Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural)

The Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) is a two-year, hands-on qualification for people who want to work in the technical side of building design. You learn how to turn a client's brief into drawings, documentation and council-ready plans for houses, extensions, small commercial buildings and other low-rise projects. The course covers architectural drafting, building regulations and the National Construction Code, structural principles, materials and construction methods, environmental design, and the software the industry actually uses, CAD and building information modelling. Assessment is mostly project-based, so you build a portfolio as you go rather than sitting a lot of exams.

How the qualification is structured

Australian qualifications sit on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). An advanced diploma is a two-year qualification, usually delivered over four semesters or trimesters. You enrol in units of study, each worth credit points, and you need to pass the required units to graduate. There is no honours year attached to this qualification, and no research thesis, that belongs to university degrees. Many students finish the advanced diploma and then use credit to enter a bachelor degree with some units already counted. Melbourne Polytechnic delivers this course at its Preston campus, and the course is listed on CRICOS under code 114593M for international students.

Skills you build

By the end you can prepare working drawings and specifications, apply the building code and planning schemes, use BIM and CAD software to a professional standard, coordinate with consultants such as engineers and surveyors, and communicate design ideas to clients and councils. You also learn about sustainable design, energy efficiency and site analysis, the things that decide whether a project gets approved. Work-integrated learning is part of the deal: you complete a supervised industry placement or a simulated design project where you work to a real client brief. That placement is often how students land their first job.

Who it suits

This course suits school leavers who want a practical, job-focused path into the building industry, career changers coming from trades or drafting, and people already working in construction who want to move into design. It also works for international students who want an Australian qualification in a field with steady demand. If you are thinking about university later, the advanced diploma can be a stepping stone, but check the credit arrangements with the specific university first, because they vary.

English requirements for international applicants are set by the institution. For this level, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the usual standard, though some courses ask for more. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the institution's own English programs are accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs also sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, check there for the current figure. While studying, a student visa generally allows 48 hours of work per fortnight. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available, depending on your circumstances. Confirm all details on the official Melbourne Polytechnic page and the CRICOS listing before you apply.

• Architectural draftsperson, preparing drawings and documentation for residential and commercial projects in architecture firms and drafting practices.
• Building designer, working with clients, builders and councils on house designs, extensions and renovations, often in small design studios or as a sole trader.
• BIM/CAD technician, producing and managing building information models for larger firms, engineering consultancies and construction companies.
• Documentation officer, assembling permit applications, specifications and construction drawings for builders and developers.
• Estimator or scheduling support, using design drawings to help price and plan building work.
• Council or building surveyor's assistant, checking plans against regulations in local government or private certification firms.

Typical employers include architecture practices, building design studios, construction companies, engineering consultancies, local councils and government infrastructure projects. The qualification also gives you a path into further study, such as a bachelor degree in architecture or construction management, with credit for some units already completed.