Top 5 UX Design Courses in Australia
Demand for User experience (UX) designers has increased in recent years. The smartphone revolution and the explosion of tech, apps, and the internet have focused companies on delivering a first-rate user experience.
Consumer expectations have gone through the roof. The market is so competitive that users don’t need to settle for a clunky, uninspiring experience. Products need to be great to drive adoption: Enter UX designers.
More and more companies are building apps, software, and websites. And that’s increased the demand for UX designers. However, because of Australia’s much-discussed skills shortage, there aren’t always enough suitable candidates to fill these roles.
The good news for UX designers is that high demand means high salaries. But what about people who aren’t qualified but would like to work in UX? There’s good news for those folks, too, thanks to a range of UX courses and boot camps.
Australia has lots of excellent UX design courses. If you work in tech already or want to pivot into the area, choosing to upskill in UX design could be one of the best decisions you make.
What is UX design?
Before we talk about the best UX design courses in Australia, we should quickly explain what UX design is for anyone feeling confused.
UX is often mistaken for user interface (UI) design. That’s understandable because both roles involve how users interface with products or services.
However, UX design deals with everything that makes the product usable. It deals with design elements, particularly how they contribute to the look and feel of a product. UX designers perform extensive user research and interviews to build prototypes and wireframes of products.
UX design is about building an excellent customer experience. It’s about how users feel when interacting with a product, rather than how it looks visually.
OK, enough of that, let’s get to the best UX design courses in Australia.
#1. User Experience Design at RMIT
UX design at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology is one of the best UX design courses for anyone looking to upskill in UX design. It’s a short course that you can complete over six weeks.
While it’s not as thorough as some UX design courses, it’s an excellent way to learn the fundamentals. The course places a big emphasis on developing a portfolio. Many employers suggest that a strong portfolio is what they are looking for more than anything else, so this course could help put you in a good spot.
The best thing about this course is that it’s very hands-on. Sure, you learn lots of theory, but you also get to apply that to real-world examples, including gaining experience working with Figma. Additionally, over the six weeks, students learn how to approach projects using the Double Diamond design process.
This course is great for new beginners as an intro to UX design. However, it’s probably not the best UX design course for more advanced users.
Who is the course for?
- Startup founders or entrepreneurs
- Existing designers looking to move into UX
- People in a related field who want to learn the basics of UX design
The course work covers things like:
- UX fundamentals
- User flows and information architecture
- Idea validation
- User testing
- Wireframe prototyping
Online or offline: Fully online
Qualification: RMIT credential
Prerequisites: None
Course length: 6 weeks (8-10 hrs per week)
Cost: $1,200
Payment options: Credit card, PayPal, Openpay
#2. General Assembly UX design course
General Assembly has a well-regarded UX design course. It’s one of the best UX design courses for professionals who want to take a deep dive into the discipline.
The course is regularly updated by the GA advisory board to ensure it keeps pace with changes in the design world.
A big focus of GA’s program is helping students finish with a professional UX portfolio. Additionally, it gives students access to industry-leading design platforms like InVision and Sketch.
The course lasts ten weeks. However, there is an accelerated option that you can complete in just one week.
One cool feature of the course is that you can do pre-course prep once you enrol. This option is fantastic for people who are genuinely new to the discipline.
Another upside of this course is that it gives you access to the General Assembly alumni of over 80K professionals. This situation can be great for networking or finding a UX placement.
Coursework includes:
- User research
- Content strategy
- Prototyping
- Wireframing
- Usability testing
Who is the course for?
- Existing designers looking to move into UX
- People in a related field who want to learn UX design
- New designers
- Entrepreneurs with an idea
Online or offline: Both
Qualification: Certificate
Prerequisites: None
Course length: 10 weeks / 1 week accelerated course option.
Cost: $5,000
Payment options: Credit card, Bank transfer
#3. Graduate Certificate in UX Design – Torrens University
The graduate certificate at Billy Blue College of Design at Torrens University is one of the best UX design courses for existing professionals. To qualify for the course, you need to have a bachelor’s degree in a similar field. So, while the course is excellent, it won’t be open to everyone.
The graduate certificate is fairly flexible. Students can do it full-time over six months or part-time over 12. Additionally, there is the option of an accelerated 3-month course.
One of the major benefits of the course is that while you learn UX design, you also have access to work placements where you can gain professional experience. Another good element is getting an Adobe Cloud Pro licence for the duration of your studies.
While UX design is a fundamental aspect of this course, it also deals with more general web development. Not all students trying to upskill in UX design will want to study interface development so thoroughly, although learning these skills will be helpful for advancing in the industry.
Course work includes:
- Interface development
- User experience design
- Multi-platform experience design
- User experience management and systems
Who is the course for?
- Existing graduates with a bachelor’s degree in a related subject
- Graduates who want to do a Master’s degree at Torrens University
Online or offline: Both
Qualification: Certificate
Prerequisites: AQF Level 7 in a relevant field
Course length: 6 months (full-time), 12 months (part-time) 12 weeks (accelerated)
Cost: $2,725
Payment options: Credit card, bank transfer
#4. Academy XI: UX UI Design Transform
Academy XI’s UX UI Design Transform is a detailed, in-depth course that will teach you the fundamentals of UX and UI and a whole lot more. It’s similar in breadth to the General Assembly course. However, you can complete it over 12 weeks full-time or 24 weeks part-time.
While the other courses on our list are more pure UX design, the Transform course teaches a mix of UI and UX. The two disciplines are pretty related, and many working professionals perform both roles.
One of the best features of the Transform course is the Live Client Projects section. This module allows students to work in groups and solve real-life client projects. There are two projects for students to solve. One is a corporate client, and the other is a non-profit. This blend gives users a good perspective on different industries.
The program is very intense, but it can help students go from total beginners to job ready. The course takes place online, and users have hundreds of hours of support videos. Furthermore, there are weekly live sessions with tutors and classmates, plus unlimited 1:1 sessions with mentors.
Academy XI also offers a state-of-the-art learning platform, making online learning much more manageable.
Course work includes:
- Wireframes
- Prototypes
- UX and UI design
- UX research
- UX project management
Who is the course for?
- Design professionals who want to upskill in UX design
- Professionals in related fields who want to pivot into UX
- Students who want to skip university and go straight to employment
Online or offline: Online
Qualification: Digital credential
Prerequisites: No
Course length: 12 weeks full-time, 24 weeks part-time
Cost: $3,500
Payment options: Credit card, bank transfer, Studypay
#5. Monash University UX/UI Bootcamp
Monash University’s UX/UI Bootcamp is run in partnership with Trilogy Education Services. It’s a 24-week program with between 10 to 12 hours of class time per week over three days. With course fees of just under $13,000, it’s one of the more expensive UX design courses you can do.
The course allows students to learn UX design alongside UI. It’s a very hands-on and fast-moving course with a curriculum that reflects current industry requirements.
Students are taught through a mix of theory and practice, focusing on completing a portfolio of projects. The course offers students access to an extensive tutoring network too, which they can use inside or outside the classroom.
A significant part of the course is about preparing students for the industry. There is an extensive career-planning component, which helps with building resumes, portfolio reviews, soft skills development, and 1:1 career coaching. Additionally, the program provides access to Tech Talks by local industry professionals.
Course work includes:
- Prototyping
- Wireframing
- User-centric design research
- Web-prototyping with HTML and CSS
- Interaction design with Jquery and Javascript
- Information Architecture
- Persona creation
Who is the course for?
- Beginners who want to learn UX design
- Current designers who want to upskill in UX design
Online or offline: Online
Qualification: Certificate of completion
Prerequisites: No
Course length: 24 weeks, three days a week (part-time)
Cost: $12,750
Payment options: Credit card, bank transfer
Conclusion
If you want to learn UX design or upskill in UX design, there are a variety of courses and boot camps available in Australia. Some courses, like the program at RMIT, are a great way to get an introduction to the discipline, while others are far more comprehensive.
Most of the UX design courses on our list don’t require previous qualifications. However, some are aimed at graduates in design or related subjects (Torrens University).
Each program focuses on producing a portfolio of work. However, with some courses offering live project training with real clients, the quality and value of that portfolio will vary.
