Bachelors Degrees in Design Worldwide

Understand the design process from start to finish.

A bachelor's degree in design will allow you to develop your skills and knowledge of the way things around you are built and how they are meant to be interacted with. Taking between 3 and 4 years to complete, a design degree covers a range of modules, some of which are interdisciplinary.

Generally, design as a standalone subject looks at the creation and organisation of elements (such as shapes, textures, space, materials, functional parts, etc.) to solve problems and make things look and work better.

Many of the subdisciplines of design can be studied as standalone degrees. You might choose to study a more specialised design undergraduate course if you have specific career aims, or have a stronger interest in a particular subject area. Otherwise, you can study a general design degree at undergraduate level and go on to a design specialisation with a masters degree.

Some of the sub disciplines include:

• Costume design degrees - the study of creating costumes and accessories for TV, film, theatre, and other performing arts.
• Fashion design degrees - the creation of clothing and accessories, balancing aesthetics, functionality, and materials.
• Graphic design degrees - focuses on visual communication using typography, imagery, and layout to create visual content for print and digital media.
• Innovation and design degrees - looks at creating forward thinking and sustainable solutions to current problems.
• Interaction design degrees - the design and creation of digital products, services and systems, such as mobile applications or computer programs.
• Industrial design degrees - involves designing products that are manufactured through mass production, ensuring they are functional, safe, and look nice.
• Interior design degrees - focuses on how to create spaces for functionality, aesthetics and safety.
• Lighting design degrees - the technical and artistic aspects of lighting a space or environment for performances or other events.
• Product design degrees - study of the conceptualisation, design, manufacturing and usage of everyday objects.
• Sound design degrees - looks at the creation, manipulation and mixing of sound for films, television, music production, theatre, and video games, among others.
• Video game design degrees - the design and development of video games, including the creation, programming, testing and troubleshooting of applications or programs.

As well as studying the above subjects as standalone degrees, they might also be offered as specialisations on design courses, so check the module lists for programs you are interested in.

Studying abroad as an international student is a great opportunity to not only access a high quality education, but also learn alongside a global group of students. This will not only allow you to build your skills both inside and outside of the classroom, but also means you are working with peers who will enter the workplace at the same time as you, which is a good opportunity for networking and career development in the future.

Admission Requirements

Admissions to a bachelor's degree in design usually requires a high school diploma or the equivalent. Certain courses or universities require that you have previously studied specific subjects. If your program is taught in English, you might need to provide proof of your language proficiency. This can be done with test results from TOEFL or IELTS.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for international students will vary depending on your home country and where you choose to study. It is important that you do your research to understand the cost of studying abroad, and what financial aid options are available, such as scholarships or grants.

You can find more information about the cost of a design degree either in course descriptions here on StudyLink, or on institution websites. Institution websites will also have more details on the scholarships you may be eligible to apply for.

Careers

As a design graduate you will have many options for your next steps. One option is to take on further studies, such as a masters degree, or pursue a career. The opportunities are varied, but you might be able to work in film, architecture, set design, music production, or studio management, as well as other fields.