Overview

The Master of Design is tailored to students who have a deep interest in 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 enhance their expertise within a chosen design field and acquire the knowledge to become leaders.

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.

View Master 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

  • Analysis skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Communication skills
  • Ability to tackle unfamiliar situations
  • Ability to work independently

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.

  • Designer
  • Strategic design lead
  • Design consultant
  • Junior consultant

Key codes

CRICOS course code
088128A
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
  • Pretzel Lab
  • No Vacancy Gallery
  • City of Casey Smart Cities and Innovation
  • Boroondara Council
  • Uniting Age Well

Why Swinburne?

Ranked Top 150 in Art and Design

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023

Graduate employers include Ford, Telstra, and Blackmagic Design

Ranked top 20 in Australia for PG Graduate Salary – 5 stars

Qualifications

Admission to the Master of Design will require one of the following:

  • 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, respective

Admission to the Master of Design will require one of the following:

  • 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, respective

Other 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.

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 Master of Design, students must complete 200 credit points. 

4
Core units
+
4
Stream units
=
Master

Your units

Graduate Certificate

Completing 2 core units entitles you to the graduate certificate.

2
Core units
=
Graduate certificate
Units of study Unit code
Core units
Studio 1: Methods for Design Research
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD40001
Studio 2: Design Principles
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD60011
Learn more about the Graduate Certificate of Design

Masters degree

Completing an additional 2 core units and 4 stream units entitles you to a Master of Design. 

2
Core units
+
4
Stream units
=
Master
Units of study Unit code
Core units
Studio 3: Inclusive and Participatory Design
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD70019
Studio 5: Major Project
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD80024
Studio 7: Major Project
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD80025
Units of study Unit code
Applied Design Stream
Studio 4: Open Studio
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD70020
Studio 6: Design-led Research
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD80026
Studio 8: Applied Design
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD80027
Design Factory Melbourne Steam (by application)
DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 1
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD60030
DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 2
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD70031
DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 3
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD80032
DFM: Applied Innovation Studio 4
Core unit, 25.0 credit points
DDD80033

2024 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$30,600

Total fee* ($AUD)

$61,200

2024 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$37,940.00

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
MA-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
MA-DESG
Apply directly
Course code
MA-DESG
CRICOS code
088128A
Apply directly
Start dates
Location
Last date to apply
Start dates
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
24-July-2024
Start dates
29-July-2024
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
26-February-2025
Start dates
03-March-2025
Start dates
Location
Start dates
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
29-July-2024
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
03-March-2025
Upcoming events
5th Australasian Youth Justice Conference 2024. Strengthening Connections: The Power of Relationships and Strong Service Partnerships
16-April-2024