Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Bachelor of International Studies

Admissions information

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• Course description arrow_forward_ios

  This course is designed for aspiring visual communication professionals seeking to master the interplay between design, culture, and media. Choose this course to gain a comprehensive understanding of visual communication, enhanced by the international perspective critical in today's global design landscape.

  What sets this course apart is its combination with International Studies, broadening your practical skills and cultural awareness. You'll learn a new language and immerse yourself in a different culture, giving you a competitive edge in the global job market.

  You will develop a deep understanding of visual history, practices, and technologies, and acquire skills in digital media, interaction design, and more. The curriculum is practice-oriented, with a focus on studio work and interdisciplinary subjects like typography and image-making.

  Learning is hands-on, with a strong emphasis on real-world applications. You'll engage in collaborative projects, interact with industry clients, and gain valuable work experience. The teaching approach is innovative, encouraging you to experiment and produce socially responsive work.

  By the end of the course, you'll be well-equipped to navigate the complexities of the visual communication field and apply your skills to diverse professional challenges. Your international experience will further enhance your employability, preparing you for a successful career in a dynamic industry.

  Students immerse themselves in a practice-oriented, studio-based culture, studying a range of interdisciplinary subjects encompassing typography, interaction and image-making. Taught by experts in visual communication, students learn everything from the history and theory of visual culture and technology to producing cutting edge creative work in digital media, interaction design, photography, editorial design, information visualisation, web design, wayfinding, mobile apps, code, machine learning, motion graphics, the internet of things and 3D technologies such as VR/AR and 3D printing. Exploring both traditional and experimental research methods students learn to produce conceptually rigorous and socially responsive work. They graduate with the capacity to work across and between disciplines, to articulate design practices and processes, and to apply them to complex problems. Graduates develop industry experience through the degree's emphasis on addressing real-world issues in collaborative and team-based work.

  The international experience enhances career options, making students more marketable to prospective employers.

• Important dates arrow_forward_ios

  Find out more about application dates relating to this course

• Year 12 adjustment factor scheme arrow_forward_ios

  If you perform highly in your Year 12 subjects, your selection rank may be boosted by the Year 12 subject scheme.

  The scheme, which is automatically applied, awards selection rank adjustments to your application based on your marks in subjects that are relevant to the courses you have applied to.

• ATAR and selection ranks arrow_forward_ios

  Your Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a score between 0.00 and 99.95. It shows you how you rank compared to all the students in your year group in New South Wales. A selection rank combines your ATAR with any other adjustment points that make up your overall university entrance score. Your selection rank may differ from university to university, depending on the adjustment points granted to you at each institution.

• Scholarships and prizes arrow_forward_ios

  Discover our scholarships for undergraduate, postgraduate and research students. Our scholarships celebrate diversity and academic excellence. Use the scholarship search tool to find the right scholarship for you.

  Scholarships for domestic students

  Scholarships for international students

• Transdisciplinary Electives at UTS arrow_forward_ios

  Employers tell us the skills our graduates acquire from undertaking a Transdisciplinary Elective sets them apart from the crowd. That’s why we have embedded this program into every undergraduate degree.

  All you need to do is choose the Elective that inspires you the most.

  Transdisciplinary Electives integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines, allowing you to approach complex problems from a range of perspectives.

  By combining methods and insights from various disciplines, transdisciplinary learning often leads to breakthrough ideas and creative innovations that may not be possible within the confines of a single discipline.

  If you find yourself rapt by the world of innovation – you can pair your core degree with a Diploma in Innovation, graduating with two qualifications in the same timeframe. 

  In both instances, you’ll work on a real-world challenge presented by an industry partner organisation – partners who often create career pathways for our graduates.

  * Excludes students concurrently enrolled in the Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation.

• Course duration arrow_forward_ios

  The course is offered on a five-year, full-time basis. Students may study this program part time after consultation with the program director.

• Admission requirements arrow_forward_ios

  Applicants must have completed an Australian Year 12 qualification, Australian Qualifications Framework Diploma, or equivalent Australian or overseas qualification at the required level.

  UTS: Design, Architecture and Building may consider applications based on the results of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) if students lack academic qualifications but have extensive professional experience. The STAT is conducted through Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).

  Students must refer to the inherent requirements for all degrees offered by Design and Architecture in the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building and for the Bachelor of International Studies offered by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

  Non-current school leavers are selected on the basis of academic merit or on the basis of portfolio and interview rank.

  Students must refer to the portfolio eligibility for the faculty’s consideration in order to get a place.

  Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

• Domestic course fees arrow_forward_ios

  2025 Indicative tuition fees for government-supported domestic students

  All offers for domestic undergraduate students are for Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP).This means the Australian Government contributes to your education costs, and you pay the remaining tuition fees, known as the student contribution. If eligible, you can defer payment through HECS-HELP, or you can choose to pay your fees upfront each session.  

  2025 Tuition Fees

  Indicative first-year tuition fee:  $16,992.00

  Indicative total tuition fee:  $89,494.29 

  Additional Costs 

  Your tuition fees do not include: 

  • The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), which supports student services and activities. If eligible, you can defer this fee using SA-HELP.
  • Textbooks, materials, and other course-related costs.
  • Any applicable payment processing fees (e.g., credit card surcharges).

  Important Information 

  • Fees are shown in Australian Dollars (AUD).
  • The indicative tuition fees above are based on full-time study (1 year = 48 credit points).
  • Your actual fees depend on the year you enrol, your study load and the subjects you choose. Some subjects fall into different student contribution bands.
  • You can calculate your student contribution based on the amounts listed in the student contribution table. 

• Inherent requirements arrow_forward_ios

  Inherent requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential for successfully completing a course at UTS. You can find the inherent requirements for your course via the inherent requirements directory.

• Assumed knowledge arrow_forward_ios

  There are no prior language requirements for the international studies program. During their first year of study students complete a language survey to ensure they commence their language and culture study at the appropriate level.