Program Overview

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Graduate Certificate in Design

Overview

This course will introduce you to contemporary design practice and research, providing a firm grounding towards design-led innovation and the application of design practice to social, economic and cultural life.

The course is an entry point to further postgraduate study in the Master of Design or to further practice as a designer, design leader or design strategist.

Upon successful completion of the graduate certificate, you may transfer to the graduate diploma. On successful completion of the graduate diploma, you may enrol in the master degree.

What you'll learn

• develop a foundational knowledge of their field of design practice articulated through the creation of new artefacts, services, products or processes
• apply specialised knowledge, theories, frameworks and practices relevant to design leadership to inform design-led innovation
• demonstrate a critical reflection on design theory, practice and history in a social and cultural context
• apply knowledge of design to the framing and interrogation of problems to develop appropriate design solutions
• professionally communicate concepts, proposals, ideas, and final designs to a target audience
• understand the complexity and global context of contemporary design practice
• apply emerging technologies effectively to design practice or process to communicate the value of design
• contextualise design practice and process for real-life application in industry and practice
• understand and apply the value of design to communities, enterprises and public

Admission criteria

Applicants are required to have either: work experience in Design or cognate areas, or a Bachelor degree in Design or cognate areas to enter this course. Applicants with work experience or a Bachelor degree in non-cognate areas, or other pathways, should contact the course Coordinator.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

• Writing: 6
• Speaking: 6
• Reading: 6
• Listening: 6
• Overall band score: 6.5

Fees and scholarships

Domestic fee paying postgraduate

• 2025 Fee year: $10,675*

*Based on a first-year full-time study load of 100 credits. The total cost will depend on your course options (i.e. units selected and time taken to complete).

Location

• Curtin Perth

How to apply

Please review information on how to apply for the campus of your choice.

• Curtin Perth

Please note that each campus has different application deadlines. View our application deadlines page for further information.

Duration

• This course is 6 months full-time or equivalent part-time study.

Credit

• A full-time study load usually consists of 200 credits (approximately eight units) per year, with 100 credits (approximately four units) in each semester.

CRICOS

• The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) Code indicates a registered program offered to international students studying in Australia on student visas.
• A

Deadlines for applying direct to Curtin

Select your preferred campus:

• Curtin Perth
• Intake | Application open | Application close
• Semester 1, 2025 | 1 May 2024 | Applications now closed!
• Semester 1, 2026 | Applications now open! | 3 February 2026

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) Specialisations

• Actuarial Financial Mathematics Specialisation
• Advertising Design Specialisation
• Animation and Game Design Specialisation
• Anthropology and Sociology Specialisation
• Asian Studies Specialisation
• Chinese Language Specialisation
• Construction Management Specialisation
• Creative Writing Specialisation
• Design Thinking and Visual Communication Specialisation
• Designing Fashion Specialisation
• Digital Design Specialisation
• Digital and Social Media Specialisation
• English and Cultural Studies Specialisation
• Environmental Planning Specialisation
• Fashion Design Specialisation
• Fine Art Specialisation
• Geography Specialisation
• Graphic Design Specialisation
• Graphics Specialisation
• History Specialisation
• Illustration Specialisation
• Interior Architecture – Applied Interior Design Specialisation
• Interior Architecture Specialisation
• International Development Specialisation
• Journalism Specialisation
• Landscape and Natural Resource Management Specialisation
• Photography Specialisation
• Principles of Planning Specialisation
• Professional Writing Specialisation
• Screen Production Specialisation
• Social Inclusion and Equity Specialisation
• Social Justice Specialisation
• Surveying and Spatial Sciences Specialisation
• Theatre Arts Specialisation
• Urban Design and Planning Specialisation
• Web Media Specialisation
• Web Presence Specialisation

Bachelor of Commerce Specialisations

• Actuarial Financial Mathematics Specialisation
• Advertising Design Specialisation
• Animation and Game Design Specialisation
• Anthropology and Sociology Specialisation
• Asian Studies Specialisation
• Chinese Language Specialisation
• Construction Management Specialisation
• Corporate Screen Production Specialisation
• Creative Writing Specialisation
• Design Thinking and Visual Communication Specialisation
• Designing Fashion Specialisation
• Digital Design Specialisation
• Digital and Social Media Specialisation
• English and Cultural Studies Specialisation
• Environmental Planning Specialisation
• Fashion Design Specialisation
• Fine Art Specialisation
• Geography Specialisation
• Graphic Design Specialisation
• Graphics Specialisation
• History Specialisation
• Illustration Specialisation
• Interior Architecture – Applied Interior Design Specialisation
• Interior Architecture Specialisation
• International Development Specialisation
• Journalism Specialisation
• Landscape and Natural Resource Management Specialisation
• Photography Specialisation
• Principles of Planning Specialisation
• Professional Writing Specialisation
• Screen Production Specialisation
• Social Inclusion and Equity Specialisation
• Social Justice Specialisation
• Surveying and Spatial Sciences Specialisation
• Theatre Arts Specialisation
• Urban Design and Planning Specialisation
• Web Media Specialisation
• Web Presence Specialisation

Bachelor of Innovation Specialisations

• Advertising Design Specialisation
• Animation and Game Design Specialisation
• Asian Studies Specialisation
• Biological Diversity Minor
• Climate Change Science Minor
• Construction Management Specialisation
• Corporate Screen Production Specialisation
• Creative Writing Specialisation
• Design Thinking and Visual Communication Specialisation
• Designing Fashion Specialisation
• Digital and Social Media Specialisation
• Environmental Management Minor
• Environmental Planning Specialisation
• Fashion Design Specialisation
• Fine Art Specialisation
• Food Science Minor
• Forensic Studies Minor
• Geophysics Minor
• Geospatial Technology Minor
• Go Global – Internship Specialisation 1
• Go Practice – Internship Specialisation 1
• Graphic Design Specialisation
• Graphics Specialisation
• Illustration Specialisation
• Indigenous Australian Cultural Studies Specialisation
• Interior Architecture – Applied Interior Design Specialisation
• Interior Architecture Specialisation
• International Development Specialisation
• Landscape Restoration Minor
• Landscape and Natural Resource Management Specialisation
• Mapping and Land Planning Minor
• Metallurgy Minor
• Mining Minor
• Optimisation Minor
• Photography Specialisation
• Principles of Planning Specialisation
• Screen Production Specialisation
• Social Inclusion and Equity Specialisation
• Social Justice Specialisation
• Strategic Studies Specialisation
• Theatre Arts Specialisation
• Urban Design and Planning Specialisation
• Web Media Specialisation
• Web Presence Specialisation