University of Queensland

Graduate Diploma in Interaction Design

Delivery: Face to Face
Study Level: Postgraduate
Duration: 12 months
Course Type: Graduate Diploma

Move into interaction design by combining human-centred design, programming and digital prototyping with studio-based projects that reflect the collaborative environment of professional design practice.

Course overview

The University of Queensland’s Graduate Diploma in Interaction Design enables graduates from other disciplines to transition into the design of human-centred digital products and experiences. You will investigate how people interact with technology and consider how design can make digital systems more intuitive, accessible and responsive to human needs.

Your studies bring together human–computer interaction, programming, web design, digital prototyping and interactive technologies. Through studio-based projects, laboratory work and research-led learning, you will learn to examine usability problems, explore user needs and transform ideas into interactive design concepts. Elective options may also allow you to engage with areas such as human-centred artificial intelligence, information visualisation, design thinking and advanced interaction design.

Delivered face-to-face at UQ’s St Lucia campus, the qualification can be completed in one year of full-time study or part-time equivalent. The collaborative studio environment reflects the multidisciplinary nature of professional design practice, while selected courses provide opportunities to present completed work to peers and industry representatives at UQ’s annual student design exhibition.

CSP Subsidised Fees Available

This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.

Key facts

Delivery

Face to Face

Course Type

Graduate Diploma

Duration

12 months (Full time)

Campus

St Lucia

Intake

22nd February, 2027
26th July, 2027

Units

Fees

HECS, CSP

What you will study

At UQ, a unit represents the value of individual courses that contribute to the total unit requirements of a program. Most UQ courses have a value of two units, though some may vary depending on the program or course structure.

To earn the Graduate Diploma in Interaction Design, you must complete 16 units, normally comprising seven or eight courses depending on your selections. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth two units.

Core units

Complete between 14 and 16 units from the following:

Introduction to Software Innovation
Introduction to Programming
Social and Mobile Computing
Introduction to Web Design
Design Computing Studio 1 – Interactive Technology
Digital Prototyping and Extended Reality
Human–Computer Interaction
Physical Computing Studio (four units)
Research Methods

Elective units

If you complete 14 units of core study, select two units from the following:

Advanced Human–Computer Interaction
Design Thinking
Information Visualisation
Human-Centred AI
Design Computing Studio 2 – Interaction Design

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

To be eligible for this course, applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:

Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a field other than interaction design, multimedia design, human–computer interaction or user experience design, with a GPA of at least 4.5 on UQ’s seven-point scale.
Hold a post-secondary qualification at AQF Level 5 or higher in a field other than interaction design, multimedia design, human–computer interaction or user experience design and have relevant professional experience. Applications through this pathway are individually assessed.

Relevant experience must have been gained in a professional, knowledge-based or information-oriented workplace. This may include administration, business, customer support, finance, government, human resources, law, marketing, operations, project management, strategy or sustainability.

Supporting documents

Applicants relying on professional experience must provide a signed letter from their current or previous employer confirming:

The organisation and position held.
Relevant duties and responsibilities.
The length of employment.
Whether the employment was full-time, part-time or casual.

A CV alone is not sufficient and must be accompanied by an employer letter.

English language requirements

Applicants must provide evidence of English language proficiency, such as:

An IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no individual band score below 6.0.
A TOEFL iBT overall score of 87, with at least 19 in listening, 19 in reading, 21 in writing and 19 in speaking.
A PTE Academic overall score of 64, with at least 60 in each communicative skill.
Another form of evidence accepted by the university.

OET is not accepted for this course. Contact the university for further information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of units that you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Career outcomes

Potential career outcomes include:

User Experience Designer
Multimedia Designer
Interaction Designer

Fees and CSP

Indicative annual fee in 2026: $9,540 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

The number of units studied.
Choice of units.
Credit from previous study or work experience.
Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

Calculated per the course you're enrolled in.
Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
Reviewed and adjusted each year.