How to apply to art and design at Torrens University Australia: Billy Blue College of Design offers communication design, 3D design and animation, interior and fashion degrees with entry on secondary qualifications plus IELTS 6.0, course pages list no portfolio, four main intakes a year; portfolio requirements and timeline for Chinese high school, Canadian high school and transfer students

Torrens University Australia is a private university that teaches design under the Billy Blue College of Design name. Unlike art schools that select by portfolio, its design degree pages list only academic and English requirements. This guide covers the degrees, intakes, entry requirements, fees and scholarships for international students.

1. Design degrees

The design courses page lists these bachelor's degrees (CRICOS codes as on the course pages; locations as in each page's "Campus locations"):

• Bachelor of Communication Design, CRICOS 090295A: three years full-time, 24 subjects (20 core and 4 electives). Electives include graphic and communication design, UX, photography and media production, animation and games, and business and marketing. You complete 120 hours of internship or an industry live brief, and the page says there are no formal exams. Sydney takes international students; Brisbane and Melbourne are domestic only; also online.
• Bachelor of 3D Design and Animation, CRICOS 103341M: three years full-time; Sydney and online.
• Bachelor of Interior Design (Commercial), CRICOS 105417B: three years full-time or two years accelerated; Sydney and online.
• Bachelor of Interior Design (Residential), CRICOS 105419M: three years full-time; Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and online.
• Bachelor of Branded Fashion Design, CRICOS 090293C: three years full-time; Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and online.
• Bachelor of Fashion Marketing and Enterprise, CRICOS 108076E: three years full-time; Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and online.
• Bachelor of Architectural Technology, CRICOS 114510H: three years full-time; Sydney, Melbourne (domestic only) and online.
• Bachelor of UX and Web Design: online only, and its entry details list domestic students only, so it is not an option on a student visa.

Some campus listings carry an asterisk pointing to separate information on international study options; confirm which campus takes international students with the course page and the international admissions team. The college also runs design and graphic design diplomas and an advanced diploma that can lead into a bachelor's degree.

International students on a student visa must study full-time (at least 1.0 EFTSL a year), take no more than one third of subjects online, and take at least one face-to-face subject in each study period; all three trimesters are compulsory study periods.

2. How to apply, intakes and fees

• How to apply: international students can apply directly through the online application system or through an authorised education agent. Torrens labels the agent route as recommended for applicants who hold, or plan to apply for, an Australian Student visa (subclass 500).
• Application fee: none for direct applications. Torrens says the form takes 5–10 minutes and you submit documents after receiving an offer.
• Intakes: there are four main intakes a year and you can apply at any time for the next one. The main 2027 intakes start on 15 February, 31 May and 13 September; main intake 4 on 1 November offers select courses only. The design course pages list start dates of 2 November 2026, 15 February 2027 and 31 May 2027.
• Deadlines: the key dates page gives no application deadline, only that you can apply any time for the next intake; international students must finalise enrolment by the day before the study period starts.
• Under 18: if you will be under 18 on a student visa, you need approved accommodation and welfare arrangements before Home Affairs will process your visa.

3. Portfolio

• The international how-to-apply page says some courses may have extra requirements such as a portfolio, resume or interview, shown under each course's "Entry details".
• For the design degrees above, the international entry details list only academic and English requirements, with no portfolio or interview.
• The portfolio in these degrees is a subject you complete before graduating (for example, the Portfolio subject in Communication Design), not an entry hurdle.
• It is still worth asking international admissions whether your course needs anything extra.

4. Entry requirements

International requirements (the same on each design degree page):

• Academic: an Australian secondary school certificate, an equivalent senior secondary qualification or the IB Diploma; or at least 0.25 EFTSL at AQF level 6, or 0.5 EFTSL at AQF level 5 or above.
• English: Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band below 5.5, or equivalent.
• If you don't fully meet these, alternative entry may be possible through assessment of prior study or a readiness assessment; contact international admissions.
• For domestic students, Torrens says it no longer uses the ATAR as its primary entry criterion.

Students from China: the course pages don't give a Gaokao or Chinese high school score, only "an equivalent senior secondary qualification". Torrens does not publish the equivalence; check with international admissions or an authorised agent. The IELTS requirement above applies.

Students from Canada (including BC): Torrens does not publish requirements for the BC Certificate of Graduation or Grade 12 courses, which are assessed as an equivalent senior secondary qualification. Whether English-medium schooling in Canada waives IELTS isn't published either; ask international admissions.

Transfers and credit: credit is available for most courses on application and academic approval, as credit transfer, block credit or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). If you have studied at university or college, see the course credits page.

5. Fees and scholarships

• Tuition: the course and fees pages link to a separate international course fee schedule, which we did not read; the web pages themselves don't give amounts. Fees can be paid across three study periods, each before that period's census date.
• Motivational Scholarship: up to 25% off, for undergraduate and postgraduate study in all faculties except BMIHMS, for new students, assessed on a rolling basis each intake, for the whole course.
• Family Scholarship: 35% off for new international applicants who are immediate family of a current student, future student or recent graduate; for 2026 and 2027 offers.
• Offshore Online Scholarship: up to 30% off for new students studying online while living outside Australia.
• There is also a PEPEA Scholarship (50% off) and several partner and pathway scholarships; see the international scholarships page for eligibility.
• The scholarships page headline still refers to starting in 2026; check Torrens for 2027 arrangements.

6. Checklist by background

Students at high schools in China:

• Prepare your graduation certificate and transcripts, plus Academic IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each band)
• Confirm the requirement for Chinese high school qualifications with international admissions or an authorised agent
• Choose an intake (15 February, 31 May or 13 September 2027); direct applications are free

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• You apply with an equivalent senior secondary qualification; BC score requirements aren't published, so confirm with international admissions
• Ask whether English-medium schooling in Canada waives IELTS
• International students in Communication Design and 3D Design and Animation study at the Sydney campus

Transfer students:

• Submit transcripts from university or college study with your application and request credit transfer or RPL
• There's no portfolio hurdle, but how much credit you get depends on academic assessment

Sources: Torrens University Australia, Design courses; Bachelor of Communication Design; Bachelor of 3D Design and Animation; Interior Design (Commercial); Interior Design (Residential); Branded Fashion Design; Fashion Marketing and Enterprise; UX and Web Design; Architectural Technology; International students: how to apply; Key dates; Tuition fees; International scholarships; Course credits. Intake dates are for 2027. The international fee schedule is published as a separate file that we did not read; check Torrens for the latest details.