Master of Design | International Student Courses | Swinburne University

Study at Swinburne > Courses > Find a course > Master of Design

MA-DESG Postgraduate Hawthorn Send me a link to this course

The Master of Design is designed for students from a range of design or related fields. The course emphasises a mix of interdisciplinary collaboration and provides a project-based, studio environment. Students enhance their expertise within a chosen design field, including visual communication design, industrial design, interior architecture and digital media design. They also broaden their skills and knowledge in design practice, 3D printing, interaction design, design management, computer-aided design and visualisation tools.

Students develop the professional capabilities and knowledge to become leaders in their field, as well as skills and strategies that enable them to be accomplished practitioners. They may also undertake study in related areas, including business innovation, marketing and media. Students have the option to participate in study tours and projects with Design Factory Melbourne.

Information sessions

Find out how you can meet us in your home country or in Australia.

Every international student application is considered for a scholarship
Whether you’re living in Australia or overseas, you’re automatically considered for a scholarship of up to 20% off your course fees. Please check our updated entry requirements.

Duration

2 Year/s

Intakes

Hawthorn (Semester 1, Semester 2) - View application and start dates

CRICOS code

088128A

Fees

A$37940 (annual for 2024)*

The indicative course fees shown in Course Search 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. All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

Find courses that provide a pathway to this qualification.

Course information in detail

- Course detail, course structure and units of study.

Course description

The Master of Design is designed for students who have a deep interest in pursuing meaningful and useable design that compels, informs and delights. The course focuses on interdisciplinary collaboration and uses a dynamic, project-based, studio learning environment to expand professional capability. Students will be empowered to enhance existing expertise or extend their knowledge into new areas of interest across the broad field of design. The nexus between research and practice underpins the program as students develop research-led design solutions or explore design-led research. The Master of Design will equip students with knowledge to become strategic design leaders in their field.

In the Master of Design students undertake a Core stream which is research and practice-based, and one of two interdisciplinary industry-connected streams. The Applied Design stream focuses on design practice and entrepreneurship, and the Design Factory Melbourne stream focusses on design innovation and strategy. In the final year all students undertake a supervised research-informed and design practice-based Major Project which consolidates and integrates their learning from across the course into a substantial professional-quality design outcome.

^ Students are unable to enrol directly into the Graduate Diploma of Design but it is available as an exit award.

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.

Course structure

To qualify for the award of Master of Design, students must complete 200 credit points comprising:

4 Core units (100cps)
4 units from either Applied Design Stream or Design Factory Melbourne Stream (100cps).

A unit of study can only be counted once.

Units of study

Design Core units

Students must complete 100 credit points of study from the following list of units:

DDD40001 Studio 1: Methods for Design Research (25 credit points)

DDD70019 Studio 3: Inclusive and Participatory Design (25 credit points)

DDD80024 Studio 5: Major Project* (25 credit points)

DDD80025 Studio 7: Major Project* (25 credit points)

Students must complete 100 credit points of study from either the Applied Design stream or the Design Factory Melbourne steam:

Applied Design Stream

DDD60011 Studio 2: Design Principles (25 credit points)

DDD70020 Studio 4: Open Studio (25 credit points)

DDD80026 Studio 6: Design-led Research (25 credit points)

DDD80027 Studio 8: Applied Design* (25 credit points)

Design Factory Melbourne Stream (by application)

DDD60030 DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 1 (25 credit points)

DDD70031 DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 2 (25 credit points)

DDD80032 DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 3 (25 credit points)

DDD80033 DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 4 * (25 credit points)

* Outcome units - matched exemptions are generally not granted for higher education outcome units.

Careers and graduate outcomes

- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and professional recognition.

Career opportunities

Graduates will have industry level skills and basic research abilities enabling them to find employment in senior or strategic roles in design companies and other organisations as designers or in research roles. Entrepreneurial graduates may be able to start their own business ventures. Graduates will also have the ability to move into further study at PhD level.

Aims and objectives

The Master of Design enables mastery in design and enhances the skills, knowledge and capabilities for professional practice and management in a broad range of design fields.

Upon successful completion of the Master of Design, graduates will be able to:

generate high-level concepts and highly refined, detailed design outcomes and/or prototypes to professional standards
critically evaluate and interpret current and future design practices in relation to social, cultural, economic and environmental contexts
analyse and synthesise complex conceptual and technical information to inform independent research and apply to design projects
critique and interpret theoretical propositions and methodologies, using design research principles and communication skills
implement agile, strategic thinking and evaluative judgement in the design process, including collaboration, experimentation, creative problem-solving and decision-making.

Professional recognition

Upon completion of this qualification students may be eligible to become a member of the Design Institute of Australia, Australian Graphic Design Association or Design Management Institute but should confirm eligibility with the association.

Pathways and scholarships

- Pathways and scholarships.

Scholarships

At Swinburne scholarships are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students. Find out more about scholarships.

Pathways

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

Progress from these courses to Master of Design	Maximum amount of credit available
Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design) (Honours)	4 units
Bachelor of Design (Industrial Design) (Honours)	4 units
Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) (Honours)	4 units
Bachelor of Design	2 units
Bachelor of Design (Interior Architecture) (Honours)	4 units
Bachelor of Design (Interior Architecture) (Honours)	4 units

This information should be used as a guide for those who have completed a course and are seeking credit into another course. For those yet to commence their course, during the time taken to complete, this information may change. Credit available may vary depending on the major selected within any given degree. Progression to professional degrees may be subject to additional criteria or academic performance.

Learn more about pathways.

Course fees and requirements

- Fees, entry requirements, special entry requirements and English language requirements.

Course fees

A$37940 (annual for 2024)*

Entry requirements

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) can now be done on campus in Hawthorn at Room 132, Building TD. Book now or call +61 3 9214 3584 for more information.

Academic Entry Requirements

One of:

Bachelor's degree in design or related field*; or
Bachelor's degree in any discipline plus a minimum of three years relevant professional experience** in design or a related field*; or
Completion of postgraduate studies*** (graduate certificate / graduate diploma) in design or related field*.

*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.

**Relevant professional experience must be documented in either a portfolio (see below) or a detailed CV (see below). Where relevant experience is used for the basis of admission, no further recognition for prior learning/credit can be granted on that basis.

***Students with a recognised Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma may only need to be complete 150 or 100 credit points, respectivel

Special entry requirements

Do I need to submit a Portfolio?

Applicants must submit a digital portfolio if:

Applicants do not have an undergraduate degree in Design or a related-field (a detailed CV is an accepted alternative to a portfolio); or
Applicants 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.

English language requirements

Academic entry requirements

IELTS (Academic Module): Overall 6.5 with no individual band below 6.0
Swinburne English Language Centre: EAP 5 Advanced level with overall 70% and all skills 65% or above
Or equivalent measures available at http://www.swinburne.edu.au/study/international/apply/entry-requirements/

Find out more about English language requirements.

How to apply

Find out more about how to apply.

Find out more

Submit an online enquiry
Tel: +61 3 9214 8444 (outside Australia)

Free call: 1300 794 628 (within Australia)

Email: international@swinburne.edu.au