UNDERGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF DESIGN /
FOUNDATION DESIGN & BUSINESS READY
If you're looking for the best foundational design course in Australia, the Undergraduate Certificate of Design (Nested within the Bachelor of Design) provides an unparalleled introduction to the fundamentals of design, preparing you to become a business-ready professional in the dynamic creative industry. This program is specifically tailored for creative individuals eager to excel through a comprehensive understanding of essential design skills and techniques. No prior experience is required.
You’ll explore core elements such as illustration, greyscale rendering, and tonal variation, while mastering fundamental principles of design. You'll learn a proven design formula that lays the groundwork for sustained success. Additionally, the course emphasises proficiency in digital design using industry-standard software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, ensuring you are fully prepared to meet the demands of contemporary creative industries.
This practical knowledge is enriched by an in-depth exploration of design history and context, covering influential movements, significant historical periods, and key figures who have shaped the discipline of design.
By completing this degree, you won’t just study design—you'll emerge business-ready, equipped with a robust foundation, practical skills, and theoretical insights necessary to thrive and lead in various creative fields, including digital design, fashion business, branding, visual communication, and more.
The Undergraduate Certificate of Design at WHITEHOUSE consists of one trimester and is completed within 12 weeks full-time.
Administrative Date: is the last date that you can complete the requirements for enrolment or progression and finalise any upfront tuition fees for the relevant trimester. The Administrative Date is the trimester commencement date.
Census Date: is the deadline for various requirements, which include things like submitting your electronic request (eCAF) for HELP Assistance FEE-HELP loan. If you miss the census date, and you have not submitted your (eCAF) you will not be eligible to access HELP for that trimester and your fees will revert to an up-front payment. The census date is also the deadline for withdrawing from subjects without incurring the full cost of your subject(s) or a HELP debt.
The Undergraduate Certificate of Design comprises one trimester, consisting of four foundational subjects. To qualify for the award of the Undergraduate Certificate of Design, students must successfully complete all required subjects, totaling 24 credit points, including satisfactory completion of all subjects.
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|DC1|Design Contexts Level 1 (Core Subject)|6 Credit Points|
|DD1|Digital Design Level 1 (Core Subject)|6 Credit Points|
|ID1|Illustration for Design Level 1 (Core Subject)|6 Credit Points|
|E&P1|Elements and Principles Level 1 (Core Subject)|6 Credit Points|
DESIGN CONTEXTS
Dive into the vibrant world of design through our exciting exploration of historical, cultural, and social influences. In just one trimester, you'll discover how contemporary design is shaped by key movements, pivotal periods, and iconic influences. Connect your learning directly to current market trends and understand how great design drives business success.
DIGITAL DESIGN
Unlock your creativity and enhance your professional skills by mastering the industry-standard Adobe Creative Cloud suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. You’ll create powerful visual communications that meet today’s market demands and set you apart as a skilled digital designer.
ILLUSTRATION FOR DESIGN
Master visual storytelling through dynamic illustration techniques, greyscale rendering, and tonal variations. Learn to effectively communicate your design concepts using foundational elements and principles of design across various media. This engaging and practical approach ensures you're ready to excel creatively and commercially.
ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES
Build your creative foundation by understanding and applying the core elements and principles of successful design. Our comprehensive approach ensures you're equipped with the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to excel in any design discipline, preparing you for professional success.
Here are just some examples of career outcomes that our graduates have continued into.
Pathway Option: Successful Graduates will recieve credit for DD1, DC1 and DI1 in the Bachelor of Design program.
|:----|:----|
|Junior Graphic Designer|Junior Textile Designer|
|Assistant Fashion Buyer|Digital Content Creator|
|Illustrator|Design Assistant|
|Marketing Intern|Visual Merchandising Assistant|
|Creative Production Assistant|Brand and Marketing Assistant|
|Junior Magazine Editor|JTrend Analyst|
With purpose built design campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, Whitehouse students are provided with state-of-the-art facilities within each of their subjects. Exclusive access to digital resources such as FREE Adobe Creative Cloud, trend-forecasting services, a specialist design library, one of the largest design collections from Louis Vuitton/Burberry/Sacai etc, student rooftop garden, student pool area and fully-equipped photography studios.
Whitehouse is continuously updating and improving resources to ensure that students have extensive design research support.
|:----|:----|:----|
|Trimester One|4|$1,826.25|
The Tuition Fee schedule applies for 2025 only and are subject to annual review and alteration. All fees are in Australian Dollars and inclusive of GST where GST is applicable. The Fee document attached is for tuition only and do not include course material costs. For further information on course material cost estimates please call us on 1300 551 433 and ask to speak with the Admissions Team.
TUITION FEE PAYMENT OPTIONS
You can choose to pay your tuition fees in the following ways:
- FEE-HELP
- Pay Fees Upfront
- Upfront Payment for Single Unit/s + FEE-HELP
Tuition fees for each study period are to be paid in advance before the commencement of each study period. You can either elect to pay upfront, in full or a portion upfront, with the balance deferred to FEE-HELP.
If you elect to pay your tuition fees up front, this does not prevent you from accessing FEE-HELP at any time, provided an electronic Commonwealth Assistance form (eCAF) to defer tuition to FEE-HELP assistance form is lodged before the relevant Census Date for the study period.
FEE-HELP
FEE-HELP is a loan scheme that helps eligible Australian fee-paying students (full-time or part-time) pay their tuition fees.
FEE-HELP can cover all or part of your tuition fees. The Australian Government pays the amount of the loan direct to Whitehouse. You’ll make repayments on your loan through the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) whenever your income is above the threshold, or you can make voluntary repayment to ATO at any time.
No interest is charged on your FEE-HELP loan, however, the Commonwealth Government applies a one off loan fee and it is indexed each year with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in line with the cost of living.
The Government’s Study Assist website provides more information about FEE-HELP, eligibility and your rights & obligations.
Tuition Schedule for International Students applies as of 2025. All tuition fees are subject to annual review and alteration. All fees are in Australian Dollars and inclusive of GST where GST is applicable. The Fee documents attached are for tuition only and do not include course material costs. For further information on course material cost estimates please call us on 1300 551 433 and ask to speak with the Admissions Team.
TUITION FEE PAYMENT OPTIONS
You can choose to pay your tuition fees in the following ways:
- Pay Fees Upfront
Tuition fees for each study period are to be paid no later than 7 days in advance before the commencement of each study period.
On enrolment, an invoice will be issued to you with online payment options including Apple Pay, PayPal, Visa, American Express and Mastercard. Direct Bank transfer is also available to avoid any applicable surcharge.
Non-tuition fees are governed by the Higher Education Support Act. Students must be able to complete the requirements of their course of study without the imposition of fees that are additional to tuition fees except in the following circumstances:
- for a service that is not essential to the course of study; or
- for alternative forms of access to a service that is an essential component of the course of study, but is otherwise made readily available at no additional charge by Whitehouse; or
- the fee is a fine or penalty, provided it is imposed principally as a disincentive.
NON-TUITION FEES AND CHARGES SCHEDULE
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|Cancellation Fee O/S – approved notice of withdrawal or deferral received before course commencement = 10% of the study period tuition fee (international students only - penalty)|(max) $1,356.00|
|Refusal of student visa by DIBP – 5% of pre-paid tuition fees or $500.00 (international students only - penalty)|5% or $500.00|
|Electronic transactions surcharge - Visa and MasterCard (service charge)|0.87%|
|Electronic transactions surcharge EFTPOS (service charge)|$0.45 each|
|Late Payment fee (penalty)|$20.00 per day|
|Dishonoured payment (penalty)|$50.00|
|Reissue of Testamur/Qualification<sup>\*</sup> (service charge)|$50.00|
|Reissue of Academic Transcript<sup>\*</sup> (service charge)|$30.00|
|Locker Hire – Annual (service charge)|$45.00|
|Locker Key/Lock reissue (penalty)|$25.00|
|Reissue Whitehouse Student ID card (penalty)|$30.00|
|Overdue Library Book fee: $1 per day up to first 7 days, $10 per day thereafter (fine)|$1.00/$10.00|
|Lost Book Fee: minimum $150 or cost of replacement (fine)|$150.00 minimum|
|Printing fees - library (service charge)|$0.10 to $2.00 per sheet|
|Binding - library (service charge)|$1.45 - $4.50 per set|
|Graduation ceremony (service charge) <sup>\*\*</sup>|$155.00 - $170.00|
|Private Tuition (BDes only – service charge) <sup>\*\*\*</sup>|$85.00 per hour|
* Reissue of academic transcripts and or Transcript/Qualification must be made in writing (see Request Issue of Transcript form) with payment/credit card authority and include current mailing and contact details, and in advance.
** Graduation ceremony – students are not required to attend the ceremony and can be conferred award in absentia without charge.
*** Students may be required to undertake private tuition due change of design specialisation or missed content though unsupported absences to assist with progression. Private tuition is also available upon request.
WHAT IS THE SSAF?
The SSAF is for student services and amenities of a non-academic nature, such as recreational activities, student socials, special events, counselling services etc.
WHO PAYS THE SSAF?
Any person who is enrolled or seeking to enrol with a higher education provider can be charged a student services and amenities fee.
WHEN IS THE SSAF DUE?
The SSAF is payable by the census date each study period. Please refer to the Academic Calendar for the latest academic and census dates.
HOW MUCH IS SSAF?
The amount you pay depends on your fee type and study load.
Each year Whitehouse will charge an annual SSAF calculated in accordance with government regulations. in 2025, the maximum fee is $360.00
- Full-time students, the maximum amount to be charged will be $120.00 per trimester.
- Part-time students, the maximum amount to be charged will be $60.00 per trimester.
HOW DO STUDENTS PAY THE SSAF?
Domestic students can pay upfront or defer the payment to SA-Help.
If you do not wish to pay upfront and you are eligible, you can request assistance from the Commonwealth and defer the fee through the element of the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) known as SA-Help.
Under SA-Help, the amount of the fee will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
International students are not eligible for SA-Help and must pay the fee up-front.
WHO DECIDES WHAT THE SSAF IS SPENT ON?
The Student Representative Council (SRC) in consultation with the student body and Whitehouse Executive, will have an important say in how the fees are allocated and spent, ranging from services such as, student wellbeing, learning support and career advice, or recreational activities outside normal class time.
The SSAF cannot be used for the provision of academic service, to support political parties or the election of a person to a Commonwealth, state, territory parliament or local government body.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REFER:
Australian Government, Department of Education and Training
Whitehouse Student Services and Amenities Policy and Procedures are available on the Whitehouse website under the "legal" tab.
Whitehouse Institute offers students the opportunity to experience a wide range of different studio practices, each of which will require specific materials and equipment. It is the student’s responsibility to determine what materials and equipment are required for each class prior to the class being held. - this will be listed in the course outline for each subject and often posted ahead of time on Google Classroom. Students are required to attend each class with the correct equipment.
The cost of materials and supplies will vary depending on the specialisation. Costs will be incurred for specialist art papers, fabrics and accessories. Specialised Studio Workshops require additional materials and supplies and these costs are determined by the student’s choice of items.
The design staff have put a Whitehouse specific art and technical kit together to ensure that students have the essential supplies to assist them in the execution of high-quality work and consistency across specialisations. These supplies are required at the commencement of studies. On enrolment an invoice will be emailed to complete this.
FREE ADOBE CREATIVE CLOUD PRO LICENCE
You'll receive a free Adobe Creative Cloud Pro licence with your Whitehouse student email for the entire time you're studying Design with us.
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|Higher Education Study (includes bridging or enabling courses)|60|19%|
|Vocational Education & Training (VET) Study|45|14%|
|Secondary Education (recent) Admitted solely on basis of ATAR|N/A|0%|
|Secondary Education (recent) Admitted where ATAR, Portfolio and Motivational Statement were considered|109|34%|
|Secondary Education (recent) Admitted on the basis of other criteria and ATAR was not a factor (e.g. special consideration, Portfolio & Motivational Statement alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)|88|26%|
|Work and Life Experience|18|6%|
|International Student|4|1%|
|ALL Students|324|100%|
Data based on Trimester 1 – February 2024
Whitehouse does not hold an ATAR requirement. All applicants are to provide a creative portfolio and a motivational statement as well as attend an in-person interview.
The creative portfolio is a selection of your best work, which demonstrates your creative potential. A portfolio usually consists of between 6-8 examples, and can use a variety of mediums which may include illustration, digital design, photography, film, creative writing, textile design, fine artworks and other evidence as appropriate to your chosen specialisation. Whitehouse uses your portfolio to assess your creative potential for success in the Bachelor of Design. We look at how your work demonstrates:
- An understanding of design, a connection with the current design industry and innovation in your creative thinking.
- A desire to learn and the ability to investigate and develop ideas independently.
If you do not have a Creative Portfolio, or have questions about yours, call us on 1300 551 433 or email study@whitehouse-design.edu.au to talk to us.
Whitehouse offers short workshops throughout the year, which assist students and applicants with their portfolio development. We recommend anyone considering a career in design or applying for the Bachelor of Design, to attend a workshop with us.
Details of all of Whitehouse's Workshops can be found here:
To assist you in your tertiary level design studies, it is recommended that a combination of the following subjects be undertaken during years 11 and 12: Modern or Ancient History, Design & Technology, Visual Arts, Visual Communication and Textiles & Design.
Whitehouse does not have any compulsory pre-requisite subjects.
Whitehouse offers a Certificate III in Design Fundamentals (VET for Secondary School Students) course, which offers its graduates direct entry into the Bachelor of Design at Whitehouse. Students can take this course in Year 10, 11 or 12 of High School.
Cert III in Design Fundamentals
Whitehouse suggests that all applicants take a Whitehouse Workshop. More information on the link below.
Absolutely, we are here to help. We recommend meeting with us, giving us a call or coming in for a tour. You can do any of those by clicking on the links below.
Call now 1300 551 433
Email us study@whitehouse-design.edu.au
An ATAR of 67.95* is desirable if applying with a secondary education only but is not the only criteria for acceptance. With your latest academic results, creative portfolio and motivational statement, an adjustment/equity factor may apply.
Adjustment or Equity factors might apply to study, work, cultural background or life experiences that have been impacted by location, study choices, disability, illness or family disruption and will be considered for admission. Each application will be considered on its merit, based on the evidence supplied by you attesting to your individual circumstances.
An adjustment factor to the application will be taken into consideration if:
- Applicant has completed a Certificate III in Design Fundamentals (or equivalent) at Whitehouse or at another RTO
- Evidence is produced indicating exceptional creative endeavours. Whitehouse will also consider: volunteering, internship, work experience, past/current employment and or extracurricular activities
- Applicant is of mature age
You may also be considered for admission on the basis of identifying with an equity group or experiencing disadvantage. Whitehouse may then increase your selection rank for that course - this is called an 'equity adjustment'.
If there is evidence of the applicant requiring an ‘equity adjustment’:
- Applicant identifies as one of the following equity groups:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- people from lower socio-economic backgrounds
- people with disability
- people from remote, rural or isolated areas
- people who are the first in their family to attend a university or other higher educational institution
- people from non-English speaking backgrounds
- There are specific categories of disadvantage that Whitehouse will also consider, which are detailed below. Your educational performance and/or personal situation prior to enrolment must have been seriously affected, normally for a period of at least six months, due to circumstances beyond your control or choosing.
- Disrupted Schooling
- Severe Family Disruption
- Excessive family responsibilities
- Personal Illness/disability
- Refugee Status
Applicants may be set literacy or creative tasks to assist with assessing eligibility for admission.
Congratulations! You have been made an offer of enrolment but you are not quite ready to commence study. You may defer commencement of studies until the next intake without the need to reapply. For more information on application, enrolment or deferral, you can discuss your options with Admissions.
ACADEMIC CREDIT / RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL)
Credits for single subjects may be awarded to accredited subjects previously undertaken at another education provider and/or relevant industry experience.
To apply for Academic Credit:
- Download and complete the Application for Academic Credit
- Fill in the form including all subject titles and descriptions of the units for which you are applying for RPL
- Submit completed form with supporting documentation and evidence to Whitehouse Institute
ADVANCED STANDING
Advanced Standing may be awarded to students who have completed courses in a similar field of study. Depending on the level of study completed, you may be eligible to receive direct articulation into study period two, three or four of the Bachelor of Design. Download or request the Application for Direct Entry - submit with your current/previous qualification and transcript of academic results. If advanced standing is awarded the length of your study may be reduced.
For more information on Academic Credit and Advanced Standing, simply contact Whitehouse Institute Admissions or discuss during your interview.
Please read the course page and the "frequently asked questions" section carefully, you should find the answers to your questions.
If not, please use the contact form below.