Send me a PDF copyHighlights
- Travel overseas, immerse yourself in a different culture and be on pace with international design trends.
- Enjoy a year of studying with one of our international partner universities in the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Hong Kong, the US and Canada.
- Enhance your global employability and open unique career opportunities.
Highlights
- Travel overseas, immerse yourself in a different culture and be on pace with international design trends.
- Enjoy a year of studying with one of our international partner universities in the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Hong Kong, the US and Canada.
- Enhance your global employability and open unique career opportunities.
Why choose this course?
Increase your global employment opportunities and enjoy a year of international experience studying with one of our 150+ international partner universities.
This degree combines the three-year Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) with one year of international studies, giving you all of the outcomes of the standard degree, plus the advantages of a year of specialist international studies. Destinations include the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Hong Kong, the US and Canada.
Real-world learning
Expanding your design studies internationally can provide you with an advantage in your career. You also have the option of undertaking overseas internships as part of your studies, applying your skills and knowledge to new challenges, in new environments. Design skills are highly transferable and gaining experience in countries known for their expertise in design will enhance your employability and open unique career opportunities at home and around the world.
Explore this course
Great design is happening all around the world. If you want to travel overseas, immerse yourself in a different culture and be on pace with the design trends emerging in another country, this degree is for you.
Your degree will begin with introductory and shared impact lab units where, working with students from other disciplines, you’ll focus on problems and social issues and identify potential solutions connected to industry and community.
You will then develop both practical and theoretical skills in multiple visual communication design specialisations including graphic design, typography, image making, information design, experience design, motion design, branding and interaction design.
You will progress to develop deeper skills in creative problem solving, critical thinking, technical proficiencies and professional practice that will ensure you can contribute to the field of visual communication in innovative and socially responsible ways. In your third year of study you will spend two semesters (96 credit points) studing abroad before returing to transfer skills and knowledge to a workplace or professional context and gain practical work experience with work integrated learning.
Careers and outcomes
This degree will give you the skills and finesse you need to be a confident and agile visual communicator across traditional and new interactive media forms. You will graduate industry ready with multiple career options in graphic design, digital media, interactive design, branding, art direction, motion graphics design, advertising, print publication, illustration, information design, service and experience design, packaging and exhibition design.
A business foundation also equips you to become a creative business owner and establish your own design studio. Opportunities exist to work both locally and internationally, and can vary from operating as an independent entrepreneurial designer to a designer within a large firm.
An additional year of International studies will enhance your global employability and open unique career opportunities.
Possible careers
- Advertising specialist
- Art director
- Artist
- Branding specialist
- Creative director
- Digital content designer
- Digital content producer
- Exhibition designer
- Experience designer
- Fashion illustrator
- Graphic designer
- Media producer
- Motion graphics designer
- Theatre designer
In order to complete this course you must complete a total of 384 credit points comprising:
- Core Introductory units - 72 credit points
- A Design major - 108 credit points
- QUT You - 24 credit points
- Complementary studies - 180 credit points, made up of:
- International exchange year - 96 credit points
- Design specialisation units - 36 credit points
- A minor, or a combination of design specialisation units and electives (unit options) - 48 credit points.
Special conditions
You'll need to meet certain criteria to be eligible for your exchange year, including:
- be currently enrolled at QUT (not deferred).
- have a GPA of at least 4.50. This must be maintained up until your time of departure for exchange.
- you must complete DYB102 Impact Lab 2: People at any stage prior to your exchange.
- be supported by your faculty, who will be asked to confirm your suitability to participate in the exchange program. They will consider any history of not meeting the standards of behaviour outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
- be financially self-sufficient for the duration of your exchange. You'll need to pay for your own travel and living expenses.
- agree to the key exchange requirements when applying for exchange. These include but are not limited to:
- Abiding by the QUT code of conduct whilst on exchange
- Attending the compulsory pre-departure session.
- Abiding by all exchange conditions with regards to QUT insurance and registration with Customer Care. More information about this is given on the pre-departure page.
Students who do not meet these requirements will be ineligible.
Where possible QUT will try to ensure students get their preferred study destination, but this cannot be guaranteed. However every student who meets the QUT exchange program requirements, as well as DE45 course requirements, will be able to undertake an overseas study experience.
In order to complete this course you must complete a total of 384 credit points comprising:
- Core Introductory units - 72 credit points
- A Design major - 108 credit points
- QUT You - 24 credit points
- Complementary studies - 180 credit points, made up of:
- International exchange year - 96 credit points
- Design specialisation units - 36 credit points
- A minor, or a combination of design specialisation units and electives (unit options) - 48 credit points.
Special conditions
You'll need to meet certain criteria to be eligible for your exchange year, including:
- be currently enrolled at QUT (not deferred).
- have a GPA of at least 4.50. This must be maintained up until your time of departure for exchange.
- you must complete DYB102 Impact Lab 2: People at any stage prior to your exchange.
- be supported by your faculty, who will be asked to confirm your suitability to participate in the exchange program. They will consider any history of not meeting the standards of behaviour outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
- be financially self-sufficient for the duration of your exchange. You'll need to pay for your own travel and living expenses.
- agree to the key exchange requirements when applying for exchange. These include but are not limited to:
- Abiding by the QUT code of conduct whilst on exchange
- Attending the compulsory pre-departure session.
- Abiding by all exchange conditions with regards to QUT insurance and registration with Customer Care. More information about this is given on the pre-departure page.
Students who do not meet these requirements will be ineligible.
Where possible QUT will try to ensure students get their preferred study destination, but this cannot be guaranteed. However every student who meets the QUT exchange program requirements, as well as DE45 course requirements, will be able to undertake an overseas study experience.
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2025 fees
2025: CSP $10,100 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2025 fees
2025: $38,500 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2024 fees
2024: CSP $9,200 per year full-time (96 credit points)
2024 fees
2024: $34,800 per year full-time (96 credit points)
Student services and amenities fees
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
QUT Excellence Scholarship (Academic)
QUT's premier offering for students with outstanding academic achievement.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
QUT Elite Sport Scholarship
QUT's premier offering for students with outstanding sporting achievement.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Sporting excellence
QUT Real World International Scholarship
A scholarship to cover tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
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