Bachelor of Design - Program changes in 2026
From January 2026, changes to the Bachelor of Design program and the courses offered will be implemented.
Students commencing their studies in 2026 will be enrolled in the new program structure which will be delivered for the first time from 2026.
The program requirements and course lists are available online for students:
- Pre-2026 program requirements (ensure you change the year of commencement at the top of the page to the view the relevant year)
- New 2026 program requirements
What does this mean for current students?
Students who commenced prior to 2026 and have retained their place in that program, can complete their program in the existing structure or they may be able to choose to change to the new program. The choice to transition to the new program structure is yours – you can choose to stay enrolled in the current program structure if that is your preference.
The ADP staff are here to help you. This webpage alongside the following resources and support has been developed to guide you with the program changes:
- Start by watching the below presentation where your program convenor explains all the program and course changes as well as demonstrates how to complete the transition checklist and study plan.
- Review the tabs on this webpage to learn more about what this means for you and the answers to common questions.
- Transition checklists have been developed to assist you to make a plan for your enrolment, and are available at the end of this page. The checklist outlines your enrolment options for continuing in your current program or transitioning to the new program structure.
- This padlet is available for students to post questions. The padlet should only be used for general questions. Any questions requiring individualised enrolment advice, checking individual study plans, etc. will require an academic advice appointment.
- Appointments are available with Academic Advisors for you to confirm your study plan and discuss any questions. See How do I make an appointment with the academic advisor?
What has changed?
For students commencing in 2026, key changes to the 2026 Bachelor of Design (BDes) program include an increase in core course requirements, the introduction of new major options, the discontinuation of one existing major, and the addition of a “No Major” option. The 2026 structure also discontinues the ability to complete a double major. These changes aim to strengthen core design competencies while providing more targeted pathways for students with specific disciplinary interests.
| Pre-2026 | 2026 |
Core courses | 16 units of BDes Core courses | 28 units of BDes Core courses |
Majors | 16 units from any major
| 16 units from any major
|
No Major | Not Available | Available, comprising:
|
Double Major | Available, comprising two majors | Not Available |
Core courses
Students who commenced the Bachelor of Design prior to 2026 and continue to follow the pre-2026 program structure, are required to complete 16 units of BDes Core courses as specified in the program requirements. Students who choose to transition into the new 2026 program structure, will be required to complete the new program requirement of 28 units of BDes Core courses.
The BDes Core courses have been revised. Some existing design courses are being discontinued, and these will be offered for the final time in 2026 and 2027, depending on the course. The school will be offering some new BDes Core courses. Where necessary, new courses will replace discontinued courses for students who continue in the pre-2026 program structure.
Majors
i) Students who have selected any of the below majors, can complete them as per their program requirements in either program structure. Students may also be eligible to change to the 2026 program structure No Major option.
Anthropology
Environment and Society
Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Information Environments
Media and Digital Cultures
ii) Buildings and Environments
This major has been discontinued and is not available to students who choose to change to the 2026 program structure. Four courses in the Buildings and Environments major have been discontinued and will be offered for the final time in 2025 or 2026. Students who wish to complete this major must continue under the pre-2026 program structure and should ensure they follow the transition advice. Failure to do so may result in a potential delay to graduation.
Depending on the number of units completed, students may be eligible to change to the 2026 program with an Architectural Studies or Urban Systems major. Please refer to I am doing the Buildings and Environments major in the single degree program, what options do I have?
iii) New majors
The new program structure includes two new major options – Architectural Studies, and Urban Systems. These majors can only be declared under the 2026 program structure. Students who commenced prior to 2026 should refer to I want to choose one of the new majors for more information.
iv) No major
The 2026 program structure includes a No major option where students can complete 4 units of Design Extension courses and 16 units of General Elective courses. The 4 units of Design Extension courses will be fulfilled by completing ADPS3000 Interdisciplinary Studio which will be offered for the first time in Semester 1 2027.
v) Double major
The new 2026 program structure does not allow for students to complete a double major due to the introduction of additional BDes Core Courses.
I want to continue in the existing pre-2026 program structure
Please be assured that if you are enrolled in the existing pre-2026 program, you will be able to complete the program by following the structure and rules that were in place when you commenced.
It is important to note that some courses are no longer offered, and new courses have been developed so there may be some changes required to your study plan. The transition checklist is available to guide you through this process. The transition checklist has been developed to help ensure that no student will be disadvantaged by the changes however it is your responsibility to ensure that your enrolment is correct and allows you to meet the program requirements. If you have any questions or concerns after completing the transition checklist, you should book an appointment to speak to an academic advisor.
I want to change to the new program structure
In some instances, pre-2026 students may choose to change to the new program structure. Students will be required to submit a program change request in SI-net within the published application period. Once a program change is approved, you will not be permitted to return to the pre-2026 structure.
It is very important that you consider the implications of changing the structure of your program. If you choose to change, you will be required to follow the 2026 program structure and program requirements. Please note that in some instances, there are no existing substitutions for new compulsory courses in the new program, which may mean that you will be required to complete additional courses above the minimum program requirements. In addition, the new course offerings will be progressively rolled out, which may result in a potential delay to your graduation.
Students following the new program structure will not be able to graduate until December 2027 or later due to the progressive rollout of the below new course offerings. These courses are compulsory BDes Core Courses in the new program structure and therefore must be completed. There are no approved substitution courses for these Core courses, and no program requirement variations will be approved for these courses.
Course Code | Course Name | First offered |
DSGN2003 | Design Futures | Semester 2 2027 |
ADPS3001 | Professional Profiles in Practice | Semester 2 2027 |
In addition, students who select the No Major option should note that a compulsory requirement of this plan is completion of 4 units for all Design Extension Course which is ADPS3000 Interdisciplinary Studio, which will not be offered for the first time until Semester 1 2027. For this course, there is no approved substitution course available and no program variation will be approved for this course.
To change program, you must carefully complete each step:
Complete the relevant transition checklist.
Use the completed transition checklist to create your study plan.
If you have questions or there is anything you are unsure about, book an academic advice appointment.
Submit a copy of your finalised transition checklist and study plan to the faculty at enquiries@eait.uq.edu.au
Submit a Program Change request on SI-net within the published application period. View the academic calendar for details
I want to choose one of the new majors
The new majors – Architectural Studies and Urban Systems, are only available in the new program structure. Depending on which courses you have already completed, students early in their degree program may be able to change to the 2026 program and complete one of these new majors.
Students who are currently doing the Buildings and Environments major should refer to I am doing the Buildings and Environments major, what options do I have?
Students who have commenced in a different major should complete the relevant transition checklist for the new 2026 program and seek academic advice to understand how the change may affect their expected completion of their program. In some cases, this may mean that you will be required to complete additional courses above the minimum program requirements which will extend your graduation.
I am doing the Buildings and Environments major, what options do I have?
The Buildings and Environments major has been discontinued and is not available to students who choose to change to the 2026 program structure.
Students who wish to complete this major must continue under the existing program structure and can follow the transition checklist provided. Four courses in the Buildings and Environments major have been discontinued and will be offered for the final time in 2025 or 2026.
Students should ensure they follow the below enrolment advice as failure to do so may result in a potential delay to graduation.
Course | Last offered | Enrolment advice | Approved substitution if not completed |
BLDG1220 Building Materials: Properties, Principles and Applications | Sem 2 2025 | It is strongly recommended that you enrol in this course in Semester 2 2025. The alternative course will be available from Semester 1 2026 – please note the change of semester offering when developing your study plan | ARCH1111 Building Structures |
BLDG2120 Building Science: Performance and Sustainability | Sem 2 2026 | It is strongly recommended that you enrol in this course in Semester 2 2025. An alternative course will be available from Semester 1 2027 – if completing the alternative, please note the change of semester offering when developing your study plan. | ARCH2111 Climate Resilient and Healthy Building Design |
ARCH1160 Architectural Communication 1 | Sem 1 2025 | Students who have not completed this course will need to complete the approved substitute course from Semester 1 2026. | ARCH1010 Architectural Visual Communication |
BLDG2220 Building Construction and Documentation | Sem 1 2025 | Students who have not completed this course will need to complete the approved substitute course from Semester 2 2026. Please note the change of semester offering when developing your study plan. | ARCH1020 Architectural Modelling and Documentation |
Single degree program:
Depending on the number of units and specific courses completed, students may consider changing to the 2026 program with an Architectural Studies or Urban Systems major.
Students who do not wish to complete the Buildings and Environments major, may be eligible to transfer to the new program with No Major. See I don’t want to complete my current major.
Dual degree program:
Students who do not wish to complete the Buildings and Environments major, may be eligible to transfer to the new program. The 2026 dual degree structure no longer includes BDes majors as an option however students may be eligible for credit for up to 4 units of their major units towards general electives. See I am enrolled in a dual degree with Bachelor of Design
I am studying the single degree program with a double major
If you wish to complete the Bachelor of Design with a double major, you must remain in the pre-2026 program. The new 2026 program structure does not allow for students to complete a double major due to the introduction of additional BDes Core Courses.
I don’t want to complete my current major
Depending how many units you have completed from your current major, program electives and general elective courses, you may be able to change to the new program with either a different Major or No Major option. Any courses completed towards a Major in the pre-2026 programs may be able to counted in the 2026 program towards 1) the 16 units of General Electives in the No Major option OR 2) towards up to 4 units of Program Electives/General Electives in the Major Option.
Note that the new program includes 2 new BDes core courses which will not be offered for the first time until 2027. In addition, a compulsory requirement of the No Major option is completion of 4 units for all Design Extension Course which is ADPS3000 Interdisciplinary Studio. This course will not be offered for the first time until Semester 1 2027 and there is no approved substition course available. Please refer to I want to change to the new program structure for further information.
It is important that you complete the transition checklist and study plan as changing may require you to complete additional units above the minimum requirement. Additionally, the progressive rollout of new courses may delay your graduation.
I am enrolled in a dual degree with Bachelor of Design
All changes to the dual degree apply specifically to the Bachelor of Design component. Students may complete their dual degree under the existing pre-2026 structure by enrolling in approved substitute courses where applicable. To plan your enrolment, it is important to complete the relevant transition checklist.
Students who have declared a major within the Bachelor of Design (BDes) component of their dual degree must continue under the pre-2026 structure, as the new 2026 dual degree structure no longer include BDes majors as an option.
Depending how many units you have completed, you may have space within your program to transition to the new program structure. It is strongly advised that students considering transitioning to the new 2026 program, have completed no more than 4 units within their existing major. Transitioning after this point may require the completion of additional units and could delay graduation.
The choice to transition to the new program structure is yours – you can choose to stay enrolled in the current program structure if that is your preference. It is essential that you complete the transition checklist and develop a study plan to fully understand how the changes may impact your academic progress and graduation timeline.
I am studying a design minor
There will be changes to the Design Minor for students commencing in 2026. The changes relate to the courses in the Design Minor list
Students who commenced the Design Minor before 2026, can continue to complete the Minor by following the course requirements of the Design Minor.
It is important to note that some courses in the Design minor will no longer be offered, and adjustments to your study plan may be necessary. Students should review the transition checklist which has been created to guide you through the process.
How do I make an appointment with the academic advisor?
Appointments are available with Academic Advisors for you to discuss any questions, receive enrolment advice and confirm your study plan.
Prior to your appointment, ensure you:
Listen to the recorded presentation
Review the information on this webpage
Ask any general questions on the Padlet or read questions from other students
Complete a transition checklist
Complete your study plan
After completing the above steps, you can make an appointment by emailing adp@uq.edu.au with the subject line "BDes Academic Advice Appointment". Students must complete the relevant transition checklist and prepare a draft their study plan before attending an academic advising session. Both documents must be supplied for the Academic Advisor to review when booking the meeting.
Will the School be checking if my enrolment is correct?
It is your responsibility to ensure that your enrolment is correct and allows you to meet the program requirements. It is very important that you follow the transition checklist and study plans to ensure that you will meet the program requirements. Graduation checks are completed by the EAIT Faculty during your expected final semester. It is not possible for the School to identify sooner if you are not following the program requirements. It is strongly recommended that you book an academic advice session if you have any concerns.
Transition checklists and study plans
Design programs
Please refer to the relevant checklist and study plans from below.
We have also created a blank study plan template that you can use to plan your enrolment.
I would like to continue in the pre-2026 program structure
Study plans for continuing students following the pre-2026 Bachelor of Design are available on the Program Information and Study Plans page - ensure you refer to the Design pre-2026 tab.
I would like to change to the 2026 program structure
Study plans for the 2026 Bachelor of Design are available on the Program Information and Study Plans page - ensure you refer to the Design 2026 tab.
Design Minor