance designer, self-employed, contracting to agencies, small businesses and events.
• Design assistant or junior art director, entry roles in creative agencies, often leading to art direction.

Australian industries that hire design graduates include advertising and marketing, publishing, digital media, retail, government communications, and the arts. Perth has a growing design sector, and many graduates also work in Melbourne, Sydney and overseas.