Bachelor of Industrial Design (Honours)
Student type:
Quick facts
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Duration
Full-time 4 years -
Location
Brunswick -
Fees
Next intake
February, July
Entry score
Range of criteria
Duration
Full-time 4 years Location
Melbourne City
Overview
Are you interested in industrial design? Would you like to affect change? This discipline shapes the world we live in. Industrial designers have the ability to affect change and create powerful solutions that improve both human and environmental health and wellbeing.
Exploring the trans-disciplinary nature of contemporary industrial design. You'll engage in practical learning through our practice-based design studios, co-creating solutions through a human centred approach to product, service and experience design contexts.
For over 70 year’s industrial design at RMIT has offered aspiring designers ground breaking experiences through technical, theoretical and applied immersions into the diverse and dynamic fields of industrial design practice. Working on real-world problems in industry and community contexts, this hands on educational experience culminates in a year-long honours design research project.
You will develop a design practice through:
- the design of sustainable products, services and systems
- design as a mechanism for enabling social reform and cultural enrichment
- commercial and aesthetically-focused approaches to product, transportation and furniture design
- technologically and materially mediated interactions and experiences
- the possibilities of form, process and material in response to rapid technological advances
- operating at the intersections of our digital and material worlds
- using design as a conduit to address social sustainability, cultural awareness and the wellbeing of clients, users and communities
Centred around a design studio model, you are equipped with unique ways to explore ideas. You'll also challenge conventional paradigms through engaging with local and international design practitioners and build industry networks throughout your studies. These life-changing educational experiences culminate in both social and entrepreneurial approaches to design. You'll gain an adaptive knowledge of making, materials, process, technology, culture and the environment.
Details
Design studios are at the core of your studies
Throughout all levels of this course you will engage in creative, industry partnered and research-led learning through design studio projects.
What is a design studio?
Design studios provide a unique way of exploring ideas by challenging designers. They are run by academics and practicing leaders from architectural and design firms. The design studio model emulates the best practice of design firms. They allow you to explore design, and connect with your peers, industry and integrate with other disciplines.
You will choose your studios from a range of options offered each semester. Studio offerings have the following orientations:
Service orientation, where the focus is sustainability, social innovation, health, transport, and community engagement.
Technology orientation where the focus is universal design and ergonomics, manufacturing, technical innovation and prototyping.
Object orientation, where the focus is furniture, lighting and objects for the home.
Digital orientation, where the focus is on emerging digital technologies, computer-aided design (AutoCAD), and coding and interaction design.
Final honours year project
Using your studio experiences, you’ll undertake a complex design research project in your final year. Your project will be showcased to the design industry and community at the Graduate Exhibition, which celebrates the industrial design discipline and its future through the work of emerging designers.
Learn from local and international design practitioners
You’ll learn from academics and lecturers who are practising designers connected with the design industry and community. The teaching staff are engaged in areas of research and offer expertise in different fields, and this knowledge will help to shape your design journey.
Ongoing assessment throughout the semester includes examinations, essays, reports, oral classes, presentations, group projects, research projects, laboratory projects and practical assignments.
Build industry networks throughout your studies
This course provides scope for you to engage in real world projects within industry and community organisations. It focuses on developing innovative designers to practice in emerging technological, sustainable and social domains of industrial design.
Past students have partnered in the design and research departments of the following industries:
Automotive (Ford, Toyota and GM Holden)
Technology (Philips, Spatial Architecture)
Information Laboratory
Industrial design (Charlwood Design, Catalyst,Buro North)
Manufacturing (Crumpler, Knog, Planex, BlackMagic)
Service design (Deloitte, Victorian Legal Aid, Vic Roads, Australian Taxation Office)
Year 1
Provides foundational exposures to the methods and nature of the designed form, and the socio-cultural factors of design and designing.
Year 2
Sees an increase of the technical, technological and contextual complexity by which design activity is to be considered, and provides avenues of choice in industrial design practice.
Year 3
Significantly defines individual design capabilities and interests by providing a variety of design studio and elective topics.
Year 4
Provides the challenge of defining and demonstrating an area of professional engagement through a year-long, research-led and industry-engaged design project. This experience acts as a scaffold for entry into the profession, and opens up opportunities beyond graduation.
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS |
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Choose a program structure
Program code: BH104
Career
Graduates work in a broad range of contexts and settings relevant to new enterprise development, design innovation and the development of contemporary cities.
They can find work in product and manufacturing companies, in consultancy, entertainment, education, cultural and services sectors, and for research institutions.
Cross-disciplinary designers work in emerging fields of design practice, others start and run their own design or product-producing businesses.
The course prepares graduates to undertake Masters by Research or PhD after successful completion of this degree.
Graduate successes
Below are some examples of industrial design graduates shaping the design world:
Mike Simcoe
Vice President of Global Design General Motors, USALaura Morrison and Jaide-Scarlet Begg
Service Design Analysts at Deloitte DigitalKyle Armstrong
Industrial Designer at Katapult DesignAdrian Spagnuolo
Product Designer at Colorific, a toy design and development distributorJiazhen Chen
Industrial Designer at Wild Design, Shanghai, ChinaLuca Abate
Industrial Designer at Blackmagic Design
- Design Institute of Australia – students are eligible for student membership and graduates are eligible for full membership
- International Interaction Designers Association (IxDA) – students and graduates are eligible for membership
- Association of Women Industrial Designers (AWID) – students and graduates are eligible for membership.
Graduates are also eligible for membership of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand.
Admissions
RMIT is committed to providing transparency to the admissions process. In line with this commitment, we provide you with information that will help in making informed choices about your undergraduate study options. Find out more about RMIT’s commitment to admissions transparency.
You must meet the minimum academic entry requirements for this program. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee you entry due to the competitive nature of this program. Overseas qualifications will be assessed for Australian equivalence.
*ATAR refers to the lowest selection rank to which an offer was made (including consideration of any adjustments) for current and recent year 12 applicants.
RMIT’s selection criteria, outlined below according to your highest completed level of education, will provide you with a better understanding of the minimum admissions requirements needed for this program.
Selection criteria
This information is for applicants who are currently undertaking an Australian Year 12 or equivalent or whose highest qualification is a completed secondary education within the last two years (2017, 2018).
Selection criteria
You are required to meet the following minimum academic requirements:
- successful completion of an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent) with a minimum ATAR of 54.00 (excluding adjustments) including units 3 and 4 with a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL
Important! You must also complete additional requirements for admission to this program. You can find more information under the heading 'Additional requirements for admission'.
You may be eligible for adjustment factors which will be applied to your selection rank. You can find more information under the heading 'Adjustment factors'.
ATAR profile
View the ATAR profile and selection rank from students offered a place into this program wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in 2019.
This information is for applicants who have completed an accredited award at an Australian Registered Training Organisation.
Selection criteria
You are required to meet the following minimum academic requirements:
- successful completion of an Australian certificate IV or above (or equivalent)
You may satisfy the required English prerequisite by completing the STAT multiple choice. You can find more information under the heading 'Additional information'.
Important! You must also complete additional requirements for admission to this program. You can find more information under the heading 'Additional requirements for admission'.
You may be eligible for adjustment factors which will be applied to your selection rank. You can find more information under the heading 'Adjustment factors'.
This information is for applicants whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education program.
Selection criteria
You are required to meet the following minimum academic requirements:
- successful completion of at least two courses (subjects) at an Australian undergraduate level (or equivalent)
You may satisfy the required English prerequisite by completing the STAT multiple choice. You can find more information under the heading 'Additional information'.
Important! You must also complete additional requirements for admission to this program. You can find more information under the heading 'Additional requirements for admission'.
You may be eligible for adjustment factors which will be applied to your selection rank. You can find more information under the heading 'Adjustment factors'.
This information is for applicants who left secondary school more than two years ago and who have not undertaken VET or higher education study since then.
Selection criteria
You are required to meet the following minimum academic requirements:
- successful completion of an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent) more than two years ago, with a minimum ATAR of 54.00 (excluding adjustments) including units 3 and 4 with a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL
You may satisfy the required English prerequisite by completing the STAT multiple choice. You can find more information under the heading 'Additional information'.
If you would like your work and life experience to be considered, you should provide a copy of your curriculum vitae and a supporting statement from your employer.
Important! You must also complete additional requirements for admission to this program. You can find more information under the heading 'Additional requirements for admission'.
You may be eligible for adjustment factors which will be applied to your selection rank. You can find more information under the heading 'Adjustment factors'.
Selection task
If you are applying to RMIT through VTAC you must register and submit the Industrial Design selection task by the dates noted below for each VTAC round:
- early round (non year 12 only): 30 September 2019
- main round (all applicants): 22 November 2019
- all subsequent rounds (if places are available): 14 February 2020
If you are a RMIT current or recent student, please select the apply button to submit your direct application. The link to submit your selection task will appear on the applicant dashboard after you have submitted your application.
All tasks must be submitted by 22 November 2019. Tasks received after this date will be assessed in the order they are received until 14 February 2020 unless places are already filled. Selection task requirements.
Selection task requirements
You are required to provide the following:
- applicant statement outlining what your passions for design are and why? How will Industrial Design at RMIT assist you to achieve your vision? (350 words)
- folio of 3 to 5 projects or activities that demonstrate the breadth and depth of your interests and experiences. This could include projects undertaken within formal study, hobbies, and volunteer or paid work, or any relevant activity that gives an insight into your design capabilities.
Upload your folio as follows:
- images: each project can consist of multiple pages (if submitted as a PDF file) but must not exceed the maximum MB size limit, or multiple images on one page. (Files must be formatted as JPEG or PDF. Maximum size 4MB)
- film or sound based: ensure that file types are common (maximum size 4MB)
- all file names must be in the format: Surname_Project number (e.g. Smith_Project 2.jpg)
- short description for each project including, its particular context of development and the key activities undertaken (maximum 200 words per project)
OR
Provide a URL:
- provide a username or password if applicable
- short description for each project including, its particular context of development and the key activities undertaken (maximum 200 words per project)
Available only to current or recent Year 12 applicants
Regional adjustments
RMIT automatically allocates adjustment factors to Year 12 applicants from a low socio-economic status area for all certificate IV, diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree and degree level programs that select primarily on ATAR. Low socio-economic status areas are determined by applying the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Socio-Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA) Index of Education and Occupation.
School Network Access Program (SNAP)
The SNAP access scheme is designed to increase tertiary participation by giving priority access to RMIT diploma and degree programs to eligible applicants currently studying Year 12 at a SNAP partner school.
Available to all applicants
Equity access schemes
Equity access schemes take into account personal information and location, difficult circumstances, disadvantaged financial background and disability or medical condition that may have impacted on an applicant’s most recent academic performance.
This program has been recognised as being under-represented by female applicants. Additional adjustment factors may apply to those applying to category 1 of the Special Entry Access Scheme or RMIT access application.
Find out more about the eligibility requirements for each Special Entry Access Scheme and RMIT access categories.
If you are applying through VTAC you should apply for the Special Entry Access Scheme.
If you are applying directly to RMIT you should apply for RMIT Access. The system will prompt you to do this during your application.
Elite Athlete Program
The RMIT Elite Athlete Program supports eligible elite and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence, allowing students to balance the demands of both their studies and their athletic responsibilities.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
The Indigenous Access Program supports your application to RMIT through an informal interview process where you will receive help from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Additional consideration will be given if you have relevant life, work, education or training experience.
Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
If you are applying to RMIT as an applicant with vocational education training, higher education study or work or life experience, you may sit the STAT multiple choice if you:
- are 19 years of age or over as of 1 January in the year in which you will start your studies and
- have not been enrolled in secondary studies for at least two years and
- have no prior secondary school (Year 12), VET studies, HE studies or relevant work experience that can be considered for entry, or these do not meet the minimum academic requirements for the program
The STAT overall score will be competitively ranked for selection.
STAT results are valid for two years prior to the commencement of study and can be used to meet Year 12 English prerequisites. You are still required to meet all other program prerequisites or equivalents.
Learn more about RMIT STAT results including minimum STAT scores required to meet prerequisites.
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary school qualification) with a minimum 70% average (check calculator below).
Equivalent qualifications may also include completion of the RMIT Foundation Studies program or a recognised post-secondary diploma in the relevant discipline with the required grades.
Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee entry. Your application will still need to be assessed and accepted.
Selection tasks for international students completing year 12 in Australia and applying through VTAC
Folio: You must supply evidence of your creativity in the form of a folio that contains a variety of your personal work in art, design or media relevant to the program/s you are applying for. The folio should demonstrate your interests and creative thinking as well as your conceptual, design, problem solving and technical skills. You should include evidence of how ideas were developed as well as finished works.
Examples of work to include in your folio are drawings, paintings, graphic designs, photographs, digital images, models, sculpture, video, scripting, short stories, and/or 2D and 3D Flash animation.
We recommend you explain each work to help the Selection Officer understand the purpose and background of that work.
Folios should be submitted electronically with files in PDF, JPEG, SWF, DCR or QuickTime format suitable to be read on Mac OSX or later, unless otherwise specified. Each electronic file should be no larger than 10MB.
You must present your folio at an assessment session (if you are living outside Melbourne, this can be conducted via email, phone or video call).
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 (Paper Based Test): minimum score of 580 (TWE 4.5)
- 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 Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
RMIT graduates of the following programs may be eligible to apply for exemptions:
Fees
2020 indicative fees
In 2020, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,684 to AU$11,155*.
Additional expenses
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$308 maximum fee for 2020.
- 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
You may be eligible to apply for a HECS-HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of up to the full amount of your student contribution fees. You may also be eligible to apply to defer payment of your SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme.
Learn more about fees for undergraduate study.
All undergraduate and honours degrees have Commonwealth supported places (CSP) available. In 2020, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,684 to AU$11,155.
In a CSP, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set each year by the Australian Government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of the courses in which you enrol, not the overall program.
How much can I expect to pay for my Commonwealth supported place?
Courses (subjects) fall into one of three bands. The band determines the student contribution amount for the course.
Amounts listed in the table below are based on a standard, full-time study load (96 credit points per year) with all courses in the same band. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load or for enrolment in courses (subjects) from a combination of bands.
You can learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees for units from different bands at fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Maximum student contribution amount for Commonwealth supported places in 2020
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount in 2020 |
Band 1: humanities, behavioural science, social studies, clinical psychology, foreign languages, visual and performing arts, education, nursing |
$6,684 per standard year $835 per standard (12 credit point) course |
Band 2: mathematics, statistics, computing, built environment, other health, allied health, science, engineering, surveying, agriculture |
$9,527 per standard year |
|
$11,155 per standard year |
HECS-HELP Loans
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the HECS-HELP loan scheme, which allows eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) to defer payment of up to the full amount of their student contribution.
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 HECS-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to the full amount of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You will 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 2020 is $308.
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 2020 is AU$38,400.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2020 commencement is AU$165,120.
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.