Bachelor of Design / Media
- Commencing Terms
- Term 1, 2 & 3
- Duration
- 4 Year(s)
- Delivery Mode
- Face-to-face (includes blended)
- Campus
-
Kensington
- Codes
- UAC code 421051
- Program code 3342
- CRICOS code 110676G
-
2025 Indicative first year full fee
- $12,500*
-
2025 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $51,000*
-
2025 Indicative first year full fee
- $45,500*
-
2025 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $199,000*
Fees
Fees
-
Work experience
-
World-leading teachers
-
Art & Design campus
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- How to apply
- Fees & Scholarships
Overview
The Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Media is a four-year double degree that shows you how to enlighten others with creative thinking and persuasive communications. Learn strategies to interest, inform, and inspire others while challenging conventions and designing new solutions to old problems.
Whether your interest is in graphics, textiles, visualisation or object design, creating spaces or user experiences, rethinking everyday products and services, or writing code to develop future focused design ideas – you'll see how design can influence the future.
Blend your creative insight with influential skills in public relations and advertising, communications and journalism, screen production, cinema studies, or media studies. You'll build real industry knowledge, learning from experts in practical and theoretical classes. And with solid opportunities for work experiences, you’ll unlock the expertise needed to establish a career far beyond your first job.
Key features
World-leading researchers and practitioners
Learn from teachers who are also world-leading researchers, breaking new ground in understanding how media work, from artificial intelligence to activism, to the politics of race and gender. Have your skills honed by experienced practitioners, many of whom still make films, grow brands, and write for leading publications. Glean deep insights from industry leaders who appear as guest speakers in the classroom.
Personalised skillset
Build a unique combination of skills in distinct specialisations that define your skills and interests. Choose from three design specialisations, and five media specialisations that include the freedom to explore topics outside your main study area. See ‘What will I study’ for more information.
Real work experience
What happens when you combine professional development, specialist facilities and industry-standard technologies with experienced, well-connected educators? Your career begins before you even graduate. This degree includes industry experiences such as internships, work placements, studio projects and industry networking opportunities.
World-class technologies
Bring your ideas to life in state-of-the-art facilities with support from our technicians. Discover the Design Futures Lab, The Making Centre, fully equipped creative workshops, and digital studios across our Kensington and Paddington campuses. You’ll also have an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription throughout your studies.
Why study this degree at UNSW?
- State-of-the-art production facilities
- A diverse, creative, and inclusive community
- Access close ties to the media industry
- Connect with a global alumni network
Want to see more from UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture?
Entry requirements
-
- The 2024 Lowest Selection Rank (LSR) is the adjusted rank (ATAR plus adjustment factors) you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2024.
- The 2024 A levels score is based on four Advanced Level (A2) subjects. Entry scores are calculated from the best three or four A2 subjects (excluding repeated subjects) using the following values: A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1. At most one Applied A Level subject may be included in the best four subjects used to calculate the aggregate.
- The 2024 IB Diploma is an indication of the IB you would have needed to gain entry to this degree in 2024. It is to be used as a guide only.
- The 2024 Lowest ATAR is the lowest ATAR (before adjustment factors were applied) to which an offer was made. Where <5 is listed, this indicates that less than 5 ATAR-based offers were made and so the score has not been published. N/A indicates no offers were made on the basis of ATAR.
-
At UNSW, we are committed to ensuring prospective students have all the information they need in order to make informed decisions about their study options.
To assist you in gaining a better understanding of how Admissions works at UNSW, we have provided you with a summary of ATAR offers and the student profile.
We hope this information will help you identify the degree that is right for you.
Portfolio Entry
At UNSW ADA, you will find the freedom and support to design the future you want. An ADA Portfolio Entry submission will demonstrate your passions alongside your best work, to boost your chances of admission to a bachelor’s degree of your choice. For more information and to see specific guidelines for portfolio submissions visit UNSW Portfolio Entry.
Assumed knowledge
None
Adjustment Factors
We offer a range of adjustment factor schemes that reward students for academic performance and extra-curricular achievements. These schemes also take into account a range of personal and educational disadvantages that may have affected your studies.
HSC Plus
This scheme rewards students who perform well in Year 12 subjects that are relevant to their preferred UNSW degree. You may be awarded up to five points.
Elite Athletes, Performers and Leaders (EAPL)
This program recognises achievements in the areas of sport, academia, leadership and music at an elite level. You may be eligible for up to five points.
Educational Access Scheme (EAS)
Factors such as illness, financial hardship, language difficulties or attending a particular school can mean you don't always get the best possible marks in Years 11 and 12. If one of these situations applies to you, submit an application for the Educational Access Scheme (EAS) via UAC. Eligible students can receive between 1 and 10 points towards their chosen UNSW degree.
Admission pathways
Your ATAR is not the only measure of your potential to succeed, which is why we offer a range of pathways into university. Explore your options below and get in touch with our future student advisors to discuss your path to UNSW.
Gateway Admission Pathway
This scheme is open to students in Years 11 and 12 who attend Gateway schools. It significantly adjusts the ATAR requirements for your preferred UNSW degree and provides you with an early conditional offer to UNSW.
Entry programs for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
We offer entry programs for Indigenous Australians, including the Indigenous Preparatory Programs and the Indigenous Admission Scheme (IAS). The entry pathway program you apply for will depend on the degree you want to study.
UNSW Prep Program
If you want to study at UNSW but faced challenges in year 11 and 12 that make you eligible for the UNSW ACCESS Scheme, but you don't meet the cut-off for degree entry, consider UNSW Prep.
UNSW Prep is a one-year (18 months for Engineering) pathway to a UNSW degree place. You'll study subjects that allow you to develop your academic skills, including maths skills if needed, so that you can achieve your best results. You also study degree level courses from week one, to give you a realistic introduction to university level study. If you do well in these courses you can earn course credit towards your degree.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
We do not accept secondary qualifications from this country. We may accept tertiary study results, please contact us for more information.
Please contact us for direct entry requirements.
Admission pathways
If you do not meet the requirements for direct entry into your chosen degree, you may be eligible for a pathway program with UNSW College. UNSW College provides alternative entry options using university-approved content so that you can start your UNSW journey with confidence.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
Check the specific English language requirements for this program
Study areas
Combine your interests for a unique career connected to your talents and passions. In a double degree, you focus on two areas of expertise to graduate with more knowledge, skills, and career options. Despite the name, it's not double the workload. A double degree combines the core courses from two programs. You'll graduate with two certificates sooner than studying two consecutive degrees.
Choose one specialisation each from design and media. The media specialisation includes opportunities to explore compelling aspects of the other specialisations through elective courses. See ‘Program structure’ for more information.
-
Designers place people at the heart of their work. Understanding how a person might interact with an innovative app, hold a ceramic mug, or experience an exhibit takes a combination of skills drawn from different methodologies. Designers integrate different creative skillsets and critical thinking to produce insightful solutions.
To meet NESA accreditation as a visual arts teacher, you’ll study graphic design along with your choice of either object design, experience design, interaction (UX) design, or 3D visualisation.
-
You can choose from three design specialisations including:
- Integrated design – focus on two of the following:
- Graphic design
- Object design
- Textile design
- Experience design
- Interaction (UX) design
- 3D visualisation
- Industrial design
- Computational design
- Integrated design – focus on two of the following:
-
Experience designers transform spaces for people. They design memorable and meaningful environments with the intention of creating connection. Be it social connection or the connection of audiences to content, experience designers draw on human centred design principles to develop unique spatial outcomes, understand and integrate digital technologies and craft atmospheres that move people. With application across a wide range of industries, the design of activations, exhibitions and events relies on critical engagement with cultural contexts, neuroscience, materials and modelling, with a sprinkling of spectacle.
In this program, you'll experiment with a diverse range of design methods that contribute to a practice that ideates and creates evocative environments that surprise, delight and, ultimately, engage participants.
-
Graphic design uses the skills of typography, image making, colour and design systems to develop effective and inspiring visual communications. Apply creative thinking to brand identities, innovative packaging, visually striking publications, and graphic design in 3D spaces. You’ll develop strong portfolio projects that demonstrate your voice as an emerging designer.
See examples of graduate graphic design works in the A&D Annual.
-
Explore fascinating emerging technologies – think voice assistants, robots, and mixed reality (for example, animated Instagram or Snapchat filters). Using these emerging technologies, you'll create a project demonstrating your understanding of human capabilities and user needs. But not before learning user experience (UX) fundamentals in web and mobile.
Gain industry-standard skills to meet people's needs with designing apps, software, products, websites, environments, and services. You'll develop practical and professional design processes through case studies and projects from concept to testing.
-
Object design works with different materials to create tangible and meaningful items – including but not limited to jewellery, furniture design, and ceramic homewares.
Fundamental hands-on classes explore materials before moving on to digital prototypes with 3D printing and cast designs. You’ll also understand different contexts and discover how object design gives people opportunities for social and meaningful interactions.
-
Discover the world of 3D technologies including real-time (or gaming) systems and virtual environments. Understand how to create objects and environments before creating a sophisticated and explorable 3D world. Learn through live, hands-on experiences of key technologies and understand how to conceptualise through design thinking. Build the theoretical knowledge for high-level art direction while developing professional skills in 3D modelling, CGI lighting and rendering.
-
Experiment with creative styles, ideas and cultural influences to develop your unique style in fashion design. You’ll balance theory with practical skill-building, learning the full process of garment creation from design to prototyping. This program has a strong focus on sustainable fashion and its role within the circular economy. It encourages students to examine the contemporary fashion industry and forge an environmentally and socially responsible way forward. For example, Natasha Rodriguez-Hunter’s project ‘Bespoke Footwear’ explores the potential for upcycling discarded fast fashion as tailor-made footwear to reduce textile wastage.
-
Program structure
The Bachelor of Design / Media consists of 32 individual courses, which are 16 core courses from each single degree. As a full-time student, you’ll typically study eight courses a year. You can study part-time, and also take advantage of a flexible study load. For detailed information on the full program structure, visit the handbook.
-
-
Whether you want to study more or fewer courses in any term, the choice is yours. Our flexible academic calendar means you can graduate faster or take your time to study abroad, complete an additional internship, or fit your study around other commitments.
-
Broaden your horizons and study overseas for a term. Choose an international exchange at one of UNSW’s 300 partners in more than 30 countries. UNSW encourages a global mindset, which means overseas study can be credited toward your degree with us, and you may also be eligible for financial support to help cover the costs of studying internationally.
-
Whether you have a learning difficulty or could benefit from extra guidance, you’ll also find free UNSW academic skills support (such as toolkits, tutors, and workshops) to assist your studies. UNSW Arts, Design and Architecture students and academics are supportive, diverse, and inclusive – it’s easy to ask for advice.
-
Future careers
More than just a foot in the door or a pathway towards landing your first job, this degree will set you up with the professional and creative skills you’ll need to thrive throughout your career. Turn your time with us into a future that celebrates your passion and purpose.
-
- Advertising strategist
- Advertising account executive
- Communications officer
- Content producer
- Community engagement adviser
- Digital communications coordinator
- Government media adviser
- Journalist or feature writer
- Internal communications specialist
- Marketing executive
- Media account executive
- Media relations adviser
- Public relations consultant
- Social media manager
- Video presenter
-
- Animator
- App developer
- Advertising creative
- Cinematographer
- Digital editor
- Digital producer
- Filmmaker
- Game designer
- Interactive media designer
- Screenwriter
- Sound producer
- Television producer
- Video producer
- Website content manager
-
- Graphic designer, visual communicator, or illustrator
- Interaction and user experience (UX) designer
- Exhibition, experience, and event designer
- Jewellery, wearable, and textile designer
- Furniture, object, ceramics, or lighting designer
- Virtual reality 3D visualiser or digital media producer
- Design instructor or design strategist
- Film, television or mobile producer
- Packaging designer
- Colours, materials and finishes (CMF) designer
- Consumer electronics, home appliance or medical device designer
- Automotive designer
-
- Architectural and urban design specialist
- Software solutions developer
- Smart cities consultant
- Urban data analyst
- Design technology manager
- Digital fabrication and smart-manufacturing specialist
- Gaming environment developer
- Building information model implementer
-
- Consumer product designer
- Design strategist
- Digital multimedia design
- Furniture designer
- Packaging designer
- Product branding and marketing
- Product design consultant
- Not-for-profit product designer
- Retail industry product designer
- Transport industry product designer
- Service designer
- Scientific industry product designer
Explore your career options
Many career options lie ahead in your future. If you don’t know what you want to do yet, it’s ok. University is the time to test your ideas, discover potential career paths, or develop the knowledge to create a job that doesn’t even exist yet.
Degrees from UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture include opportunities to experiment with professional roles in internships and work placements. You’ll build contacts among your classmates and lecturers, and you’ll be able to reach out to a global network of UNSW graduates.
How to apply
Applications for undergraduate study from domestic students (Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, Australian permanent humanitarian visa holders and New Zealand citizens) are processed by the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).
Visit the Apply section of the UAC website and you can nominate up to five degrees in order of preference, with the first being your most desired degree and university.
On-time applications for admission usually close at the end of September each year for Term 1 admission. Late applications can be submitted, but a late fee will apply. For study starting in Term 1, the majority of offers are made in December and January. Visit the UAC website for key dates for admission outside of Term 1.
Ready to apply?
For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.
*If you are an international student studying an Australian qualification, go to the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) for application and UAC key dates. Note: If you are under 18 years of age, you need to make special arrangements. Read more.
Ready to apply?
Fees & Scholarships
Commonwealth Supported Place: Student Contribution Band 4
*The student contribution for a Commonwealth Supported Place is an indication only of the amount payable in Year 1 based on a standard full-time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). The actual student contribution you will be liable for depends on your individual program of study and the calendar year in which you enrol. Actual fees are calculated upon enrolment. Student contribution amounts are subject to annual review by the university and may increase each year during your studies (subject to caps determined by the Australian Government), effective at the start of each calendar year.
The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only - other fees and charges are not included.
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only, other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.
Scholarships
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
QS World University Rankings, 2025.
AFR Top 100 Future leaders Award.
#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders.
The student community collectively inspire and encourage my individual career goals.
