Graphic design courses

A graphic design degree covers both the creative and practical sides of the design process.

You’ll learn:

• Industry design tools, including Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator)

• Print and digital production processes

• Design fundamentals, including brand and identity, typography, and design research

The course you choose will determine the software you need access to while studying, but don’t worry—you won’t need to pay for it yourself. Your university will provide access to industry-standard software, like the Adobe Suite.

Most courses place a strong emphasis on building a graphic design portfolio, so you have something tangible to share with employers. Depending on the course you choose, there may also be opportunities to partake in industry projects or complete work experience.

It depends on the course and whether you choose something short or long-term. Here’s a general guide: 

If you study your graphic design degree online through Open Universities Australia, you have the flexibility to choose how many subjects you take per term. This means you can complete your qualification at a faster or slower pace than you would on campus.

Not necessarily. Graphic design is as much a technical skill as an artistic one. While an eye for composition may be helpful, it’s certainly not a prerequisite for studying graphic design.

The flexibility you’ll have when you complete an online graphic design course makes it ideal if you’re working full or part-time. Online students aren’t required to attend classes at set times, so they have more freedom to study at a time that suits them. You could consider finding a job as a junior graphic designer while you’re studying to gain real-world experience. Once you graduate, you’ll be able to step straight into the industry.

Most graphic designers in Australia work for marketing and advertising agencies, publishers and corporate brands. There’s no shortage of demand for graphic design skills.

Your qualification could also lead to a related career as a:

• Web designer 

• User experience designer 

• Multimedia designer 

• Illustrator 

• Brand manager 

• Art director

Many graphic designers opt to be their own bosses as freelancers.

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

There are plenty of related fields to explore. Use this table to discover what courses to check out next: