Bachelor of Design
at University of Tasmania, Tasmania.
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 University of Tasmania 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 | VTAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | VTAC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | VTAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official VTAC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
The UTAS Bachelor of Design is delivered by the School of Architecture and Design at the Inveresk creative arts precinct in Launceston, with strong links to the Tasmanian College of the Arts Hunter Street campus in Hobart. Year one is studio-led with foundation units in design thinking, visual literacy, drawing for designers, digital design tools (Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma) and contextual studies in design history. Students sample across the majors: Furniture Design (a UTAS specialty leveraging Tasmanian timbers), Interior Design, Visual Communication, Object Design and Sustainable Design. Year two confirms the major with intermediate studios, materials and prototyping units (including the well-known timber workshop at Inveresk), professional practice and design research methods. Year three caps the degree with capstone studios, the annual graduate show and a written research dissertation. Most students spend 20 plus hours per week in studio outside scheduled classes. Assessment is portfolio and process driven.
Example first-year subjects
- Design Thinking
- Visual Communication Studio
- Drawing for Designers
- Design History and Theory
- Materials and Making
- Digital Design Tools
How you will be assessed
- Studio submissions with process journals, work-in-progress reviews and final outcomes
- Portfolio reviews and end-of-semester exhibitions
- Written design history essays of 1500 to 3000 words
- Group critique and tutorial participation
- Final-year graduate exhibition piece and statement
- Professional portfolio and design CV
Placement and industry experience
Industry studios are embedded in the second and third year curriculum. UTAS partners with Tasmanian design and manufacturing employers including Designer Makers Tasmania, the Design Tasmania centre at Launceston, local furniture workshops (Jon Goulder, Simon Ancher Studio) and Hobart-based agencies. Final-year students exhibit at the annual Inveresk graduate show, providing direct exposure to Tasmanian and mainland employers. Optional Work Integrated Learning placements run as credit-bearing electives.
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 or UX designer (Hobart and Launceston creative agencies)
- Furniture designer or maker (Design Tasmania associated workshops)
- Studio assistant or junior interior designer
- In-house designer at a Tasmanian retailer or hospitality group
- Graphic designer at a Tasmanian local council or state agency
- Freelance designer with portfolio and grant funding
Graduate starting salary
$52,000 - $65,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
Graduates progress to the UTAS Master of Architecture (the professional pathway to AACA registration for those starting in the spatial stream), Master of Design (research) or Master of Furniture Design at Inveresk. Common postgraduate pivots include the Master of Teaching for design and technology teaching accreditation, Master of Information Technology (HCI/UX stream) and overseas masters in industrial design or service design. The Design Institute of Australia (DIA) accredits graduates for professional membership.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- You have a serious commitment to design practice and a developing portfolio
- You enjoy hands-on making with timber, materials and digital tools
- You can spend 20 plus hours weekly in studio time at Inveresk
- You are comfortable defending creative choices in regular crits
- You can read design theory alongside making
It is probably not for you if
- You treat creative work as a hobby rather than a discipline
- You prefer clearly defined briefs and structured deadlines
- You are uncomfortable with portfolio-based assessment and public exhibition
- You dislike physical workshop environments
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the University of Tasmania handbook and on VTAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/utas/bachelor-of-design.