Graduate Certificate of Design
Postgraduate
TUA-DES-GCE 2025Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Get ready to make your mark on creative practice
Explore how creativity, project management and business systems all play their part in design. You’ll broaden your career options as you gain insight from industry experts. Learn to solve complex design tasks with enhanced skills.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 6 months full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 4
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Graduate Certificate of Design
About this degree
As one of Australia’s fastest growing universities, we take a progressive approach to learning. Our courses are co-designed, developed and delivered with industry, giving you confidence that you’ll graduate job-ready.
During this course you will:
- Practice critical and creative thinking to define and solve problems through design projects.
- Analyse current practices and trends in design practice as they relate to social, cultural, economic and environmental contexts.
- Research information and theoretical concepts to inform the development of design outcomes and solutions through analysis and synthesis.
- Communicate concepts and processes to justify your design outcomes or solutions.
- Demonstrate informed judgement and effective management to facilitate collaboration across a variety of stakeholder groups.
This course aims to provide an understanding of critical and creative thinking to solve complex problems with innovative solutions through design.
Alongside the three core subjects – Professional Identity, Design Methods and Design Communication – you’ll also complete one elective, ensuring you graduate as a design expert with an extensive understanding of operating in global creative businesses.
The Graduate Certificate of Design can be completed in two trimesters (six months) with a full-time study load, or in one year if studying part time. Tailor your study to your lifestyle thanks to our innovative digital learning system, accessible from anywhere with 24/7 personalised support. With all your course materials online, and the option to study full or part time, on-campus, online or a blend of both it's all about flexibility.
Recommended study pattern
The course structure comprises 3 core subjects and 1 elective subjects over levels 400 and 600. Electives available to students may be chosen from the elective bank or can be taken from any Torrens University course at the appropriate level with approval from the Program Director (or delegate).
Award requirements
To be awarded the Graduate Certificate of Design, students will need to complete 40 credit points over 4 subjects as outlined in the Course Structure. All subjects have a value of 10 credit points.Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative first year fee
$16,075
Indicative total fee $16,075
The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
At Torrens University Australia you can tailor your study to suit your lifestyle. Thanks to their innovative digital learning system you’ll gain the ultimate in flexibility, and still receive personalised guidance from academics and access to work placement, mentorship and internship opportunities. Online you can attend live classes or view recorded sessions, connect with lecturers and fellow students, and access content on-demand 24/7.
Learn more about Torrens.
Explore Torrens courses.
How to apply
Torrens University Australia manages enquiries and applications for this degree.
Complete your details and we'll make sure your enquiry is sent to Torrens University Australia who will contact you to discuss this degree.
Don't worry, we're still here to help you - you'll receive a personalised follow-up from an Open Universities Australia student advisor to make sure you have found the right degree for you.
Entry requirements
Torrens University Australia offers flexible entry options and study pathways, whether you’re finishing school, pursuing career progression or looking for a change. Entry requirements for this course includes:
- Completion of a bachelor degree or equivalent.
Work life experience demonstrating the ability to undertake study at the required level. Ideally:
- completion of any recognised Diploma or equivalent, AND
- a minimum of three years of work experience demonstrated by a resume.
Don’t meet the entry requirements? We have numerous pathway programs to get you started. Contact our Future Student Advisors to learn about alternative entry options.
Standard English language requirements apply.
- Torrens University offers pathway opportunities to further your learning. If you have already completed a qualification you may be able to credit this against a degree with Torrens University, even if it’s from another institution. This is called Recognition of Prior Learning. Under Torrens University's Recognition of Prior Learning policy, you may be eligible for a reduction in tuition costs if you have previous study and/or work experience. Our Future Student Advisors will happily walk you through the application process.
Career opportunities
Upon graduating, you’ll be well equipped for a successful career as an inter-disciplinary designer. Embark on your adventure and apply the theoretical and practical skills you’ve learnt, flexing your advanced skills in digital software and design methodologies to solve complex business problems through design. You will be ready to pursue a career in one of the below roles or pursue further study with the Master of Design.
Potential career paths include:
- Art Director
- Design Strategist
- Design Researcher
- User Experience Designer
- Service Designer
- Product Manager.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
---|---|---|
Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators | $75K to $93K | Down 9% |
Multimedia Designers | N/A^ | N/A^ |
Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers | $93K to $120K | Up 22.5% |
Web Designers | N/A^ | N/A^ |
^ There is no data available