C09061v2 Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Visual Communication
Award(s): Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Visual Communication (BDesign(Hons))CRICOS code: 077340K
Commonwealth supported place?: Yes
Load credit points: 48
Course EFTSL: 1
Location: City campus
Overview
Course aims
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course program
Other information
Overview
In the Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Visual Communication students learn how to create visual messages and experiences which communicate information and ideas across many mediums.
The course allows students to experiment with both traditional and emerging design practices, and develop a visual language that allows them to work across digital, physical and analogue media. This visual language is broad, encompassing typography, interaction and image-making.
This degree prepares students for the evolving nature of design by engaging with the social, technological and ecological context of design practice.
Graduates are industry-ready, thanks to their ability to articulate design practices and process, the degree's internship program, and the curriculum's emphasis on real-world problem-solving.
Course aims
The degree has a hands-on, studio-based culture that is supported by a strong theoretical component. Academics encourage both traditional and experimental research methods to help students make work that is conceptually rigorous and socially responsive.
Offering a variety of interdisciplinary subjects, graduates are able to move into their professional lives with the diverse knowledge and skills required to work collaboratively and across disciplines. All students work with industry clients on real-world projects and undertake work experience during their degree.
Career options
There are many career options in a range of fields for graduates, such as digital media, publication designer, graphic designer, interactive media designer, web designer, branding specialist, art director, motion graphics designer, advertising, illustrator, and exhibition designer. Graduates are also equipped with the skills to become writers, researchers, editors and critics, and to apply design thinking in a non-design industry business.
Course intended learning outcomes
| A.1 | Apply an advanced understanding of professional and scholarly ethics |
| A.2 | Recognise adaptability as a key skill in design practice |
| C.1 | Present critical arguments about how research informs and drives design practice |
| I.1 | Challenge design conventions through scholarly research and investigative practice |
| P.1 | Apply research-led approaches to design practice |
| P.2 | Develop advanced knowledge and skills through self-directed reflective practice |
| R.1 | Independently employ a range of qualitative and practice-led research approaches that are relevant to professional design practice and/or postgraduate study |
| R.2 | Document and articulate the research process to demonstrate rigour and critical thinking |
Admission requirements
Applicants must have completed a UTS recognised bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline at an appropriate level.
UTS students: criteria for a guaranteed offer
Applicants with a UTS Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication who have completed the course within the last three years and attained an overall minimum WAM of 72.5 or above will be made a threshold offer.
UTS students: course completed within the last three years
Applicants with a UTS Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication who have completed the course within the last three years and attained an overall WAM between 65 and 72.49 must provide the following additional material in order to be considered for a place in the Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Visual Communication:
- a digital portfolio of 10 x A4 landscape PDFs that display digital files, scans and/or photographs of original design work done by the applicant (max. size 5MB)
- a 200–300 word statement addressing the applicant's reasons for undertaking honours level study in design at UTS and the specific learning that they are seeking given their intended career direction on completion of the degree
- a one-page CV in PDF format that clearly articulates the applicant's design or related experience.
UTS students: course completed four or more years ago
Applicants with a UTS Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication who have completed the course four or more years ago and have demonstrated relevant work experience within the visual communication industry must provide the following additional material in order to be considered for a place in the Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Visual Communication:
- a digital portfolio of 10 x A4 landscape PDFs that display digital files, scans and/or photographs of original design work done by the applicant (max. size 5MB)
- a 200–300 word statement addressing the applicant's reasons for undertaking honours level study in design at UTS and the specific learning that they are seeking given their intended career direction on completion of the degree
- a one-page CV in PDF format that clearly articulates the applicant's design or related experience, accompanied by supporting reference(s) from related industry employer(s)
- a copy of their academic transcript.
Non-UTS applicants
Applicants with a degree which is equivalent to the UTS Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication and who have attained an overall minimum WAM of 65 or above must provide the following additional material in order to be considered for a place in the Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Visual Communication:
- a digital portfolio of 10 x A4 landscape PDFs that display digital files, scans and/or photographs of original design work done by the applicant (max. size 5MB)
- a 200–300 word statement addressing the applicant's reasons for undertaking honours level study in design at UTS and the specific learning that they are seeking given their intended career direction on completion of the degree
- a one-page CV in PDF format that clearly articulates the applicant's design or related experience
- a verified copy of the candidate's previous academic transcript.
Students must refer to the inherent requirements for all degrees offered by Design and Architecture in the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: Academic IELTS: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL: paper based: 550-583 overall with TWE of 4.5, internet based: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64; or CAE: 176-184.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International students
International applicants must also attend an interview (via Skype) with the program director. Digital copies of both the academic transcripts and portfolio must be sent to the program director prior to the interview.
Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
Course duration and attendance
The course is offered on a one-year, full-time basis. Students may study this program part time after consultation with the program director.
Course structure
Students must complete 48 credit points of honours subjects including a 24-credit-point major project.
Course completion requirements
| STM91408 Visual Communication stream (Honours) | 48cp | |
| Total | 48cp |
Course program
The typical course program is shown below.
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 87008 Critical Practice: Theorisation | 12cp | |
| 87933 Critical Practice: Experimentation | 12cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 87900 Critical Practice: Project | 24cp | |
Other information
Further information is available from the UTS Student Centre on:
telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887)
or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS
UTS: Design, Architecture and Building