Bachelor of Design

Programme Overview

The Bachelor of Design (BDes) at the University of Auckland is a 360-point undergraduate degree. The programme equips students with critical design thinking, technical proficiency, and creative problem-solving skills across physical, digital, and visual mediums. It combines studio-based practice, design technologies, iterative prototyping, and human-centered design to prepare students for evolving creative industries.

Note: The Bachelor of Design integrates interdisciplinary studio projects, enabling students to customize their learning pathways across digital products, visual communication, spatial experiences, and emerging technologies.

Programme Pathways

The 360-point qualification is delivered across three years of full-time study (120 points per year):

1. Year 1 Design Foundations (120 points): Introduces fundamental design principles, visual communication, iterative design processes, prototyping tools, and critical design thinking.
2. Year 2 Intermediate Studio & Specialisation (120 points): Focuses on interdisciplinary studio projects, user experience, spatial or digital interaction design, and material technologies.
3. Year 3 Advanced Design & Capstone (120 points): Focuses on complex design systems, industry engagement, speculative design, and a final capstone studio project.

What You'll Study

The curriculum integrates creative studio practice with technical and critical coursework:

• Design Studios:
  • Design Studio 1A & 1B
  • Intermediate & Advanced Multidisciplinary Design Studios
• Design Technologies & Prototyping:
  • Digital Design Tools & Interactive Systems
  • Material Prototyping & Physical Fabrication
• User Experience & Spatial Design:
  • Human-Centered Design & UX Principles
  • Spatial & Environmental Experience Design
• History, Culture & Theory:
  • Design History and Contextual Studies
  • Critical Design Theory & Ethics

Why Choose This Programme?

• Interdisciplinary Curriculum: Combines digital, visual, physical, and spatial design disciplines into a customizable degree structure.
• State-of-the-Art Facilities: Access to specialized maker spaces, digital fabricators, prototyping studios, and industry-standard design software.
• Studio-Based Learning: Hands-on experience through collaborative design labs, industry-led briefs, and real-world project portfolios.

Entry Requirements

• Academic Minimums: Guaranteed entry with NCEA (230), CIE (280), or IB (31) rank scores. Overseas or tertiary entry requires a minimum 4.7 GPE.
• Portfolio Requirement: All applicants must submit a creative portfolio (12–15 pages of creative work, drawings, digital media, or prototypes) and a 1-page written statement via SlideRoom.
• Selection Process: Final entry offers are made based on the combined assessment of academic performance, portfolio quality, and personal statement.
• Language Requirement: Academic IELTS 6.0 overall (no band < 5.5), PTE 50 (no communicative score < 42), or TOEFL iBT 80.