Bachelor of Design and Technology (3729)

  • Approved Abbreviation: BDes&Tech
  • Western Sydney University Program Code: 3729
  • AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 041034F

This program applies to students who commenced in 2021 or later.

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

For commencement year 2020, please refer to: 3729.3 Bachelor of Design and Technology

For commencement year 2018-2019, please refer to: 3729.2 Bachelor of Design and Technology

Handbook Summary 2021 - 2022

The Design and Technology program provides a sound knowledge in a broad range of work-ready design skills, including thinking methods, drawing skills for creativity, design innovation, product design, human factors, design management, and 2D and 3D CAD. This program can lead to multiple career outcomes, including product design, packaging, 3D modelling, rapid prototyping with 3D printing, design for sustainability, new product-oriented Start-Up, or secondary school teaching (with additional qualifications). Fields of Study include Design Practice, Graphic Design, Cultural Studies, UX, Manufacturing, and Sustainable Futures. Students wishing to become industrial designers can articulate in the fourth year of the Bachelor of Industrial Design.

Parts of this course may be taught at the Parramatta City - Hassall St campus or at the Parramatta South campus.

Handbook Summary 2023

The Design and Technology Program is a catalyst for innovation in product design, service design and design for sustainability, drawing together an all-disciplines approach mindset highly valued by employers. It responds flexibly to the varying needs and the power of integrated design for communities, industry, entrepreneurial pursuits and design education.
 
The Design and Technology degree provides skills development in a broad range of work-ready design skills, including design thinking methods, drawing skills for creativity, design innovation, product design, human factors design, design management, and 2D and 3D CAD with the latest internationally recognised software. Students also work collaboratively in teams and with clients on industry projects whilst utilising the extensive Design Studio and Advanced Prototyping Workshop facilities available to them.
 
This program prepares students for multiple career outcomes, including product design, packaging, 3D modelling, rapid prototyping with 3D printing, design for sustainability, new product-oriented venture Start-Ups, high-level verbal and visual presentation and if preferred, secondary school teaching with additional WSU qualifications in Master of Teaching (Secondary). Studies are held at the Parramatta Engineering Innovation Hub.

Effective Design career professionals require a broad range of knowledge to allow them to connect and work with colleagues across many disciplines. To assist students to flexibly build their career pathways, the Bachelor of Design and Technology provides elective options in order to complete a major; or one or two minors; or explore a range of free electives in areas of interest across the university.

Study Mode

Three years full-time or six years part-time.

Program Advice

edbe@westernsydney.edu.au

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Campus Attendance Mode Advice
Parramatta City Campus Full Time Internal See above
Parramatta City Campus Part Time Internal See above

Parts of this course may be taught at the Parramatta City - Hassall St campus or at the Parramatta South campus.

Accreditation

Graduates are eligible for membership of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA).

Admission

Assumed knowledge: any two units of English plus at least two units of Design, Design and Technology, Visual Arts, Digital Multimedia, Engineering, or Business Studies

Alternate Entry

Entry by interview in which personal aptitude, experience, and educational qualifications are taken into consideration supported by a portfolio of works. After applicants have applied, they are required to book an interview and download a questionnaire at the University's online booking system. The questionnaire provides applicants further information on how to prepare their portfolio and for the interview.

https://admissions.westernsydney.edu.au

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.  

International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Recommended Sequence 2021 - 2022

Students may be required to travel to different Western Sydney University campuses to complete the elements of their program.

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points which include the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.

To be eligible to graduate from this program, students are required to complete a minor from the list below.

Parts of these units may be taught at the Parramatta City - Hassall St campus or at the Parramatta South campus.

Start Year Intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
ENGR 1046 Human Centred Design Research Methods 10
ENGR 1039 Designing for Circular Economy 10
ENGR 1043 Co-Designing Change with Local Communities 10
ENGR 1038 Design Graphics: Presenting Innovation 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
ENGR 1041 Designing for User Experience (UX) 10
ENGR 1044 Drawing Skills for Design Thinking 10
ENGR 1040 Designing for People: Applied Ergonomics 10
ENGR 2025 Design Graphics: Engineering Documentation 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
ENGR 1042 Sustainable Materials and Smart Manufacturing 10
ENGR 2026 Design Semantics: Exploring Product Form 10
ENGR 2024 Design Graphics: Communication for Manufacture 10
Select one Major, Minor or Alternate subject 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
ENGR 3023 Biomechanics in Product Innovation 10
ENGR 3026 Design Thinking for Successful Brands and Products 10
Select two Major, Minor or Alternate subjects 20
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
ENGR 4021 Studio: Interdisciplinary Global 10
Select three Major, Minor or Alternate subjects 30
 Credit Points40
Spring session
ENGR 4022 Studio: Design Synthesis Capstone 10
ENGR 2029 Simulation in Virtual and Augmented Realities 10
Select two Major, Minor or Alternate subject 20
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Mid-year Intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Spring sessionCredit Points
ENGR 1041 Designing for User Experience (UX) 10
ENGR 1044 Drawing Skills for Design Thinking 10
ENGR 1040 Designing for People: Applied Ergonomics 10
ENGR 2025 Design Graphics: Engineering Documentation 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
ENGR 1046 Human Centred Design Research Methods 10
ENGR 1039 Designing for Circular Economy 10
ENGR 1038 Design Graphics: Presenting Innovation 10
ENGR 2024 Design Graphics: Communication for Manufacture 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Spring session
ENGR 3023 Biomechanics in Product Innovation 10
ENGR 3026 Design Thinking for Successful Brands and Products 10
Select two Major, Minor or Alternate subjects 20
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
ENGR 1043 Co-Designing Change with Local Communities 10
ENGR 1042 Sustainable Materials and Smart Manufacturing 10
ENGR 2026 Design Semantics: Exploring Product Form 10
Select one Major, Minor or Alternate subject 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Spring session
ENGR 4022 Studio: Design Synthesis Capstone 10
ENGR 2029 Simulation in Virtual and Augmented Realities 10
Select two Major, Minor or Alternate subject 20
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
ENGR 4021 Studio: Interdisciplinary Global 10
Select three Major, Minor or Alternate subjects 30
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Autumn Alternate Subject Pool

Subject Title Credit Points
ENGR 2022Design Practice: Sustainable Manufacturing10
VISU 2003From Ochre to Acrylics to New Technologies10
HUMN 1013Contextualising Indigenous Australia (Day Mode)10
BUSM 3005Creating Change and Innovation10
BUSM 3036Leadership and Entrepreneurship10
BEHV 1018Psychology: Human Behaviour10
HUMN 3077Sustainable Futures10
ENGR 3024Design Research Methods (Advanced)10

Spring Alternate Subject Pool

Subject Title Credit Points
ENGR 3025Designing for Circular Economy (Advanced)10
MKTG 2002Incubator 1: Innovation and Creativity for Entrepreneurship10
ENGR 3028Mentored Practice in Design Innovation10
ENGR 4016Design Practice: Sustainable Components10
ENGR 4019Start-Up Product Launch10
BLDG 1009Environmental Building Design10

Majors and Minors

The Bachelor of Industrial Design is offered at Parramatta City campus only. Students may be required to travel between campuses in order to complete some subjects within specific Majors and Minors.

Majors

Minors


Replaced Minors

The minor listed below counts towards completion of this Program for students who began studying this minor prior to the years indicated below.  

SM1070 Cultural and Social Analysis, Minor, replaced by Culture and Society, Minor in 2021 (listed above)

Recommended Sequence 2023

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points which include the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.

The core subjects are taught at the Parramatta City (Hassall St) campus. 

Students may be required to travel to different Western Sydney University campuses to complete Majors, Minors or elective subjects. 

Full-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
ENGR 1046 Human Centred Design Research Methods 10
ENGR 1039 Designing for Circular Economy 10
ENGR 1043 Co-Designing Change with Local Communities 10
ENGR 1038 Design Graphics: Presenting Innovation 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
ENGR 1041 Designing for User Experience (UX) 10
ENGR 1044 Drawing Skills for Design Thinking 10
ENGR 1040 Designing for People: Applied Ergonomics 10
ENGR 2025 Design Graphics: Engineering Documentation 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
ENGR 1042 Sustainable Materials and Smart Manufacturing 10
ENGR 2026 Design Semantics: Exploring Product Form 10
ENGR 2024 Design Graphics: Communication for Manufacture 10
Select one elective subject 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
ENGR 3023 Biomechanics in Product Innovation 10
ENGR 3026 Design Thinking for Successful Brands and Products 10
Select two elective subjects 20
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
ENGR 4021 Studio: Interdisciplinary Global 10
Select three elective subjects 30
 Credit Points40
Spring session
ENGR 4022 Studio: Design Synthesis Capstone 10
Select one capstone subject from the following: 10
Simulation in Virtual and Augmented Realities  
Start-Up Product Launch  
Design Research Methods (Advanced)  
Design Thinking for Competitive Advantage  
Designing for Circular Economy (Advanced)  
Mentored Practice in Design Innovation  
Mentored Practice in Design (Industry)  
Design Practice: Sustainable Manufacturing  
Design Practice: Sustainable Components  
Select two elective subjects 20
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Full-time mid-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Spring sessionCredit Points
ENGR 1041 Designing for User Experience (UX) 10
ENGR 1044 Drawing Skills for Design Thinking 10
ENGR 1040 Designing for People: Applied Ergonomics 10
ENGR 2025 Design Graphics: Engineering Documentation 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
ENGR 1046 Human Centred Design Research Methods 10
ENGR 1039 Designing for Circular Economy 10
ENGR 1038 Design Graphics: Presenting Innovation 10
ENGR 2024 Design Graphics: Communication for Manufacture 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Spring session
ENGR 3023 Biomechanics in Product Innovation 10
ENGR 3026 Design Thinking for Successful Brands and Products 10
Select two elective subjects 20
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
ENGR 1043 Co-Designing Change with Local Communities 10
ENGR 1042 Sustainable Materials and Smart Manufacturing 10
ENGR 2026 Design Semantics: Exploring Product Form 10
Select one elective subject 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Spring session
ENGR 4022 Studio: Design Synthesis Capstone 10
Select one capstone subject from the following: 10
Simulation in Virtual and Augmented Realities  
Start-Up Product Launch  
Design Research Methods (Advanced)  
Design Thinking for Competitive Advantage  
Designing for Circular Economy (Advanced)  
Mentored Practice in Design Innovation  
Mentored Practice in Design (Industry)  
Design Practice: Sustainable Manufacturing  
Design Practice: Sustainable Components  
Select two elective subjects 20
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
ENGR 4021 Studio: Interdisciplinary Global 10
Select three elective subjects 30
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Elective subjects

Students may select their electives from any program offered by the university, provided any requisite requirements are met.

Students may use their 80 credit points of elective subjects to complete a major, or two minors, or suggested Design and Technology electives or university wide electives or a combination of the above.

Suggested Design and Technology Electives

Subject Title Credit Points
ENGR 3024Design Research Methods (Advanced)10
ENGR 4019Start-Up Product Launch10
ENGR 4017Design Thinking for Competitive Advantage10
ENGR 3025Designing for Circular Economy (Advanced)10
ENGR 3028Mentored Practice in Design Innovation10
ENGR 3031Mentored Practice in Design (Industry)10
ENGR 2022Design Practice: Sustainable Manufacturing10
ENGR 4016Design Practice: Sustainable Components10
Total Credit Points80

Majors

Minors

Western Sydney University also offers the following innovative transdisciplinary minors which we encourage those students who have elective space to consider or may choose another university wide.