Building Design and Technology

Program Description – Diploma of Building Design and Technology

The Building Design and Technology program is a nationally designed and accredited qualification. Graduates enter a professional discipline that requires a high level of responsibility to the individuals they design and document for, as well as to the wider community by providing responsible and environmentally sustainable design and building practices.

Building designers work with a variety of professionals such as architects, town planners, structural engineers, interior designers, landscape architects builders and other allied consultants in the building industry.

The technician who works in the building design field prepares drawings used for the design and construction of buildings including internal and external environments. Initially graduates from the program will work for a registered building designer, architect or registered builder to gain professional experience in order to be eligible to register with the Building practitioners Board themselves.

In order to practice as a Building Designer in the State of Victoria the requirements are as follows:

Successful completion of a TAFE Diploma in Building Design and Technology.
Twelve months of documented work experience in the area of building design under the supervision of a registered practitioner.

The Building Design Gallery

The two year Diploma is nationally accredited and has recently been refreshed to address changes in the building design industry such as the new and more complex town planning requirements in Victoria, energy ratings for both materials and the whole building together with knowledge of contemporary and emerging sustainable building practices.

The first year, of the program has a focus on residential design, design presentation, construction systems and detail resolution required to produce documentation for building approvals.

Skills and knowledge attained in first year are further developed, refined and applied to commercial and industrial scale buildings through project based learning in the second year of the program. CAD is used to document the projects taking advantage of the productivity gains in using digital systems, techniques and technologies. Second year students engage in design competitions conducted by industry associations and participate in a mentor program linked to practicing building designers.

Mode and Duration

Diploma 2 Years Full-time
5 Years Part time
(Part time is only available to students enrolled in 2006)
Please note: part-time is not available to International students

Entrance requirements

Successful completion of VCE including prerequisite Units 1 and 2 mathematical methods or general mathematics.
2004 Enter score for VCE applicants was 64.80
Non VCE applicants for full-time and all part-time applicants must complete a selection task that is available from the school.

Study Pathways

RMIT accepts and will credit transfer successfully completed equivalent qualifications that are part of the Australian Qualifications Framework. Programs and units must be verified by an original statement of attainment (official transcript of results) from other Registered Training Organizations.

Subject to the availability of places graduates of the Diploma of Building Design and Technology if successful in their application to degree programs will receive credit equivalent of three semesters credit into the Bachelor of Architecture and the equivalent of two semesters credit into the Bachelor of Arts Interior Design. Pathway arrangements are currently under review and may vary under new agreements.

Career Prospects

Graduates may seek employment with architectural, building design offices or design / construction companies leading to eligibility for registration to practice as a sole practitioner and self employment. Some graduates have found employment in niche areas associated with the building design professions such as model making, commercial kitchen design and documentation, restoration of old buildings and as documentation technicians for specialist manufacturers and suppliers.

Program Description - Advanced Diploma of Building Design and Project Administration

Students develop specialist skills in building design processes, contract documentation and procedures for project administration. The program focuses on a prime project and an integrated learning model. Students attend lectures and tutorials, undertake a guided research program and apply the knowledge and skills gained to a project with specialised requirements and architectural complexity.

Duration

Six months (one semester) full-time.

Entrance Requirements

Successful completion of the Diploma of Building Design and Technology.

Pathways

Graduates of this program who have been successful in gaining a place in either the Bachelor of Applied Science (Construction Management/Project Management/Property/Valuation) programs will be eligible to apply for exemptions of up to one year, leaving an additional three years to complete the degree program.

Graduates of this program who have been successful in gaining a place in the Bachelor of Architecture will be eligible to apply for an exemption of three semesters and for the Bachelor of Design (Interior Design) will be eligible to apply for an exemption of two semesters.

Please note: For TAFE programs, RMIT recognises and accepts any Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by other Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). Credit will therefore be given for modules or units of competency for which an original certificate or Statement of Attainment is produced.

Career Prospects

Graduates enhance their prospects for employment in the building design and architectural documentation industries.

For more detailed information regarding the courses click on the links below:

Diploma of Building Design and Technology

Diploma of Building Design and Drafting (not enrolling new students)

Advanced Diploma of Building Design and Project Administration

Contact the School of Design (TAFE) (+61 3) 9925 4819