Graphic Design

This course equips you with the technical, creative and conceptual skills to create impactful designs that solve visual communication challenges and meet client needs.

Through this course, you’ll learn to interpret briefs and develop solutions using typography, illustration, photography and layouts. Your practice will be guided by design theory and enhanced by critical analysis, enabling you to synthesise information and generate innovative ideas.

With applications across print and digital media, this course prepares you to work in diverse commercial and community contexts. Gain the skills to deliver effective visual communication for clients in various industries and establish yourself in the dynamic field of graphic design.

  • Course Details
    Course/s

    Diploma of Graphic Design | CUA50720
    CRICOS: 105812B

    The Diploma qualification is delivered over three semesters, full time with a minimum of 20 hrs per week. Independent study additional (approx. 6 hours per week)

    Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design | CUA60320
    CRICOS: 112086B

    The Advanced Diploma qualification is delivered over one semester, full time with a minimum of 20 hrs per week, after the completion of the Diploma in Graphic Design with CIT.
    Alternatively, if you have not completed the Diploma in Graphic Design with CIT, it will be completed in two semesters (1 year), full time.
    You will be required to complete additional activities outside of these scheduled classes as part of the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN).

  • Course Duration
    Duration

    TOTAL CIT PACKAGE: 2 years

    Diploma 1.5 years

    Advanced Diploma 6 months with completion of the Diploma in Graphic Design with CIT

    Advanced Diploma 12 months if Diploma of Graphic Design has been completed with another provider.

  • Course Intake
    Intake

    Diploma 2026 Semester 1 (February)

    Advanced Diploma 2027 Semester 2 (July)

    Diploma 2027 Semester 1 (February)

    Advanced Diploma 2028 Semester 2 (July)

  • Course Campus
    Campus

    CIT Woden

  • Course Fees
    Fees*

    Tuition Fees:

    2026 Semester 1:

    Diploma $8,490 per semester (Total qualification tuition fee $25,470)

    2026 Semester 2:

    Advanced Diploma: $8,490 per semester (Total qualification tuition fee $16,980 for 12-month qualification or $8,490 upon completion of CIT’s Diploma of Graphic Design)

    Extra Fees:

    Diploma: Material fees $1,529.00, Uniform/equipment Hard drive or cloud storage $100, Stationery Printing costs $200. Other: Laptop (preferred but not essential) eg. MacBook Pro: approx. $3,000

    Advanced Diploma: Laptop (preferred but not essential) e.g. MacBook Pro: $2,000-3,000 approx., Hard drive: $100 approx., Printing & mounting: $320 approx.

    To complete this course, you will be provided an account to Adobe Suite but will be required to provide the following:
    - Notebook
    - Visual arts diary (A3)
    - Drawing tools
    - Headphones
    - Image capture devices i.e., scanner, camera

  • *Please note - Course fees are listed in $AUD and are based on a semester rate. Total course cost will vary depending on semester start date. Small tuition and material fee increases may occur annually in line with CIT's fee pricing review. Fees are subject to change.

  • Entry Requirements

    Academic requirements:

    • Year 12 Certificate or equivalent
    • Interview (or other negotiated process)
    • A portfolio of recent work or work that demonstrates your aptitude for design. Portfolios may contain examples of design solutions from a range of activities and media types and may include drawing, photography, painting, printmaking or any graphic design projects you have undertaken

    Literacy Skills Information

    We suggest that you will need Australian Core Skills Framework literacy levels of at least 4 across reading, writing, learning, oral communication and, depending on your course of study, numeracy skills to successfully complete this course. If you do not have this level, you can still enrol and seek support to improve your skills or you may prefer to begin with the lower level course.


    Students over the age of 20 may be eligible for adult entry. Please refer to Entry Requirements for more information.

    English requirements

    Students must meet one of the following English requirements:

    • IELTS 6.0 (no band score less than 5.0)
    • PTE Academic - 50 (minimum of 36 in each band)
    • Cambridge English test (C1 Advanced and B2 First) - 169

    Portfolio Requirements
    Individuals must provide evidence of their technical skills and ability to:

    • produce multiple examples of graphic design work that meets different design requirements.
    • produce typography that supports the overall design solution.
    • use graphic design industry software.
    • Skills and knowledge may have been acquired through personal or work experience or formal study.
    • (You will need to collect and retain confirmed evidence of any entry requirements if stated)
  • Course Subjects - Diploma

    Diploma of Graphic Design | CUA50720 – 19 subjects

    Core: Complete all 9

    • CUAGRD501 Research visual communication history and theory
    • CUAPPR513 Present a body of own creative work
    • CUAGRD502 Produce graphic designs for 2-D and 3-D applications
    • CUAGRD514 Create and manipulate graphics
    • CUAGRD503 Produce typographic design solutions
    • CUAGRD515 Design and manipulate complex layouts
    • CUAGRD516 Develop graphic design practice to meet industry needs
    • CUADES413 Develop and extend design skills and practice
    • CUAACD531 Refine drawing and other visual representation tools

    Electives: Complete 10

    • CUADES412 Interpret and respond to a design brief
    • CUAPPR511 Realise a body of creative work
    • CUAACD522 Work with photomedia in creative practice
    • CUADES511 Implement design solutions
    • ICTDMT407 Incorporate video assets into media presentations
    • CUADIG401 Author interactive media
    • CUASOU304 Prepare audio assets
    • CUADIG413 Create user interfaces
    • BSBCMM411 Make presentations
    • BSBMKG551 Create multiplatform advertisements for mass media
  • Course Subjects - Advanced Diploma

    Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design | CUA60320 – 15 subjects

    Core: Complete all 6

    • CUAPPR612 Collaborate in professional creative projects
    • CUADES512 Establish, negotiate and refine a design brief
    • CUADES611 Manage design realisation
    • CUAGRD612 Originate graphic designs for complex briefs
    • CUAGRD611 Engage in the business of graphic design
    • CUAGRD603 Extend typographic design expertise

    Electives: Complete 9

    • CUAPPR514 Establish and maintain environmentally sustainable creative practice
    • CUAACD531 Refine drawing and other visual representation tools
    • CUAACD522 Work with photomedia in creative practice
    • CUAPPR614 Publicly present a body of own creative work
    • CUADES511 Implement design solutions
    • CUAGRD617 Develop graphic designs for branding and identity
    • CUADIG401 Author interactive media
    • CUADIG413 Create user interfaces
    • BSBMKG551 Create multiplatform advertisements for mass media
    • CUAPPR511 Realise a body of creative work
  • Likely Job Outcome

    Diploma: Professional graphic design practitioners

    Advanced Diploma: This qualification will provide you with the skills and knowledge enabling employment opportunities as a Professional Graphic Design Practitioner. You may work in many different commercial and community contexts across both print and digital media.

  • Teaching Methods and Assessment

    Teaching methods include:

    • Simulated workplaces to practice professional skills: the Graphic Design ‘Mac labs’ reflect a functioning design studio environment with access to the latest equipment, software, scanners, tablets, video and sound technologies
    • Work experience, including client interactions, commercial design briefs and industry work placements
    • Collaborative learning
    • Supervised study time with visiting industry specialists and practice feedback from industry professionals
    • On-line learning and student engagement through e-Learn
    • Excursions and field trips


    Students will be assessed in the following ways:

    • Participation in industry projects, complete assignments and projects
    • Assessments may be based on competency, marks and grades, or a combination of all three
  • Pathways to Further Study

    CIT’s credit transfer arrangements can reduce the time and fees required to complete a bachelor degree at university. If you successfully complete your CIT qualification and gain entry into the university below, you will receive the following:

    University of Canberra (UC)

    • Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design (CUA60320) is 48 credit points (2 years) towards the 72 credit points for UC’s Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication Design) (ARB203)

    _______________________________________________________________________________

    We advise you speak directly with your chosen university in relation to credit transfer, entry requirements and their application process.

    Diploma of Graphic Design
    1.5 years     Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design
    6 months
    = 2.0 years of study
    ▼
    Optional degree pathway available