The Bachelor of Design critically engages with a diverse set of concepts and practices that give students creative agency to respond to our world’s wicked problems. Courses offered in the program encourage research-driven approaches and partnerships with industry to prepare students with transferable knowledge and skills required to engage sustainably and ethically in a rapidly changing world.
The Bachelor of Design combines cutting-edge digital practices with internationally renowned studio disciplines, allowing students to develop agile approaches to design futures.
Students benefit from deep immersion in digital, practical and theoretical modalities. They engage with wide-ranging perspectives of creative practices to forge their own unique path to becoming designers. From coding, to making, to manufacture, students apply hands-on design to digital and physical materials. Students delve into a wide range of fields from visual communication and web design, data visualisation, and interaction design, object design, user experience design, 3D fabrication, service design, sustainable design, design thinking, to strategic design, they experiment in studios to develop expertise in contemporary approaches.
When undertaking the Bachelor of Visual Arts at the ANU, you will be immersed in a program of rigorous scholarship and intensive studio practice, tailored to your aspirations and informed by internationally renowned art practitioners within Australia’s top-ranking university. You will graduate with the essential creative skills and critical knowledge to address the grand challenges of a rapidly changing world.
You will develop deep disciplinary knowledge and learn specialist skills offered across the School of Art and Design studio disciplines, including ceramics, glass, painting, photography and media arts, printmedia and drawing, sculpture and spatial practice, and textiles. You will extend your study through access to courses in the Centre for Art History and Art Theory, combined with access to electives from across the ANU.
Career Options
ANU ranks among the world's very finest universities. Our nearly 100,000 alumni include political, business, government, and academic leaders around the world.
We have graduated remarkable people from every part of our continent, our region and all walks of life.
Employment Opportunities
Graduates of the Bachelor of Design may find careers in fields including object design, visual communication, data visualisation, user experience design, graphic design, web design, interface design, design thinking and strategic design.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Design may find careers in fields including object design, visual communication, data visualisation, user experience design, graphic design, web design, interface design, design thinking and strategic design.
Learning Outcomes
- demonstrate skills and knowledge of the practices, languages, forms, materials and technologies in their relevant discipline;
- research, develop and evaluate design concepts and processes by thinking creatively, critically and reflectively;
- apply skills and knowledge to the creation, visualisation and production of design projects;
- work independently and collaboratively on design projects and respond to project demands;
- interpret, communicate and present ideas, problems and arguments in modes suited to a range of audiences; and
- recognise and reflect on social, cultural technological, environmental and ethical issues of creative practice and design considering local and international perspectives.
- apply technical and creative skills, specialist knowledge and processes to realise artworks and practices that contribute to contemporary cultural production;
- use artistic processes and methodologies to interrograte complex ideas relevant to local and global contexts;
- critique and engage with a range of social, cultural and theoretical traditions relevant to visual art practice;
- employ collaborative and independent methods, and strategies toward developing an ethical, sustainable and inclusive art practice;
- demonstrate a developing understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art practices, and First Nations art practices across international and national contexts; and
- identify contexts and implement strategies to establish your professional practice and/or future study.
Admission Requirements
Adjustment Factors
Adjustment factors are combined with an applicant's secondary education results to determine their Selection Rank. ANU offers adjustment factors based on equity, diversity, and/or performance principles, such as for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies.
To be eligible for adjustment factors, you must have:
- achieved a Selection Rank of 70 or more before adjustment factors are applied
- if you have undertaken higher education, completed less than one year full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) of a higher education program
- applied for an eligible ANU bachelor degree program
Please visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.
Indicative fees
Bachelor of Design - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
Bachelor of Visual Arts - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees
- Annual indicative fee for international students
- $46,680.00
Scholarships
ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.
Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are. Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.
For further information see the Scholarships website.
Program Requirements
The Bachelor of Design flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:
A maximum of 42 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses
The 96 units must include:
42 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:
DESN1002 Visual Communication: Design and Production
DESN1003 Contemporary Design in Context
DESN1004 The Past as Prototype: History, Ethics and Concepts for Design in the Twenty-First Century
DESN2008 Design Thinking: Human-Centred Design Methodologies
DESN3010 Design Studio: Independent Practice
DESN3011 Design Studio: Engagement and Collaboration
DESN3012 Design Studio: Professional Practice
A minimum of 6 units from completion of foundation courses from the following list:
ARTV1020 Drawn from life: Techniques and Perspectives of Observational Drawing
ARTV1034 Foundations of Contemporary Arts Practices
DESN1005 Precise Drawing and Model Making
A minimum of 24 units from completion of design courses from the following list:
DESN2001 Digital Form and Fabrication
DESN2002 Foundations of Creative Code
DESN2003 Creative Data Visualisation: Representing Data in Visual and Material Form
DESN2004 Autonomous Agents
DESN2006 Front-End Web: Crafting Online Experience
DESN2007 Design Fiction: Speculative and Critical Design
DESN2009 Typography in Context: Digital Typographic Design
DESN2010 Making Creative and Critical Technologies: Physical Computing for Art and Design
DESN2012 The Ethics of Making: Design for Reuse and Repair
DESN2015 Supporting Bodies: Now that we're here, where do we sit?
A minimum of 12 units from completion of courses from the subject area ARTV Visual Arts
A maximum of 12 units from completion of interdisciplinary concepts and theories courses from the following subject areas:
ANTH Anthropology
ARTH Art History
ENVS Environmental Science
GEND Gender Studies
INDG Indigenous Studies
PHIL Philosophy
PSYC Psychology
SOCY Sociology
MEDN2222 Exquisite Corpse - Insight into the Human Body
The Bachelor of Visual Arts flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:
A maximum of 48 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses
The 96 units must include:
48 units from completion of the following compulsory courses:
ARTH1006 Art History and Curatorial Studies 1: Cultures and Meaning (6 units)
ARTH1007 Art History and Curatorial Studies 2: Vision and Materiality (6 units)
ARTV1020 Drawn from life: Techniques and Perspectives of Observational Drawing (6 units)
ARTV1034 Foundations of Contemporary Arts Practices (6 units)
ARTV2066 Art in Context (6 units)
ARTV3033 Creative Research Practice: Developing an Independent Work Proposal (6 units)
ARTV3035 Creative Research Practice: Extending and Consolidating an Independent Project (12 units)
12 units from completion of introductory studio courses from the following list:
ARTV1150 Ceramics 1 (6 units)
ARTV1350 Glass 1 (6 units)
ARTV1550 Painting 1 (6 units)
ARTV1650 Photomedia 1 (6 units)
ARTV1651 Moving Image 1 (6 units)
ARTV1750 Press-based Print 1 (6 units)
ARTV1751 Planographic Print 1 (6 units)
ARTV1850 Sculpture & Spatial Practice 1 (6 units)
ARTV1950 Textiles 1 (6 units)
12 units from completion of intermediate studio courses from the following list:
ARTV2150 Ceramics 2 (6 units)
ARTV2350 Glass 2 (6 units)
ARTV2550 Painting 2 (6 units)
ARTV2650 Photomedia 2 (6 units)
ARTV2651 Moving Image 2 (6 units)
ARTV2750 Press-based Print 2 (6 units)
ARTV2751 Planographic Print 2 (6 units)
ARTV2752 Drawing 2 (6 units)
ARTV2850 Sculpture & Spatial Practice 2 (6 units)
ARTV2950 Textiles 2 (6 units)
6 units from completion of a 2000-level course from the subject area ARTH Art History.
6 units from completion of an engagement and professional practice course from the following list:
ARTV2027 Professional Practice: Economies and Ecologies in the Australian Cultural Sector (6 units)
ARTV2028 Professional Practices: Internship (6 units)
ARTV2909 The Public Project: Engaging with Institutions and Communities (6 units)
ARTV2921 Environment Studio: Field based Research and Studio Practice in Visual Arts (6 units)
A maximum of 12 units from completion of courses from the following subject areas:
ARTH Art History
ARTV Visual Arts
DESN Design
MEDN2222?Exquisite Corpse - Insight into the Human Body (6 units)
PHIL2289 Leviathan, Art and Law: Constituting the Body Politic (6 units)
Minors
Bachelor of Design Minors
Back to the Bachelor of Design page
Enrolling for the first time can be overwhelming. Below, you will find information that will assist. Please note that advice on this page is indicative, and you are encouraged to contact the CASS Student office at students.cass@anu.edu.au or visit the the CASS student office website if you require tailored information.
Important items to note:
- We recommend you start a CASS Program Plan. This is a way to track how the courses you take fit within the overall structure of your degree and will help you plan for your later year courses.
- The Bachelor of Design can be taken as a single degree or combined with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD). When the Bachelor of Design is combined with another undergraduate degree through a Flexible Double Degree, 48 units of ANU electives units are replaced with the core requirements of the other degree and the total program duration is expanded to 192 units (4 years Full-Time) or 240 units (5 years Full-Time) depending on the duration of the other program.
Please note that if you are commencing your studies in Semester 2 there may be restrictions on the courses available for enrolment. If you have concerns, please contact students.cass@anu.edu.au
Single degree
The Bachelor of Design requires 144 units (24 courses), including:
- A maximum of 60 units from 1000-level courses (i.e. 10 x 6 unit courses)
- Seven compulsory courses
- A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (i.e. 2 x 6 unit courses)
Double degree
The total number of overall units in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD) depends on the FDD combination e.g. Flexible Double Degree - Arts, Social Sciences, Business, Science (4050): 192 units Flexible Double Degree - Law (Honours) (4350), Flexible Double Degree PhB Advanced Arts Social Sciences Business & Science (4569), or Flexible Double Degree - Engineering and Advanced Computing (Honours) (4750): 240 units Of which a minimum of 12 units (i.e. 2 x 6 unit courses) must be tagged as transdisciplinary problem-solving. These courses may be taken in either component of the FDD. The Bachelor of Design component of an FDD requires 96 units, including:
Enrolment Status
Duration
The Bachelor of Design typically takes three years to complete on a full-time basis. Students will usually take 24-units (four x six-unit courses) each semester and there are two semesters each year. One course is typically worth six-units.
In total, students need to complete 144 units of study towards the Bachelor of Design. This will be 24 courses if all courses are worth six-units, but may be fewer if one or more courses of 12-units or more are taken.
If you combine the Bachelor of Design with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree, you will need to complete a total of 192 units (32 six-unit courses) or 240 units (40 six-unit courses) depending on the combination. This will typically take four years for a 192-unit degree or five years for a 240-unit degree on a full-time basis.
Domestic students may choose to enrol in fewer than 24-units in any semester or half-year study period. Students studying 18 or more units in a half year (January – June or July – December) are considered full-time. Students studying less than this are considered part-time.
If you take fewer than 24-units in any half year period, then your degree is likely to take longer than three years to complete.
International students on a student visa are required to enrol in a full-time study load of 24-units in each half year study period (Summer, Semester 1, Autumn or Winter, Semester 2, Spring) unless they have been approved for Reduced Study Load or program leave.
Maximum time for completion
- The maximum period for completion of the single Bachelor of Design degree is 10 years from the date of first enrolment in the program. This 10 years includes any periods of leave.
- The maximum period for completion of a flexible double degree is 10 years for a 192-unit degree or 11 years for a 240-unit degree from the date of first enrolment in the program. The maximum period includes periods of leave.
A transfer of credit (status) from previous studies will reduce the total amount of time remaining to complete the balance of your degree. When you are assessed for credit, you will be notified of the new maximum end date for your degree in your credit offer.
Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses
In your first year, you will typically enrol in 1000-level courses – these courses have ‘1’ as the first number in their course code. E.g. DESN1001, DESN1003. Many 2000 and 3000 level courses build upon the specific knowledge achieved through 1000-level courses
You may take 1000-level courses later in your program. But remember you can’t count more than 10 x 1000-level courses (60 units) towards your single degree or 6 x 1000-level courses (36 units) towards your Design half of the double degree.
Electives
Electives are courses that provide freedom for you to select subjects that align to your personal interests and career aspirations in a more individualised way than is possible through general major or degree requirements. An ANU elective is a course that you can select without restriction, beyond the global requirements of your program (e.g. limits on 1000-level courses, etc).
In the Bachelor of Design, you can select a minimum of 48 units of electives. You can try a range of courses such as computing, history, or marketing. The choice is yours.
We also recommend holding some ANU electives in reserve to keep other opportunities open, such as international exchange, internships, and meeting the transdisciplinary requirements of your degree.
Study Options
Bachelor of Design - Single Degree
For study plans, please visit cass.anu.edu.au/current-students/degrees-and-program-plansStudy Options
| Year 1 48 units | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
Bachelor of Design - Double Degree
For study plans, please visit cass.anu.edu.au/current-students/degrees-and-program-plansStudy Options
| Year 1 48 units | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
Disciplines
Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving Courses (TD)
Transdisciplinary courses at the ANU are?courses that encourage students to collaborate across different disciplines and perspectives to solve complex problems. These courses help students develop skills to synthesise knowledge from different fields.
In this degree, you will have to complete 12 units of courses flagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (TD). TD courses can be identified using the Programs and Courses search engine.
You can satisfy this requirement through a course/s listed in the program or through the ANU electives it all depends on how you structure your degree and your other enrolment choices.
Academic Advice
Course credit
If you have undertaken previous study that is relevant to your current academic program, you can request to receive course credit. For more information and how to apply, see the CASS credit application webpage, or contact the CASS Student Office.
For further information on prerequisites and Arts and Social Science disciplines you can:
Email us at students.cass@anu.edu.au, or
Come and talk to someone - you can attend a drop in session with an academic advisor here
Back to the Bachelor of Visual Arts page
Enrolling for the first time can be overwhelming. Below, you will find information that will assist. Please note that advice on this page is indicative, and you are encouraged to contact the CASS Student office at students.cass@anu.edu.au or visit the the CASS student office website if you require tailored information.
Important items to note:
- We recommend you start a CASS Program Plan. This is a way to track how the courses you take fit within the overall structure of your degree and will help you plan for your later year courses.
- The Bachelor of Visual Arts can be taken as a single degree or combined with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD). When the Bachelor of Visual Arts is combined with another undergraduate degree through a Flexible Double Degree, 48 units of ANU electives units are replaced with the core requirements of the other degree and the total program duration is expanded to 192 units (4 years Full-Time) or 240 units (5 years Full-Time) depending on the duration of the other program.
Single degree
The Bachelor of Visual Arts requires 144 units (24 courses), including:
- A maximum of 60 units from 1000-level courses (i.e. 10 x 6 unit courses)
- A minimum of 84 units must come from completion of 2000- and 3000- level courses
- Five compulsory courses
Double degree
The total number of overall units in a Flexible Double Degree (FDD) depends on the FDD combination e.g. Of which a minimum of 12 units (i.e. 2 x 6 unit courses) must be tagged as transdisciplinary problem-solving. These courses may be taken in either component of the FDD. The Bachelor of Visual Arts component of an FDD requires 96 units, including:
Enrolment Status
Duration
The Bachelor of Visual Arts typically takes three years to complete on a full-time basis. Students will usually take 24-units (four x six-unit courses) each semester and there are two semesters each year. One course is typically worth six-units.
In total, students need to complete 144 units of study towards the Bachelor of Visual Arts. This will be 24 courses if all courses are worth six-units, but may be fewer if one or more courses of 12-units or more are taken.
If you combine the Bachelor of Visual Arts with another degree in a Flexible Double Degree, you will need to complete a total of 192 units (32 six-unit courses) or 240 units (40 six-unit courses) depending on the combination. This will typically take four years for a 192-unit degree or five years for a 240-unit degree on a full-time basis.
Domestic students may choose to enrol in fewer than 24-units in any semester or half-year study period. Students studying 18 or more units in a half year (January – June or July – December) are considered full-time. Students studying less than this are considered part-time.
If you take fewer than 24-units in any half year period, then your degree is likely to take longer than three years to complete.
International students on a student visa are required to enrol in a full-time study load of 24-units in each half year study period (Summer, Semester 1, Autumn or Winter, Semester 2, Spring) unless they have been approved for Reduced Study Load or program leave.
Maximum time for completion
- The maximum period for completion of the single Bachelor of Visual Arts degree is 10 years from the date of first enrolment in the program. This 10 years includes any periods of leave.
- The maximum period for completion of a flexible double degree is 10 years for a 192-unit degree or 11 years for a 240-unit degree from the date of first enrolment in the program. The maximum period includes periods of leave.
A transfer of credit (status) from previous studies will reduce the total amount of time remaining to complete the balance of your degree. When you are assessed for credit, you will be notified of the new maximum end date for your degree in your credit offer.
Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses
In your first year, you will typically enrol in 1000-level courses – these courses have ‘1’ as the first number in their course code. E.g. ARTH1006, DESN1002. Many 2000 and 3000 level courses build upon the specific knowledge achieved through 1000-level courses.
You may take 1000-level courses later in your program. But remember you can’t count more than 10 x 1000-level courses (60 units) towards your single degree or 6 x 1000-level courses (36 units) towards your Visual Arts half of the double degree.
Electives
Electives are courses that provide freedom for you to select subjects that align to your personal interests and career aspirations in a more individualised way than is possible through general major or degree requirements. An ANU elective is a course that you can select without restriction, beyond the global requirements of your program (e.g. limits on 1000-level courses, etc).
In the Bachelor of Visual Arts, you can select a minimum of 48 units of electives. You can try a range of courses such as computing, history, or marketing. The choice is yours.
We also recommend holding some ANU electives in reserve to keep other opportunities open, such as international exchange, internships, and meeting the transdisciplinary requirements of your degree.
Study Options
Bachelor of Visual Arts - single degree
For study plans, please visit cass.anu.edu.au/current-students/degrees-and-program-plansStudy Options
| Year 1 48 units | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
FDD
For study plans, please visit cass.anu.edu.au/current-students/degrees-and-program-plansStudy Options
| Year 1 48 units | ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
| ~ | ~ | ~ | ~ |
Disciplines
Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving Courses (TD)
Transdisciplinary courses at the ANU are courses that encourage students to collaborate across different disciplines and perspectives to solve complex problems. These courses help students develop skills to synthesise knowledge from different fields.
In this degree, you will have to complete 12 units of courses flagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving (TD). The Bachelor of Visual Arts offers the compulsory 12 unit course ARTV3035 Creative Research Practice: Extending and Consolidating an Independent Project as its transdisciplinary content.
Academic Advice
Course credit
If you have undertaken previous study that is relevant to your current academic program, you can request to receive course credit. For more information and how to apply, see the CASS credit application webpage, or contact the CASS Student Office.
For further information on prerequisites and Arts and Social Science disciplines you can:
- Email us at students.cass@anu.edu.au, or
- Come and talk to someone - you can attend a drop in session with an academic advisor here