Why Study / Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Design / Bachelor of Business is a four-year double degree combining creative design education with business knowledge. It is designed for students who want to work across design, marketing, communications, business strategy and related professional areas.

Key benefits include:

• Combines two qualifications: Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Business.
• Develops both creative and commercial capabilities.
• Design learning covers areas such as visual communication, digital design, photography, UX and interaction design.
• Business study develops knowledge applicable to areas such as marketing, management, entrepreneurship, finance, human resources and international business.
• Students develop creative visual problem-solving, digital prototyping, idea generation, problem-solving, time management and ethical professional practice skills.
• The design component includes a capstone project, with opportunities for industry-connected work.
• Swinburne states that Work Integrated Learning is a guaranteed part of its bachelor degrees and can include placements, internships or industry-linked projects. However, the course handbook specifically states that the WIL Professional Placement option is not available to international students for this double degree.
• The course provides an interdisciplinary pathway for students interested in combining design practice with business and commercial applications.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

Students complete 400 credit points through 16 core units and 15 major units.

Design component:

The current course information provides examples of Design core units including:

• DCO10001 Concepts and Narratives
• DCO10002 Digital Design
• DCO10005 Typography
• DDD10001 Twentieth Century Design
• DCO10004 Photography for Design
• DCO20004 User Interface Design
• DDD20004 Contemporary Design Issues
• DCO20001 Brand and Identity Design

The Design component develops areas such as:

• Design thinking
• Digital design
• Typography
• Photography
• User interface design
• Brand and identity
• Contemporary design practice
• Visual communication
• Creative problem solving
• Digital prototyping

Business component:

Students select one Business major and complete 100 credit points from that major. Available Business majors listed in the course handbook are:

• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Economics
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Finance
• Financial Planning
• Human Resource Management
• International Business
• Information Systems
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Management
• Marketing
• Sports Management

Disciplines / Specialisations

Design majors:

• Digital Media Design
• Communication Design
• Branded Environments
• Photomedia
• UX Interaction Design

Business majors:

• Accounting
• Business Administration
• Economics
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Finance
• Financial Planning
• Human Resource Management
• International Business
• Information Systems
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• Management
• Marketing
• Sports Management

Programme Highlights

• Four-year double degree combining Design and Business.
• 400 credit points.
• Hawthorn campus.
• 15 major units plus 16 core units.
• Choice of a Design major and a Business major.
• Design studies include practical creative and digital disciplines.
• Business studies provide exposure to commercial and organisational practices.
• Design capstone project provides an opportunity for industry-connected project experience.
• Swinburne highlights its international standing in Art and Design and business education on the course page.
• The course lists professional business connections/accreditations including AACSB, PRME, Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, AHRI and CFA Institute.

Career Outcomes

The double degree can support careers that combine creative, digital and business capabilities.

Potential career areas listed by Swinburne include:

• Design consultancy
• Design management
• Marketing
• Merchandising
• Publishing
• Economics

Depending on the selected Design and Business majors, graduates may also pursue roles across:

• Communication and digital design
• UX and interaction design
• Brand and identity
• Photomedia
• Marketing and communications
• Business management
• Entrepreneurship
• Human resources
• Finance
• Information systems
• International business
• Logistics and supply chain
• Sports management

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current course page lists 2027 starts on 1 March and 2 August 2027.
• The current international annual tuition fee is based on the 2026 standard study load; future-year fees may change.
• The course has CRICOS registration code 088391G.
• International students in Australia holding a Student visa must study full-time and on campus.
• The course's WIL Professional Placement option is specifically stated in the handbook as unavailable to international students.
• Students undertaking prior tertiary study may be eligible for academic credit, assessed individually.
• Design and Business major availability can depend on course rules, unit availability and prerequisites.
• Students should confirm the exact major combination available for their intended commencement before accepting an offer.
• Any 2027 programme-specific fee beyond the currently published 2026 fee is not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.
• A programme-specific PTE Academic score is not publicly specified – please confirm with IPU.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students intending to study this programme in Australia generally require an Australian Student visa (subclass 500).

Key requirements and conditions include:

• A valid Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) for the registered course.
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the required period, unless an exemption applies.
• Satisfaction of the Genuine Student requirement.
• Meeting applicable health and character requirements.
• Providing evidence of financial capacity where required by the Department of Home Affairs document checklist/evidence framework.
• Meeting any applicable English-language evidence requirements for the visa.
• Students aged 18 or over may need to satisfy the Australian values statement requirement.
• Student visa holders are generally permitted to work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, subject to visa conditions.
• Work restrictions do not replace the requirement to maintain satisfactory course progress and comply with enrolment/attendance requirements.
• During scheduled course breaks, different work conditions can apply.
• The Student visa can generally allow a stay of up to six years, depending on the enrolment and individual circumstances.
• Visa applicants must have sufficient funds for travel, the first 12 months of course fees and living costs, plus applicable costs for accompanying family members.
• The current Department of Home Affairs financial benchmark for a student is AUD 29,710 for 12 months of living costs, in addition to applicable tuition and travel costs.
• Actual living expenses may be higher than the visa minimum.
• The current Student visa application charge starts from AUD 2,500, with concessions applying in limited circumstances; the exact charge should be checked using the Department of Home Affairs Visa Pricing Estimator at the time of application because visa charges can change.
• Visa requirements and financial thresholds can change, so applicants should check the Department of Home Affairs requirements immediately before lodging their visa application.