Shape the way our world communicates. Learn how spaces and sectors can be utilised to effectively start important conversations.
In the first year of the program, you will gain a solid grounding in the techniques and theoretical foundations of graphic design. Through a series of projects and other learning activities. In the second and third years of the program, you will extend these foundations into specific areas of practice by undertaking Major and Minor pathways of specialist study in Illustration, Typography, Experience Design and Branding.
RMIT is ranked #1 in Australia and #26 in the world for courses in Art and Design*.
Choose a double major or focus on one area while adding minors that will help you thrive in the rapidly evolving field of graphic design.
With hands-on studio learning from the very beginning of your degree, you'll address real-world challenges and engage with creative design solutions.
*QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
I got to try different kinds of design: branding design, packaging, typography, screen design, even exhibition design. Learning all of them allowed me to discover my interests and specialise in areas I wanted to further explore.
- Fabio Hutagalung, Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) at RMIT
Develop creative and strategic visual storytelling skills through drawing and digital techniques to convey complex ideas in engaging ways, preparing them for roles as an illustrator, concept artist, visual storyteller, or editorial illustrator.
Explore the applications of lettering and typography to communicate effectively across various media, leading to careers as a book designer, publication designer for print and digital applications or, a specialist typographer in branding, placemaking and wayfinding teams.
Learn to craft user-centred experiences to enhance how people engage with products, places, and services, opening pathways to careers such as UX/UI designer, interaction designer, service designer, or user experience strategist.
Specialise in the strategies and visual techniques that shape a brand’s identity, ensuring cohesive communication across all platforms and touchpoints, leading to opportunities as a brand strategist, creative director, or visual identity designer.
Bachelor of Graphic Design students engage in a diverse array of projects that demonstrate their grasp of contemporary design principles and their ability to craft compelling visual narratives and effective communication strategies.
This course has a strong focus on studio learning, enabling you to learn by doing. All lecturers have worked in the design industry throughout their careers, and will offer you key insights into the contemporary design world.
Most of the work is individually assessed through submission of printed artefacts (books, logo, objects), digital submissions, class presentations, and client and peer review of work.
Assessment in this degree includes briefs, graphic design documents, industry-relevant reports, projects, class presentations, independent and group work, online discussion and activities, case studies, problem solving and analysis, industry-informed assessment, exams and more, depending on subject selection.
The types of classes you have will depend on the course you’re studying. Classes are offered in various formats designed to provide meaningful engagement with staff, industry and peers and provide for access and use of spaces where learning can be applied and active, including an array of specialised equipment.
Most RMIT courses do not include passive large-scale classes such as lectures, instead the content traditionally provided in lectures is made available online. This may be in the form of readings, videos or other on-demand learning materials. This content will also support the basis of interactive learning that takes place in on-campus classes.
The world is constantly changing, and there are universal skills that can help you adapt to the evolving nature of work and global engagement.
As part of your study experience at RMIT, we provide 6 future-focused RMIT Capabilities:
RMIT Capabilities are built into your course as well as some of our extracurricular experiences. They inform the design and delivery of your learning activities and assessments, so by the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to apply these capabilities in your life and work.
This course maintains strong industry links, and many opportunities exist for students to work with industry professionals.
You will work on projects with industry partners, including:
Students have the option to study overseas for a semester as an exchange or study abroad student. Past students have studied in North America and Europe. As design is an international language, your skills will equip you to work in the Australian design industry as well as overseas.
This course is also delivered as a top-up in Singapore in partnership with the Singapore Institute of Management.
RMIT offers a range of opportunities for our students to study abroad through overseas work, exchange and study experiences with over 165 partner universities worldwide.
Upon successful completion of the Bachelor of Graphic Design, you will be equipped with a broad and thorough understanding of graphic design principles and their role in shaping society. Your highly developed theoretical and practical knowledge will encompass a wide range of design skills, supporting your career or further study. It will allow you to approach problem-solving with confidence, apply innovative techniques, think critically, and take initiative in your creative and professional practice across a range of contexts. You will also be taught to work reflexively and ethically, demonstrate awareness of multiple knowledge systems, and follow inclusivity, diversity, equity, accessibility and sustainability best practice.
Through your studies in this course, you will build the skills required to work collaboratively within a variety of professional and cultural settings, developing the tools and judgement required to plan and execute projects to the highest standard.
In the first year of the program, you will gain a solid grounding in the techniques and theoretical foundations of graphic design. Through a series of projects and other learning activities, you will develop skills in creative visual expression, conceptual exploration and the principles of visual communication.
In the second and third years of the program, you will extend these foundations into specific areas of practice in the graphic design discipline when undertaking the Majors and Minors.
Software delivery is taught in association with the design process, rather than in isolation. On completion of the degree, your software knowledge will be of industry standard for print and digital media.
Major areas of study are:
You can also undertake minors in a range of areas including Languages, Gender Studies, Project Management and Business
Choose a plan below to find out more about the subjects you will study and the course structure.
RMIT graduates are sought after by industry, with a high employment rate upon graduation.
Students are taught strong business and strategy skills, and as such, graduates of this program are employed in design, strategy, communication and research teams across corporate, government and consultancy areas. Many graduates start and run their own design studios, often in emerging fields of design practice.
Graduates can expect to work within graphic design consultancies, multi-disciplined consultancies, publishing houses, new media/multimedia studios and advertising agencies as:
You must have successfully completed the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) (or equivalent qualification).
Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) units 3 and 4:
Entry to this program is competitive. Applicants are ranked and selected in order of merit based on the assessment of their selection task.
You must complete and submit the Graphic Design selection task^. Late submissions will not be considered.
If you are a VTAC applicant and have submitted the selection task before the deadline, you are still able to add this course to your preference list through your VTAC portal. Please refer to the VTAC website for the application dates to ensure you are considered for the relevant VTAC round.
Applicants who are applying via one of the RMIT pathways for this degree are exempted from the selection task requirements and can still apply for Semester 1 2026 after the selection task deadline. To specify that you are applying via one of the pathways, submit your response through the selection task.
If you are applying via VTAC, you must complete and submit the Graphic Design selection task by the following date.
| Applicant type | Register and submit the selection task by |
|---|---|
| All VTAC applicants | 21 November 2025 |
You must complete and submit your direct application. The link to submit your selection task will appear on the applicant dashboard after you have submitted your application. Please see the Apply page for information on eligibility to apply direct.
| Applicant type | Register and submit the selection task by |
|---|---|
| All direct applicants | 21 November 2025 |
Describe how your interests and experience will contribute to the RMIT Graphic Design community. Interest and experience can include any employment, voluntary work, etc (maximum 200 words).
Describe an aspect of your local or broader community where design could have a positive impact and how you think this could be achieved (maximum 200 words).
You must not use any Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to generate any written statements in your selection task submission.
Provide examples of your projects (up to a maximum of 4 pages in total) that best demonstrate your creative passion including both development work and finished work. If you have used Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to generate images in your folio, please describe where this occurs and what AI tools were used (maximum 100 words).
Provide a written statement (maximum 200 words) that covers the motivation and aims behind the project and how this project reflects your values and passions. If you are submitting multiple projects, the statement is for only one of the chosen projects. You must not use any Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to generate any written statements in your selection task submission.
Your folio should be collated in a single PDF (maximum size 4MB). The maximum pages allowed is 4.
If you would like to upload film or sound-based work, please ensure that file types are common (maximum file size 4MB; maximum duration 4 minutes).
Alternatively, you can provide a URL to your work. Please provide a username and/or password if applicable.
You must complete and submit the Graphic Design selection task^.
Applications are assessed in the order that they are received until the selection task date below, if places are still available.
For your best chance at admission into this program, you are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Applicants who are applying via one of the RMIT pathways for this degree are exempted from the selection task requirements. To specify that you are applying via one of the pathways, submit your response through the selection task.
The link to submit your selection task will appear on the applicant dashboard after you have submitted your application.
| Applicant type | Register and submit the selection task by |
|---|---|
| All applicants | TBC |
Selection task details and submission dates will be available in early 2026 for courses with a midyear intake.
Please select the highest level of education you have or will be completing in order to find out the selection criteria that applies to you, in addition to meeting the above entry requirements.
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary school) qualification.
The SNAP access scheme is designed to increase tertiary participation by giving priority access to RMIT diploma and degree programs to eligible applicants currently studying Year 12 at a SNAP partner school.
The RMIT Elite Athlete Program supports eligible elite and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence, allowing students to balance the demands of both their studies and their athletic responsibilities.
The Indigenous Access Program supports your application to RMIT through an informal interview process where you will receive help from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Additional consideration will be given if you have relevant life, work, education or training experience.
You must have successfully completed an Australian Certificate IV or above (or equivalent).
You may satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice and achieving a minimum overall score of 156.
Your STAT results are valid for two years prior to the commencement of study.
If you are applying to RMIT as an applicant with vocational education and training study, you may sit the STAT multiple choice if you:
You are still required to meet all other program prerequisites or equivalents.
Learn more about the STAT and STAT results.
The RMIT Elite Athlete Program supports eligible elite and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence, allowing students to balance the demands of both their studies and their athletic responsibilities.
The Indigenous Access Program supports your application to RMIT through an informal interview process where you will receive help from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Additional consideration will be given if you have relevant life, work, education or training experience.
You must have successfully completed at least two courses (subjects) in an Australian bachelor degree or four courses (subjects) in an Australian associate degree, or overseas equivalent.
You may satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice and achieving a minimum overall score of 156.
Your STAT results are valid for two years prior to the commencement of study.
If you are applying to RMIT as an applicant with higher education study, you may sit the STAT multiple choice if you:
You are still required to meet all other program prerequisites or equivalents.
Learn more about the STAT and STAT results.
The RMIT Elite Athlete Program supports eligible elite and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence, allowing students to balance the demands of both their studies and their athletic responsibilities.
The Indigenous Access Program supports your application to RMIT through an informal interview process where you will receive help from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Additional consideration will be given if you have relevant life, work, education or training experience.
Entry to this program is competitive. Applicants are ranked and selected in order of merit based on their academic achievement, e.g., Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) score (including any adjustment factors).
You must have successfully completed the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) (or equivalent qualification) and meet the stated prerequisites.
You may satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice.
You may satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice and achieving a minimum overall score of 156.
Your STAT results are valid for two years prior to the commencement of study.
If you are applying to RMIT as an applicant with work and life experience, you may sit the STAT multiple choice if you:
You are still required to meet all other program prerequisites or equivalents.
Learn more about the STAT and STAT results.
The RMIT Elite Athlete Program supports eligible elite and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence, allowing students to balance the demands of both their studies and their athletic responsibilities.
The Indigenous Access Program supports your application to RMIT through an informal interview process where you will receive help from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Additional consideration will be given if you have relevant life, work, education or training experience.
View the following videos for some practical application advice:
Here's some advice for preparing folios and pre-selection kits to help make the process easier.
Wondering how an art and design selection interview works? Here's everything you need to know.
The following information outlines the tasks you will be required to undertake during professional experience placement and on-campus learning activities.
The non-academic abilities listed are provided for your information only and are not entry requirements.
By understanding the types of activities you'll participate in, you can:
If there are any activities outlined which may be difficult for you to undertake, there is a range of adjustments to your study conditions available to enable and support you to demonstrate these abilities.
Please contact the Equitable Learning Services (ELS) team to discuss any adjustments you may require. To receive learning adjustments, you need to register with ELS.
If you are living with disability, long-term illness and/or a mental health condition, we can support you by making adjustments to activities in your program so that you can participate fully in your studies.
The University considers the wellbeing and safety of all students, staff and the community to be a priority in academic and professional experience placement settings.
View the ATAR profile and selection rank from students offered a place into this course wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in the most relevant recent intake period.
The student profile provides insight into the likely peer group for this course.
*ATAR refers to the lowest selection rank to which an offer was made (including consideration of any adjustments) for current and recent Year 12 applicants.
RMIT is committed to providing transparency to the admissions process. In line with this commitment, we provide you with information that will help in making informed choices about your undergraduate study options. Find out more about admission to RMIT.
A pathway is an alternative way to get into a course. RMIT's pathways can help you move through different levels of study to reach the qualification you're aiming for, even if you don't meet the requirements for your destination course.
This course has pathways available.
When you successfully complete this degree, you may be eligible for entry into an RMIT Honours or Postgraduate degree.
Credit, recognition of prior learning, professional experience and accreditation from a professional body can reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant experience.
Credit and exemptions will be assessed consistent with the principles of the RMIT Credit Policy.
In 2026, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$4,738 to AU$17,399.
Amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum, and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
You may be eligible to apply for a HECS-HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of up to the full amount of your student contribution fees. You may also be eligible to apply to defer payment of your SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme.
Learn more about fees for undergraduate study.
For information on how to pay your fees or how to apply for a refund, please see Paying your fees and applying for refunds.
If you are offered a Commonwealth supported place, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government.
Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set on an annual basis by the government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of your individual enrolled courses, not the overall program.
The Australian Government has introduced changes to university funding and student contribution fees under its Job-ready Graduates Package.
The fees in the table below apply to students who commence their program in 2026. Fees for continuing students are available at fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Each course (subject) falls into a band. The band determines the student contribution amount for the course.
Amounts listed in the table below are based on a standard, full-time study load (96 credit points per year) with all courses in the same band. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load or for enrolment in courses (subjects) from a combination of bands.
You can learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees for units from different bands at Fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount (per EFTSL) in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Education, Postgraduate Clinical Psychology, English, Mathematics, Statistics, Nursing, Indigenous and Foreign Languages, Agriculture | $4,738 per standard year $592 per standard (12 credit point) course |
| Allied Health, Other Health, Built Environment, Computing, Visual and Performing Arts, Professional Pathway Psychology, Professional Pathway Social Work, Engineering, Surveying, Environmental Studies, Science, Pathology | $9,537 per standard year $1,192 per standard (12 credit point) course |
| Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary Science | $13,558 per standard year $1,694 per standard (12 credit point) course |
| Law, Accounting, Administration, Economics, Commerce, Communications, Society and Culture | $17,399 per standard year $2,174 per standard (12 credit point) course |
On 1 January 2022, the Government implemented the Student Learning Entitlement (SLE).
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the HECS-HELP loan scheme, which allows eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) to defer payment of up to the full amount of their student contribution.
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
If your FEE-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to 100% of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying). The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.
The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2026 is $373.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your course, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from course to course.
RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.
Use our Frequently Asked Questions to learn about the application process and its equity access schemes, find out how to accept or defer your offer or request a leave of absence, discover information about your fees, refunds and scholarships, and explore the various student support and advocacy services, as well as how to find out more about your preferred program, and more.
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
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