Masters (Coursework)
This intensive program provides a pathway to advanced industry opportunities, whether you have a background in design and media practice or if you wish to enter these fields from other professional backgrounds.
This intensive program provides a pathway to advanced industry opportunities, whether you have a background in design and media practice or if you wish to enter these fields from other professional backgrounds. Our degree focuses on integrated and multidisciplinary studios that will underpin the development of professional skills, capabilities and confidence needed for leadership and to dynamically support innovation in freelance, project or design, media and technology business contexts.
Studio-based courses enable you to focus on a specific area of design and digital media practice or put together a suite of courses from across design, material practice and digital media.
Specialised Studio Practice
Our program allows you to focus your studio-based courses on a specific area of design and digital media or to put together a broad suite of studio courses. Design Electives include Communication Design, Design Leadership, Immersive Design, Interaction and UX Design as well as Materials and Object Design.
Contemporary Design Contexts
Alongside your studio-based courses, you'll establish a strong foundation in integrated technology, design thinking, experimentation, strategy and communication. You'll develop a deep and critical understanding of the role design can play in innovation, the economy and solving global challenges.
Depending on the level and nature of your prior qualifications, admission to the Master of Design has three entry points with different duration and units of credit (UOC) required for completion:
If you're applying without a Bachelor's degree you may be admitted into the Graduate Certificate of Design by the Program Director on the basis of a portfolio and relevant professional experience. If you complete the requirements for the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma with a record of achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average (65%) you're also eligible for admission into the Master's program with full credit for courses already completed.
Entry score calculator
If you're uncertain whether you have the equivalent to a UNSW credit average, you can use the UNSW postgraduate entry score calculator to convert and scale other types of grading schemes into a percentage relatable to UNSW entry requirements.
Portfolio Entry to Master of Design
Depending on the level and related nature of your prior design qualifications and experience, you may be required to submit a portfolio. Portfolio submissions must include the following:
A two page CV that details your experience in, or related to design including contact details for two referees.
Our suite of programs is designed to build a pathway that increases your capabilities and expands upon your hard-earned experience. We offer the following options to optimise your time while undertaking postgraduate study and provide alternative entry into further qualifications:
You can articulate into the Master of Design after completing the Graduate Certificate in Design with at least a credit average grade.
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:
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.
Depending on the level and nature of your prior qualifications, admission to the Master of Design has three entry points with different duration and units of credit (UOC) required for completion:
If you're applying without a Bachelor's degree you may be admitted into the Graduate Certificate of Design by the Program Director on the basis of a portfolio and relevant professional experience. If you complete the requirements for the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma with a record of achievement equivalent to a UNSW credit average (65%) you're also eligible for admission into the Master's program with full credit for courses already completed.
Entry score calculator
If you're uncertain whether you have the equivalent to a UNSW credit average, you can use the UNSW postgraduate entry score calculator to convert and scale other types of grading schemes into a percentage relatable to UNSW entry requirements.
Portfolio Entry to Master of Design
Depending on the level and related nature of your prior design qualifications and experience, you may be required to submit a portfolio. Portfolio submissions must include the following:
A two page CV that details your experience in, or related to design including contact details for two referees.
Understand what we expect from your portfolio and how it can help you secure a spot in your desired UNSW degree from our Postgraduate Portfolio Guide. Get useful tips on creating an outstanding portfolio.
Our suite of programs is designed to build a pathway that increases your capabilities and expands upon your hard-earned experience. We offer the following options to optimise your time while undertaking postgraduate study and provide alternative entry into further qualifications:
You can articulate into the Master of Design after completing the Graduate Certificate in Design with at least a credit average grade.
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:
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.
UNSW's Masters of Design graduates are highly sought after across a broad range of professional design disciplines in media and technology industries, global institutions, major corporations, creative and bespoke agencies.
Masters graduates secure employment in areas including:
Graphics, media and digital design
UX, responsive design and app development
Communications, branding and advertising
Design management and strategy
Social innovation and entrepreneurship
Data visualisation and animation
Creative consultancies, design and media studios, design-led businesses
Object, furniture and lighting design
Film, television, online and mobile production and post-production
Environmental, spatial, interior and architectural design practices
Design for retailing, industry events and expos
Design for exhibitions, galleries and museums
Costume, theatre and events design
Design teaching and academia
Jewellery and wearables design
Textile, fabric and fashion design