How Much Is the Course?

All pricing information is on our Prices & Enrolments page.

Why we don’t list prices here: Prices change occasionally. The enrolment page always has current, accurate pricing for all courses and payment options.

What Are the Enrolment Requirements?

For most courses (Certificate IV, IFC, Design@Work, Design for Social Media):

• Be 18 or older
• Have a love of design
• Possess the drive and motivation for e-learning
• Sufficient English language skills (see Student Support page)

Under 18? Have a parent or guardian contact us: admin@thegraphicdesignschool.com or (02) 9918 3285. We’ll discuss your situation on a case-by-case basis.

Do I Need Previous Experience?

For Certificate IV and Intensive Foundation Course: No. Zero design experience required. We teach you from absolute scratch.

For Design@Work: No prior experience needed.

For Design for Social Media: No prior experience needed.

How Do I Enrol?

1. Read this Student Handbook (you’re doing it!)
2. Read our Terms & Conditions
3. Visit the Prices & Enrolments page
4. Choose your course and payment option
5. Complete the enrolment form and pay

You’ll receive login details within 48 hours. That’s it.

When Can I Start?

Immediately. As soon as you receive your login details, you can access The Schoolyard and start learning. Study 24/7, whenever it suits you.

No scheduled start dates. No waiting for semester to begin. Just log in and go.

What Happens Once I Enrol?

1. You pay (via website checkout)
2. We send your login details (within 48 hours, usually faster)
3. You log in to The Schoolyard (your private student portal)
4. You access your course content: Module PDFs, instructional videos, Schoolyard Library & Inspiration Gallery, forum community
5. You start learning immediately

No orientation sessions, no waiting period. Just start.

What Aspects of Design Do You Cover?

Depends on the course. Each course has different focus areas:

• Certificate IV in Design — Full graphic design qualification (typography, colour, layout, branding, photography, portfolio)
• Intensive Foundation Course — Same skills as Cert IV, no qualification
• Design@Work — Practical InDesign skills for office work
• Design for Social Media — Social media templates, branding, Canva, product photography

In general, our graphic design courses cover: Typography, colour theory, layout design, branding and identity, photography, portfolio building, Adobe software, design thinking and creative process.

How Long Is My Enrolment?

Course	Access Period
Certificate IV in Design	15 months
Intensive Foundation Course	12 months
Certificate IV Upgrade	3 months (after completing IFC)
Design@Work	12 months
Design for Social Media	3 months

Self-paced: Study as fast or slow as you want within your enrolment period. No fixed weekly deadlines.

Are There Strict Deadlines for Assignments?

No. Our courses are self-paced. You set your own schedule.

But: You have time limits on your overall enrolment (see above). We expect you to make consistent progress and complete the course within your access period.

Extensions available: Need more time? Purchase an extension (or request free extension for genuine hardship). See Fees & Payments page.

Can I Extend My Course?

Yes. Extension options are available for 3, 6, 9, or 12 months. See our Fees & Payments page for current pricing.

How to request: Email support@thegraphicdesignschool.com at least 2 weeks before your course expires. Don’t wait until the last day.

Free extensions for hardship: Facing illness, family emergency, or other genuine hardship? We may grant free extensions. Just tell us what’s happening—we’re compassionate.

What happens if I don’t extend and my course expires?

• Access to The Schoolyard is removed
• You can request a certificate for modules you completed
• You can re-enrol later (additional fees apply)

What Software Will I Need?

For Certificate IV, IFC, Design@Work:

• Adobe Creative Cloud subscription (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat Pro DC)
• Cost: ~$80/month (student rate, you pay Adobe directly)

For Design for Social Media:

• Canva Pro subscription
• Cost: ~$18/month (no student discount from Canva)
• Free trial: 30 days

Software costs are NOT included in course fees. You subscribe and pay separately.

See the Equipment page for full breakdown including computer requirements.

Can I Get Adobe at Student Rates?

Yes. Students enrolled with TGDS are eligible for Adobe’s student discount (usually 60% off regular price).

How to get it:

1. Enrol in your TGDS course
2. Email us: admin@thegraphicdesignschool.com
3. We’ll send you a letter proving your enrolment
4. Present the letter to Adobe when subscribing

Discount eligibility is at Adobe’s discretion (not ours). Visit Adobe’s website for current student pricing (typically ~$30-40/month instead of $80).

What Equipment Do I Need?

Short answer: A computer, internet, software subscription (Adobe or Canva), and some basic supplies (pencils, sketchpad, camera for some courses).

Full breakdown: See the Equipment page for detailed computer specs, software requirements, and course-specific equipment lists.

How Do I Submit Assessments?

1. Complete your assessment work (design project, written response, etc.)
2. Log in to The Schoolyard
3. Navigate to the module’s assessment submission page
4. Upload your files (PSD, AI, INDD, PDF, or whatever format is specified)
5. Click “Submit”

Your tutor is notified automatically. No need to email or chase anyone.

How Do I Get My Assignments Marked?

Automatically, once you submit:

1. Your tutor receives your assessment via The Schoolyard
2. They grade it within 5-7 business days
3. You receive detailed feedback + grade in The Schoolyard
4. Email notification sent when grading is complete

No need to chase us. We’ll notify you as soon as your feedback is ready.

Response time commitment: 5-7 business days for assessment grading. If it’s been longer, email your tutor directly—something may have gone wrong.

What Happens If I Fail an Assessment?

You get to resubmit. Here’s how it works:

For Certificate IV, IFC, Design@Work:

• Up to 3 resubmissions per assessment (no extra cost)
• Your tutor explains exactly what needs fixing
• You revise and resubmit
• Process repeats until you’re competent (or run out of attempts)

For Design for Social Media:

• 1 resubmission per assessment (still no extra cost)

We want you to succeed. Your tutor won’t fail you without giving you clear guidance on how to improve. They’ll work with you until you’re competent.

How Do Modules Work?

Sequential learning. Each module builds on the previous one.

Every module includes:

• Written content: Theory, examples, design concepts
• Exercises: Practice tasks (NOT submitted, NOT graded—just for your learning)
• Assessments: Graded tasks you submit to your tutor

Why aren’t exercises submitted? They’re your working documents—part of the professional design process. Good designers iterate before submitting final work. We’re teaching you real-world process, not just finished products.

What About Videos?

Instructional videos are a core part of your learning.

• Videos embedded in module PDFs (click the play button)
• All videos also available in The Schoolyard’s “Videos” section
• Watch them as many times as you need (rewind, pause, rewatch)

Video types: Software tutorials, design theory explanations, industry demonstrations, portfolio reviews, assignment walkthroughs.

How Will I Interact with My Tutor?

Multiple ways:

• Assessment feedback: Detailed, personalized feedback on all submissions (your tutor learns your style and gives increasingly tailored advice)
• School Forum: Ask questions publicly (your tutor + other students will help)
• Direct email: Send questions directly to your tutor for one-on-one help

Response times:

Channel	Turnaround
Forum	Usually within 24 hours (business days)
Email	24-48 hours (business days)
Assessment grading	5-7 business days

Your tutor is the same person throughout your course. They get to know you, your style, and your goals. You’re not passed around to different tutors.

What About Fellow Students?

The Graphic Design School Forum is where community happens.

Use it to:

• Ask questions (get answers from tutors and fellow students)
• Share work-in-progress (get feedback before submitting)
• Get advice and inspiration
• Network with other designers
• Collaborate and support each other

Forum features:

• Manned by our whole team of tutors
• Searchable archive of past questions (someone’s probably asked your question before)
• Community support—you’re never alone in your learning

Forum culture: We’ve never had an abusive or rude comment on our forum. It’s supportive, respectful, and helpful. We’re proud of that.

Will I Graduate with a Portfolio?

For Certificate IV and IFC: Yes. Every assessment contributes to your final portfolio.

• Module 11 (IFC) or Module 12 (Cert IV) focuses entirely on portfolio building
• Your tutor helps you refine your portfolio throughout the course
• You graduate with job-ready work to show employers

For other courses: You’ll create portfolio-worthy work, but portfolio building isn’t the main curriculum focus (you can still use your work in a portfolio).

Will My Certificate Help Me Get a Job?

Certificate IV is nationally recognised across Australia. Employers and industry groups trust it. It can also count toward Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas, or Bachelor degrees if you continue studying.

But here’s the truth: Your portfolio matters more than your certificate in the design industry.

The industry hires based on:

1. Portfolio quality (can you do the work?)
2. Design thinking (do you understand design?)
3. Software skills (are you proficient in tools?)
4. Credentials (nice to have, but not the main factor)

That’s why we focus on both: You graduate with a qualification AND a killer portfolio. Best of both worlds.

What Are Your Data Protection Standards?

We comply with:

• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation - EU standard)
• Australian Privacy Act 1988
• ASQA Standards for RTOs (student records requirements)

Your personal data is:

• Stored securely (encrypted, Australian servers)
• Used only for your student records and legal requirements (AVETMISS reporting for accredited courses)
• Never sold or shared with third parties (except where legally required)
• Retained for 30 years (ASQA requirement for student records)

Full details: See our Privacy Policy page for complete information on what we collect, how we use it, and your privacy rights.

What If I Change My Mind?

7-day cooling-off period: Withdraw within 7 days of enrolment = 100% refund. No questions asked.

This applies even if you’ve started the course, downloaded materials, or submitted assessments. If you change your mind in the first week, you get your money back.

After 7 days: Refunds are considered for compassionate and compelling circumstances only (serious illness, natural disaster, traumatic experience that prevents you from studying).

After 6 months: All fees are non-refundable, regardless of circumstance.

Full refund policy: See Fees & Payments page for complete details, refund calculations, and how to request.

Can I Get Austudy or Government Support?

Austudy: Certificate IV students may be eligible for government financial support while studying.

Our Centrelink number: 2R013

Visit humanservices.gov.au to check eligibility and apply.

VET Student Loans: TGDS does not currently participate in the VET Student Loans scheme (you can’t defer payment via government loan). However, we offer flexible payment plans to make courses affordable (see Prices page).

Can I Get Credit for Previous Experience?

Yes. If you have design skills or experience, you may qualify for RPL—credit for prior learning that counts toward your qualification.

What qualifies as prior learning:

• Work experience in design (paid or volunteer)
• Previous study (other design courses, TAFE, university)
• Self-taught skills + portfolio work
• Life skills and demonstrated competency

How it works:

1. Email: support@thegraphicdesignschool.com
2. Send your portfolio, resume, and evidence of prior learning (certificates, references, work samples)
3. We assess your evidence within 2 weeks
4. If approved: Credit toward units (faster completion + lower cost)

What this means: If we grant RPL for 3 out of 15 units, you only need to complete 12. Less work, faster graduation, lower total cost.