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Masters degree (coursework) · university

Master of Design

A Master of Design is a postgraduate degree for developing design practice and design thinking, usually taking a year and a half to two and a half years of full-time study.

Illustration of a person working as uX Designer
How long it takes
1.5 to 2.5 years
full time
Level
Masters degree (coursework)
University
Leads on to
UX Designer
$96,200 median pay
Taught by
13 providers
6 states and territories

Is this course right for you?

What the Master of Design asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

Before you start

Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.

Where this course can take you

The study that can follow this course.

Jobs you can do with it

  • Industrial Designer

    Industrial designers work out what a manufactured product should look like, how it should work and how it can be made in volume.

    A step towards this job. What else you need

    Median pay$77,000 (estimate)

  • UX Designer

    UX designers work out how a website, app or piece of software should work so people can use it without getting stuck.

    A step towards this job. What else you need

    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. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.

Where you can study this course

There are 13 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.

  • Monash University

    Monash Caulfield, VIC

    4.3from 1,955 Google reviews

    Website for Monash University (opens in a new tab)

    What students like

    • Staff are supportive and resolve issues quickly

    What to weigh up

    • Admin replies can be slow
    • Feedback from teaching staff can be limited
  • Curtin University

    Curtin University of Technology, WA

    4.2from 1,745 Google reviews

    Website for Curtin University (opens in a new tab)

    What students like

    • Staff are helpful and welcoming
    • Support services help students through hard times

    What to weigh up

    • Enquiries can take a while to answer
  • Griffith University

    Brisbane City, Gold Coast, QLD

    4.3from 1,317 Google reviews

    Website for Griffith University (opens in a new tab)

    What students like

    • Lecturers and tutors are supportive and approachable

    What to weigh up

    • Tutors can be slow to reply to emails
    • Enrolment and admin can be slow
  • Swinburne University of Technology

    Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, VIC

    4.0from 1,190 Google reviews

  • Adelaide University

    Adelaide University, Adelaide City, SA

    4.5from 1,262 Google reviews

    What students like

    • Lecturers and staff are helpful and professional

    What to weigh up

    • Enrolment and admin can be slow
  • The University of Sydney

    The University of Sydney, NSW

    4.5from 2,084 Google reviews

    Website for The University of Sydney (opens in a new tab)
  • University of Technology Sydney

    University of Technology Sydney (City Campus), NSW

    4.2from 906 Google reviews

    Website for University of Technology Sydney (opens in a new tab)

    What students like

    • Lecturers and support staff are approachable and helpful

    What to weigh up

    • Admin replies can be slow
  • The University of Melbourne

    The University of Melbourne, VIC

    4.5from 1,845 Google reviews

    Website for The University of Melbourne (opens in a new tab)

What you’ll learn

The main topics covered in the Master of Design.

  • Design research and methods
  • User-centred and service design
  • Prototyping and design studio
  • Design strategy
  • Portfolio or major project

Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS), published by the Australian Government Department of Education. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.