Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural)
Quick facts
Student type:
Quick facts
-
Entry score
Not applicable
-
Duration
Full-time 2 years -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
See fee finder
Next intake
February, July Entry score
IELTS 6.0
Duration
Full-time 2 years Location
Melbourne City Fees
AU$25,625 (2019 annual)
Next intake
February, July
Overview
Your career as a building designer
Make your mark in technical positions in building design offices and architectural spaces.
Draw, design and build
Explore techniques from freehand drawing to digital design as you learn about the presentation, documentation and architectural workflow processes for building projects.
Details
Focus on the practical and technical application of design skills, and create innovative, sustainable designs for domestic and commercial-scale building projects.
Learn about building design from the ground up as you explore topics covering
- innovative and sustainable design
- innovative digital applications
- problem-solving
- structural and construction technology
- project documentation
- architectural project administration
- construction processes
- environmental sustainability and design
- materials technology
- building services
- communicating and working with stakeholders
- associated planning and building regulation codes and standards.
You’ll build the right skills to communicate and work effectively with a variety of stakeholders, including regulatory authorities and a wide range of consultants associated with the design, construction and building services.
Throughout your studies and beyond, you’ll have opportunities to contribute to the ongoing development of the building industry and the built environment.
Day-to-day, you can expect to be involved in working to client briefs, preparing architectural drawings and building specifications and visiting building sites for analysis and investigation. You’ll also analyse bushfire attack levels, environmental factors, liaise with engineers, quantity surveyors, building surveyors and planning professionals and working to local council codes, by-laws and national regulations.
Learn from industry-experienced teaching staff as they guide you through the design process in professional studio environments.
Study in state-of-the-art facilities at RMIT’s City campus, learning through lectures, workshops, studios, class and industry presentations and briefs and group discussions.
Throughout your studies you’ll visit sites to give context to your learning and have opportunities to enter industry-led competitions.
Ongoing assessment throughout the semester includes essays, reports, presentations, group projects, research and practical projects.
The student experience
Find out about the opportunities you’ll have as a building design student.
The Building Practitioners Board requires you to hold an Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) in order for you to register to practice as a building designer in the state of Victoria.
If you plan to register as a building practitioner and practice as a sole practitioner, you'll need to meet the requirements set out in the Building Amendment Regulations 2009 to qualify to register in the category Building Design DP-AD (Architectural).
Graduates of this Advanced Diploma, which is accredited under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, will need to complete 1 year's practical experience supervised by a registered architect, builder or building designer to the satisfaction of the Building Practitioners Board.
During your studies, you will have the opportunity to register as a student member of the BDAV and enjoy member benefits and professional development events alongside industry practitioners.
The Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) is a state-accredited and nationally recognised qualification that enables graduate building designers to work for registered building practitioners, architects and other design professionals in related industries.
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) | City Campus |
2 years full-time
|
2 years full-time
|
C6161 |
Choose a program structure
Program code: C6161
National curriculum code: 22477VIC
Career
Work in a wide range of technical positions in architectural practices and building design offices.
Graduate ready to make your mark in technical positions in building design offices and architectural spaces.
Career roles include
- building designer
- building information modelling (BIM) and computer-aided design (CAD) specialist
- domestic and commercial designer.
As a building design graduate, your work focus could include:
- digital presentation and architectural documentation of buildings
- architectural modelling and animation
- specialist and technical design areas such as commercial/domestic design and planning
- retail design and documentation
- working as part of a technical architectural team to support a design team or as part of project management.
Admissions
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 or an equivalent senior secondary school qualification with a minimum average of 50% (see 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.
Entry requirements
If you are not studying year 12 in 2018 you are encouraged to submit a personal statement outlining:
- your reasons for wanting to study this program
- your intended career path
- your personal strengths and attributes relevant to the program
- and details of any related work or voluntary experience
Applicants studying year 12 in 2018 will be considered on the basis of academic achievement, e.g. ATAR.
To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
July 2019 intake
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 5.5 (with no individual band below 5.0)
- TOEFL (Paper Based Test): minimum score of 530 (TWE 3.5)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 50 (with minimum of 5 in Reading, 5 in Listening, 14 in Speaking and 15 in Writing)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 42 (with no communication band less than 36)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 162 with no less than 154 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 Upper Intermediate Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
February 2020 intake and onwards
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 6.0 (with no individual band below 5.5)
- TOEFL (Paper Based Test): minimum score of 550 (TWE 4.0)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 60 (with minimum of 10 in Reading, 9 in Listening, 16 in Speaking and 19 in Writing)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 50 (with no communication band less than 42)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 169 with no less than 162 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 Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
When you successfully complete the Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) you are guaranteed entry into a range of other RMIT programs.
If you successfully complete the program, you will receive 3 semesters of advanced standing (equivalent to 144 credit points) in the Bachelor of Applied Science (Construction Management) (Honours).
If you successfully complete the program, you will receive 2 semesters of advanced standing (equivalent to 96 credit points) in the following programs:
- Bachelor of Applied Science (Project Management) (Honours)
- Bachelor of Applied Science (Property and Valuation) (Honours)
If you achieve a minimum GPA of 4.0 in the final year, you will receive 3 semesters of advanced standing (equivalent to 144 credit points) in the Bachelor of Architectural Design. If you achieve below the minimum GPA, you may still apply and will need to attend an interview. You will be assessed on a case by case basis.
If you achieve a minimum GPA of 3.5, you will receive 3 semesters of advanced standing (equivalent to 144 credit points) in the Bachelor of Interior Design (Honours). If you achieve below the minimum GPA, you may still apply and will need to submit a folio. You will be assessed on a case by case basis.
Alternatively, you may be eligible for entry to other RMIT undergraduate programs.
Fees
The tuition fees you will pay for this program will depend on whether you are offered a Victorian Government subsidised place or a full-fee place. Check your eligibility for a Victorian Government subsidised place using our eligibility calculator.
2019 indicative fees:
- 2019 government subsidised place: AU$9,375* per annum
- 2019 full-fee place: AU$18,750* per annum
*Fees shown are indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at the time of enrolment.
Use our fee finder to get an estimate of your fees for this program.
Tuition fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide. Learn more about fees for vocational study.
To find out if you are eligible for a government subsidised place, follow the steps at ‘How to check if you are eligible’.
The student tuition fees as displayed by the fee finder are indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide. Learn more about fees for vocational study.
VET Student Loans
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the VET Student Loans scheme (VSL), which allows eligible students in eligible programs to defer payment of their tuition fees, up to the maximum loan amount for their program.
How does a VET Student Loan work?
If your VSL application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT your tuition fees on your behalf, up to the maximum loan amount for your program.
If your program is eligible for the VSL scheme and has a loan cap that doesn’t cover the total amount of the tuition fees for your program, then you’ll need to pay RMIT the difference once you exceed the cap.
Your VET Student Loan becomes part of your Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt. You will start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is adjusted each year (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 see VET Student 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 2019 is $303.
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 2019 is AU $25,625.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2019 commencement is AU$52,125.
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.