Employability units are built into the degree
Degree recognised by Design Institute of Australia
80+ hours of work experience built-in
Why choose design and business at Deakin
Turn creative thinking into a career solving complex challenges with a standout combination of design and business capabilities. Design begins with understanding people; business connects people to organisations, markets, and value creation. Together, they create solutions that are meaningful and commercially sound. You'll develop design expertise: engaging audiences through creative, distinctly human solutions no algorithm can replicate. Take a double major in Communication Design and Interactive and UX Design, or single major with minors such as public relations, digital media, advertising and photography.
Build business foundations in digital information, financial literacy, economics, management and marketing, specialising in marketing, entrepreneurship, human resources, business or project management. Graduate having practised turning design insights into compelling business ideas, and those ideas into stories that connect with the intended audience, moving full circle from insight to execution.
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Build a versatile future
Combine design thinking with business skills to solve problems and craft stories that connect brands with consumers and businesses, building a career across creative and commercial industries.
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Learn through practice
Real-world simulated classroom learning, real briefs and businesses, work-integrated learning each year, plus the chance to work in Deakin's Creative Hub.
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Gain recognised credentials
Study design recognised by the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) and business backed by Deakin Business School’s AACSB and EQUIS accreditations.
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Connect with industry
Build practical skills through business clinics, internships, mentoring, competitions and design projects with not-for-profit clients.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Combine design thinking with business knowledge for careers in user experience, communication, marketing and project delivery. You could create audience-focused solutions, analyse business needs and turn ideas into outcomes.
UX (user experience) designer
Research how people use digital products and design clear, accessible experiences. You may map user journeys, create wireframes and prototypes, test ideas and collaborate with product and development teams.
- $110k
Typical salary in Australia
- 9.9%
Projected job growth in 5 years
Business analyst
Review and analyse business processes, identify opportunities for greater efficiency, lead project teams and communicate technical information across the business.
- $115k
Typical salary in Australia
- 4.1/5
Job satisfaction
Other roles include:
- Brand designer
- Communication designer
- Digital communications manager
- Marketing officer
- Project manager
- Social media designer
FAQs
Deakin's campuses in Melbourne, Geelong and Warrnambool are set in vibrant, multicultural communities where it is easy to connect and feel at home. As the #1 university in Australia for international student happiness and student satisfaction, you will be supported at every step of your journey. You can join clubs and societies through the Deakin University Student Association (DUSA), attend social events, go on trips and live on campus to meet people from around the world. Each campus has fitness centres, cafes and 24-hour security, as well as prayer rooms and multifaith chaplains.
Deakin offers a range of merit-based scholarships that can reduce your tuition fees by 20%, 25%, 50% or 100% for the duration of your degree. Eligibility varies by scholarship and the degree you choose, but you will automatically be considered for most scholarships when you apply to Deakin. Use the Find a scholarship tool and filter by 'citizenship' to see what is available to you, or explore Australia Awards scholarships if you are from an eligible country.
As an international student at Deakin, you can work part time according to the conditions of your visa. On a Student Visa (Subclass 500), you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during trimesters. When you are on a trimester break you can work as much as you want. Compulsory work experience that forms part of your degree does not count toward this limit. Find part-time roles and internships through DeakinTALENT and learn more about working in Australia.
Most students studying full time at Deakin need a Student Visa (Subclass 500). You can apply for this visa after you accept your offer and receive your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE). To apply, you will need a valid passport, your CoE, proof of Overseas Student Health Cover and any other documents required by the Department of Home Affairs. Apply as early as possible, but do not book travel until your visa has been granted. Find out more about student visas.
Australia is widely regarded as one of the safest and most welcoming countries in the world for students, with strong legal protections, reliable public services and a multicultural community. In fact, Melbourne is ranked the #4 student city in the world! At Deakin, you will be part of a supportive community, with 24/7 help, dedicated campus security and practical tools to help you feel safe, confident and connected. Deakin’s SafeZone app also connects you directly to campus security and support services if you ever need help. Find out more about studying in Australia.
Deakin offers a wide range of support to help you settle in and succeed throughout your studies – we are ranked the #1 university in Melbourne for student support. You can access 1:1 study support, English language support, career planning help, disability services and free counselling, as well as financial assistance if you need it. On campus, the SafeZone app and 24/7 security services mean help is always within reach. You can explore the full range of support services for international students or start an online chat with a student ambassador before you arrive.
To enrol in an undergraduate degree at Deakin, many degrees require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent). Some degrees require higher scores so check the entry requirements tab on the degree page for details. You may also meet the requirement through recent secondary or university study completed in English, or by demonstrating five or more years of living and working in an English-speaking country. Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis. If you do not yet meet the requirement, the Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) offers pathway programs to help develop your English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Completion of DUELI’s English for Academic Purposes can give you the minimum English language requirements for most Deakin degrees.
Deakin is the #1 university in Melbourne for international student graduate employment. Our degrees are developed with industry insight, so you will gain career-ready skills from the beginning. Each Deakin student can access work-integrated learning through opportunities including placements, internships and projects with well-known industry partners. Our dedicated international student career support program helps you learn about the Australian workforce, make connections and build your network through placements. You will get support with your resume, help looking for an internship or a job after graduation and even advice about your career options overseas.
There is more than one way to study at Deakin. If you do not meet the academic requirements, Deakin College offers a guaranteed pathway to Deakin with small, supportive classes on campus. If you meet the academic requirements but not the English requirements, you can enrol in a Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) English pathway program and progress to your chosen Deakin degree upon successful completion. Deakin also has formal pathway agreements with partner institutions in countries like China, India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and the United States, so you can start your studies locally before transferring to Australia to complete your degree.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Business?
You will build design and business foundations, choose a major from each degree and apply your learning through practical experience.
Core foundations
Build creative foundations
Explore design thinking, creative processes and practices while learning how to communicate ideas with intention.
Learn business essentials
Develop your understanding of financial literacy, marketing, people and organisations, and the changing role of business in society.
Start shaping your future
Begin your employability sequence and reflect on your strengths, goals and the kind of creative business career you want to build.
Choose your direction
Develop design depth
Continue to build your knowledge and skill in design and use electives to broaden your creative practice, while keeping professional contexts in view.
Extend your business toolkit
Build skills in economics, digital information and social impact, then begin shaping your business major around your goals.
Make choice manageable
Balance required learning with room to explore, helping you develop your interests and go deeper in your studies.
Apply and connect
Apply both disciplines
Use design methods and business thinking together through more advanced major study, project work and problem solving.
Move into experience
Progress through employability learning and prepare for work-integrated learning in business through applied, professional contexts.
Build your story
Strengthen communication, leadership and self-management as you turn your learning into evidence for future roles.
Consolidate and graduate
Complete your majors
Finish your design and business majors through advanced learning that draws together technical, creative and commercial skills.
Broaden with electives
Use electives to add perspective from areas that complement your design practice and business ambitions.
Graduate with range
Leave with two connected degrees, practical experience and capabilities across design, strategy, communication and business.
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Design/Bachelor of Business, students must attain a total of 32 credit point.
As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester/semester and usually undertake two trimesters/semesters per year.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
Units
Employability sequence
1 credit point from:
Plus 1 credit point from:
Students must complete 1 of the following 8 credit point Design majors:
Core units
Work Integrated Learning
Plus 1 credit point from:
Students Must complete 1 of the following 8 credit point Business majors:
AI and Business information Systems
What to expect while studying
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
Work integrated learning is a core component of this degree. The Bachelor of Business offers Work Integrated Learning programs to enable students to enrich their studies with a range of international and domestic internships as well as volunteer experiences, while gaining credit towards their degree. Develop your professional work practices and networks while putting theoretical knowledge into practice.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Design (A319) | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Business ( M325) |
|---|---|
| Apply theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the forms, functions, processes, languages and materials of communication design to meet client requirements in a rapidly changing industry setting. | Analyse and evaluate business opportunities and organisational challenges using business concepts and frameworks to inform sustainable value creation. |
| Articulate ideas using design-specific language, concepts, and media to initiate, resolve and generate professional outcomes in response to design briefs. | Influence business decisions and outcomes through ethical and professional judgement and communication by analysing problems and implementing business solutions. |
| Identify, evaluate and navigate a complex and ever-changing range of digital tools in order to strategically achieve successful outcomes in dynamic industry environments. | Communicate business ideas, analyses, and recommendations clearly and professionally to diverse stakeholders, collaborate effectively in teams, and use feedback and reflection to improve business practice. |
| Critically analyse and evaluate design methodologies, concepts, modes and media in order to generate ideas and resolve complex problems to achieve professional industry-based outcomes. | Critically evaluate business models, strategies, and practices to assess their economic, environmental, and social impacts, and advance recommendations that support sustainable outcomes. |
| Strategically evaluate design research methodologies to identify appropriate approaches to complex and ill-defined problems that generate and deliver diverse communication solutions. | Select and apply appropriate business technologies, demonstrating judgement of their relevance for the task and context. |
| Critically reflect on professional performance and growth in order to prioritise needs and maintain professional accountability in communication design settings. | Apply business knowledge and cultural intelligence, with adaptability and reflective practice, to identify and address opportunities for shared prosperity across Indigenous, regional, and international contexts. |
| Lead, deliver and perform respectfully and inclusively within a collaborative and professional team, applying agile and responsive approaches in the delivery of industry standard outcomes. | |
| Evaluate and apply design’s capacity to act as an agent of change that is responsive to the social, cultural and ethical needs of diverse communities in global contexts. |
- Award granted
- Bachelor of Design / Bachelor of Business
- Year
2027 course information
- Deakin code
- D3200
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7
Fees
Estimated tuition fee
$45,200
for 1 yr full-time AUD
The estimated tuition fee above is based on a typical first-year full-time enrolment of 8 credit points and is provided as a guide only. Your tuition fees are determined by your course and unit enrolment. Your tuition fees will vary depending on your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning.
Scholarships
We want to help you excel at Deakin. Our scholarships recognise your dedication and achievements, providing financial support that can ease the cost of living and studying. With less pressure, you'll have more freedom to focus on what matters most – your education and future success.
Apply now
Apply directly to Deakin
Applications can be made directly to the University through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's International Student Application Service.
We recommend engaging with a Deakin Authorised Agent who can assist you with the process and submit the application.
Apply through VTAC
If you are an international student completing an Australian Year 12 in Australia or overseas, you must submit an application through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). In addition, you may also apply directly to Deakin through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's international student application service.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.
Alternate exits
- Bachelor of Business (M370)
- Bachelor of Design (A319)
- Diploma of Business Studies (M201)