Design Colleges in Australia: Rankings, Courses, Admission Requirements, Fees, Scholarships and Scop

Design industry in Australia ia a diverse field granting specialisations in Graphic design, furniture design, illustration, interior design, industrial design, computer system design, gaming design, jewellery, and fashion. Many people earned practical skills and experience through ‘real-world' vocational education and training (VET) programs offered by Design Colleges in Australia. A lot of Australian universities offer bachelor's double degree in design, on completion of which one can pursue their Doctor of Philosophy in the subject. 

• Design industry in Australi adds $26.1 billion to the economy annually with 218,983 people employed in the sector.
• Architectural, engineering and technical services is the largest employing sector in design. A person working as a Design Engineer in Australia typically earns around 84,100 AUD per year. 
• A number of skilled occupations are currently in shortage in engineering design. These jobs are in demand across Australia, so there’s a good chance of ongoing employment when you complete your training.

Other than the above mentioned facts, global recognition of the design courses, low cost of accommodation, wide range of majors and the high employment rate of the international students are few of the reasons which makes design colleges in Australia an international student magnet.

Top Design Colleges in Australia

Australia houses few of the best universities and colleges for design studies around the globe. In QS world subject ranking for design, 5 best universities of Australia come under the top 50 universities around the world. 

Some of the best design colleges in Australia are tabulated below: 

Design Colleges in Australia: Degree Types and Specializations

The field of design is vast and is offered in many disciplines in Australia. Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral degrees are the main education level in which design colleges in Australia offer programs. Beside the above mentioned courses there are several other diploma, certificate courses. An added park of pursuing design studies in Australia is that this country houses universities which offer a double degree in design studies.

Below given are some of the popular specialization in Design studies that one can pursue in Australia.

There’s also a few other specializations available in Design studies like Product Design, Transportation Design, Animation Design and User Experience Design Etc.

Degree Available: 

• Undergraduate Design Courses: 3-5 years full time bachelors degree courses
• Graduate Design Courses: 2-3 years full time masters degree courses
• Doctoral Design Courses: 3-4 years full time research program

Bachelors Program at Design Colleges in Australia

A bachelor's degree in Design is delivered in many disciplines like Bachelors(Hons), Dual Bachelor, Associate Undergraduate Degree etc. Below given are few popular colleges and universities in Australia offering undergraduate degrees in design. 

Fees and Scholarships for Bachelors in Design in Australia

Tuition fees for undergraduate studies in various universities in Australia ranges from 31,000 AUD to 42,000 AUD. There are several scholarships provided by the university as well as the government of Australia to aid international students in need. 

Intake Season: Australian universities generally has two intakes i.e. February and July, but it varies depending upon the concerned university. 

Eligibility for Bachelors in Design in Australia Admission

Students applying for bachelor courses in design in general must have-

• 65% or above score in the board finals.
• Proof of English proficiency by submitting one of these scores: IELTS (6.5), TOEFL IBT (79-93), TOEFL PBT (550-583), Pearson’s (58-64), CAE (176-184).
• Qualify the university-specific entrance exam(if any)

Documents Requirement for Bachelors in Design in Australia Admission

The documents you need to carry are: 

• Academic Transcript
• Letter of recommendation
• Statement of purpose

Masters Program at Design Colleges in Australia

Few disciplines in which postgraduate courses are offered in Australia are master of design, master of design (coursework by research) and master of research (design) etc. The salary of a graphic designer with a masters degree is 31% more than that of an individual with a bachelor's degree with graphic design. 

Below given are some of the universities offering masters in design in Australia: 

Tuition Fee and Scholarships for Masters in Design in Australia

Depending on different universities and specializations of the course the tuition fee varies. In general it’s in range between 19,000- 43,000 AUD. There are various university specific, generic and scholarships provided by the government of Australia to aid the international students.

Intake Season for Masters in Design in Australia

For admission in postgraduate in Australia, you need to apply through the online portal of the university before mid February. Most of the universities of Australia take new admissions in February and July. UNSW accepts the applications thrice a year: February, June, and September.

Eligibility for Masters in Design in Australia Admission

Applicant should at least satisfy the following minimum eligibility criteria: 

• Hold a bachelor degree in the relevant field with a score of 65% or up
• Fulfill the university-specific entrance exam requirement
• Qualifying score in English language proficiency test: IELTS (6.5), TOEFL IBT (79-93), TOEFL PBT (550-583), Pearson’s (58-64), CAE(176-184).

Documents Required for Masters in Design in Australia

For admission you need to provide the following documents: 

• All the academic transcripts
• Letter of recommendation
• Statement of purpose
• CV
• Proof of work experience including the documents of project worked on (if applicable)

Doctoral Program at Design Colleges in Australia

Students with a desire to pursue higher studies in design in Australia can check out the doctoral courses mentioned below. Having a doctoral degree gives you a detailed understanding of the subject as well as increases your chances of getting a job in the field of design. With higher qualification, you can also expect increments in salary. 

Cost of Pursuing Doctoral Degree in Design in Australia

Tuition fee per annum for pursuing doctoral degree in design ranges from 15,000-42,000 AUD.

Different scholarships like university specific, Scholarships provided by the government of Australia like Australian Government Research Training Program(RTP) that you can opt for for funding.

Intake Season for PhD in Design in Australia

The start date of application of the doctorate business courses is February in almost all the universities. There are a few colleges and universities with two or more sessions for the doctorate courses. Students can get admission in July there for next semester.

Eligibility for PhD in Design in Australia Admission

Students willing to pursue the doctorate degree in design should in general have: 

• Completed bachelor and master degree on the relevant field with 70% or above score

Or

• A double bachelor degree in a similar field

Or

• 4 years bachelor degree with an upper second class score
• The ability to conduct independent research on the approved proposal
• Qualifying score in English language proficiency tests: IELTS (6.5), TOEFL IBT (79-93), TOEFL PBT (550-583), PTE (58-64), CAE(176-184).
• Work experience with the ability to handle a project(if needed)

Required Documents for PhD in Design in Australia Admission

During the admission, the students must provide following documents: 

• All the academic documents
• Recommendation letter
• Statement of purpose
• CV
• Certificate of work experience showing the evidence of project handling under a senior project manager(if asked)
• Approved proposal

Scholarship Available in Design Colleges in Australia

International students with good academic records are given financial aid for pursuing their undergraduate and postgraduate studies by the universities and government of Australia 

Below given are a few available scholarships in Australia for international students.

Scope and Job Prospects of Pursuing Design Studies in Australia

The field of design is hugely in demand and one of the most contributing fields in creative economy. Going by the conservative estimates , a total workforce of 7 million designers will be required to meet the industry demand in 2020.

An individual in the field of design in Australia earns around 61,200 AUD per annum. The salary range varies depending on the skill and experience. While someone with a Certificate or Diploma gets a salary of 46,200 AUD per year, 18% more than someone having a High School degree. 

A Bachelor's Degree gets its holder an average salary of 66,900 AUD per year, 45% more than someone with a Certificate or Diploma. Professionals who hold a Master's Degree are rewarded with an average salary of 87,700 AUD per year, 31% more than someone with Bachelor's Degree.

Given below are some of the job roles and average annual salary offered to students of design studies.

Design is one of the biggest sectors in the global economy in this century. Qualified candidates have always received a decent salary in Australia that is also a reason behind the double-digit growth in the number of international students last year. So choosing Australia for your design studies is a decision worth making.