Skip to Content

Future Students - Courses

click here for a printable version of this page  

Bachelor of Design (Digital Media Design) 

DDIG10     


Study Mode Study Level Duration Campus and Intake Show intake calendar
Full-time
Part-time (day)
Undergraduate 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time Prahran (Semester 1, Semester 2)


In this course you will learn to bring together research, creative design thinking and industry-relevant technical skills for a range of digital media applications including web, interactive digital media, handheld mobile devices and digital film and television production. The opportunity to study time-based sequence design will provide you with expertise in animation, 3D modelling, digital video, audio media and communication design for electronic media.

Go to top

Note: This course replaces the Bachelor of Design (Multimedia Design) for commencing students at the Prahran campus from 2011.

Students wishing to study the Bachelor of Design (Multimedia Design) at the Sarawak campus should refer to Bachelor of Design (Multimedia Design) on the Sarawak website.

Swinburne's digital media design students are at the forefront of innovation in screen-based research. This degree will prepare you to work with design for digital film production the worldwide web, and computer interactive media. You will develop skills that cut across a range of media and disciplines, supporting the shape and direction of employment opportunities in a particularly exciting, new industry. You will graduate with solid design skills that will help shape the future of the digital media design industry. Opportunities such as study tours and international exchange programs will broaden your horizons and understanding of what design means internationally.
 
Students who undertake the final three semesters of this program commencing in September 2010 at City University, Hong Kong will be enrolled in the final 100 credit point units of the Professional Major and/or one Minor sequence. 

Note: This program is also available at the Swinburne Sarawak campus offering the same Professional Major units and agreed Minors.

Go to top

The structure of, and the units of study within, the Bachelor of Design (Digital Media Design) degree conforms to the AQF Guidelines for a bachelor degree by allowing students to:
  • Acquire a systematic and coherent body of knowledge, the underlying principles and concepts and the associated communication and problem-solving skills
  • Develop academic skills and attributes necessary to undertake design research, comprehend and evaluate new information, concepts and evidence from a range of sources
  • Develop the ability to review, consolidate, extend and apply the knowlege and techniques learnt, including in a professional context
  • Gain a foundation for self-directed and life-long learning
  • Gain interpersonal and teamwork skills appropriate to employment and/or further study.

Go to top

This program (commencing in 2010) has a Flexible Degree Structure  providing you with a wider and more flexible choice in combining studies from different disciplines to add either depth or breadth to your degree. An Industry Placement year may also be applied for.

Prior to enrolment students will be required to attend degree planning information sessions.

For completion of the Bachelor of Design (Digital Media Design) students are required to undertake:
  • The Digital Media Design professional major of 16 units of study (200 credit points); and
  • A co-major of 8 units (100 credit points) or 2 minors of 4 units (50 credit points each)
Students may select co-majors or minors subject to timetable availability. Students may also undertake Electives Plus Minors, Student Exchange or other approved options.

Note: Students cannot enrol in a Co-Major or Minor in the same discipline as their Professional Major.
 
Students will normally be enrolled in a Recommended Study Sequence and must successfully complete a minimum of 300 credit points; 50 per semester for full-time students. To qualify for the award, a student must complete, or have been granted an exemption for the units of study listed below. Students initially enter into the three year bachelor program. At the end of that program students may exit with an undergraduate bachelor degree or continue with further study. Work expected outside normal timetabled contact hours, in keeping with related design courses, will usually be no less than a minimum of two for one.
  
Careers in the Curriculum (CIC) (Prahran students only)
In addition to the above, students must complete a compulsory unit of study HDD0009 Careers in the Curriculum to be awarded the degree. Careers in the Curriculum is an innovative unit designed to assist Swinburne Design students to enhance their employability and career prospects. It is usually undertaken in the second year of your course and is compulsory for all undergraduate students who commence their course from 2007 onwards. Students studying CIC will not incur a HECS or fee debt for the unit as the cost will be met by the university as part of an initiative to enhance students' career skills.
 
Electives Plus Sequences (Prahran students only)
Electives Plus sequences provide Swinburne degree students with options to broaden their career skills and strengthen their employability by selecting from units of study outside their degree discipline.

Students undertaking this course can choose to study Electives Plus sequences from one of the following themes:
Social Research Skills
Sustainability
 
Further information on these Electives Plus sequences can be found here.
Electives Plus sequences are available in all Swinburne degree programs subject to timetabling constraints, with the exception of double degree programs, specialist double major degrees, and where entry has been approved with advanced standing.
 
Summer and Winter Term
The Faculty of Design, Prahran, is offering an optional six-week Winter and Summer term allowing you to complete extra study between the standard semesters. These terms are not mandatory. However, if you wish to vary your study load you may want to consider this option.
 
International Study Programs - Study Abroad
Students can apply to participate in an exchange program or a study tour program as part of their degree. More information about our current exchange and study tour programs can be viewed here 
 
* Please note that international students on a student visa must study full-time as part of their visa requirements.

Go to top

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Design (Digital Media Design) students must complete the required units in their Professional Major of Digital Media Design listed below. With the diversity of Professional Major and Minor studies available to students there may be overlap in the units of study between some Professional Majors, Co-Majors and Minors. Where such overlap occurs a unit can only be counted for credit once.
 
Digital Media Design Professional Major units:
 
A Co-major can be undertaken in one of: 
Industrial Design Co-Major - 2010 on Film and Television Co-Major 2010 onCo-majors can be taken from any discipline across the university, timetable permitting. See the co-majors 2010 page for more information.
 
Minors (timetable permitting) can be undertaken in the following recommended streams:
NOTE:  Some minor sequences do require knowledge of specific software.
 
Minors available to Digital Media Design students:
Minors can be taken from any discipline across the university, timetable permitting. See the minors 2010 page for more information.
 
Minors available to all Swinburne students including Digital Media Design students:
 
Minor available to students from all faculties except Bachelor of Design students:
Design Studies Minor - 2010 on
 
Remaining units may consist of Electives Plus, Study Tours, Student exchange or other approved options.

Go to top

All units of study have a value of 12.5 credit points unless otherwise indicated.
Note:  For students commencing at mid-year, units may be offered in a different sequence.

Swinburne (Prahran) Digital Media Professional Major units:
 
Plus, throughout the length of your degree you will select eight units from your chosen co-major or minor sequence or free elective unit.
 
HDD0009 Careers in the Curriculum  (Prahran students only)
This is a zero credit point unit of study which is compulsory for students in the second or third year of their course.

In Year 3 students may undertake Industry Placement (Prahran students only)
HDP050 Industry Placement 1 (37.5 credit points)
HDP055 Industry Placement 2 (37.5 credit points)
Plus any two 12.5 credit point subject from Stage 3 Design units of study.  Students undertaking Industry Placement interstate or overseas are required to advise Student Administration at the Faculty of Design.

Prerequisites for undertaking Industry Placement in Year 3 are as follows:
Successful completion of Stage 2 (i.e. 200 credit points of which 150 must be from Professional Major). A minimum of 100 credit points must be completed within the Faculty of Design. Minimum credit average in the two most recent semesters of study. Applicants with a minimum credit average are required to complete application forms and will be invited to attend both formal Faculty and industry interviews. Selection is made on the basis of this process.
 
City University, Hong Kong - Bachelor of Design (Digital Media Design) units:
Students who undertake the final three semesters of this program City University, Hong Kong will be enrolled in the final 100 credit point units of the Professional Major and/or one Minor sequence.
 
Semester 1, August 2011
AND
HDC005HK Contemporary Design Issues for students taking 100 credits
OR
HDC006HK Managing Design for students taking 150 credits
 
Semester 2, January 2012
AND
HDMMD322HK Multimedia Design: Advanced Technology  for students taking 100 credits
OR
HDC008HK Design Systems and Services for students taking 150 credits
 

Go to top

Industry Placement is an optional program in which students are placed in paid, supervised employment, for 24 or 48 weeks, relevant to their studies as part of their degree. It aims to provide experiential, discipline-specific learning in an authentic, real-world environment. Through observation, enquiry and practice under the supervision and guidance of professional practitioners and an academic mentor, students will engage in professional experiences and test and critically assess their learning to date. The experience contextualises existing design skills within an understanding of the impact of client, customer, team dynamics and direction in the design process

Industry Placement gives students practical experience to add to their academic studies, and is a proven advantage in the graduate job market. All Industry Placements are subject to availability of places. For further information please enquire at the faculty office.

Go to top

All students undertake first and second year of their design course. Prior to the commencement of third year students choose to continue with coursework (third year) and complete their degree, or apply for Industry Placement (third year) followed by the Honours program as fourth year. An Honours year requires a further 100 credit points of study consisting of all coursework.

Students may continue into the Bachelor of Design (Digital Media Design) (Honours) program through the following avenues, these include a selection process:

1) Students who have successfully undertaken an Industry Placement in Year 3 are required to complete their Honours (fourth) year by Coursework.

2) Students who did not participate in an Industry Placement in third year, and who have maintained a grade average of Credit or above may apply towards the end of their third year, to study in the Honours program. These students will complete their Honours year by coursework.

Coursework – students with equivalent qualifications wishing to apply for their Honours year by coursework may be required to attend an interview and submit a folio.

Go to top

Swinburne offers International Exchange Programs as well as other Education Abroad Programs to help internationalise your degree. International Exchange is an academic program allowing you to study at a Swinburne Partner Institution for one or two semesters during your degree. Swinburne's Partner Institutions offer many relevant subjects as well as a secure base to explore a different culture. Your studies whilst on exchange can be credited towards your Swinburne degree, provided they are relevant and approved by Swinburne. For further information visit the Swinburne Abroad website.

Go to top

Digital Media Design graduates pursue a diverse range of careers in digital film and video production, website development and production, video game and interactive media. Careers may be found in design consultancies, information technology companies, media and entertainment studios, advertising agencies, postproduction and special effects, animation and web design.

Go to top

On completion of this qualification students may be eligible to become a member of the Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA), the Australasian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA), and an Associate Member of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) and should confirm eligibility with the association.

Go to top

Swinburne expects that its graduates:
  • Are entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace, or community
  • Are capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas
  • Operate effectively in work and community situations
  • Are adaptable and manage change
  • Are aware of environments in which they will be contributing
This program addresses and maps these attributes, interpreted within a multi-disciplinary and digital media design context.

Go to top

Successful completion of an appropriate Victorian Year 12 or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.

2012 VCE Prerequisites: Units 3 & 4 - a study score of at least 20 in English (any) and in one of Product Design & Technology, Studio Arts or Visual Communication and Design.

Successful completion of a relevant diploma or equivalent may provide entry into these courses with advanced standing.

Go to top

66.55

2012 Round 1 Clearly-In ATAR (CSP)

Go to top

Applicants with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this program may be granted ‘credit’ and/or entry into the program with ‘advanced standing’. University policies apply and applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. For further information refer to ‘Swinburne Pathways: Credit Transfer Guide’ at: http://pandoraplus.swin.edu.au/credit/StudentCredit/index.cfm

Go to top

An advanced credit transfer system, known as the Pathways program, is in place at Swinburne. Through Pathways, students with one or more of a wide range of post-secondary qualifications (both local and international) can gain entry into a program with advanced standing. Certain subject requirements must be met and an acceptable standard of results achieved in order to gain admission and for maximum credit to be granted. For further information refer to 'Swinburne Pathways: Credit Transfer Guide at: www.swinburne.edu.au/corporate/marketing/pathways//

Go to top

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process where a student may be granted credit or partial credit towards a qualification in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Further details for students considering higher education courses: www.swin.edu.au/corporate/registrar/ppd/files/stuinf.htm

Go to top

For information about Swinburne's fees visit: www.swinburne.edu.au/fees
 

Go to top

For information about scholarships at Swinburne visit: www.swin.edu.au/scholarships

Go to top

Applications must be made through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).
 
VTAC code: 36001 (CSP), 36103 (Int. Fee)
 
For further information, visit the VTAC website at: www.vtac.edu.au
 
Applicants who wish work experience to be considered should complete and submit a VTAC Pi (Personal Information) form.
 
Applicants who have not already applied through VTAC can apply direct to the university by following the step-by-step process on our How to Apply page.
 
This course is available for mid-year intake. Applications are made directly to Swinburne and will be taken on a case by case basis. Application forms can be downloaded from our How to Apply website.

Go to top

Tel: 1300 ASK SWIN (1300 275 794)
Email: study@swinburne.edu.au

Go to top