Design - F6002
Master's degree
Design is a rapidly transforming profession; the Monash Master of Design helps you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be at the forefront of your field. You’ll explore advanced principles in contemporary design, enhance your design practice, and get an industry-relevant qualification.
At Monash, we create designers that the world needs – independent, enquiring and socially responsible.
With specialisations in Interaction Design, Multimedia Design, and Design Research, Monash Master of Design graduates play a vital role as designers and potential leaders in the breadth of sustainable ways of designing for the world – from climate action through to social and cultural equity.
You’ll graduate with an industry-relevant qualification and a body of work that demonstrates your creative thinking skills; advanced capabilities as a design professional; conceptual maturity; and the ability to connect research and practice across the design disciplines.
In the first semester of your course, you’ll be provided with the necessary skills and the time to carefully consider what stream of design you wish to pursue. You’ll then progress into the next semester with confidence in the field of your specialisation.
Multimedia Design
Develop your skills in digital communication environments. This specialisation enables you to build a communication narrative utilising multimedia processes to fill community and business needs, and understand the end-user’s engagement with projects and projects, such as websites, apps and other screen-based media.
Interaction Design
Develop your skills in the design of contemporary artefacts, products and services. This specialisation gives you an understanding of the relationship between interactive activities, products and human behaviour through the use of a diverse range of interactive processes, including UX/UI, the application of advanced technologies, physical and virtual interface manipulation, and rapid prototyping.
Design Research
The Design Research specialisation is a pathway for students interested in fields of design in industrial, spatial, collaborative, communication, and motion design. This specialisation will challenge you to connect research and practice to become a highly thoughtful and engaged design practitioner.
Who is the Master of Design for?
The Monash Master of Design is suitable for anyone looking to expand their creative thinking skills and applying design thinking principles to their field. You don’t need to have an undergraduate degree in design to study the Master of Design; our foundational first semester will set you up for success within the course.
If you have a background in design and are looking to upskill, you may qualify for recognition of prior learning and shorten the duration of your studies by up to one year. You’ll build on your knowledge and skills and refine your expertise in your chosen specialisation.
Studio-based learning
The Master of Design at Monash is built around studio-based learning, which replicates the way many workplaces operate. You’ll work on live projects, engaging with the community or embedded within a design practice or research project, designed to set you up for future success after you graduate. You’ll develop your research skills to learn and apply knowledge drawing on case studies; and strengthen your graphic, written and spoken skills to communicate your ideas effectively.
For more detail on our specialisations, select the tabs below.
At a glance
Course Details
Location |
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|---|---|
Duration |
Depending on prior qualifications, this course can be completed in 1,1.5 or 2 years |
Start date |
Semester One (February), Semester two (July) |
Qualification |
Master of Design |
Please select a specialisation for more details:
“I’m more confident about my identity as a designer." The Master of Design allowed graduate student Smriti the freedom and flexibility to build her knowledge and technical skills within a specialised area of design. Choose from interaction design, multimedia design or design research.
Explore MADA Now, an online exhibition of works by our graduating artists, curators, designers and architects.
Entry Requirements
You need to satisfy the following entrance requirements to be considered for entry to this course.
Minimum Entry Requirements (Domestic students)
Qualifications
Entry level 1: 96 points to complete – Duration: 2 years full-time, 4 years part-time | An Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent) with at least a credit average (60%), or equivalent qualification and experience approved by the faculty. |
Entry level 2: 72 points to complete – Duration: 1.5 year full-time, 3 years part-time | An Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent) in a cognate discipline with at least a credit average (60%), or equivalent qualification and experience approved by the faculty. OR An Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent) in any discipline and a graduate certificate in a cognate discipline with at least a credit average (60%), or equivalent qualification and experience approved by the faculty. |
Entry level 3: 48 points to complete – Duration: 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time | An Australian bachelor honours degree (or equivalent) in a cognate discipline with at least a credit average (60%), or equivalent qualification and experience approved by the faculty. OR An Australian bachelor degree (or equivalent) in a cognate discipline and a graduate certificate in a cognate discipline with at least a credit average (60%), or equivalent qualification and experience approved by the faculty. |
Credit for previous study (or recognition of prior learning) is considered only at the Point of Entry into this course (Entry Level 1: 2 years, Entry Level 2: 1.5 years, Entry Level 3: 1 year). Credit is not usually granted for any further units. The remaining units must all be completed for coherence of the degree and contribution towards the course learning outcomes. Please note, credit applications after entry assessment will not be considered.
English requirements
Applicants must also meet the English language requirements.
University entrance requirements
Minimum entrance requirements for admission to Monash University Australia.
Extra Requirements
Applicants seeking admission at Entry level 3 are required to provide 10-15 images of recent, original work, clearly numbered with a corresponding list of details attached, and to identify their preferred specialisation.
The course structure and progression map can be viewed in the Handbook.
Making the application
Future students
Current Monash students
You may apply to transfer from another Monash course. Transfers are a competitive process. You may apply mid-year for available courses however consideration will be given as to whether you will be able to follow your course progression.
Please note that if you apply for a course transfer, you should still enrol in your current course as if you were continuing so as not to jeopardise your enrolment in the Faculty if your transfer application is unsuccessful. More about Course Transfer.
Self assess for credit eligibility
Check for study credit using the "Credit search" link on the Credit for prior study page.
Fees
Fees are subject to change annually.
Commonwealth supported place (CSP)
The average annual student contribution amount for 2026 is:
A$10,000
For information about CSP availability and applications, refer to the faculty page.
Note: see information on how fees are calculated.
Fee assistance
As a Commonwealth supported student, you may be able to either:
- pay all of your student contribution upfront, or
- defer payment through the HECS HELP loan scheme.
Full fee
Fees are per 48 credit points which represents a standard full-time course load for a year. The fees for 2026 are:
A$41,800
Fee assistance
As a full fee-paying student, you may be eligible to apply for the optional FEE-HELP to assist you to pay all or part of your tuition fees.
Scholarships
We offer over 360 types of scholarships, valued at up to $280,000. Some scholarships offer one-off payments while others continue for the length of your course. Learn more about Monash Scholarships.
Other costs and fees
For information on other study costs and fees, see other study costs.