Overview

The Graduate Certificate of Design is tailored to students who want to unleash their creative potential. If you have an interest in pursuing meaning and usable design concepts, this course will expand on your current qualifications. You’ll explore the connection between research and practice and develop design solutions through complex problem solving. You’ll learn about interdisciplinary collaboration while practising in a studio-based environment to prepare you for further professional work.

View Graduate Certificate of Design course handbook
Is your course available for Midyear entry?

Starting midyear means getting your study goals under way before the year is over. Semester 2 begins Monday 29 July, 2024.

Upgrade your skills

  • Principle-led design
  • Data analysis skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Communication skills
  • Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems

Stretch your career further

Students can enhance their career opportunities by gaining additional leadership and management skills – an important asset in a today’s complex and changing business environment. The below examples demonstrate the types of roles graduates can attain.

  • Design lead
  • Strategic design lead
  • Design consultant

Key codes

CRICOS course code
088130G
International student visa

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

Strong industry connections and co-creation

  • Australian Centre for Inclusive Design
  • No Vacancy Gallery
  • Pretzel Lab
  • Boroondara Council
  • Uniting Age Well
  • City of Casey Smart Cities and Innovation

Why Swinburne?

Top 150 for Art and Design

Graduate employers include Ford, Telstra, and Blackmagic Design.

The median income for PG graduates five years out is $89K

Qualifications

The minimum entry requirement for the Graduate Certificate of Design is a recognized 3-year Bachelor of Design or equivalent. Applicants who do not have a Bachelor of Design qualification but have a related qualification and work experience in a design-related field, will be required to submit a portfolio or a detailed CV (see other requirements) demonstrating their cognate skills and capabilities in design.

Related fields may include architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, digital arts, creative arts, multimedia or digital media (web, mobile applications, audio or video production), product design engineering, design technology, games, animation and interactivity, and creative industries.

The minimum entry requirement for the Graduate Certificate of Design is a recognized 3-year Bachelor of Design or equivalent. Applicants who do not have a Bachelor of Design qualification but have a related qualification and work experience in a design-related field, will be required to submit a portfolio or a detailed CV (see other requirements) demonstrating their cognate skills and capabilities in design.

Related fields may include architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, digital arts, creative arts, multimedia or digital media (web, mobile applications, audio or video production), product design engineering, design technology, games, animation and interactivity, and creative industries.

Successful completion of Australian Year 12, or equivalent overseas qualification.

Other requirements

Do I need to submit a Portfolio?

You must submit a digital portfolio if:

  • You do not have an undergraduate degree in Design or a related-field (a detailed CV is an accepted alternative to a portfolio); or
  • You are seeking Advanced Standing (unit exemptions) outside of an agreed pathway or articulation agreement.

How to submit a portfolio

To submit a digital portfolio, applicants will first need to complete their online application. They will then receive a communication as to how to provide a portfolio.

What is a detailed CV?

A detailed CV clearly details descriptions of design capability, experience, examples of applied design capability, and reference from a relevant professional attesting to capability.
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee offer of a place. See Admissions at Swinburne, for general information about admission process.The University may determine selection criteria and restrictions in respect of courses to apply in addition to these entry requirements.

Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Finding your fit

At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.

How credit points work

To qualify for the award of Graduate Certificate of Design, students must complete 50 credit points comprising one (1) design core unit (25 credit points) and 1 applied design unit (25 credit points).

1
Design core unit
+
1
Design unit
=
Graduate certificate

Nested programs

The Graduate Certificate of Design forms the first stage in a nested suite of programs. Continue studying with the:

Your units

Units of study Unit code

2024 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$15,300

Total fee* ($AUD)

$15,300

2024 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$18,970.00

Fees are estimates only

The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2024 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.

Fees are estimates only

The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. International tuition fees are generally inclusive of Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

How do I pay my fees?

FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.

International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.

To pay your fees:

  • log in to My Finances
  • check your Australian bank account details are correct 
  • check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe 
  • pay using your preferred payment method.

Eligibility for FEE-HELP

You’re eligible for a FEE-HELP loan if you are studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or UniLink or OUA course at Swinburne, and you:

  • are an Australian citizen doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
  • hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
  • hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens
  • are undertaking bridging study for overseas trained professionals and will be living in Australia for the duration of this study
  • have not exceeded the new combined Help Loan limit.
     

The HELP limit is the maximum amount you can borrow from the government in your lifetime towards your education costs. It is fixed and cannot be topped up.

Student services and amenities fee

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

The fee shown in the capped amount for 2024.

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown in the capped amount for 2024.

Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$351.00

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$351.00

Scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2024 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals. 

Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.

When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.

Apply through an agent

Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.

Representatives and agents
GC-DESG
Search for agents

Apply directly

Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! 

Course code
GC-DESG
Apply directly
Course code
GC-DESG
CRICOS code
088130G
Apply directly
Start dates
Location
Last date to apply
Start dates
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
26-February-2025
Start dates
03-March-2025
Start dates
Location
Start dates
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
03-March-2025
Upcoming events
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16-April-2024