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.
As Australia’s engagement with the Pacific increases, so does the need for graduates with Pacific expertise. The Bachelor of Pacific Studies offers the opportunity to develop a deep understanding of the diversity, history and contemporary issues of Oceania, preparing you to take a leading role in Pacific policy and development.
Learning about the Pacific is a voyage of discovery, and at the ANU you have the opportunity to learn from the world’s leading experts on the Pacific. As a Pacific Studies student you will be joining a community of scholars dedicated to addressing the Pacific’s most pressing challenges, including climate change.
Pacific Studies at the ANU will provide you with an interdisciplinary grounding to engage with diverse Pacific voices, approaches and perspectives. Our courses incorporate Indigenous perspectives, experiential and innovative ways of learning, and creative problem-solving. In the degree program you will also have the opportunity to engage in internship and immersion programs in Oceania, boosting your language skills and knowledge of the region.
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.
- Critically apply theoretical frameworks and research techniques to understand the global significance of Oceania as a region of diverse societies, cultures and languages;
- Demonstrate an understanding of diverse disciplinary approaches and methods drawn from the humanities, social sciences and environmental studies, and use these to synthesise knowledge about Oceania and its place in the world;
- Demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the diversity of Indigenous, popular culture, policy and scholarly perspectives on and within Oceania;
- Evaluate knowledge and ideas and debate issues using academic and other approaches addressing a variety of scholarly, policy and public audiences;
- Exercise critical thinking and judgement in identifying and solving problems individually as well as collaboratively;
- Develop, refine, and apply the skills to utilise transdisciplinary approaches, recognise transdisciplinary opportunities and collaborate to solve complex transdisciplinary problems.
Admission Requirements
- ATAR:
- 80
- International Baccalaureate:
- 30
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 Pacific Studies - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees
- Annual indicative fee for international students
- $47,670.00
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
A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving
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 Pacific Studies flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:
A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses
A minimum of 18 units must come from completion of 3000-level courses
A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving
The 96 units must include:
The 144 units must include:
36 units from the following compulsory courses:
PASI1011 Pacific Encounters: An introduction to Pacific Studies
PASI1012 Pacific Worlds: critical inquiry in Oceania
PASI2001 Pacific Studies in a Globalising World
PASI3001 Politics and Development in the Contemporary Pacific
PASI3002 Gender and Sexuality in the Pacific
PASI3013 Environment and Development in the Pacific
A minimum of 36 units from the following thematic lists:
Anthropology and archaeology
ANTH3059 Doing Ethnography: Practicum in Applied Anthropology
ARCH2005 Archaeology of the Pacific Islanders
ASIA2130 The archaeology of rock art in Asia, Pacific, and Australia
History
HIST2231 Exploration: From Captain Cook to the Astronauts
PASI2002 Australia in Oceania in the 19th and 20th centuries
WARS2004 War in the Islands: The Second World War in the Pacific
Politics, conflict and security
ASIA2093 Natural Resource Conflicts in Asia and the Pacific
POLS2055 Pacific Politics
STST2003 Australia and Security in the Pacific
Environment, geography and migration
ASIA2018 Maps and Mapping in Asia and the Pacific
ASIA2301 Human Migration and Expansion in the Rise of the Asia-Pacific
ASIA2747 Airlines in Asia and the Pacific: Histories, Technologies, Cultures and Geographies
Gender, culture and linguistics
ASIA2001 Language in Asia and the Pacific
ASIA2308 Linguistic Histories in Asia and the Pacific
ASIA2311 Gender and Cultural Studies in Asia and the Pacific
PASI3012 Readings in Indigenous Studies
Field schools, study tours and self-directed research
ENVS2005 Islands Sustainable Development: Fiji Field School
PASI2030 Study Tour: Regional Policymaking for Pacific Development
PASI3005 Pacific Islands Field School
PASI3010 Pacific Engagement Project
Languages
Courses from the following language codes: CHIN, FREN, GERM, INDN, JPNS, TETM, TOKP, SPAN.
A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving
36 units from the following compulsory courses:
PASI1011 Pacific Encounters: An introduction to Pacific Studies
PASI1012 Pacific Worlds: critical inquiry in Oceania
PASI2001 Pacific Studies in a Globalising World
PASI3001 Politics and Development in the Contemporary Pacific
PASI3002 Gender and Sexuality in the Pacific
PASI3013 Environment and Development in the Pacific
A minimum of 36 units from the following thematic lists:
Anthropology and archaeology
ANTH3059 Doing Ethnography: Practicum in Applied Anthropology
ARCH2005 Archaeology of the Pacific Islanders
ASIA2130 The archaeology of rock art in Asia, Pacific, and Australia
History
HIST2231 Exploration: From Captain Cook to the Astronauts
PASI2002 Australia in Oceania in the 19th and 20th centuries
WARS2004 War in the Islands: The Second World War in the Pacific
Politics, conflict and security
ASIA2093 Natural Resource Conflicts in Asia and the Pacific
POLS2055 Pacific Politics
STST2003 Australia and Security in the Pacific
Environment, geography and migration
ASIA2018 Maps and Mapping in Asia and the Pacific
ASIA2301 Human Migration and Expansion in the Rise of the Asia-Pacific
ASIA2747 Airlines in Asia and the Pacific: Histories, Technologies, Cultures and Geographies
Gender, culture and linguistics
ASIA2001 Language in Asia and the Pacific
ASIA2308 Linguistic Histories in Asia and the Pacific
ASIA2311 Gender and Cultural Studies in Asia and the Pacific
PASI3012 Readings in Indigenous Studies
Field schools, study tours and self-directed research
ENVS2005 Islands Sustainable Development: Fiji Field School
PASI2030 Study Tour: Regional Policymaking for Pacific Development
PASI3005 Pacific Islands Field School
PASI3010 Pacific Engagement Project
Languages
Courses from the following language codes: CHIN, FREN, GERM, INDN, JPNS, TETM, TOKP, SPAN.
A minimum of 12 units of courses tagged as Transdisciplinary Problem-Solving
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 Pacific Studies page
The Bachelor of Pacific Studies is offered through the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs. Upon completion of this degree, you will have developed specific knowledge of Pacific Studies and a range of transferable skills that will prepare you for work or further study.
Single degree
- This degree requires the completion of 144 units
- A maximum of 60 units of 1000 level courses is allowed
- 48 units must come from completion of the Pacific Studies major
- 24 units from completion of a minor approved by the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific
- 72 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU
Double degree
- This degree requires the completion of 96 units
- A maximum of 36 units of 1000 level courses is allowed
- 48 units must come from completion of the Pacific Studies major
- 24 units from completion of a minor approved by the ANU College of Asia and the Pacific
- 24 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU
About this degree
Single degree
In a Bachelor of Pacific Studies single degree program you will study a total of 144 units. Typically you will take 4 courses per semester (total of 24 units) as a full time student giving you a total of 24 (6-unit) courses across your whole degree. Once you have fulfilled the requirements of the Pacific Studies major, you can try a range of courses or take a major or minor in a subject of your choice.
Double degree
You will need to complete a minimum of 96 units towards the Bachelor of Pacific Studies degree but will also get to choose 4 courses (24 units) from other ANU Colleges.
Enrolment Status
It is possible to enrol in fewer courses per semester but it will take you longer to finish your program and get your degree. If you are an international student you must always be enrolled full-time in 24 units each semester.
Remember you will need to enrol in courses for both First Semester and Second Semester. You will be able to change your enrolment in courses up until the end of week 2 of each semester without penalty.
Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses
If you are intending to enrol into our language courses and have previous experience with the language you want to study, even if you think it might not be relevant or was too long ago, you need to sit a placement test for the College to ensure you are enrolled into the most appropriate level of language study.
Relevant past experience include:
- Previous study of the language
- Being exposed to the language in childhood
- Travel or living in a country where the language is spoken
- The language being spoken in your home (even if you don’t speak it)
Languages available for the placement test:
- Indonesian
- Chinese
- Japanese
- Korean
Majors and Minors
See available majors and minors for this program
Students in this degree must complete a Pacific Studies Major, and a minor from the following list:
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Development Studies
- Environmental Studies
- Environmental Policy
- Heritage and Museum Studies
- History
- Human Ecology
- Australian Indigenous Studies
- International Relations
- Political Science
- Social Research Methods
- Sociology
- Chinese
- French Language and Culture
- German Language and Culture
- Hindi
- Indonesian
- Japanese
- Spanish
- Biodiversity Conservation and Management
- Climate Science and Policy
- Environmental Policy
- Forest Science and Policy
- Geography
- Human Ecology
- Integrative Methods in Environment and Society
- Soil and Land Management
- Sustainable Development
- Water Science and Policy
- Philosophy
- Visual Arts Practice
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Development Studies
- Environmental Studies
- Gender, Sexuality and Culture
- Geography
- History
- International Relations
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Chinese
- French Language and Culture
- German Language and Culture
- Hindi
- Indonesian
- Japanese
- Spanish
- Environmental and Landscape Sciences
- Natural Resource Management
- Sustainability Science
- Philosophy
Electives
You can use your electives to enrol in any courses that you like, provided you meet prerequisite requirements. Students who choose to do a second major will need to take the additional 24 units for their major from their electives.
To find 1000-level
courses, use the catalogue finder. Remember you can choose up to 8
courses from another ANU College at the University if you are
undertaking the single Bachelor of Pacific Studies program.
Study Options
Bachelor of Pacific Studies Single Degree Study Plan
This is only an example of how you may plan your degree. Depending on how you structure your degree or if you undertake learning abroad, this may be different. Please contact your College for degree planning assistance.Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | PASI1011 Pacific Encounters: An introduction to Pacific Studies 6 units | Elective | Elective | Elective |
| PASI1012 Pacific Worlds: critical inquiry in Oceania 6 units | Thematic course | Elective | Elective |