Diploma of Graphic Design - CUA50715
Student type:
Quick facts
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Entry score
Not applicable
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Duration
Full-time 1 year -
Location
Brunswick -
Fees
Next intake
February, JulyEntry score
IELTS 5.5
Duration
Full-time 1 yearLocation
Brunswick
Overview
Are you ready to hone your skills in graphic design and develop strong technical expertise? You’ll use industry standard software and gain in-depth knowledge of the design process to work in areas of visual and graphic design.
As a graphic designer, daily activities may include:
- create logos and artwork for products such as packaging or cafe menus
- focus on graphics used for websites, commercials, TV and film
- advertising industry: create graphics for clients to sell a product or service. This may be through print or digital publications such as newspapers and magazines or outdoor signage.
The Diploma provides you with a strong technical focus that develops your technical expertise in digital design, finished art and typography, along with a thorough understanding of design concept development and the design process.
You will explore many forms of visual and graphic communication, including illustration, digital design, typography, calligraphy and lettering, packaging design, books, advertising and publicity material.
You’ll become competent in industry standard software including Adobe InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop.
Details
The learning and teaching approach of this course is modelled on how you would work in a commercial design studio.
Through lectures, workshops, presentation and group discussions, you will learn from experienced staff that will treat you as a junior designer. Teachers are globally connected and divide their time between teaching and working in industry.
You’ll interact with key people from Australian and international companies on commercially related projects during the course, as well as undertaking work experience.
Full-time students are expected to attend approximately 20 hours of classes over four days and undertake approximately 15 hours of extra study and research per week. Most classes are held in computer labs to simulate industry processes. There are often concentrated periods of out-of-class work when assessments are due.
It is recommended that you own a computer, preferably an Apple Mac, which is the industry standard. Please note that this is a recommendation but is not a requirement, as students have access to computer labs on campus.
You will be assessed throughout each semester via project briefs, essays, reports, verbal and visual presentations, group projects, research and practical assignments.
You can access online resources through the myRMIT student portal.
All courses are delivered in English.
In this course, you will connect with leading local and international design companies through excursions, talks and competitions such as the Threadless t-shirt competition.
RMIT University is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal learning with professional or vocational practice.
This graphic design course currently conducts an annual overseas study tour, providing you with the opportunity to meet industry figures and attend workshops and conferences.
RMIT’s Global Experience Office supports students to undertake an exchange or short-term mobility activity with over 165 partner universities worldwide.
You will be introduced to typography and finished art and explore:
- drawing
- illustration
- digital design
- reprographics and prepress
- design concept and theory
- copyright and ethical practice
- industry knowledge.
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diploma of Graphic Design | Brunswick Campus |
1 year full-time
|
1 year full-time
|
C5359 | 090459G |
Choose a program structure
Program code: C5359
National curriculum code: CUA50715
VTAC Code
If you are eligible to apply via VTAC, copy and paste the below code into VTAC search.
- Plan C5359 - 3200172044
Please ensure that you have checked the admissions requirements and apply page before applying.
Career
Graphic designers work in many different commercial and community contexts across both print and digital media. Their work includes areas such as advertising and promotion, art direction, branding and corporate identity, instructional design, packaging, signage and web design.
As a graphic designer, daily activities may include:
- Commercial area: create logos and artwork for products such as packaging or cafe menus
- Electronics area: focus on graphics used for websites, commercials, TV and film
- Advertising industry: create graphics for clients to sell a product or service. This may be through print or digital publications such as newspapers and magazines or outdoor signage.
Admissions
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary school qualification) with a minimum 50% 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.
You may also be considered if you have work experience in this field.
Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee entry. Your application will still need to be assessed and accepted.
Entry requirements
You must:
- complete and submit the Graphic Design selection task.
- VTAC applicants must register and submit the selection task here.
- All tasks must be submitted by the dates noted below for each VTAC round:
- Early round (Non year 12 only): 30 September 2020
- Main round (All applicants): 6 November 2020
- All subsequent rounds (if places are available): 29 January 2021
- All tasks must be submitted by the dates noted below for each VTAC round:
- Direct applicants, including RMIT current or recent students, please click 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 5 February 2021. Tasks will be assessed in the order they are received until this date if places are still available.
- VTAC applicants must register and submit the selection task here.
- attend a folio presentation (some applicants).
- If further information is needed to make a selection decision, you will be invited via email to present your folio.
- Folio presentations will be held in October (VTAC Early round) and December (VTAC main round).
- For all subsequent rounds and direct applicants, folio presentations will be arranged after you have submitted your application.
- Some applicants will be selected based on their selection task and will not be required to attend a folio presentation. These applicants will receive an advisory email by mid December.
- If further information is needed to make a selection decision, you will be invited via email to present your folio.
Advisory letters will be sent in late October (Early round) and late December (Main round).
The selection task requires:
- a statement outlining your opinion on how graphic design can be used to improve society or your community (maximum 250 words).
- a folio comprising of 5 or more completed graphic design pieces, including a selection of process or developmental work for each piece. The folio should demonstrate your design, problem solving and technical skills.
The folio must include:
- 2D and 3D design (“2D” can be any flat surface graphic, layout or illustration. “3D” can be packaging or digital)\
- typography (typesetting or experimenting with type)
- the use of graphic design industry software in any stage of the design process
- drawing
- creative use of design elements (colour, texture, composition, etc).
We highly recommend that you submit a folio that shows a variety of work (different skills, mediums or audience) rather than a folio of similar pieces.
Your folio must be collated a single PDF (maximum 10MB), or a URL to a single PDF if online. Next to each completed piece, provide a short statement describing the task and the outcome (maximum 40 words each).This should explain the concept and how you used design to solve a problem. The explanation should include a brief justification of selected design elements (colour scheme, composition, typeface, etc). Please provide the username and/or password if applicable.
Folio presentation
You may be required to present your folio if further information is needed to make a selection decision.
To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 5.5 (with no individual band below 5.0)
- 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 English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Upper Intermediate Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
Successful completion of this program guarantees entry into the Associate Degree in Graphic Design with 96 credit points of exemptions (equivalent to 1 year full-time study).
Successful completion of this program guarantees entry into the Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) with 48 credit points of exemptions (equivalent to 1 semester full-time study).
You are guaranteed entry into the following programs when you successfully complete the Diploma of Graphic Design:
- Associate Degree of Graphic Design with 2 semesters of advanced standing (equivalent to 96 credit points)
- Bachelor of Design (Communication Design) with 1 semester of advanced standing (equivalent to 48 credit points)
Alternatively, you may be eligible for entry to other RMIT vocational study or undergraduate programs.
Fees
2021 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. To find out if you are eligible for a government subsidised place, follow the steps at How to check if you are eligible.
- 2021 government subsidised place: AU$7,500* per annum
- 2021 full-fee place: AU$15,750* per annum
*Fees shown are indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at the time of enrolment.
Fee finder
Use our fee finder to get an estimate of your fees for this program.
Additional expenses
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$313 maximum fee for 2021.
- Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
Annual fee adjustment
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.
Eligibility Exemption criteria
**The Victorian Government is currently waiving three (3) eligibility criteria around prior qualifications. This means that more people who want to study a vocational education program at RMIT, and who have studied previously, will be able to access a government subsidised place in a program. Find out how to check your eligibility
Defer your payment
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the VET Student Loans scheme, which allows eligible students in eligible programs to defer payment of their tuition fees, up to the maximum loan amount for their program.
Learn more about fees for vocational 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.
VET Student Loans
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the VET Student Loans scheme, 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 VET Student Loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT your tuition fees on your behalf, up to the maximum loan amount for your program.
Your VET Student Loan becomes part of your VETSL debt. You will start repaying your accumulated VETSL 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.
Vet Student Loan cap
If your program is eligible for the VET Student Loan 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 by the due date once you exceed the cap.
It’s easy for you to keep track of your VET Student Loan debt, and you can choose to make upfront payments at any time before the census date.
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 2021 is $313.
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 total indicative tuition fee for 2021 commencement is AU$22,000.
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.