Graduate Certificate of Design

Torrens University Australia

CRICOS Institution Code 03389E

Duration

35 weeks

Delivery

Online, On campus, Blended

Intakes

14 Sep 2026

Course Overview

About This Course

The Graduate Certificate of Design, delivered by Torrens University Australia trading as Billy Blue College of Design, is for those ready to take design to the next level and challenge the status quo. The course sharpens skills in design and problem-solving through cutting-edge technology and design thinking, arming students with the tools to think critically and creatively about business and societal challenges. Core subjects include Professional Identity, Design Methods and Design Communication, plus an elective in UX Design or Project Management, making it a suitable entry point for those without a design background as well as a way for existing practitioners to level up. Learning outcomes include analysing current practices and trends in design as they relate to social, cultural, economic and environmental contexts, researching information and theoretical concepts to inform design outcomes, communicating concepts and processes to justify design decisions, and practising critical and creative thinking to define and solve problems through design projects.

Students receive a free Adobe Creative Cloud Pro licence for the duration of their studies and for six months after graduation. The course is delivered online, on campus and in blended mode over 6 months full time (1 year part time), from the Sydney campus and online, with an intake in September 2026.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Brisbane

90 Bowen Terrace, Fortitude Valley, Queensland (QLD) 4006

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Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Domestic students — Admission criteria:

Completion of a Bachelor degree or equivalent
Completion of any recognised Diploma or equivalent and a minimum of 5 years of work experience demonstrated by a resume

Check the domestic course fee schedule for the cost of your course. Eligible Australian students may choose to defer some, or all, of their tuition fees through FEE-HELP. Design, Industry and Alumni scholarships are available.

International students — Admission criteria:

Completion of a Bachelor degree or equivalent
Completion of any recognised Diploma or equivalent and a minimum of 5 years of work experience demonstrated by a resume
Academic IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0) or equivalent
Alternative entry requirements may be available, which may include assessment and approval of prior study or successful completion of a readiness assessment

Check the international course fee schedule for the cost of your course. Onshore international students requiring a student visa should choose campus-based / blended options. Course fees can be paid across three study periods, with each instalment due before the beginning of the academic stage census date. A range of financial scholarships is available to support international students.

If you have already completed a qualification or gained skills through life or work experience, you may be able to credit this against your degree through Recognition of Prior Learning or Course Credit transfer, with further study pathway options also available.

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

Graduate ready to break the rules in a successful career as an inter-disciplinary designer, where you'll apply the theory and practical skills you've learnt, flexing your advanced skills in digital software and design methodologies to solve complex business problems through design. Or take your troublemaking to a higher level with the Master of Design.

Potential career paths include:

Art Director — average salary $101,250-$173,612
Design Strategist — average salary $94,000-$138,654
Design Researcher — average salary $98,009-$132,560
User Experience Designer — average salary $110,821-$214,890
Service Designer — average salary $111,527-$178,905
Product Manager — average salary $115,000-$175,008

Salaries sourced from au.talent.com/salary (AUD, current as of April 2025).

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units18 units

DSG401

Professional Identity

Core

DSG402

Design Methods

Core

DSG403

Design Communication

Core

DSG407

User Research

Elective

DID602A

User Experience Design

Elective

DID603A

Multi-Platform Experience Design

Elective

MGT600

Management, People and Teams

Elective

PROJ6000

Principles of Project Management

Elective

FIN600

Financial Management

Elective

MIS501

Principles of Programming

Elective

MKT600

Marketing

Elective

MGT501

Business Environment

Elective

MGT607

Innovation Creativity and Entrepreneurship

Elective

MGMT6012

Management Perspectives

Elective

MGMT6000

Dynamic Leadership

Elective

MGMT6014

Organisational Best Practice

Elective

PROJ6004

Contracts and Procurement

Elective

PROJ6002

Project Planning and Budgeting

Elective

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there scholarships available for international students enrolling in the Graduate Certificate of Design?

Yes, Torrens University Australia offers a range of scholarships for international students, including the Motivational Scholarship (up to 25% off tuition), the PEPEA Scholarship (50% off), and pathway scholarships for students coming from partner institutions. Many of these are available for postgraduate courses across all faculties and are open to new students on a rolling intake basis.

Can I study the Graduate Certificate of Design online from outside Australia?

Torrens University Australia offers an Offshore Online Scholarship providing up to 30% off tuition fees for international students studying online and residing outside Australia, which may be applicable to eligible postgraduate courses including the Graduate Certificate of Design.

Is there a scholarship available if I am a Torrens University alumni wanting to study the Graduate Certificate of Design?

Yes, Torrens University Australia offers an Alumni Scholarship designed to support graduates who wish to continue their studies and pursue a further qualification, which could apply to enrolment in the Graduate Certificate of Design.

What is the Motivational Scholarship (Trimester 1 Accelerated) and can it apply to the Graduate Certificate of Design?

The Motivational Scholarship (Trimester 1 Accelerated) offers 30% off tuition fees for new students commencing in the Trimester 1 Accelerated intake in 2026. It is available across all faculties except BMIHMS, Nursing, and Higher Degrees by Research programs, and applies for the entire course duration, potentially including the Graduate Certificate of Design.

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!

Processing time: Offer letter issued within approximately 1 business days.

Course Snapshot

Typical Salary (AUD)

Entry-level (0-2 years)$50,000 – $68,000/yr

Early Career (2-5 years)$68,000 – $90,000/yr

Mid-Level (5-10 years)$90,000 – $115,000/yr

Career Paths

Graphic Designer
Visual Communication Designer
UX Designer (User Experience Designer)
UI Designer (User Interface Designer)
Interaction Designer

Key Skills

Design thinking and human-centred design methodologies
Visual communication and layout design
User experience (UX) research and design
Interaction design and UI prototyping
Branding, identity design, and brand strategy

Full course overview

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Honestly I was lost when I first started looking at Australian colleges. There are just too many options and every agent gives you different info. A friend told me about FindTheCourses and within a week I had shortlisted 3 programs that actually matched my budget and visa situation. My advisor Sanjay was super helpful — never felt like I was being pushed into anything.

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India

Master of Nursing · Griffith University

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Graduate Certificate of Design

About This Course

Available Locations

Entry Requirements

Where this takes you

Accreditation & Migration

Units of Competency

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Apply

Hear From the Students