Bachelor of Design
at The University of Notre Dame Australia, Western Australia.
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 University of Notre Dame Australia 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 | TISC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | TISC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official TISC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
First year is studio-based foundation work: design principles, typography, drawing, colour, digital tools and design thinking. You build core software skills (Adobe Creative Suite, prototyping tools) and complete Notre Dame's Core Curriculum units in philosophy and ethics, which frame design's social and human impact. Studios are small and feedback is hands-on. Second year develops a specialisation such as visual communication, interaction or spatial design. Projects become brief-driven, with research, ideation, iteration and critique cycles that mirror studio practice. You learn to present and defend design decisions in regular crits and start building a professional portfolio. Third year is dominated by a major self-directed design project and a public portfolio or graduate show. You manage a brief end to end, integrate user research and refine work to industry standard, alongside remaining Core units, graduating with a portfolio ready for employers.
Example first-year subjects
- Design Studio: Foundations
- Typography and Layout
- Drawing and Visualisation
- Digital Design Tools
- Design Thinking and Research
- Introduction to Ethics (Core)
How you will be assessed
- Studio projects and design briefs
- Portfolio development and presentation
- Studio critiques and peer review
- Process journals and design rationales
- Research and concept-development tasks
- Major design project and graduate show in final year
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 graphic or visual designer
- UX or UI design assistant
- Junior interaction or product designer
- In-house designer for retail, media or corporate teams
- Design or studio production assistant
- Freelance designer or illustrator
- Brand and marketing design coordinator
Graduate starting salary
$55,000 - $66,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
Most graduates move into junior design roles and grow a portfolio on the job. Those wanting to deepen practice or pivot fields progress to a Master of Design, Master of User Experience or a coursework masters in architecture, communication or digital media. Some pursue the Master of Teaching (visual arts or design) to enter secondary education. Honours suits students aiming at design research or academia.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Visual thinkers who enjoy making and iterating
- Students who can take and act on studio critique
- People who balance creativity with deadlines and briefs
- Self-directed workers who build a strong portfolio
- Learners who like small, hands-on studio teaching
It is probably not for you if
- Students wanting a lecture-and-exam academic format
- Those uncomfortable with public critique of their work
- People who dislike software-heavy, screen-based work
- Students seeking a single guaranteed professional licence
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the The University of Notre Dame Australia handbook and on TISC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/notre-dame/bachelor-of-design.