Bachelor of Business/Master of Design (Strategic Design)

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Queensland University of Technology

Program Overview

This vertical double degree lets you complete a Bachelor of Business and move straight into a Master of Design (Strategic Design) in just four years full-time (3 + 1). You’ll learn to combine solid business strategy with creative, human-centred design — equipping you to lead innovation in a way few others can.

Curriculum Structure

Years 1–3 (Bachelor of Business):
During your business undergraduate years, you’ll develop a strong foundation in core disciplines such as accounting, marketing, management, and economics. You’ll also choose a major from a wide range of options, while engaging in problem-solving and real-world projects that sharpen your strategic thinking, ethics, and leadership skills. By the end of these three years, you’ll have both theoretical knowledge and practical experience in business contexts.

Year 4 (Master of Design – Strategic Design):
In the master’s year, you’ll focus on advanced strategic design theory and practice. You’ll complete core units, including a capstone project, along with complementary studies. Through these, you’ll tackle real-world industry-led projects, master human-centred design and co-design approaches, and explore areas such as business-model innovation, design ethics, and foresight.

Focus Areas

Strategic design and innovation
Human-centred design (co-design, critical design thinking)
Business strategy, leadership, and ethics
Real-world project delivery and industry partnerships

Learning Outcomes

Apply strategic design thinking to solve business challenges
Lead innovation through ethical and sustainable solutions
Integrate design and business methods to influence decisions
Deliver tangible design-driven projects with commercial and social impact

Professional Alignment / Accreditation
Graduates of the Master of Design (Strategic Design) are eligible for membership with the Design Institute of Australia (DIA). This provides access to professional networks, mentoring, and recognition in the design industry.

Reputation & Employability
QUT’s design programs are highly respected, giving you both strong business credentials and advanced design expertise. Graduates are well-prepared for roles such as innovation strategist, design strategist, creative director, brand strategist, business consultant, and product manager. Globally, QUT’s Art & Design programs rank among the top 150 according to QS World Rankings.

Why This Program Might Be a Great Fit for You
If you don’t want to choose between business and creativity, this program is an ideal fit. You’ll graduate not only with knowledge but with a powerful toolkit that combines business acumen with design leadership. That means you’ll be ready to lead innovation in startups, consultancies, or even large companies that need someone to drive strategy through design — a skill set that’s in high demand today.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

In this program, you don’t just learn theory — you develop real, practical skills that set you up for success in the real world. From day one, you’ll dive into design challenges and business problems through hands-on experiences that make learning active and engaging. At QUT, the School of Design provides access to well-equipped workshops and studios, where you can explore ideas and build prototypes using the latest tools and digital technologies. You’ll also benefit from the school’s strong research environment, including its Design Lab, where students and faculty collaborate on projects spanning emerging technologies, health, mobility, and community design.

On the business side, you’ll tackle live industry briefs, collaborate on innovation projects, and apply business strategy frameworks in real-world settings. By the time you reach the capstone units, you won’t just be learning — you’ll be working alongside real organisations, putting both your business knowledge and design thinking into action.

Here’s how you’ll gain hands-on experience:

Real-world projects embedded in your coursework, including industry collaborations and capstone briefs.
Partnerships with organisations such as BMW Group and ARM Hub that bring authentic business and design challenges.
Immersive workshops and design studios on Kelvin Grove campus, using cutting-edge technology, including generative AI.
Design research experience through QUT’s Design Lab, where you’ll prototype and test ideas in real-world contexts, from health to mobility to community-focused solutions.
A vertical double-degree structure that lets you move seamlessly from your business undergraduate into the Master of Design (Strategic Design), giving you the chance to work on long-term, layered projects.
Industry guest lectures, site visits, and field engagements through QUT’s external partnerships, for example with Queensland Health and local government.

These experiences ensure your learning is grounded firmly in real business and design practice — giving you skills and confidence that go far beyond the classroom.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of this double degree are uniquely positioned to lead at the intersection of business and design. They develop the ability to turn creative ideas into strategic innovation, making them highly sought after across industries that value both business insight and design thinking.

Typical job roles:
Graduates often move into positions such as:

Innovation strategist
Design strategist
Brand strategist
Creative director

Detailed insights:

University services and career support:
QUT provides Work‑Integrated Learning (WIL) units, allowing students to gain hands-on experience through real-world projects.

Through the BMW Group + QUT Design Academy, students have the opportunity to secure internships — including paid, full-time roles in Germany and the UK.

The university also offers dedicated design facilities and state-of-the-art digital fabrication workshops, preparing students to thrive in professional practice.

Industry partnerships:
The BMW Group + QUT Design Academy is a flagship collaboration, where students work on actual R&D projects in emerging technologies such as AR/VR and robotics, with opportunities for international internships.

Other partners include ARM Hub, Queensland Health, the Herston Biofabrication Institute, and Brisbane City Council, giving students exposure to a wide range of sectors.

Professional recognition:
Graduates can become members of the Design Institute of Australia (DIA).

The master’s component of this program is DIA-recognized, enabling graduates to achieve the “DIA Accredited Designer” status, which comes with mentoring, professional practice resources, and ongoing development opportunities.

Graduate outcomes and employability:
QUT’s approach to design education focuses on solving real-world problems through ethical, sustainable, and strategic design.

There is strong demand for professionals who can bridge business strategy and design, particularly in sectors such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, energy, government services, and social impact.

A concrete example of success: QUT graduate Dylan Sheppard completed a six-month paid internship with BMW in Munich and later secured a full-time role there.

Further academic progression:
Completing this double degree opens pathways to further study, including:

A PhD in Design at QUT, focusing on strategic design and design-led innovation research methods.
Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Strategic Design, ideal for those looking to deepen their design leadership skills and professional credibility. Both are aligned with the Master’s and recognized by the Design Institute of Australia.