Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Design Communication
Sunway College Johor Bahru · Sunway City, Malaysia
QS World University Ranking: N/A
Quick Overview
Apply Now📘 Program Overview
The 21st century communication designer is one who not only develops a message content for printed or electronic media, with emphasis on aesthetics in media, but also has the ability to create new media channels to ensure the message reaches its target audience.
This programme aims to nurture passionate, creative thinkers who have a good understanding of key communication and information design concepts towards the application of these to new design trends and projects, and it includes study across traditional communication areas as well as modern design, technology, software and digital media.
🎯 Course & Curriculum
Course structure
- Develop communication design fundamentals through Creative Design Thinking, Introduction to Visual Communication, and Visual Communication & Graphic Design.
- Build core making skills with Design & Typography, Drawing Techniques & Process, and Digital Photography.
- Learn digital and storytelling tools through Digital Storytelling and Motion Graphics Design.
- Strengthen computing basics for creative workflows via Introduction to Computer Graphics and English for the Arts.
- Advance industry-ready capabilities with Design Entrepreneurship and Digital Publishing.
- Develop creative production skills across media using Digital Illustration, Advanced Computer Graphics, and Packaging in Graphic Design.
- Focus on modern web and interaction work through Web Design & Interactivity.
- Choose electives in Year 2, including Discipline Electives 1 and 2 (choose 2), such as Digital Experience Design, 3D Design, Virtual Reality Design, or Media Art.
- Conduct independent work with Visual Culture and Technology, and Major Research Project.
- Apply design learning to a real industry brief through Industry-Based Project.
- Gain work experience via Internship (3 months).
- Complete the degree through Final Year Project, building a professional portfolio for communication design careers.
Career outcomes
- You graduate with job-ready creative and digital design skills aligned to roles listed by the university for this degree, including Creative Director, Graphic Designer, Illustrator, UI Designer, and Web Designer.
- You gain media production capability through modules and projects that support careers like 2D/3D Animator, Interactive/Multimedia Designer, and Game Artist.
- You develop professional communication outcomes that map to copywriting and content roles such as Copywriter and Event Coordinator.
- You build practical, industry-style experience because the programme includes an Industry-Based Project and an Internship (3 months).
- You can pursue freelance or client-facing work because the degree highlights pathways such as Freelancer and Design Entrepreneur.
- You finish with a portfolio-focused, project-led final year, supporting your transition into creative leadership roles like Project Coordinator and Creative Director.
Employability rate
For communication design graduates in Malaysia, the estimated employability rate is around 78% and the estimated unemployment rate is around 22%, reflecting steady hiring for design, multimedia, and digital roles while competition can be strong for entry-level positions.
Overall, the inclusion of internship and industry-based project experience supports a more stable career outlook for graduates entering creative and digital industries in Malaysia.
✅ Entry Requirements
Academic qualification
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| International entry qualifications | International applicants can be considered with the listed pre-university qualifications (such as STPM, A-Level, Australian Matriculation, Canadian International Matriculation Programme, Monash University Foundation Year, Sunway Foundation Programmes, UEC, IB Diploma, or Sunway Diploma/other qualifications considered case-by-case). If you are using APEL.A (Recognition of Prior Learning), include the APEL.A certificate as stated in the entry requirements. |
| Portfolio review (creative requirement) | All international applicants must pass a portfolio review conducted by the University. The portfolio requires a minimum of 5 artworks showing variation and use of different mediums, and applicants are also advised to include at least 5 drawings and additional artworks that may include photographs, poster designs, videos, animations, logo designs, and sculptures. |
Module matching by study area
| Study area | Match possible? | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Design and visual communication study background | Strong match | Portfolio review is required, so prior art/design projects and evidence of creative work can support your application. |
Language requirements
For international applicants, English language proficiency is required unless you meet an approved exemption. Sunway University accepts IELTS or equivalent and also allows several alternative English qualifications and tests listed in the programme entry requirements.
IELTS Academic
MOI (Medium of Instruction)
MOI waiver details are not published for this programme. See the English test requirements above.
Other accepted proofs
💶 Fees & Funding
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated annual course fee | MYR 38500 / per year | Estimated annual course fee for international students is RM38,500. International students must pay their fees in RM equivalent; the USD figure shown is indicative/estimated and subject to exchange rate. |
Proof of financial resources
International students are expected to pay programme fees in RM equivalent and to ensure they can cover tuition and related study costs for the duration of their programme. You may also need to show financial capacity as part of the student pass and visa process.
- Proof of ability to pay tuition fees in RM equivalent, consistent with the programme fee instructions for international students
- Payment of required fees as stated by Sunway University for international student processing (as applicable to your admission stage)
Important dates
Application window
| Milestone | January - Winter intake | April - Winter intake | September - Winter intake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application portal opens | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (final submit) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Application deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Recommended apply-by | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Semester begins | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Pre-application & reviews
| Milestone | January - Winter intake | April - Winter intake | September - Winter intake |
|---|---|---|---|
| VPD request - recommended | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| VPD result expected | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| APS - recommended | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Start eligibility check | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Document submission deadlines
| Milestone | January - Winter intake | April - Winter intake | September - Winter intake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application submission deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Document submission deadline (Non-EU students) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Language certificate deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Official transcripts deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Certified translations deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Postal / hard-copy documents deadline | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Missing documents (if requested) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
📝 How to Apply
Check eligibility and prepare documents
Review the programme entry requirements for international applicants, including the listed accepted pre-university qualifications and the English language requirement. Prepare your portfolio for the required portfolio review and ensure your documents can be provided as certified true copies. If your prior education was not English-medium, confirm you have the required English language qualification before you submit.
Submit the international student application online
Complete and submit the International Student Application Form during the application window. Attach the required documents, including your passport copy and certified true copies of academic qualifications. Sunway University notes that incomplete applications cannot be processed and may require additional documents during evaluation.
Pay required fees after eligibility confirmation
If your eligibility is confirmed, you will proceed with the required payments as stated by the International Office. Sunway University states an enrolment fee and a Student Pass/visa processing fee paid to EMGS as part of the international student processing. Keep records of your payments as you will need to follow the offer and visa steps that follow.
Receive your offer and complete student pass processing steps
Successful applicants will receive offer letters via email within the stated processing time. You must accept the offer and return the required acceptance documents, and then provide any outstanding documents listed in the incomplete record checklist. Sunway University states that Student Pass approval processing can take several weeks, so plan your timeline early.