Overview

Tap into emotions. Bring information into order. Help start important conversations. Our Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) is informed by cutting-edge research and practice. In it, you'll gain the high-end strategic and critical thinking skills, and practical production skills to become an imaginative communication designer and researcher.

Course prerequisites have changed

The English and EAL study scores have been updated for Semester 1, 2025 entry. Please see the Entry requirements tab for updated information.

Looking to start in Semester 1, 2025?

Whatever stage you're at – from browsing courses to starting an application – our Study Expo is your one-stop-shop for info and advice.

Your industry experience

Bolster your CV with real industry experience while you study through our Work Integrated Learning programs – a guaranteed part of all our bachelor degrees. This can include placements, internships or industry-linked projects. 

In this degree, you'll work on live briefs in our embedded Industry Placement program and student-led studio, The Bureau.

Skills you’ll learn

  • Conceptual and creative skills
  • Design knowledge and academic leadership
  • Adapting to change
  • Professional industry experience 
  • Recognition by professional associations

Your career opportunities

  • Communication designer
  • Web designer
  • UX designer
  • Interaction designer
  • Experience designer
  • Design consultant 

Key codes

CRICOS course code
079130D
VTAC Code (IFP)
3400236043
VTAC Code (CSP)
3400236041
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.

Why Swinburne?

Ranked Top 150 in Art and Design

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023

5 stars for overall experience

#1 in Melbourne for graduate found full-time employment 4 months after completing their degree 

#1 in Melbourne for graduate salary one year out

Qualifications

One of the following:

  • successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.
  • completion of an approved Advanced Diplomas, Associate Degrees or at least partial completion of a degree.

Guaranteed Entry ATAR

80.0

Lowest ATAR to receive an offer in 2024 [after adjustment factors]

74.65

You’ll be guaranteed a place in this course if you meet or exceed the ATAR Guaranteed Entry Score, provided you meet the course prerequisites.

If your ATAR is below the guaranteed entry score, you can still be offered a place as your ATAR may be adjusted based on subject bonuses, equity schemes or other factors. Use the above ATAR as a guide on your eligibility, and see the course handbook page for more information on entry requirements. 

Additional performance criteria and prerequisite requirements may also apply. Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit.

*Applicants without a formal qualification but with significant and relevant work experience will be considered if they can demonstrate that they can undertake the course with a reasonable prospect of success.

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

Course prerequisites

These prerequisites have been updated for Semester 1 2025 entry

  • VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in any English (except EAL) or 25 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent and;
  • Units 3 and 4: satisfactory completion in one of Art Creative Practice, Product Design And Technology, Media, Creative And Digital Media (VCE VET) I, Art Making And Exhibiting or Visual Communication Design

Successful completion of: 

  • any subject in art, design or media equivalent to Year 12.
Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. Check 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.

Apply for a pathway course

Pathways allow students to progress from one qualification to another where the first course is recognised as an entry requirement and/or provides credit (advanced standing) to the second.

How credit points work

Successful completion of the Bachelor of Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours) requires students to complete units of study to the value of 400 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.

12
Core units
+
8
Major units
+
4
Elective units
+
4
Honours year units
=
4-year bachelor degree

What your course could look like

Units are listed in a proposed sequence. However this can be amended depending on unit availability, prerequisite requirements and the semester in which you commenced your course.

Units of study Unit code
Semester 1
Concepts and Narratives
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO10001
Digital Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO10002
Typography
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO10005
Twentieth Century Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DDD10001
Semester 2
Packaging Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO10003
Photography for Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO10004
Visual Communication Studio
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO10007
Contemporary Design Issues
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DDD20004
Want to see the full range of course unit options?

Learn about all the co-majors, minors and electives you can take in the course handbook.

Units of study Unit code
Semester 1
Brand and Identity Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO20001
Typography for Print and Interactive Publication
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO20009
Web Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO20004
Elective
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points
Semester 2
Publication Design
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DDD30013
Information Design
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
DCO20003
Elective
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points
Elective
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points
Units of study Unit code
Semester 1
Industry Workshops
Major unit, 25.0 credit points
DCO30011
Communication Design Strategy
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
DDD30048
Elective
Elective unit, 12.5 credit points
Semester 2
Industry Placement 1
Major unit, 25.0 credit points
DES30061
Case Studies in Design Practice
Major unit, 25.0 credit points
DCO30003
Units of study Unit code
Communication Design Honours Stream
Studio 1: Methods for Design Research
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD40001
Industry Placement 2
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DES30062
Design-Led Innovation: Research Project
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD40002
Communication Design Studio
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DCO40001
or
Design Factory Melbourne (Comm Design)
Studio 1: Methods for Design Research
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD40001
DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 1
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD60030
Bureau: Industry Projects
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD40016
DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 2
Honours unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD70031

2024 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$8,948

Total fee* ($AUD)

$35,792

2024 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$39,140.00

Fees are estimates only

The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply to 2024 unit enrolments for HE Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and Undergraduate Full Fee Paying (FFP) 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?

HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme available to you if you are eligible and enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place. A HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of your contribution amount. You can also choose to pay your fees up front. 

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 Financials
  • 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 HECS-HELP

You are eligible for a HECS-HELP loan if you have been offered a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for an undergraduate degree at Swinburne or a UniLink course, and you:

  • are an Australian citizen and 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.

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
BH-DESCMN2
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! Remember, you cannot apply direct if you have an active VTAC application.

Course code
BH-DESCMN2
Apply directly
Course code
BH-DESCMN2
CRICOS code
079130D
Apply directly

Apply through VTAC

International students currently studying Year 12 in Australia must apply through VTAC. VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria. 

VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.

VTAC Code (CSP)
3400236041
Apply through VTAC
VTAC Code (IFP)
3400236043
Apply through VTAC
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
2025 Study Expo
12-November-2024