Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design

The Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design at TAFE NSW is a hands-on, studio-based qualification that trains you to work as a graphic designer. You'll spend most of your time making things: designing brand identities, laying out publications, building digital and print campaigns, working with type, colour and image, and preparing artwork for print and screen. The course runs 49 weeks and sits at the advanced diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework, which is a practical, industry-focused qualification between a certificate IV and a bachelor degree. Assessment is based on the work you produce, not just exams.

How the course is structured

TAFE NSW delivers its higher education and diploma courses through units of study, each carrying credit points. Depending on the intake, study is organised across semesters or trimesters, with a mix of core design units and electives that let you push further into areas like digital design, illustration or publication design. Teaching happens in design studios and computer labs, with face-to-face classes, workshops and project briefs that mirror what happens in a working studio. You'll build a professional portfolio across the course, and most students finish with a body of work they can take straight to employers or use to apply for further study.

What you'll actually learn

Expect to work on real briefs and client-style projects. You'll learn design thinking and concept development, typography, layout, colour theory, image-making, and the software the industry runs on, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign are the standard tools in Australian design studios. You'll also cover pre-press and print production, digital and web design fundamentals, and how to present and pitch your work. Work-integrated learning and industry projects are part of how TAFE NSW teaches, so you may work on live briefs or with local organisations as part of your units. TAFE NSW has strong links with creative industries across the state, and its teachers are generally people who have worked in the field.

Who it suits

This course suits people who want a practical, job-ready design qualification without committing to a three-year bachelor degree. It's a good fit if you're changing careers into design, if you've finished school and want to build a portfolio before deciding on further study, or if you're already working in a related area and want formal training. International students should note that studying in Australia on a Student visa allows you to work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, depending on the visa rules at the time. English proficiency requirements apply for international applicants, and the Student visa has its own separate English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register. Check the official TAFE NSW and CRICOS pages for current entry requirements, intake dates and fees.

• Graphic designer, working in design studios, advertising agencies, branding consultancies and in-house marketing teams across Australia.
• Digital designer, producing social media content, web graphics, email campaigns and digital advertising for agencies, retailers and publishers.
• Print production artist, preparing artwork for print at printing companies, publishers and packaging businesses.
• Junior art director or studio assistant, supporting senior designers on campaigns and client work.
• Freelance designer, taking on client projects independently, often alongside part-time or contract work.
• Further study, graduates can use their portfolio and credit to apply for a bachelor degree in graphic design, visual communication or a related field.