Master of Communication Design
Student type:
Quick facts
-
Entry score
Not applicable
-
Duration
Full-time 2 years, Part-time 4 years -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
AU$27,840 (2022 annual)
Next intake
February, JulyEntry score
Not applicable
Duration
Full-time 2 yearsLocation
Melbourne city
Overview
Creative careers for visual strategists
Graduate ready to manage in industry or start your own design studio through a specialised degree that opens career opportunities across the world.
Master of Communication Design blog
RMIT's Master of Communication Design places emphasis on industry-partnered projects, typography, design strategy and service design. Explore the blog to hear student stories and see recent work
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Further your design thinking
Renowned design practitioners will lead you through studio-based courses, where you’ll work on briefs and campaigns with industry partners.
Details
Develop expertise in communication design practice, and focus on design entrepreneurship and strategic design thinking. Push your creative boundaries and think critically to find design solutions to communication challenges.
Develop expert knowledge and specialised technical and creative skills to prepare for professional roles in multidisciplinary environments, including communication design studios, digital design consultancies, advertising agencies, design teams within other organisations, and in independent practices. You will be able to work independently or in teams, and you will be able to communicate confidently with other design professionals and clients.
Under expert guidance from RMIT’s team of nationally and internationally renowned practitioners and educators, you’ll advance your knowledge and practice as a communication design practitioner and will be well prepared to contribute to global industry developments and design innovation.
Learn through lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars, case studies, studio practice, problem-based learning, reflective techniques (e.g. blogs, journals), online and face-to-face presentations, group-based learning and discussions.
Assessment activities include design projects, research assignments, reports, portfolio production, essays, presentations, and peer or industry review. Projects, reports and presentations will be directly related to current industry practices.
All courses are delivered in English.
You will have access to online resources through the myRMIT student portal.
Design is an international language, enabling you to produce work for local and global audiences and industries.
This program attracts a strong international student cohort due to RMIT University’s worldwide reputation as a leader in design education.
You will have the opportunity to take part in postgraduate study tours, which allow you to study with students from other disciplines including advertising, public relations and communications.
RMIT’s Global Mobility Office supports students to undertake an exchange or short-term mobility activity with over 165 partner universities worldwide.
This masters degree can be completed over 2 years full-time (or domestic students may complete it in 4 years part-time).
You may be eligible for advanced standing based on academic results in your previous studies or prior industry experience.
For further information about advanced standing see the Entry requirements – Pathways section.
The program is structured around a series of major studio courses that focus on entrepreneurship, strategic design thinking, and best practice in communication design with a global focus. These studio courses are supported by advanced studies in typography, theory and criticism, research methods and other specialisations.
In your final year, you will have the opportunity to undertake an individually negotiated professional research project. This will enable you to bring your knowledge and skills together, connect theory and practice, and make a meaningful contribution to the design industries.
The Master consists of 192 credit points. A graduate diploma exit point is also available (upon completion of 96 credit points).
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Communication Design | City Campus |
2 years FT
4 years PT (For more information
see Articulation and Pathways section)
|
MC250 | 084351D |
Choose a program structure
Program code: MC250
Career
The Master of Communication Design opens career opportunities across the world.
Design thinking is increasingly important in most organisations, and employers are looking for the advanced knowledge and skills demonstrated by graduates of this program. Graduates will be able to practise entrepreneurial and collaborative approaches to design, driving the creation of new business enterprises.
Graduates can enter into roles such as
- communication designer
- design manager
- account manager
- design strategist
Graduates of the Master of Communication Design are eligible to become members of:
- Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA)
- Design Institute of Australia
- Icograda (International Council of Communication Design)
Association with these bodies provides benefits such as employment information, and prizes and awards that are relevant to career development.
In Australia there are no professional bodies that recognise or accredit programs in communication design.
Admissions
You must have:
- successfully completed an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent overseas qualification); or
- at least 3 years professional experience in graphic design, communication design and/or visual communication area.
To have your professional experience considered you must submit with your application a CV and a personal statement detailing your experience.
You must have:
- successfully completed an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent overseas qualification); or
- at least 3 years professional experience in graphic design, communication design and/or visual communication area.
Entry requirements
Semester 1, 2022
You must complete and submit the Communication Design selection task by 25 February 2022. Entry into this program is competitive, and applications are assessed in the order that they are received until this date, if places are still available. For your best chance at admission into this program, you are encouraged to apply as early as possible. The link to submit your selection task will appear on the applicant dashboard after you have submitted your application.
Selection task
The selection task requires:
- A statement outlining your perspective of the current state of communication design and the future of the discipline (maximum 365 words).
To prepare this statement, please watch Design histories, cultures and futures' and reflect on your own personal design history, culture and preferred future(s). Then please read, and use as a point of departure, Norman Potter’s essay 'What is a designer?' (2002). You may find it helpful to consider the following questions:- Are Potter’s ideas still relevant today?
- If so, which of his ideas are still relevant, and how? Or
- Which of his ideas are out-dated, and why?
- What does this say about the future of communication design?
- Where do you see communication design taking you in the next 3 years?
- A statement that details any relevant experience including employment, voluntary work, creative practices, etc., or a description of what you have done, over what periods and how it strengthens your application to this program (maximum 250 words).
- A folio of 15 to 30 pieces of your work. Your folio should be communication design focused, although it may contain a variety of work including, art, design or media work that demonstrates the breadth of your interests and expertise, as well as your conceptual and technical skills.
- For example, your folio may include: drawings, paintings, graphic design, photographs, motion graphics, digital images, models, sculpture, video, interactive media, games, websites, short writing pieces, 2D and 3D animation, and/or reports. You may also include development work as well as finished work.
- You should provide an explanation of each work including its purpose and background. If your work is a collaboration, please also detail precisely your role and the role of your collaborator/s (maximum 200 words).
- Images must be collated in a single PDF (maximum file size 10MB). Flash animation and QuickTime movies are acceptable, however, please ensure that the files are built or exported and open independently of the creator program (maximum file size 10MB).
- If your creative work is on YouTube or other websites you must supply the URL. Please provide the username and/or password if applicable.
To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 79 (with minimum of 13 in Reading, 12 in Listening, 18 in Speaking and 21 in Writing)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 58 (with no communication band less than 50)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 176 with no less than 169 in any component.
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
If you have successfully completed one of the following qualifications specialising in graphic design, communication design or visual communication, you will be eligible for exemption as follows:
Qualification level |
Exemptions |
Remaining program duration |
|---|---|---|
Bachelor Degree |
48 credit points (equivalent to one semester full time study) |
144 credit points (equivalent to three semesters full time study) |
Bachelor Honours Degree |
96 credit points (equivalent to two semesters full time study) |
96 credit points (equivalent to two semesters full time study) |
Graduate Certificate |
48 credit points (equivalent to one semester full time study) |
144 credit points (equivalent to three semesters full time study) |
Graduate Diploma |
96 credit points (equivalent to two semesters full time study) |
96 credit points (equivalent to two semesters full time study) |
Applicants with a bachelor honours degree, graduate certificate, graduate diploma or masters degree qualification majoring in a different discipline may also be eligible for exemption of up to 48 credit points (equivalent to one semester full time study).
Masters exemptions
You may be eligible for advanced standing up to a maximum of 2 semesters (equivalent to 96 credits points). Eligibility for advanced standing is based on your previous studies and is assessed on a case by case basis.
Learn more about eligibility for credit transfer and recognition of prior learning.
Fees
2022 indicative fees
Full-fee places: AU$27,840.
Additional expenses
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$315 maximum fee for 2022.
- Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
Annual fee adjustment
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.
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.
Learn more about fees for postgraduate study.
Payments and 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.
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.
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.
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 2022 is $315.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The annual tuition fee for 2022 is AU$36,480.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2022 commencement is AU$74,880.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) in each calendar year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - Student visa holders must have cover for the total duration of their visa.
- Some programs incur additional expenses.
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.
Applying for refunds
For information on how to apply for a refund as a continuing international student, please see Refunds.
Looking for answers or more general infomation?
For frequently asked questions or how to find more information regarding applications and enrolments, fees, student support services, university policies and more, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.