How to apply to art and design at Murdoch University: the Bachelor of Creative Media in Perth offers Games Art and Design, Graphic Design and Photography majors with entry on ATAR 70 or equivalent and no portfolio, which is an alternative route when the ATAR falls short; portfolio requirements and timeline for Chinese high school, Canadian high school and transfer students

Murdoch University is in Perth, Western Australia. It has no separate art school; its art and design undergraduate study is in the Bachelor of Creative Media, where games art, graphic design and photography are majors. This guide covers the course, applying, portfolios, entry requirements and costs.

1. Course and majors

• Bachelor of Creative Media: Murdoch code B1343, CRICOS 095510C, three years full-time, taught face-to-face at the Perth (Murdoch) campus. The course page lists starts in Semester 1 and Semester 2, 2027, and Semesters 1 and 2, 2028.
• Majors: Games Art and Design, Graphic Design, Photography, Screen Production and Sound Design. The course page says you explore different forms of media production and creative practice early on before focusing on one area.
• Double degree and honours: a Bachelor of Communication/Bachelor of Creative Media double degree (B1344), and an additional Bachelor of Creative Media Honours year (H1270).
• Students can work on real projects in MESH, the on-campus student creative consultancy.
• Murdoch notes this information applies to its Australian campuses only; courses at its Dubai and Singapore campuses may have different requirements.

2. How and when to apply

• International students: apply directly through MyAdmission or through an agent. Upload transcripts and other documents (scanned Word or PDF; e-transcripts aren't accepted) and track your application online.
• Australian school leavers: Semester 1 applications go through TISC (Western Australia's admissions centre); most non-school leavers apply directly.
• Deadlines: the pages we read don't give an international application deadline; ask international admissions for Semester 1 and 2, 2027 dates.
• Application fee: not stated on the pages we read.

3. Portfolio: an alternative route, not a requirement

Standard entry to the Bachelor of Creative Media is on academic results, with no portfolio. Murdoch also runs a Media Portfolio Pathway for applicants who don't have the ATAR but can show creative ability; the course's Academic Chair assesses the portfolio instead of the ATAR.

• Who it's for: one eligibility criterion is English competency shown by completing Years 11 and 12 at an Australian high school or two years of VET.
• Games Art and Design: five digital media works (scans of traditional drawings and paintings, 3D models, digital paintings, animations or game mods), each with a 100-word synopsis.
• Graphic Design: two finished design pieces with working drawings or images showing your process; pieces can include 2D or 3D animation, motion graphics, website designs, photography, 3D modelling, illustration or graphic design, each with a 100-word synopsis.
• Photography: 10 to 20 JPEG files (black and white or colour, edited or unedited) and a 500-word synopsis.
• How to submit: host the portfolio on a public website (such as Google Sites, Wix, WordPress or YouTube), give the link on the Portfolio Entry Application form and write a 300–500 word personal statement; school leavers also need a principal or senior teacher to complete the endorsement form.
• Timing: school leavers apply through TISC by its dates; non-school leavers can apply any time.
• There is also a Mature Age Pathway, which involves an interview and a portfolio and is based on work and life experience.

4. Entry requirements

• ATAR and Australian qualifications: minimum selection rank 70, plus a scaled mark of 50 or higher in an English ATAR subject or equivalent.
• IB Diploma: total 24 or higher; English at HL 3 or SL 4 or better.
• A-Levels: an aggregate of 6 points from the best three A-Levels (or A-Level and AS-Level combinations; A*=6, A=5, B=4, C=3, D=2, E=1); English at D in an A-Level or C in an AS-Level.
• Students from China: the course page's "Overseas Year 12" row says to see the information for your country of study, which the page loads by script; we could not read it. Select China on the course page or ask international admissions about Gaokao or Chinese high school requirements.
• Students from Canada (including BC): also shown by country on the course page, which we could not read; confirm anything unpublished with international admissions.
• English (standard undergraduate): Academic IELTS 6.0 overall with 6.0 in each band; TOEFL iBT 60 (reading 13, writing 21, speaking 18, listening 12), not accepted if taken between 26 July 2023 and 4 May 2024; PTE 50; Duolingo 115; C1 Advanced 169. Whether English-medium schooling in Canada exempts you isn't published.
• Transfers and credit: completing a Diploma or Advanced Diploma (AQF levels 5–6) meets the academic requirement, and prior formal study or work experience may earn Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), reducing the units you need.

5. Fees and scholarships

• International fees (indicative, based on 24 credit points a year): A$37,800 for the first year in 2027 and A$113,400 for the full course; the 2026 first-year fee was A$36,000. Murdoch says fees are indexed annually, and for international students indexation may apply from the second year. The Communication/Creative Media double degree is also A$37,800 for the first year in 2027, and A$151,200 in total.
• Domestic students: the indicative first-year fee in 2027 is A$12,061.
• Scholarships: Murdoch's scholarships are listed in its scholarship finder, and we did not find amounts for international entry scholarships. The scholarships page mentions Scholarships for Good, worth up to A$12,000 across a degree; see that page for eligibility.
• Canadian student loans: Murdoch says Canadian students may be eligible for loans to study at Murdoch through the Canada Student Loans Program (CSLP) or provincial and territorial programs.

6. Checklist by background

Students at high schools in China:

• Select China on the course page or ask international admissions for Chinese qualification requirements; prepare IELTS 6.0 (6.0 in each band) or equivalent
• No portfolio is needed for standard entry; choose your major (Games Art and Design, Graphic Design, Photography and so on)
• Apply through MyAdmission or an agent for Semester 1 or 2, 2027

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

• Select Canada on the course page to see the requirements, and ask whether English-medium schooling in Canada waives the English test
• Check whether Canadian student loans can be used at Murdoch

Transfer students:

• A completed Diploma or Advanced Diploma meets the academic requirement; apply for RPL to reduce your units
• If you finished Years 11 and 12 in Australia without the ATAR, consider the Media Portfolio Pathway

Sources: Murdoch University, Creative media and communication; Bachelor of Creative Media; Media Portfolio Pathway; Entry requirements; English proficiency tests; 2027 International Fees; Apply directly to Murdoch; Scholarships; Canadian student loans. Fees are 2027 indicative fees. We could not read the country-specific requirements on the course page; check Murdoch for the latest details.