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url: /courses/intensive-foundation/
title: "Intensive Foundation Course | Online Courses | The Graphic Design School"
template: course-single
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lastModified: 2026-05-22T23:31:54.915Z
category: courses
site: "The Graphic Design School"
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# Intensive Foundation Course | Online Courses | The Graphic Design School

> A 12-month, self-paced online Intensive Foundation Course in graphic design that builds portfolio-ready skills and awards a non-AQF Certificate of Completion.

**Keywords:** Intensive Foundation Course, online graphic design course, The Graphic Design School, self-paced, 12 months, Certificate of Completion, graphic design portfolio, beginner-friendly, 11 modules, professional graphic design skills, government accredited qualification alternative, Cert IV upgrade, RTO #91706, course costs and payment plans, graphic design industry

Beginner-friendly · 12 months · Self-paced · Certificate of Completion Intensive Foundation Course The Intensive Foundation Course is an online graphic design course from The Graphic Design School (RTO #91706). You complete 11 modules over up to 12 months at your own pace, graded by working designers. You finish with a Certificate of Completion and a portfolio. If you later decide you need the Cert IV, one extra module upgrades you. Course Costs & Payment PlansTalk to us first Beginner-friendly · 12 months · Self-paced · Certificate of Completion Intensive Foundation Course The Intensive Foundation Course is an online graphic design course from The Graphic Design School (RTO #91706). Course Costs & Payment PlansTalk to us first Course Ethos Course Outline FAQs Testimonials Getting Started The Course Ethos We Teach You From the Ground Up Regardless of your skill set we will start you from scratch and give you the mad skillz you need in order to practice design at a professional level. Equipped With The Relevant Skills You will complete the course with a well-rounded portfolio showcasing your skills. This course is for people who want to become graphic designers yet do not feel they need a government accredited qualification to do so. Loaded With Value The graphic design industry is reputed to be an industry based on portfolio. This considered, The Graphic Design School believes that offering an alternate to the government accredited qualification pathway offers students the flexibility to undertake study without the price tag attached to a qualification. If you need the qualification for your skills see the CUA40720 Certificate IV in Design Course. Qualification Certificate of Completion (non-AQF) Duration Up to 12 months Hours 700 assessable Pace Self-paced Pathway Upgrades to CUA40720 Cert IV with one extra module What you walk away with Portfolio-focused, skills-first Portfolio Eleven assessed modules producing real deliverables. Same assessment rigour as the Cert IV — minus the ASQA-compliance paperwork. By completion you have a body of work to show employers, freelance clients, or a Cert IV assessor. Certificate of Completion TGDS-issued, dated, with your tutor's name and modules covered. Not government-accredited — but industry recognises what TGDS training represents, and the portfolio speaks for itself. Pathway to Cert IV If you later decide you need the formal CUA40720 qualification, the Upgrade module takes care of the remaining ASQA requirements. You don't re-do the course. Your IFC work counts. Alumni network Same alumni forum as Cert IV students. IFC and Cert IV graduates work alongside each other across studios, freelance, and in-house design roles. Certificate of Completion is a TGDS-issued document. It is not a nationally-recognised qualification. If you need an AQF-recognised credential (for Austudy, certain government roles, or university admissions), choose the Cert IV. Self Paced Course Setting a schedule? Students have up to 12 months to complete the 11 modules. As the course is self-paced, you can decide how many hours a week you wish to concentrate on your study. An approximate guide is 700 hours to complete the 11 modules. Some of the Reasons Our Students Have Cited Mad Skillz One of the biggest reasons to undertake design study is to enable you to visually communicate in the most clear, concise (and of course most beautiful) way. Whether you are looking to undertake design for a career change or to better communicate in your current career. The Intensive Foundation Course offers students an affordable and thorough ‘toe in’ to the incredible world that is graphic design. No Fuss We have stripped the ‘fussy’ stuff involved in achieving a qualification (WHS for example) from the Intensive Foundation Course, the 11 Modules you will undertake are all about design, design, design, design. No need to learn how to report a broken nail to a Safety Marshal in this course! Who's it For? If you don’t think you will need a qualification for your current or future roles then this is the course for you. If you change your mind at the end of the Intensive Foundation Course you have up to 6 months to decide to upgrade the qualification. Making this an excellent option. Oh and BTW, whether you are undertaking the full qualification or the Intensive Foundation Course, we love on you just the same, the same support, the same quality feedback, the same quality course content and access to everything. Course Outline The 11 modules within the course have been designed to nurture a full understanding of the philosophies and ideologies that underpin good graphic design, from the ground up! Module 1 - Introduction to Graphic Design + Summary Module 1 offers an overview of what graphic design is and the immense professional opportunities it provides. Students will be inspired and enlightened whilst being taken on a journey to the great works of past and present iconic graphic designers. You will be introduced to the most popular designer sites encompassing work within the various industries that designers work in. Definitions Definition: A definition of graphic design and its specialised industries. History: The history of written communication from ancient to present times with visual examples of pivotal movements and designer work. Specialities: Explanation of the various specialities within the industry of graphic design. An understanding of graphic design’s role in future industries. Social Networks: Introduction to professional organisations and affiliations that will enrich the student’s understanding of the profession. Outcomes A definition of graphic design. An introduction to pivotal historic and contemporary designers. An introduction to the various specialities included in the graphic design profession. Introduction to online design resources that will inspire and enrich student’s education throughout the module.