Master of Design Futures

Master of Design Futures

POSTGRADUATE

Extend your practice as an experienced designer.

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Student type:
Learning mode:
Online
Entry score:

Not applicable

Duration:
Full-time 1.5 years
Part-time 3 years
Fees:

AU$44,640 (2025 annual)

Next intake:
February, July, October
Location:
Melbourne City
Learning mode:
Online
Entry score:

See admissions

Duration:
Full-time 1.5 years
Fees:

AU$44,640 (2025 annual)

Next intake:
February, July
Location:
Online

Overview

Many of the social, cultural, political and professional structures that support our communities have remained static and unchallenged for generations.

Our education, healthcare and primary production systems, our workplaces and our products need to keep up. We need design leaders, design strategists and design thinkers to dismantle these structures, and to dissect and solve some of our most complex problems.

Whether it’s rethinking the way remote communities access healthcare, creating a less risk-averse corporate culture or developing a more individualised education system, our world needs more innovative thinkers and communicators; people with the knowledge and skills to design our future.

Why study the Master of Design Futures at RMIT?

Strong industry links

Engage with local and global designers, lecturers and academics who have strong links to industry and the design community.

Flexible study options

Learn through flexible online studies and enjoy the freedom of being able to study anytime, anywhere.

Global network

Collaborate with peers and a close-knit network of design professionals across the globe, boosting employment opportunities.

The Master of Design Futures is an accelerated, graduate qualification for working professionals. It is suitable for both designers and non-designers who are looking to transition into new design practices and for those wanting to advance their careers in strategic leadership roles.

In this flexible and self-directed degree, you will benefit from experiential learning practices as you develop the strategic skills and tools required for leadership. Empathic research, journey mapping, rapid prototyping and storytelling are all tools that you will learn to use in your problem-solving process.

This degree will equip you to be a design leader by:

  • extending your practice in strategic, communication and service design
  • framing this new practice in the context of designing social, cultural and economic futures
  • introducing you to a close-knit global network of design professionals and different orders of design problems
  • helping you to identify and articulate contributions you make to organisations, as well as the value that design brings to business, government and society.
Joanne - Master of Design Futures

Why human centred design is a key future skill

From a corporate career to discovering human centred design, Joanne is seizing her future. Discover more about RMIT's Master of Design Futures. 

Please note that this master's degree is offered online and is available only for offshore international study at this time. It is not available for international students intending to study on a student visa. International students wishing to undertake this degree can apply.

Details

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As a working professional, you will enjoy the freedom and flexibility of online education.

You will take part in constructive and mutually beneficial conversations with your peers via online video meetings and in our chat channels.

Early on, you will nominate the topic of your own major research project. You will be encouraged to approach your chosen topic in an innovative and insightful way, utilising the skills and knowledge acquired through the degree.

You’ll use your design skills and tackle real-world problems throughout the year, responding to briefs framed by our network of industry partners.

Assessment involves presentations, reports, solo projects and group work.

RMIT University is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal learning with professional or vocational practice.

Our Industry Advisory Board, made up of Australian and international designers, is led by Adjunct Professor Dan Hill from the Future Cities Catapult. The board links our teaching with the latest directions in strategic design and design leadership. Dan is joined by Ewan McEwan, the Hugh D.T Williamson Senior Curator of the Department of Contemporary Design.

Global work, exchange and study experiences

RMIT offers a range of opportunities for our students to study abroad through global work, exchange and study experiences with over 165 partner universities worldwide.

The knowledge and skills you will acquire throughout this degree and how they can be applied in your career are described in the learning outcomes.

Course features

  • Accelerated, innovative curriculum spanning 1.5 years full-time, 3 years part-time
  • Delivered fully online
  • Orientation module consisting of commissioned keynote presentations by international leaders in the field
  • Introductory transition module of facilitated learning experiences designed to help working practitioners transition to study.

Three core subjects (24 credit points each):

  • Future Design Contexts: new modes of design practice, from social entrepreneurship to strategic design
  • Future Design Clients: techniques and skills for working with people in design
  • Future Design Leadership: how design works inside organisations.

Three electives (12 credit points each):

  • Design Strategy
  • Service Design
  • Choose one equivalent subject offered by any school or university.

Research project:

  • Research methods (12 credit points)
  • Major project as capstone subject (24 credit points).

The following course structure(s) is an example of what students are currently studying in this degree.

Course structure

Choose a plan below to find out more about the subjects you will study and the course structure.

Master of Design Futures
Program code: MC245
Title
Location
Duration
Plan code
CRICOS
Master of Design Futures
City Campus
1.5 Years Full-Time (3 semesters) 3 Years Part-Time (6 semesters)
MC245
Location
City Campus
Duration
1.5 Years Full-Time (3 semesters) 3 Years Part-Time (6 semesters)
Plan code
MC245
CRICOS
View plan

Note: International student visa holders can only study full-time.

Career

The Master of Design Futures has been developed to help build the skills required for senior management and leadership roles in design-conscious organisations.

These include traditional design businesses, as well as a growing number of public and private organisations that use human centred design to achieve their long and short-term goals.

Graduate careers include:

  • Design Leader
  • Director, Human Centred Design
  • Design Strategist
  • Service Design Lead
  • Chief Experience Officer

These careers exist under various job titles in many sectors including:

  • Corporate
  • Retail
  • Banking
  • Finance
  • Health
  • Government
  • Not-for-profit
  • Cultural organisations

Entry requirements and admissions

You need to satisfy all of the following entry requirements to be considered for entry into this degree.

You must have:

  • Successfully completed an Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent overseas qualification), AND five years of significant professional experience that demonstrates your knowledge of human-centred design and any experience or skills that would be valuable to this practice.

OR

  • At least eight years of significant professional experience that demonstrates your knowledge of human-centred design and any experience or skills that would be valuable to this practice.

Experience or skills may include leadership, innovation, creative practice, community engagement, change management, forward thinking, social innovation, strategic and service planning and implementation.

To have your professional experience considered you must include in your application a CV and a personal statement that details your experience.

You must include with your application a personal statement outlining: 

  • why you will benefit from undertaking the Master of Design Futures
  • how it aligns to your interests, aspirations and career ambitions
  • your understanding and experience of contemporary human-centred design.

There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.

A selection task is not required for entry into this qualification.

You must meet the University's minimum English language requirements to be eligible for a place in this program.

You need to satisfy all of the following requirements to be considered for entry into this degree.

You must have:

  • Successfully completed an Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent overseas qualification), AND five years of significant professional experience that demonstrates your knowledge of human-centred design and any experience or skills that would be valuable to this practice. OR
  • At least eight years of significant professional experience that demonstrates your knowledge of human-centred design and any experience or skills that would be valuable to this practice.

Experience or skills may include leadership, innovation, creative practice, community engagement, change management, forward thinking, social innovation, strategic and service planning and implementation.

To have your professional experience considered you must include in your application a CV and a personal statement that details your experience. 

You must include with your application a personal statement outlining: 

  • why you will benefit from undertaking the Master of Design Futures
  • how it aligns to your interests, aspirations and career ambitions
  • your understanding and experience of contemporary human-centred design.

There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.

A selection task is not required for entry into this qualification.

You must meet the University's minimum English language requirements to be eligible for a place in this program.

Pathways

Graduates from the Graduate Certificate in Service Design can continue their studies in this program, subject to the program’s entrance requirements and may receive up to 36 credit points of exemptions.

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.

Upon successful completion of this masters degree, you may be eligible to undertake further studies in related programs at RMIT University, including postgraduate research programs, subject to the program's entrance requirements.

Graduates from the Graduate Certificate in Service Design can continue their studies in this program, subject to the program’s entrance requirements.

Credit

Credit may reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant study experience.

When you are submitting an application, please indicate that you want to be considered for credit and provide detailed course syllabus (also known as course outline), outlining volume of learning, course content and weekly topics, learning objectives/outcomes, assessment types and their weightings, and reference to the learning resources such as prescribed textbooks and recommended readings.

Credit and exemptions will be assessed consistent with the principles of the RMIT Credit Policy.

Upon successful completion of this masters degree, you may be eligible to undertake further studies in related programs at RMIT University, including postgraduate research programs, subject to the program's entrance requirements.

Fees

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2025 indicative fees

  • Full-fee places: AU$44,640 (2025 annual fee)*.

Additional expenses

Annual fee adjustment*

This is an accelerated program. Amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum, and are based on an accelerated year of full-time study (144 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.

Defer your payment

This program is offered on a full-fee paying basis only. If you are offered a place, you will need to pay the full tuition costs of your program. However, eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) may apply to defer payment of some or all of their tuition fees via the Commonwealth Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme.

Paying your fees and applying for refunds

For information on how to pay your fees or how to apply for a refund, please see Paying your fees and applying for refunds.

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 2025 is $365.

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.

FEE-HELP loans

Eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) may apply to defer payment of some or all of their tuition fees via the Commonwealth Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme.

SA-HELP Loans

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.

How does a HELP loan work?

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.

You may be eligible to apply for income tax deductions for education expenses linked to your employment.

See the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for more information.

RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.

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Please note that this is an online program and is available only for offshore international study at this time. This program does not qualify you for a visa. 

In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:

You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.

Student services and amenities fee (SSAF)

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 2025 is $365. 

Find out more details about how fees are calculated and the expected annual increase.

Applying for refunds

Find information on how to apply for a refund as a continuing international student.

RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Looking for answers or more general information?

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.

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Acknowledgement of Country

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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aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

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.

More information