Design and Business

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Monash University

Program Overview

Program Overview
The double degree – Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Business at Monash University (course code F2011) – offers a unique combination of creativity and commercial insight. It’s perfect for students who want to become design leaders with the skills to bring their ideas to life in real markets. You’ll graduate with the ability to think like a designer and act like a business professional.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1:
Your first year lays the foundation. Design units like Introduction to the History and Theory of Art, Design and Architecture and Drawing 1 help you develop visual literacy and design thinking. At the same time, business basics such as Marketing Theory and Practice and Microeconomics introduce you to the world of commerce. By the end of this year, you’ll already be thinking like both a creative and a business-minded professional.

Year 2:
In your second year, you’ll start applying what you’ve learned in practical settings. Design studio units like Collaborative Design Studio 1 and Industrial Design Studio 2 allow hands-on exploration of your chosen design specialisation. Business units such as Accounting for Managers and Business Law build your analytical and legal understanding. This is where creativity meets strategy, and you begin to see how ideas can translate into business outcomes.

Year 3:
Year three takes both streams deeper. Advanced design studios like Communication Design Studio 3 and Spatial Design Studio 3 challenge you to deliver complex, professional-quality work. Business studies including Business Statistics and Introduction to Management prepare you to handle data, people, and processes in real business environments. By now, you’ll be operating as both a designer and a business thinker.

Year 4 (and beyond):
Your final year focuses on mastery. You’ll take advanced studios such as Communication Design Studio 4 or Design Strategy and Professional Practice, and complete business major units tailored to your chosen specialisation (like marketing, management, or accounting). Your capstone experience—whether a project, internship, or international placement—helps you polish your portfolio and gain real-world exposure.

Focus Areas

Design specialisations: Communication, Industrial, Spatial, Collaborative
Business majors: Management, Marketing, Accounting

Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program can:

Apply design principles in business contexts
Manage the business development of design-led initiatives
Integrate creative and commercial skills
Collaborate effectively across creative and organisational environments

Professional Alignment
The business component of this degree is part of Monash’s triple-crown-accredited business school (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA), giving your business qualification strong international recognition.

Reputation
Monash University is ranked equal #36 globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026, reflecting its strong reputation and graduate employability.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

If you choose to study the Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Business (Double Degree) at Monash University (Course Code F2011), you’ll be stepping into a dynamic space where creativity meets real-world business. From the very start, you won’t just be learning theory — you’ll be putting it into practice. You’ll work in design studios, take on industry-based projects, and use tools and environments that mirror professional practice. At the same time, you’ll explore the fundamentals of business — including marketing, management, and accounting — and discover how design thinking can shape business strategy and innovation.

Monash gives you the facilities and practical support to really develop your skills. You’ll have access to dedicated design studios, business consulting-style projects, and real-world briefs. You’ll build your portfolio, collaborate in teams, work with digital tools, and gain firsthand insight into how design and business decisions influence one another.

Here’s a closer look at what you’ll experience in this program:

Studio-based design units: You’ll work on real design briefs and create outcomes that reflect professional practice. The design component emphasizes studio work and allows you to focus on a specialist area such as communication design or industrial design.
Business units: You’ll develop your business knowledge alongside your creative skills, learning management, marketing, accounting, and understanding how business decisions are shaped.
Business and design unit (BEX3300): This major unit explicitly links your design and business learning, giving you a unique hybrid skill set.
Progression planning: Monash provides a clear map to help you plan your semesters, so you can balance both design and business components effectively.
Integrated double degree: The program is designed so you can complete both degrees in about four years full-time. This structure shows how Monash integrates the disciplines so that when you graduate, you’re not just a designer or a business graduate — you understand both sides. You’ll know how creative ideas translate into business value, and how products, services, or experiences can be designed and managed for success.

Experiential learning – what you’ll gain:

Collaborative group projects: In studio environments, you’ll design, prototype, and present solutions in teams, reflecting professional design practice.
Business consulting projects: You’ll work with actual business challenges and apply design thinking to strategic business issues.
Industry-standard digital tools: You’ll use tools for design — like digital modelling, prototyping, layout, and UX/UI software — alongside business analytics or management software. The program emphasizes how design and business skills work together.
Hands-on design studios: You’ll have access to state-of-the-art equipment, materials, workshop environments, and labs — especially valuable if you choose an industrial design focus.
Library and digital resources: Monash provides extensive design and business collections, online databases, and specialized resources to support your learning.
Industry-relevant coursework: Studying design and business together gives you a deep understanding of market, consumer, and creative demands, giving you an edge for careers in agencies, product firms, consultancies, or start-ups.
Structured curriculum: You’ll have a clear plan for your units, helping you balance your workload and develop professional project-management and time-management skills.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduate Outcomes & Career Roles

Graduates of the Monash Design‑Business double degree leave uniquely prepared to combine creative design thinking with practical business strategies. You won’t just have ideas—you’ll know how to bring them to life. Some common career paths include:

Design strategist / consultant – shaping products, spaces, or services with a strong business perspective.
Brand manager or marketing manager – applying your design understanding to craft compelling brand identities and campaigns.
Industrial or product designer – turning concepts into physical products that are not only innovative but commercially viable.
Entrepreneur or innovation manager – starting your own ventures, leading innovation projects, or driving design-led business growth.

Progression & Opportunities

Monash supports you throughout your degree and beyond, ensuring you’re ready to succeed in the professional world.

University Services for Employment
You’ll have access to Monash Careers & Employability (Career‑Connect), offering drop-in advising, networking events, CV and LinkedIn support, and connections to industry professionals.

The course includes structured internships or placement units, particularly in the Business component, where you complete a capstone or industry placement, gaining hands-on experience.

Employment Statistics & Salary
Monash consistently ranks highly for graduate employability, with strong employer reputation and partnerships. International undergraduates report an average full-time salary of around USD 62,000, and recent surveys show approximately 82% of undergraduates secure full-time employment after graduation.

University–Industry Partnerships
Monash’s Business faculty integrates industry projects into the curriculum, giving you the chance to work on real business challenges. The university has over 1,500 employer partners, helping students secure internships and eventually full-time roles. For research-oriented students, the Graduate Research Industry Partner (GRIP) program connects you with more than 150 industry partners.

Long-Term Accreditation Value
The Design component of this double degree is recognised by the Design Institute of Australia (DIA), giving your qualifications strong professional credibility. Graduating with two bachelor degrees in just four years from a globally ranked university is highly attractive to employers worldwide.

Graduation Outcomes

When you finish the program, you’ll receive two testamurs: one in Design (specialising in communication, industrial, spatial, or collaborative design) and one in Business.

Through capstones, internships, and studio units, you’ll graduate with:

A portfolio of real-world design projects.
Practical business experience.

This combination of creative work and business acumen sets you apart in the job market.

Further Academic Progression

If you choose to continue your studies after this double degree, Monash offers clear pathways:

Master of Design – specialise further in service, product, or design strategy, building on your undergraduate studio work.
Master of Business / MBA – deepen your business expertise and prepare for leadership, consulting, or entrepreneurial roles.
Research (PhD) – explore design thinking through research, especially via the GRIP program.
Master of Innovation / Entrepreneurship – refine your startup or innovation-management skills, combining your design and business knowledge for new ventures or social enterprises.

Why This Program Makes Sense for You

The Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Business at Monash equips you to do more than create—you’ll learn how to scale your ideas and make an impact. By the time you graduate, you’ll have:

A strong creative portfolio.
Solid business knowledge.
Real-world experience.

This rare combination of design flair and business sense opens doors to highly strategic roles or even starting your own enterprise. It’s the kind of edge today’s employers truly value.