Start your career before you graduate

As a University of Melbourne graduate, you will be well regarded in the design industry. But you don’t need to wait until graduation to start working towards your dream career.

There are many ways to incorporate practical experience into your studies at Melbourne. You can intern at one of the world’s most influential organisations, exhibit your work to the public, volunteer with organisations that inspire you, work part time getting valuable skills while you study, or all of the above!

Work Integrated Learning

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) subjects are designed to provide students with professional experience in an area related to their field of study or the career they are working towards. These industry-specific opportunities enable you to develop skills that will enhance your prospects of gaining meaningful employment and building your career for the future.

Internships

Internships are a great way to get first- hand industry experience and figure out if your dream career is right for you. Our students intern in leading companies, paving the way to fulfilling and exciting careers.

Volunteering

Take your skills into the community, contribute to a cause you are passionate about, and make a difference! You can volunteer in Australia, or overseas. In many cases your experience can count towards your degree, and we offer awards and grants to help finance your volunteer work.

Skill building

The Global Leadership and Employability team provides programs and services to students free of charge, including screened job listings, workshops, industry events and connections with alumni. You can even attend a free Career Bootcamp. In addition, many faculties offer seminars, practical training, networking events and more to help you break into a great career.

Work while you study

Part-time work while you study isn’t just a way to pay the bills. It can help you build the skills and contacts that will propel you into a career. Many students work near campus, or even on campus itself through our Students@Work program. Our Careers and Employment team can help you find part-time work that makes sense for your longer-term goals.

Entrepreneurship

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, the Melbourne Accelerator Program (MAP) could give you the tools and experience you need to get your big idea out into the world.

MAP began in 2012 with just four teams. They set out on their journey with $20 000 in seed funding, office space and mentoring. Since then, 24 teams have generated over $28 million in revenue and created more than 250 jobs. MAP also hosts masterclasses, bootcamps and a leadership and mentoring program for female entrepreneurs.

Global opportunities

Study abroad and exchange helps you explore the world, expand your cultural horizons and experience design in an international context among students and academics from around the world.

In addition to the University’s study abroad and exchange programs, there are several design-specific opportunities you can get involved in. For example, you could:

• Travel to the University of Stuttgart in Germany to complete a six-week Architecture Design Studio intensive subject during your summer break
• Take the Humanitarian Design Internship subject and travel to India for two weeks, where you will contribute to a community-based design project.

Peer-assisted study sessions

These free weekly sessions, led by a student who has successfully completed the subject in a previous year, are a great way to maximise your engagement with your studies and enjoyment of your subjects. Students who attend PASS are consistently shown to achieve better results than those who do not attend.

Clubs and societies

Clubs can be an integral part of your student experience and a great way to meet like-minded people. There are more than 200 clubs to choose from, so you’re guaranteed to find one that matches your interests.

The Design Student Society (DES) is a great place to start. DES runs events open to all Bachelor of Design students, from a first-year O-Week camp to themed parties, free pizza lunches, boat cruises, trivia nights and many other smaller events. DES is organised by a committee of current students. You’ll have the chance to network with students from other year levels, get involved and receive academic and social support.

We also have the Engineering and IT Community, for students undertaking an engineering-related major.

Find out more about clubs

Design and Environments Industry Night

The Design and Environments Industry Night, hosted by the Design Student Society (DES), is the perfect opportunity for you to build strong personal and professional connections with companies from Melbourne and around Australia.

You’re encouraged to ask company representatives about their career pathways and current projects, as well as sharing your own career ambitions, discussing potential graduate pathways and exchanging contact information. The evening includes an address from a guest presenter, as well as private presentations from a selection of our guest companies.

Your city

From the graphic design on billboards and traffic signs to the design of cities by urban planners, civil engineers, architects and landscape architects, our world is created and choreographed by designers. Today, Melbourne is internationally recognised as one of the world’s most liveable cities. When it comes to finding a city to study in, it doesn’t get much better than Melbourne.

Your facilities

The Melbourne School of Design building at Parkville houses a state-of-the-art fabrication workshop as well as two full-sized galleries where your work will be exhibited.

Get started now

Design students learn across a broad range of study areas, including engineering, IT and the creative arts - and you don’t have to wait until you start university to try them.

Hand On workshops

If you're in Year 10, get busy at a Hands On workshop in engineering and IT at Parkville campus. One of your teachers at school can help you line up a workshop during the school holidays.

Girl Power in Engineering & IT

Girl Power in Engineering & IT encourages girls to learn about science, technology, engineering and maths in a program of camps, work experience and mentoring opportunities. Available to students in Years 9–12.

Amazing Spaghetti Machine

Year 10 students from across Victoria are invited to participate in our annual Amazing Spaghetti Machine Contest. Students work in teams and put their maths, science, engineering and project management skills to the test in the creation of a ‘spaghetti machine’ – an overly complex device that is used to perform a relatively simple task.

Visual Art courses

Courses through the Victorian School of the Arts can help you build confidence in your drawing skills.

Visual Art Studio: Drawing Foundations

Develop fundamental drawing skills and creative knowledge to explore your own artwork at a level that suits your needs.

Visual Art Studio: Advanced Drawing

Build upon your skills in fundamental drawing techniques, and create a personal, individual body of work.

Both courses are intensive part-time programs between February and October and culminate in an end-of-year exhibition. They are suitable for ages 18-plus.