Bachelor of Design (Architecture)
Course handbook
On this page you will find:
General Information
Overview
Architecture shapes the ways we live and connect. In our Bachelor of Design (Architecture), you'll study design, construction, cultural contexts, and more – all under the guidance of world-renowned academics. Get more than just theory, gain the hands-on experience the industry desires. Design, create, and make in our ProtoLAB with 3D printers, laser cutters, robots, and more.
Study structure
Successful completion of the Bachelor of Design (Architecture) requires students to complete units of study to the value of 300 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.
Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year
One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
See the course planner for an example degree structure.
Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
See the course planner for an example degree structure.
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Core units | |
|
Contexts of Architectural History
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
ARC10003 |
|
Introductory Design Studio
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DDD10006 |
|
Construction 1: Building Systems and Materials
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DIA10001 |
|
Interior Architecture Communication
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DIA10005 |
|
Architectural Design Studio 1 (Communication)
Core unit, 25.0 credit points |
ARC10001 |
|
Cross-cultural Contexts
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
ARC20003 |
|
Interior Architecture Digital Documentation 1
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DIA20003 |
|
Architectural Design Studio 2 (Socio-economic Contexts)
Core unit, 25.0 credit points |
ARC20001 |
|
Construction 2: Building Services and Documentation Packages
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DIA20001 |
|
Architectural Design Studio 3 (Construction)
Core unit, 25.0 credit points |
ARC20002 |
|
Construction 3: Sustainability
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DIA30001 |
|
Architectural Design Studio 4 (Construction)
Core unit, 25.0 credit points |
ARC30001 |
|
Architectural Communication 2
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
ARC30003 |
|
Architectural Design Studio 5
Core unit, 25.0 credit points |
ARC30002 |
|
Professional Practice 1: BIM (Building Information Management)
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
ARC30004 |
Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 50 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).
Minors are a structured set of 4 units or 50 credit points and may be chosen from any field of study.
- Accounting
- Entrepreneurship
- Management
- Marketing
- Space Technology
You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for either 6 or 12 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Professional placement - Major (12 months) | |
|
Work Experience in Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points |
WEI20001 |
|
Integrated Professional Placement A - Design
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points |
DDD20031 |
|
Work Experience in Industry B
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points |
WEI20002 |
|
Integrated Professional Placement B - Design
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points |
DDD20032 |
| or | |
| Professional placement - Minor (6 months) | |
|
Work Experience in Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points |
WEI20001 |
|
Integrated Professional Placement A - Design
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points |
DDD20031 |
Any of the following recommended units may be undertaken as an elective unit. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.
- ANI10001 Introduction to Animation
- ANI10004 Introduction to Character and Environment Design
- ANI10006 Action Analysis and Locomotion
- BIO10004 Anatomy and Physiology
- DCO10003 Packaging Design
- DCO10007 Visual Communication Studio
- DID10001 Product Visualisation 1: 2D and 3D Exploration
- DID10002 Digital Presentation and Computer Ideation
- DID10004 User Centered Design
- ENT10001 Entrepreneurship and Opportunity
- MGT10001 Introduction to Management
- MKT10007 Fundamentals of Marketing
- PEH20004 Built and Sustainable Communities
- PHI10001 History of Ideas
- SOC10005 Environment and Society
- BIO20004 Health and Disease Across the Life Course
- DCO20009 Typography for Print and Interactive Publication
- ENT20006 Lean Startup Springboard
- ENT20008 Startup Funding and Investment
- MKT20021 Integrated Marketing Communication
- MKT20025 Consumer Behaviour
- ORG20002 Business and Society
- ORG20003 Organisational Behaviour
- PHI20001 Environmental Philosophy
- DDD30004 Furniture Design
- DDD30013 Publication Design
- ENT30012 Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Outcomes and course rules
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the Bachelor of Design (Architecture), graduates will be able to:
- resolve a wide array of design challenges by formulating and actualising innovative design ideas in a series of stages from conception to finished design
- interpret and understand knowledge of the global, ethical, socio-economic, cultural and historical contexts that produce contemporary architectural practice
- demonstrate a critical awareness of and responsibility towards the impact of all aspects of architectural practice, design and delivery on natural resources and apply strategies to minimise their impact
- effectively communicate innovative design concepts and outcomes through visual, verbal and written platforms according to audience
- demonstrate comprehensive understanding of regulations, standards and codes and apply them to the relevant aspects of architectural practice, design, and delivery
- demonstrate understanding of players involved in all aspects of architectural practice, design and delivery and perform necessary project management roles, and responsibilities throughout design and construction building processes
- demonstrate comprehensive understanding of structural systems and construction documentation modes and apply them to the relevant aspects of architectural practice, design, and delivery.
Career opportunities
Graduates may enter the workforce globally – in architecture roles for private and corporate architecture firms, government organisations, development companies or in the building and design sector.
Course rules
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Design (Architecture) students must complete 300 credit points comprising:
- four (4) Core Units of Study (100 credit points)
- eleven (11) units of study in the Architecture Professional Major (150 credit points)
- four (4) units of other studies comprising a minor or electives (50 credit points)
A unit of study can only be counted once. Where there are overlaps between majors and/or minors, students in the first instance choose another unit from the list of units available in the major/minor. Students may not complete more than 150 credit points (normally 12 unit) at Introductory Level.
All students must complete the OHS workshop training component of unit DDD10006 in their first semester of the course.
Students who elect to undertake a 6 month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 325 credit points comprising:
- four (4) Core Units of Study (100 credit points)
- eleven (11) units of study in the Architecture Professional Major (150 credit points)
- two [2] Professional Placement units (50 credit points)
- two (2) units of other studies comprising of electives (25 credit points)
Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 375 credit points comprising:
- four (4) Core Units of Study (100 credit points)
- eleven (11) units of study in the Architecture Professional Major (150 credit points)
- four [4] Professional Placement units (100 credit points)
- two (2) units of other studies comprising of electives (25 credit points)
Maximum Academic Credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Design (Architecture) is 200 credit points. This is for students transferring from an Architects Accreditation Council of Australia approved course (or international equivalent).
Admission criteria
Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.
Entry requirements
A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within past three years)
ATAR
This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.
Guaranteed ATAR: if you receive an ATAR of 80 or higher and meet all the essential requirements for this course, you will be guaranteed an offer.
Educational history
An applicant's entire academic history, including ATAR results, will be considered for entry into this course.
Selection rank adjustments
Selection ranks for this course will be calculated based on your ATAR with adjustments to overall study scores based on subjects studied, location of your home address, SEAS application, and participation In Swinburne's Early Leaders program. For further details about selection rank adjustments, see Admissions at Swinburne.
Subject adjustments
A study score of 25 in any Mathematics, Systems Engineering, Product Design and Technology, Visual Communication Design, Media or Studio Arts equals 4 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 15 points.
Meeting course prerequisites
VCE Units 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 20 in any English (except EAL) or 25 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent.
ATAR profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in Semester 1 2024
| ATAR-Based offers only, across all offer rounds | ATAR Excluding adjustment factors |
Selection Rank ATAR + any adjustment factors |
|---|---|---|
| Highest rank to receive an offer | 95.45 | 98.35 |
| Median rank to receive an offer | 71.7 | 79.45 |
| Lowest rank to receive an offer | 60.9 | 71.2 |
B. Applicants with higher education study
Educational history
An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years.
Meeting course prerequisites
As for Year 12 or equivalent.
STAT/Bridging courses
Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.
C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study
Educational history
An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered.
Meeting course prerequisites
As for Year 12 or equivalent.
STAT/Bridging courses
Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.
D. Applicants with work and life experience
Entire academic record
This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course.
Meeting course prerequisites
As for Year 12 or equivalent.
STAT/Bridging courses
Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.
Student profile
The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced in this course in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.
| Semester 1, 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Applicant background | Number of students | Percentage of all students |
| (A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) | 23 | 20% |
| (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study | 20 | 17% |
| (C) Work and life experience (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) | <5 | <5 |
| (D) Recent secondary education: | ||
| Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) | 53 | 45% |
| Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were N/A considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) | N/A | N/A |
| Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was N/A not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) | 0 | 0% |
| International students | N/P | N/P |
| All students | 117 | 100% |
Notes:
“<5” – the number of students is less than 5.N/A – Students not accepted in this category
N/P – Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students.
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