Bachelor of Design
at Swinburne University of Technology, Victoria.
A three-year design degree at Hawthorn with majors in communication, experiential, motion and UX interaction design, photography and emerging technology. Swinburne's guaranteed ATAR for 2027 entry is 70. VCE prerequisite is a study score of at least 20 in English other than EAL (or 25 in EAL).
Lowest selection rank
The lowest selection rank (LSR) is the lowest ATAR plus adjustment factors (equity, subject and regional bonuses) that received an offer to the Swinburne Bachelor of Design for that intake. Universities publish it in their admissions student profiles. Only intakes with a published figure are listed.
| Intake | Lowest selection rank | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 60.30 | delta.vtac.edu.au |
| 2025 | 63.40 | delta.vtac.edu.au |
| 2024 | 62.85 | delta.vtac.edu.au |
A lowest selection rank describes a past intake, not a guaranteed entry score. Check the current entry requirements on the official course page before you apply through VTAC.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
Students build broad design skills, including typography and brand and identity design, then choose a major: communication design, emerging technology for design innovation, experiential design, motion design, photography or UX interaction design.
Placement and industry experience
Work-integrated learning is guaranteed in the degree, through a placement, internship or industry-linked project.
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.
Typical first jobs
- Junior graphic or communication designer in agency
- Junior product or industrial designer
- UX/UI designer or junior digital designer
- Interior designer or design assistant in commercial fit-out
- Brand designer or in-house designer at a corporate
- Freelance or small-studio designer
- Design technician in fashion, jewellery or fabrication studio
Graduate starting salary
$52,000 - $68,000 per year
Source: qilt.edu.au. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
Graduates may be eligible for membership of the Australian Graphic Design Association and the Design Institute of Australia, and work in design studios, agencies and in-house teams.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Visual thinkers with strong sketching or making instincts
- People who can take and act on critique
- Self-starters who treat studio as 9 to 5 work
- Curious students who follow trends across art, tech and culture
- Patient iterators who improve a piece over many drafts
It is probably not for you if
- Students who dislike being judged on subjective creative work
- Those who need clear marking rubrics and right or wrong answers
- People who avoid public presentation of their work
- Students wanting a regulated profession with a single licence
Careers this leads to
Australian career pathways that name this Bachelor of Design as an entry route. Each page shows uni, TAFE and apprenticeship alternatives.
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and selection ranks on the Swinburne University of Technology website and on VTAC before applying.