Study Master of Design (Communication Design) at the University of South Australia (UniSA). Information for Australian students.

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Entry requirements Degree overview Career outcomes How to apply Study experience

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Australian students

Start Date
February
July

Campus
City West

Duration
2 year(s) full-time

Program Code
DMSP

SATAC Code
4CM131 (Internal)
4CM208 (Internal)

Study as
Full-time or part-time

Mode
On-campus

Fees
Commonwealth Supported

Entry requirements

Successful completion of a Bachelor degree or Graduate Diploma from a recognised higher education institution, or equivalent, in a related discipline. Applicants must also submit a portfolio of work, curriculum vitae and a written statement of intent.

Applicants who have completed the Graduate Diploma in Design from the University of South Australia are eligible to enter the program with 1.0 EFTSL Advanced Standing and complete the program in 1 year of full time study or equivalent part time study, and are not required to submit a portfolio of work and statement of intent.

Applicants who have completed a Bachelor (Honours) degree in a related discipline are eligible to enter the program with 1.0 EFTSL Advanced Standing and complete the program in 1 year of full time study or equivalent part time study. Applicants must also submit a portfolio of work, curriculum vitae and a written statement of intent.

Related design disciplines include: visual communication design; graphic design; graphic communication; communication design.

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Degree overview

Gain advanced design and research skills.
Learn in our custom-built campus workshops and studios.
Work on real-life projects, gaining valuable practical experience.
Benefit from our networks and relationships with industry – locally, nationally and internationally.
Learn from teachers who are established designers.
Use this qualification as a pathway to further study.
UniSA is the only South Australian university ranked for Art and Design¹.
Be taught by world-class leaders in research – UniSA's research in communication design is ranked world-class².
UniSA is an unstoppable university for unstoppable people. As one of the World’s Top Young Universities³, we’ll ensure you get the experience your future profession demands so it’ll feel like you’re studying one minute and in a career the next.

¹2022 QS Subject Rankings
²Results in Design Practice and Management - 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)
³UNSTOPPABLE® is a Kellogg Company trade mark used under licence. Ranked #46, 2022 THE Young University Rankings, Ranked #29, 2021 QS Top 50 Universities Aged Under 50.

Snapshot

This hands-on postgraduate qualification will equip you with a comprehensive understanding of the innovative, changing world of communication design.

With a strong focus on adaptability and the importance of responding to changing design issues, you will gain advanced skills in areas such as web and print design, as well as emerging technologies and research processes.

In conjunction with industry, you will also be given the opportunity to work on creative projects, developing skills in writing project proposals and presenting information.

In addition to the necessary practical skills, a key part of your learning will relate to advanced research and you will graduate with the cognitive skills needed to review and analyse information.

You may also complete an industry placement as part of an elective.

Advanced Standing

Applicants who have completed a Bachelor (Honours) degree in a related discipline are eligible to enter the program with 1.0 EFTSL Advanced Standing and complete the program in 1 year of full time study or equivalent part time study. Applicants must submit a portfolio of work, curriculum vitae and a written statement of intent.

2 years- SATAC CODE 4CM131

1 year- SATAC CODE 4CM208

What you'll learn

To be an effective communication designer, you need to be able to identify problems and examine and develop strategies and approaches to overcome them. This qualification addresses design issues that you may be faced with in the workplace, such as:

socio-cultural change
economic constraints
environmental impacts

You will also develop an advanced understanding of communication design principles and graduate with the ability to develop and design effective communications for a range of audiences. Cognitive skills needed to review and analyse research will also be developed.

This master degree comprises design research studio classes, academic research skills, introduction to sustainable design, business practice and a choice of electives.

Degree structure

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units	Reference
FIRST YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Research Studio 1	GRAP 5005	9		Rule(s): 1
Research Methods (Creative)	CREA 4004	4.5		Rule(s): 1
Nature, Culture and Sustainability	ARCH 6005	4.5		Rule(s): 1
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Research Studio 2	GRAP 5006	9		Rule(s): 1
Business Practice for Artists and Designers	VSAR 5006	4.5
Elective		4.5	Note(s): 1,2	Rule(s): 1
SECOND YEAR
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Masters Project 1	GRAP 6001	9
Masters Project Report 1	ARCH 5036	4.5
Elective		4.5
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Masters Project 2	GRAP 6002	9
Masters Project Report 2	ARCH 5037	4.5
Elective		4.5	Note(s): 1,2	Rule(s): 1

Electives

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units
Electives
Advertising: Theory and Practice	MARK 5024	4.5
Marketing Management	MARK 5025	4.5
Arts Environment	BUSS 5218	4.5
Communication Contexts	COMM 5004	4.5
Campaigns and Crises	COMM 5005	4.5
Brand Management	MARK 5031	4.5
Design, Production, Presentation	VSAR 5005	4.5
Entrepreneurial Foundations	BUSS 5298	4.5
Entrepreneurial Commercialisation	BUSS 5299	4.5
Consumer Culture, Technology and Sustainable Design	ARCH 6001	4.5
Principles of Sustainable Design	ARCH 6006	4.5
Advertising: Planning and Buying Media	MARK 5079	4.5
eMarketing	MARK 5080	4.5
Professional Placement or Project	GRAP 5004	4.5
Social Media Management	COMM 5069	4.5
Managing Digital Design	COMM 5068	4.5
Communication and Media: Advanced	COMM 4005	4.5
Industry 4.0 and Society	COMM 4006	4.5
Digital Entrepreneurship	COMM 4004	4.5
Content Creation	COMM 5084	4.5

Rules & notes

Rules

1. Students who have completed a Bachelor (Honours) in a related discipline are eligible to enter the program with 1.0 EFTSL Advanced Standing in lieu of these courses and complete the program in 1 year of full time study or equivalent part time study.

Notes

1. Electives are selected from those listed above. Electives are designed to extend and expand students' intellectual and professional abilities in core and cognate areas of the curriculum and to provide scope for individual development in particular areas of professional and academic interest. A selection of electives will be offered each year, depending on staff availability and student demand. Students may choose to enrol in alternative electives with approval from their Program Director.

2. Students who have a Grade Point Average of 4.5 or more and wish to independently pursue a topic of interest not available in the electives offered in any one study period may choose a research or project based individual elective with the approval of the Program Director.

3. This program forms part of a nested suite of programs consisting of 72 units as follows: Graduate Diploma in Design comprising 36 units; Master of Design comprising a further 36 units.

Study hours

For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects, as well as to contribute to online discussion forums. So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12–26 hours of study when at university and 14–28 hours of independent study per week.

Assessment

Your studies will incorporate practical, professionally focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:

design studio project work
project analysis, documentation and management
placement reports
research proposals
literature/artefact reports

There may also be essays, assignments and examinations.

Global opportunities

Enrich your studies and your life – make overseas study part of your qualification. You may have the option to undertake an exchange, short-term program or study tour overseas while you study. We have links with universities worldwide, as well as a range of travel grants available to make going overseas much more accessible.

You can choose short-term or semester-long study from a range of universities and countries depending on your area of study and cultural interests.

Take a look at the global opportunities available.

Why Master of Design (Communication Design)

This unique qualification will extend your knowledge and skills in graphics and communication design. It will also provide you with advanced research skills.

The Master of Design (Communication Design) builds on your existing knowledge and skills and will extend your learning in preparation for a rewarding career across a range of creative employment sectors, including:

advertising
branding
merchandising
communication
publication design.

UniSA boasts purpose-built studio spaces and five floors of impressive workshops that feature state-of-the-art digital equipment.

You will also benefit from:

our strong industry links when you embark on industry placements
our world-class teaching staff
industry master classes hosted by national and international industry professionals

Our teaching staff are professional designers, so the curriculum is industry-relevant and mostly practical in nature. You will also work alongside world-class researchers in communication design¹.

It’s a very good time to choose UniSA for your postgraduate study.

¹Results in Design Practice and Management - 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA)

Real-world connections

Our teaching staff are highly trained industry professionals with years of experience. They have strong industry links, and many hold professional positions with national and international organisations. For you, this means links to industry and the opportunity to build important networks with future collaborators and employers.

UniSA also has well over 2,500 national and international industry partnerships – providing further opportunities for you to build meaningful industry relationships.

As part of your studies, you may also take part in an industry placement or attend master classes hosted by industry professionals.

UniSA offers an extensive range of career-related events and workshops online, on campus and around Adelaide to develop your skills and increase your knowledge.

Career outcomes

Your career

This industry is expecting strong growth in long-term employment prospects Australia-wide¹.

Graduates from this degree enjoy careers in a variety of roles, such as:

animation and motion designer: use graphic software to create animated images
art director: responsible for the visual aspects of a publication, campaign, or other published material; a chief liaison between the client and designers
graphic and communications designer: create visual concepts to inspire, inform or captivate an audience; use software applications to create visual design elements for publishers, web developers and multimedia companies
web designer: create and maintain websites; this may include including the design, layout and coding.

Creativity, patience, motivation, commitment and, of course, excellent communication skills, are all qualities of a successful communication designer.

¹Australian Government, Job Outlook 2020

Industry facts

Employment for graphic and web designers, and illustrators in Australia is projected to increase by 6,800 (14.5 per cent) by November 2020¹.

¹Australian Government Department of Employment, Occupational Employment Projections 2015

The number of graphic and web designers, and illustrators in Australia expected to reach 53,300 by 2020¹.

¹ABS Labour Force Survey, Department of Employment trend data to November 2015 and Department of Employment projections to 2020

How to apply

Applying to study with us:

go to the top of this page and make note of the SATAC code, then click Apply
you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application

Alternative Pathways

Australian
There are other pathways you can follow to study this degree, including:

Graduate Diploma in Design
Bachelor (Honours) degree in a related discipline

This degree is part of a nested suite of degrees, which means you may be able to exit early and graduate with a Graduate Diploma in Design.

Credit Transfer

Get a head start on your degree. Find out if you're eligible for credit from previous studies.

Go to credit assessor

Entry pathway

We believe in equal access to further education, so we offer a range of pathways to university.

Find a Pathway

Scholarships

Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.

More scholarships

Scholarship for student leadership

Available for students who are interested in undertaking specified activities with the aim of enhancing the overall student experience at UniSA.

Learn more

International travel grants

Travel Grants are available to participate in our Study Overseas Programs. UniSA has agreement with over 80 institutions globally.

Learn more

Your study experience and support

Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, tech zones, and spaces that simulate real work environments. You’ll also find student gyms and campus sport activities to keep you active. We also offer flexible study options, with online resources available for accessing lecture recordings, virtual classrooms, library resources and learning support.

Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation and private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages, or explore our student accommodation by Scape on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.

Student services

Our student services provide you with all the support you need at university. You can access a full range of support services including academic and personal counselling, career advice, social support services, as well as those through our student association, USASA. When you become a UniSA student, you can also contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and more.

24/7 digital environment

Our learnonline facilities include a personal learning environment with virtual classrooms, lecture recordings, emails, learning support, administration, library access and results. The environment is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can tailor your learning to your life. We are continually investing in innovative digital technologies for a high-quality student learning experience.

Your campus

We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with modern facilities including lecture theatres, libraries and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments.

Your study spaces

As a design student you will have access to:

custom-built on-campus design studios and workshops
the South Australian School of Art Gallery
the University library’s collection of art, craft and design resource materials, which is the largest in the state

Your program director

I’m passionate about increasing awareness of Indigenous knowledges and providing expansive opportunities for students to engage in the educational process.

Mr Peter Walker

Program Director

Enquire

Mr Peter Walker

Program Director

Enquire

Ask UniSA

How do I apply?

There are a number of ways to apply to study UniSA's undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.

Applications for admission into the University of South Australia’s undergraduate and most postgraduate degrees are made via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Visit satac.edu.au and follow the links.

For the MBA degrees please apply through the UniSA MBA Application Portal. Applications for a small number of degrees are submitted direct to UniSA through our Apply Online portal. It will be noted on the degree page if you need to apply via Apply Online.

Postgraduate study by research
For information on applying to do postgraduate study by research, including Master of Research, PhDs or Doctorates, please visit unisa.edu.au/resdegrees.
Is there a closing date for applications?

Undergraduate
Yes. The deadline to apply to study a degree at UniSA for semester one (commencing late February) and be given equal consideration is in early December. While you may be able to apply after this date, you are not guaranteed to be considered equally with other applicants and your application may not be assessed in time for the main round of offers (mid January). Some degrees will not make any offers after the main offer round. Please click here find all of the key dates for applications here.

Postgraduate
Most postgraduate degrees do not have a closing date for applications. However, there are exceptions, so it is best to check – either on the SATAC website, Apply Online or the degree homepage. Postgraduate offers are normally ‘rolling’, meaning they may be sent out at any time up until the program starts. This also means that applications may close at any time without warning, if the quota is filled earlier. For this reason, postgraduate applications should be submitted without delay. For more information, please contact our Future Student Enquiries team on (08) 8302 2376 or via the online enquiry form.
What credit can I receive for previous studies?

Credit transfer or advanced standing

You may be eligible to receive a credit transfer or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area at an equivalent or higher level. Receiving a credit transfer will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree.

Recognised prior learning

If you have related industry experience, you may also be eligible to receive recognised prior learning for this experience. Receiving recognised prior learning will normally reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and can reduce the duration of the degree.

How do I get credit?

Credit transfer and recognition of prior learning is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Program Director who will discuss your prior learning and experience with you to ascertain what credit you may be eligible for.

Many of our credit transfer arrangements are listed on our online Credit Assessor.
Can I speak to someone regarding my study options?

UniSA welcomes the opportunity to speak with you regarding your study options. Our staff are able to talk to you about degree information, career outcomes and pathways, entry requirements, applications, and student life, so that you are able to make the best study decision for your future.

Click here to book a 1:1 appointment with one of our enquiries team.

If you are interested in studying an MBA please contact admissions@unisa.edu.au and our Future Student Enquiries team will contact you regarding your enquiry.

Alternatively, you can complete a MyCareerMatch career profile. MyCareerMatch is an online career profiling tool that you can use free-of-charge through UniSA. MyCareerMatch specialises in career profiles and provides you with a personalised career report outlining information about your personality style and a list of career options, which are complementary to your natural strengths and talents.

We have many events throughout the year where you can speak with a lecturer or tutor about your degrees of interest. You can find out what is happening at UniSA by visiting our events page or by signing up to our mailing list, so you're the first to know about careers events, information sessions, degree requirements, scholarships and more!

There are also many career counsellors external to the University that you can discuss your career options with. If you are unsure where to start your search, you can contact the Government's Work Ready team (formally Skills for All). Visit skills.sa.gov.au or call 1800 506 266.

You may also find Job Outlook a helpful resource in your decision-making.
Where can I get further information?

It can be difficult to decide what degree you would like to do and where. You might find information from government organisations will help to weigh up your degree and provider options.

Find a course or a provider

TEQSA is a regulatory body for higher education providers. Use the TEQSA national register of higher education providers to search for a course or a provider. Compare courses and providers for undergraduates and postgraduates using the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) online comparison tool.

More information on university admission

Visit the SATAC website to find out important news, events and information on applying to university in South Australia. Visit Study with Us to find out everything you need to know about studying at UniSA, admissions and the application process.

Questions about your application

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your application you should contact the Future Students Enquiries team in the first instance.