Diploma · university
Diploma of Design
This diploma gives a broad first look at design, whether or not you have a design background.
- How long it takes
- 8 to 12 months
- full time
- Entry ATAR
- From 51.8
- Lowest offered at University of Canberra, 2024
- How you can study
- Online, on campus or a mix
- Taught by
- 4 providers
- 4 states and territories
Is this course right for you?
What the Diploma of Design asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in how things look and work
- a habit of noticing design around you
- basic drawing or making skills
- willingness to take on feedback and revise
Before you start
Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.
Diploma or Bachelor?
The Bachelor of Design is a Bachelor degree, so it sits at a higher level than this Diploma of Design. Each qualification covers design, but at different levels of study.
See the courseWhere this course can take you
The study that can follow this course.
If you study further
A bachelor degree in digital design or visual communication
Leads to work as a, median pay $96,200.
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.
Where you can study this course
There are 4 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.
- Website for University of Canberra (opens in a new tab)
University of Canberra
Canberra, ACT
4.0from 487 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 51.8 lowest
- (51.8 median, 2024)
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
What students like
- Staff are helpful and friendly
What to weigh up
- Teaching quality varies between staff
- Course page for Deakin College (opens in a new tab)
Deakin College
Melbourne Burwood, VIC
3.5from 21 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
- Course page for Griffith College (opens in a new tab)
Griffith College
Gold Coast, QLD
3.9from 45 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Jun 2027
- Fee
- $26,500 in total
- (Full fee)
- Course page for Torrens University Australia (opens in a new tab)
Torrens University Australia
Melbourne, Sydney (Ultimo), Torrens University Australia, Online, NSW, VIC
4.0from 1,386 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online, on campus or a mix
- (full or part time)
- Fee
- $29,992 a year
- (Full fee)
What students like
- Student services staff are friendly and helpful
- Staff respond quickly and resolve issues
What you’ll learn
The main topics covered in the Diploma of Design.
- Design thinking
- Design tools and technology
- Working to a client brief
- Creative problem solving
- Academic study skills
Questions to ask before you enrol
Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
Entry requirements are set by each provider, so check with the provider you choose. They will let you know what you need before you enrol.
How is it different from the Bachelor of Design?
The Bachelor of Design is a Bachelor degree, so it sits at a higher level than this Diploma of Design. Each qualification covers design, but at different levels of study.