BDes - Bachelor of Design

Overview
Entry Requirements, Fees and Dates
Regulations
Schedule
Degree Plan
Graduate Profile and Programme Capabilities

The world is changing, almost faster than we can keep up with. While we can’t accurately imagine future realities, we can develop skills that will help us adapt to them.

The Bachelor of Design uses a combination of case studies and real-world project briefs to enable your experimentation in making and prototyping. You will investigate the potential practical, social, political and environmental impacts of different design outcomes, using both digital and material technologies. Your learning will be supported by research academics and specialists drawn from industries relevant to contemporary design.

You can also complete your BDes alongside another discipline as part of a conjoint degree. This means that you can undertake two undergraduate programmes at the same time. You can do a conjoint with Arts, Commerce, Engineering (Honours), or Science.

Conjoint options - Conjoint programmes let you pursue two undergraduate bachelors degrees at the same time.

Learn more about conjoints

Undergraduate study in Design will prepare you to be proactive in a world of expanding job futures and divergent ways of working. Companies will take advantage of emerging market potentials at an early stage through their comfort with disruptive technologies and the application of varied creative approaches to solve problems and identify opportunities. People who are flexible, adaptable and able to explore more than one way of doing things will be highly sought after for business growth. Recently, many new roles have emerged for designers. It’s an exciting time to enter this rapidly expanding field. As well as being able to launch your own entrepreneurial exploits, you’ll be suited to existing organisations that integrate contemporary design into their business practices.

Design strategist
Experience designer
Innovation manager
Interface designer
Product designer
Service designer
Interaction designer
Information designer

Once you become a student at the University, you can get help with planning and developing your career from Career Development and Employability Services.

Key Information for Students

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Overseas qualifications

If your highest qualification was gained outside New Zealand, view our international entry requirements.

New Zealand secondary school qualifications

You are guaranteed entry to this programme if you meet these requirements.

First, you must meet the University Entrance (UE) standard.
You must also meet the rank score for this programme. Not sure about your rank score? Use our rank score calculator.
You may need to have studied certain subjects or achieved credits in particular subjects.
Some programmes have additional requirements, such as an interview, portfolio or references.

Guaranteed rank score, subject and other requirements

If your rank score is slightly lower than the guaranteed score, we encourage you to still apply. We will consider your application if places are available. If you don’t meet the requirements, you may be able to apply under our Undergraduate Targeted Admission Schemes.

Qualification and Score required

NCEA - 180

CIE - 190

IB - 27

New Zealand tertiary qualifications

You can transfer from another tertiary institution, or another University of Auckland qualification, if you meet these requirements.

Guaranteed grade requirements

These are the grades required for guaranteed entry to this programme. If your grades are slightly lower, we encourage you to still apply. We will consider your application if places are available.

Grade required

3.0 Grade Point average Calculate your Grade Point Average

3.0 Grade Point equivalent Calculate your Grade Point Equivalent

Further requirements

You must have completed one semester of successful bachelor degree study from a New Zealand tertiary institution, or one year of successful study as part of an acceptable sub-degree qualification from a New Zealand tertiary institution. You will also need a sound background in calculus and physics.

Transfer of Credit - You can apply for transfer of credit for tertiary courses completed elsewhere as part of your Application for Admission. For more information, please see External transfer of credit.

If you have completed study at another New Zealand University, get an estimate of the transfer credit you may be eligible for, using our Transfer Credit Calculator.

See information about prior tertiary study requirements

You could be eligible for another programme, or check out these alternative pathways:

See if you meet the criteria for the Undergraduate Targeted Admission Scheme (UTAS).
Bridge your educational gap with a preparation and foundation programme.
If you are under 20, have no formal University Entrance (UE) qualification, and are a New Zealand or Australian citizen or permanent resident you can apply for discretionary entrance.
If you can demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and maturity, we offer admission to applicants under 16.

Year Fees Applicable

Domestic Student Annual Fees

International Student Annual Fees

Fees are set in advance of each calendar year and will be updated on this website. Fees are inclusive of 15% GST, but do not include the Student Services Fee, course books, travel and health insurance, or living costs. Fees will be confirmed upon completion of enrolment into courses. For more information, please see Fees and Money Matters.

*Please note: amounts shown are indicative and estimates only.

Scholarships and awards

Find out about the scholarships you may be eligible for.

Student loans and allowances

Are you a New Zealand citizen or resident? You could be eligible for a student loan or allowance.

Cost of living

Get an idea of how much accommodation and general living in Auckland will cost.

This is a limited entry programme: there is a limit on the number of enrolments due to staff or space capacity. For more information, please see the Programme and Course Limitations section of the University Academic and General Statutes and Regulations.

Please note: we will consider late applications if places are still available. International students should start the application process as early as possible to allow sufficient time to apply for a visa.

Semester	Application Closing Date	Semester Start Date	Semester End Date
2026 Semester One	08 December 2025	02 March 2026	29 June 2026

1 - 1

See important dates for the academic year, including orientation, enrolment, study breaks, exams, and graduation.

The regulations for this degree are to be read in conjunction with all other relevant statutes and regulations including the Academic Statutes and Regulations.

Note: This is a limited entry programme as per the Limitation of Entry Statute 1991 and selection criteria apply. Selection criteria are available from the Faculty of Engineering and Design.

1 A student enrolled for this degree must follow a programme of the equivalent of six full-time semesters and pass courses with a total value of 360 points, unless credit is granted under the Admission Regulations and/or the Credit Regulations.

2 A student must pass courses with a total value of 360 points as listed in the Bachelor of Design Schedule.

3 A student who is required to meet the Academic English Language Requirement, as specified in the Enrolment and Programme Regulations, Academic English Language Requirement, of the University Calendar, may substitute an academic English language course approved by the Senate or its representative for 15 points of General Education.

4 a A student is exempted from the requirement to pass courses offered in the General Education Schedules who has:

either

(i) completed an undergraduate degree at a tertiary institution

(ii) been admitted to this degree having completed 240 points or more of degree-level study at another tertiary institution.

b A student who has been exempted from the requirement to pass courses offered in the General Education Schedules must substitute 30 points from courses approved by the Academic Head.

c A student admitted to this degree, who has completed between 120 and 235 points inclusive of degree-level study at another tertiary institution, or who has completed a minimum of 50 points of study towards this degree in one semester at an overseas institution, either through an overseas exchange programme or through prior approval under the Credit Regulations, must pass:

(i) 15 points from courses offered in the General Education Schedules

and

(ii) a further 15 points from courses approved by the Academic Head.

d A student who has been fully or partially exempted from the requirement to pass courses offered in the General Education Schedules is nonetheless required to complete the Academic Integrity course.

5 Special arrangements apply where this degree is taken as a component degree of an approved conjoint combination. The specific requirements and a complete list of the conjoint degrees available are set out in the Conjoint Degrees section of the University Calendar.

6 In exceptional circumstances the Programme Director may approve a variation to a student’s programme of study in accordance with the Enrolment and Programme Regulations.