Course Overview

About This Course

ACU's Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design blends studio-based fine art, graphic design and art history. Combining form and function, it allows you to embrace and expand your creative passions while learning industry-based insights and real-world skills, and you don't need an extensive portfolio to apply or face a gruelling audition process. With dedicated studios and workshops, you learn to harness your individual style and develop as a graphic designer and contemporary artist through real-world studio practice and industry placements in the creative industries. There is the opportunity to study art history overseas, at the Venice Biennale, in Paris or at ACU's Rome campus, developing local and international networks. Hands-on, project-based learning lets you exhibit work to the public in the ACU gallery space throughout your studies, culminating in a final-year graduate exhibition that showcases your artwork, catalogue design, events management and curating skills at a professional standard. You work across a broad range of mediums including drawing, painting, photography and sculpture, supported by educators who are art historians, designers and curators exhibiting nationally and internationally. The course totals 240 credit points: 120 credit points of visual arts units, a 40 credit point graphic design minor, 40 credit points from an Arts minor or Arts electives, 20 credit points of professional practice and internship units, and 20 credit points of Core Curriculum. You also complete a Professional Practice unit and a 105-hour industry internship volunteering across the creative industries. Graduates may be eligible for membership of professional bodies including the Australian Graphic Design Association and the National Association for the Visual Arts.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Melbourne

1200 Mair St, Ballarat, VIC 3350

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Student Information

Fees & Entry by Student Type

Tuition Fee

AUD $11,916

Duration

3 years full-time or equivalent part-time

Intakes

Semester 1 intake: Beginning March 2027 (Applications open August 2026) | Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Beginning August 2027 (Applications open April 2027)

Study Mode

Full-time or part-time

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Domestic students

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy, which includes meeting a minimum ATAR requirement.
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites at year 12, or equivalent:
- New South Wales: Assumed knowledge - 2 units of English (any) (Band 3). Recommended studies - Visual Arts for study in Visual Arts.
- Victoria: Prerequisite - Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or at least 20 in English other than EAL
Indicative ATAR: 58.50 (Melbourne), 58.50 (Strathfield)
Applicants with higher education study must still meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites. Applicants who have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above are assigned a new selection rank reflecting their study level, duration and grade point average, and prior study or relevant work experience may attract credit or recognition of prior learning, which can shorten the course.
ACU also assesses applicants on recent secondary education, prior VET study, and work and life experience.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2027 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.

International students

International applicants need the equivalent of an Australian Year 12 Certificate and must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy, including its English Language Proficiency requirements.
International students completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (either outside or in Australia), an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3 must apply for admission through a local Tertiary Admission Centre (TAC) and are assessed on their performance in those studies, that is, their ATAR or equivalent.
International applicants must also meet the same year 12 subject prerequisites listed above.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2027 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

Our graduates have pursued careers in creative industries including:
• Administrator
• Advertising
• Art conservation
• Art creative director
• Art gallery manager
• Art theory research assistant
• Art therapist (with further training)
• Art writer
• Book illustrator
• Curatorship
• Events coordinator
• Film-maker and editor
• Graphic designer
• Visual artist
• Teaching (with further study)
• Theatre and set designer
• Visual merchandiser

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units50 units

ARTS109

Drawing

ARTS112

Art in the Early 20th Century

ARTS226

Video / Installation

ARTS236

Ceramics/Multimedia

ARTS238

Photography

ARTS241

Painting

ARTS245

Printmaking

ARTS246

Sculptural Practice

ARTS247

Renaissance to Romanticism in Art and Architecture

ARTS332

Self-Directed Studio

ARTS237

Postmodern Art in the 20th Century

ARTS338

International Study Tour: Venice Biennale

ARTS341

Art in the 21st Century

ARTS340

Visual Arts and Design Major Project

GRDE

Graphic Design

ARCH

Archaeology

BUSD

Business Studies

COMM

Communication

CRIM

Criminology

DRAM

Drama

ECON

Economics

ENGL

English

ENHU

Environmental Humanities

ESTD

Education Studies

GEES

Geography, Environment and Society

HIST

History

MATH

Mathematics

MEMS

Medieval and Early Modern Studies

MHSY

Mental Health and Society

MUSC

Music

PHIL

Philosophy

PINR

Politics and International Relations

PSYC

Psychology

SOCI

Sociology

THSD

Theological Studies

VEAM

Veterans Arts Minor

YWRK

Youth Work

ARTS325

Professional Practice

ARTS330

Internship

PHCC102

Being Human

PHCC104

Ethics and the Good Life

PHCC106

Making Sense: Practical Reasoning for Life and Career

THCC100

Revolutionary Values: Christianity in History

THCC101

People Matter: Catholic Social Thought

TPCC100

Life and Meaning: Imagining Ourselves through Art and Cinema

PHCC201

The Origins of the Sciences and Contemporary Challenges

THCC200

Justice in the World: Catholic Social Ethics in Global Perspective

THCC202

Sacred Land: Australian Indigenous Spiritualities and Catholic Thought

TPCC201

Ecology and Justice

TPCC202

Conflict, Violence and Peace-making

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the total estimated cost of the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design at Australian Catholic University?

The estimated total course cost for the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design is AU$109,872, which covers tuition fees only — there are no listed non-tuition fees.

How long does the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design take to complete?

The course runs for 156 weeks in total and is delivered in English at either the Strathfield (NSW) or Melbourne (VIC) campus.

Does the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design include a work component?

Yes, the course includes a work component of 105 hours in total, structured as 21 hours per week over 5 weeks.

Where can I study the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design?

The course is available at two Australian Catholic University campuses: the Strathfield Campus in NSW and the Melbourne Campus in VIC, both owned and operated by the provider.

Is the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design eligible for Post-Study Work Rights?

This course may be eligible for extended Post-Study Work Rights as it is a Skills Level 1 qualification (Bachelor Degree), has a duration greater than 92 weeks, and falls under the Creative Arts field of education. 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

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

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

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