Bachelor of Design
at The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory.
A studio-led design degree spanning visual communication, product, interaction and spatial design. Most programmes culminate in a major design project and portfolio show.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the The Australian National University Bachelor of Design. We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | UAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | UAC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | UAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official UAC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
The ANU Bachelor of Design is a three-year studio degree from the ANU School of Art and Design (College of Arts and Social Sciences). Like other ANU undergraduate programs it follows the Plan structure: a 48-unit design major plus minor and electives. Year one builds the Design Foundations core covering visual communication, typography, design thinking, drawing for designers and an introduction to digital tools (Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, Rhino). Year two layers studio practice in the chosen major (Visual Communication, Design Studies and Strategy, or Object and Industrial Design), plus design history, user research and prototyping units. Year three runs advanced studio sequences, a self-directed project and the capstone major project, which is exhibited at the annual Graduate Exhibition at the ANU School of Art and Design Gallery. Class formats blend small studio crits (10 to 15 students), workshop sessions in the print, ceramic, metal, wood and digital fabrication labs, and lectures in design history and theory. ANU Design students can take electives from the School of Art (Fine Arts) and Crawford School (policy and futures studies).
Example first-year subjects
- Design Foundations
- Visual Communication 1
- Design Drawing
- Design Thinking
- Histories of Design
- Digital Design Tools
How you will be assessed
- Studio projects with weekly desk crits and pinned-up reviews
- Sketchbooks, process journals and concept-development portfolios
- Final portfolio submissions per studio (digital and printed boards)
- Written design history and theory essays of 1500 to 3000 words
- Group studio projects in user research and prototyping
- Capstone graduate exhibition with a public-facing show
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as visual designers, UX designers and industrial designers in agencies and in-house teams.
- Common destinations include digital product agencies, advertising studios and the in-house design teams of major retailers and banks.
- Many alumni progress into design leadership, design strategy and freelance practice within five years.
Professional accreditation
- DIA membership eligible
Typical first jobs
- Junior visual designer at Canberra design studios (Coordinate, Swell Design Group, Folk)
- Communication designer in APS departments (DFAT, Treasury, PM&C, Defence)
- Junior UX or product designer at Canberra-based tech firms and APS digital teams (Digital Transformation Agency)
- Exhibition or graphic designer at the National Gallery, National Museum or National Library
- Industrial designer for product firms and Canberra start-ups
- Freelance designer for federal-government tender work
Graduate starting salary
$55,000 - $70,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
Strong students continue into the one-year Honours in Design (BDes Honours) at ANU, with a self-directed research project and a written exegesis of 8,000 to 12,000 words. Postgraduate pivots include the Master of Visual Arts at ANU, the Master of Design (Interaction Design, Digital Design) at peer institutions, and the Master of Architecture or Master of Urban and Regional Planning. Combined options include Design with Asia-Pacific Studies. Many graduates take portfolio roles before postgraduate study, given Canberras concentration of APS communication design teams.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students who enjoy iterative design work and accepting critique in small studios
- People who balance hand-drawing, digital tools and physical making
- Those willing to invest in personal portfolio work outside class time
- Students drawn to Canberras concentration of APS in-house design teams
- Those comfortable with self-directed studio projects in the final year
It is probably not for you if
- Students wanting a structured timetable with clear right-or-wrong answers
- Those who avoid public critique of their work
- Anyone uncomfortable with materials, fabrication and physical workshops
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the The Australian National University handbook and on UAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/anu/bachelor-of-design.