Bachelor of Design
at The University of Queensland, Queensland.
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 Queensland 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 | QTAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | QTAC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | QTAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official QTAC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
The UQ Bachelor of Design is a three-year studio-led degree based at the St Lucia campus and is a feeder for the postgraduate Master of Architecture. Year one runs introductory design studio, design thinking and process, architectural history and theory, drawing and visualisation, plus digital tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Rhino, AutoCAD, Figma). From year two students choose a major focus (Architecture, Industrial Design, Interaction Design, Landscape Architecture or Planning) and carry studio units of six to nine contact hours per week. Studio runs in cohorts of 15 to 25 students with a practising-designer studio leader and weekly desk-crit sessions. Year three is portfolio building, with a final-year capstone project, a digital portfolio and contributions to the end-of-year exhibition. Sub-tropical Brisbane climate design, sustainability and Queensland-specific built environment issues feature in studio briefs throughout. Time outside class runs to 15 to 25 hours of self-directed making per studio unit.
Example first-year subjects
- Design Foundations
- Architecture Design Studio 1
- Design Thinking and Process
- Architecture and Design History
- Drawing and Visualisation
- Digital Design Communication
How you will be assessed
- Studio submissions: process journals, sketches, models, prototypes and final artefacts
- Portfolio reviews at mid-semester and end of semester
- Written design history essays of 1500 to 2500 words
- Group industry-brief responses with client presentation
- Final-year capstone studio project and exhibition piece
- Peer critique and tutorial participation
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
- Architectural assistant at Brisbane practices (Cox Architecture, Conrad Gargett, BVN, Bates Smart)
- UX or product designer at Brisbane tech and SaaS companies
- Junior industrial or product designer at design consultancies
- Junior planner at Brisbane City Council, Gold Coast City Council and consultancies
- Landscape architect graduate at AECOM, GHD and boutique studios
- Communications designer at Queensland Government and corporates
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
Architecture majors typically continue to the two-year Master of Architecture at UQ (accredited by the Board of Architects of Queensland and the Australian Institute of Architects), then complete two years of supervised practice for registration. Planning majors progress to the Master of Urban and Regional Planning (PIA accredited). Other postgraduate options include Master of Interaction Design, Master of Industrial Design and Master of Landscape Architecture. Honours pathways (year four) are available for high-distinction students and feed research masters and PhD. Industry-side, BDes graduates start in junior creative, product and built-environment roles in Brisbane and Gold Coast practices.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students who enjoy hands-on making and visual problem solving
- Those happy to defend their work in regular desk crits
- People with a strong existing portfolio or willingness to build one fast
- Students who can manage long self-directed studio hours
- Those willing to invest in their own laptops, software and modelling materials
It is probably not for you if
- Students who prefer exam-based assessment over portfolio work
- Those uncomfortable defending creative choices in front of peers
- Anyone unwilling to spend 20 plus hours weekly on independent making
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the The University of Queensland handbook and on QTAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/uq/bachelor-of-design.