Course Overview

About This Course

The Bachelor of Graphic Communication Design gives you the skills to create visual solutions across platforms, media and contexts — from brand identities and infographics to packaging, websites and motion graphics.
You explore essential areas such as identity design and visual strategy, and interactive and digital design, while developing your own creative style and an understanding of the role design plays now and in the future.
First year builds a foundation with core courses introducing design thinking and key design principles, tools and practices, covering digital design principles and methods, design perspectives, drawing for art and design, and typography. Second year shifts to specialist courses in critical thinking and the creative process — including artificial intelligence as a tool for design — plus user experience design, information design, packaging design and advanced typography.
Your final year prepares you for industry with projects for real-world clients, design competitions and opportunities for industry placement, studying design for digital interaction, critical design practice, and graphic communication design professional practice.
The degree emphasises hands-on learning throughout, with collaborative projects and real-world briefs that build a professional portfolio before you graduate, and you master industry-standard design tools taught by experienced professionals.
The program totals 144 units — 138 units of core courses and 6 units of electives — and runs full time over three years across the Adelaide City and Magill campuses. It is part of a stackable set: you can exit with a diploma after one year or an associate degree after two.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Adelaide

Mawson Lakes Boulevard, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095

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Student Information

Fees & Entry by Student Type

Tuition Fee

Commonwealth Supported

Duration

3 years full-time

Intakes

February, July

Study Mode

Full time or part time

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Domestic students
Prerequisite: None
Assumed knowledge: None
SATAC code: ABP122
Entry scores:
• 2026 cut-offs — Year 12 (ATAR-based): 65
• 2027 guaranteed entry — Guaranteed entry score (ATAR-based): 70
• 2027 guaranteed entry — Guaranteed entry score (Grades-based): B, B, B
To be eligible, an applicant must have achieved at least one of the following minimum entry requirements and demonstrate they fulfil any prerequisite and essential criteria for admission. In cases where there are more eligible applicants than available places, admission will be competitive with ranks based on the entry criteria.
• Secondary education (Year 12) — Completion of a secondary education qualification equivalent to the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).
• Vocational Education and Training (VET) — Completion of an award from a registered training organisation (RTO) at Certificate IV (AQF level 4) or higher.
• Higher education study — Successful completion of at least 6 months full-time study (or equivalent part-time) in a higher education award program.
• Work and life experience — Completion of an Adelaide University approved enabling, pathway or bridging program; OR A competitive result in the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT); OR Three years experience in a related industry, or a portfolio of design work and written statement; OR Qualify for special entry
ATAR profile (2026 Semester 1 intake, ATAR-based offers):
• Highest rank to receive an offer — ATAR 95, selection rank 99.1
• Median rank to receive an offer — ATAR 81.1, selection rank 85.1
• Lowest rank to receive an offer — ATAR 63.3, selection rank 65.9

International students
Prerequisite: None
Assumed knowledge: None
Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum entry requirements:
• Secondary education (Year 12) — Completion of a secondary education qualification equivalent to the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).
• Vocational Education and Training (VET) — Completion of an award from a registered training organisation (RTO) at Certificate IV (AQF level 4) or higher.
• Higher education study — Successful completion of at least 6 months full-time study (or equivalent part-time) in a higher education award program.
Indicative academic entry requirements by country:
• Australia — ATAR: 70
• Canada — Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD): 65%
• China — Gaokao: 60%
• Denmark — Studentereksamen (stx: Upper Secondary School Diploma): 4 (Fair)
• France — French Baccalaureate: 11.0
• Global — International Baccalaureate: 25
• Hong Kong — Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE): 16
• India — CBSE and CISCE: 65
• India — State Board Examinations: 75
• Indonesia — SMA III: 75%
• Kenya — Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE): B+
• Malaysia — Matrikulasi: 2.67
• Malaysia — Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM): 2.67
• Malaysia — United Entrance Certificate (UEC): 30
• Norway — Upper Secondary School Certificate (Vitnemal fra den Videregaende Skole) / Vitnemal For Videregaende Opplaering: 3.2
• Philippines — High School Diploma (Grade 12) (Academic Track) K12: 86%
• Singapore — Singapore GCE Advanced Levels: 7
• South Korea — College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT): 300
• Sri Lanka — GCE A Levels: 8
• Sweden — Upper Secondary School Leaving Certificate: 13.0
• Taiwan — GSAT %: 60%
• Taiwan GSAT — Score out of 60: 34
• Thailand — Matayom 6: 3.20
• UK / Global — GCE Advanced Levels: 7
• USA / Global — Advanced Placement (AP): 7
• USA / Global — America College Test (ACT): 21
• USA / Global — Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT): 1100
• Vietnam — Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Trung Học Phổ Thông (Vietnamese Year 12): 7.8
English language requirements (achieved within the two years before admission):
• IELTS Overall 6.5
• IELTS Reading 6
• IELTS Listening 6
• IELTS Speaking 6
• IELTS Writing 6

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

You'll graduate well prepared for diverse roles across design consultancies, advertising agencies, tech companies, non-profits and corporate environments, in branding, multimedia production and digital marketing. Roles include:
• Graphic designer
• Web designer
• Packaging designer
• Brand strategist
• User Interface (UI) designer
• User Experience (UX) designer
• Art director
• Content creator

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units17 units

GRAP1000

Thinking By Design

GRAP1001

Drawing for Art and Design

GRAP1002

Design Perspectives

GRAP1004

Digital Design Principles and Methods

GRAP1003

Graphic and Communication Design Studio 1

GRAP1005

Typography Studio 1

GRAP1006

Graphic and Communication Design Studio 2

GRAP2000

Principles of UX Design

GRAP2006

Graphic Communication Design Studio 3

GRAP2003

Typography Studio 2: Advanced Design for Reading

GRAP2001

Critical Design Issues

GRAP2002

Graphic Communication Design Studio 4

GRAP3000

Integrated Studio A

GRAP3001

Graphic Communication Design Studio 5

GRAP3002

Design for Digital Interaction

GRAP3003

Critical Design Practice

GRAP3004

Graphic Communication Design Professional Practice

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Bachelor of Graphic Communication Design take to complete?

The Bachelor of Graphic Communication Design at Adelaide University has a duration of 156 weeks, as listed on the CRICOS registry.

Does this degree include any practical work experience?

Yes, the course includes a work component of 300 hours over 8 weeks, giving students hands-on industry experience as part of their studies.

Where is the Bachelor of Graphic Communication Design delivered?

The course is offered at two locations: Adelaide University's Adelaide City Campus and the Magill Campus, both in South Australia. Both locations are owned and operated by the provider.

What is the estimated total cost of the Bachelor of Graphic Communication Design for international students?

Adelaide University publishes an indicative annual tuition fee of AU$45,100 for international students commencing in 2027, which is AU$135,300 across the three-year program. With the AU$1,713 non-tuition fee, the estimated total course cost is AU$137,013.

Is this course eligible for extended Post-Study Work Rights?

This course may be eligible for extended Post-Study Work Rights as it is a bachelor degree (Skills Level 1 qualification) with a duration of 156 weeks (greater than 92 weeks), and its narrow Field of Education (Graphic and Design Studies) may align with the Skills Level 1 priority list. Eligibility is reviewed yearly and requires at least one active enrolment at the time of review.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

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Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

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