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Faculty of Society & Design

About the Faculty of Society & Design

Bond’s Faculty of Society & Design is, at its core, about people. It explores the way we think, behave, and communicate. The way we organise ourselves, live and work as individuals and come together collectively in groups.  The way we plan, design, and deliver our built environment, and the way that environment inspires and impacts us. Our multi-disciplinary approach affords our students a nuanced and evidenced-based understanding of the complexity and inter-dependence of our lives.

Sustainability is at the core of many of our programs and is a driver in much of our research activity. Questions we interrogate include: How can we live more sustainably? How can sustainable design and planning be made the norm? How does culture, access to education, gender equality, and the way nation states interact, influence the development of society?

We offer an active, engaged, and authentic approach in all our programs. Our students develop excellent critical thinking skills, can understand complexity, and upon graduation are well prepared to make an impact in various careers.

Our programs are designed, and in some cases taught, alongside key industry players and are accredited by various peak bodies.

With flexible, practical degrees informed by research, Bond’s Faculty of Society & Design is the perfect place to kickstart an incredible career – whatever that means to you.

How you will learn

As one of Australia’s most eclectic faculties, our study options are practically unlimited. We offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs, including bachelor’s, graduate certificate, graduate diploma and master’s degrees. Faculty of Society & Design students learn collaboratively, interact across disciplines, and spend quality time engaging with industry professionals to build a professional skillset ahead of entering the workplace.

James Birt wearing virtual reality equipment in a classroom.

This approach to learning and teaching also sees our students supplementing in-class knowledge with an array of opportunities, many of which are only available to ‘Bondies’. From internships and work experience supported by the Career Development Centre (CDC), to study tours, competitions and conferences, everything on offer is underpinned by our focus on work-readiness.

Four people wearing orange high-vis shirts stand in front of a building, smiling.
ADCO has joined with Bond for the Mentor Excellence Program.

In 2023, the Faculty of Society & Design launched the Bond and ADCO Excellence Program for eligible construction students. ADCO Construction Company and Bond University join forces in an exclusive industry x education partnership. This alliance represents the epitome of synergy, where the dynamic capabilities of a leading construction powerhouse meet the limitless potential of academic excellence.  Read full article here.

LEARN ABOUT THE ADCO EXCELLENCE PROGRAM 

The tools you need to succeed

Upholding this commitment to practical experience and hands-on learning are our extensive on-campus facilities. Faculty of Society & Design students will have the privilege of learning in the beautiful Society & Design Precinct, which embodies the very best sustainable building practices, using recycled materials and solar panels in its construction. There’s also the state-of-the-art Abedian School of Architecture Building, which features a striking design, and all of the equipment future architects need to get a career head start.

A male student using a tablet and stylus in a Bond University Faculty of Society and Design classroom.

From the Abedian School of Architecture, Fabrication Labs to the Human Experimental and Observation Laboratories, the Journalism Newsroom, Film & Television Studios, Screen Queensland Creative Hub and fully equipped Loan Store, there’s so much to explore here at Bond, designed to serve you well throughout your studies.

DISCOVER OUR FACILITIES

The Faculty of Society & Design: Join Us

How we rate

The Faculty of Society & Design has consistently topped national rankings in both the Good Universities Guide and the Student Experience Survey. Explore our ratings below.  

Faculty ratings and rankings are based on the national Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) Students Experience Survey (SES) and Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS) results. These results reflect the most recent data available to the University at the time of publishing.

  • Architecture and built environment

    Undergraduate

    • 5 stars and #1 in Queensland for Skills Development and Student Support, as well as Overall Graduate Satisfaction

    Postgraduate

    • 5 stars and #1 in Queensland for Teaching Quality, Learner Engagement, Learning Resources, Student Support and Overall Quality of Educational Experience 
    • #2 in Australia for Learner Engagement, Learning Resources and Overall Quality of Educational Experience 
    • Ranked well above the national average for Full-time Employment 

Study areas

Construction, property and planning

Read more about Construction, property and planning

Project management and innovation

Read more about Project management and innovation

Communication, film and creative media

Read more about Communication, film and creative media

International relations, politics and arts

Read more about International relations, politics and arts

Psychology, criminology and social sciences

Read more about Psychology, criminology and social sciences

Research groups

The Faculty of Society & Design has developed a comprehensive network of 'research groups' within the faculty, to highlight the diverse range of discipline areas undertaken by our academics. These groups involve research active staff and HDR candidates to facilitate communication and collaboration in our research efforts. The primary aim of these research groups is to ensure that every active researcher is linked to one or more research groups, to create more opportunities for collaboration and research interaction. 

Our research groupings include: 

  • Cultural Futures  
  • Creative Practice  
  • Mental and Social Health  
  • Mind Space Lab
  • Communication, Culture, and Narrative
  • Sustainable Built Environments
  • Architecture Futures Laboratory (AF_Lab)

 Visit the Faculty of Society & Design Research page 

About our graduates

Faculty of Society & Design graduates are dynamic, knowledgeable and flexible individuals with the skills necessary to stand out in their chosen industry.

Meet our FSD students and alumni

Go inside the minds of students and alumni from the University’s most creative and eclectic faculty – the Faculty of Society & Design!

Meet our FSD students and alumni

An enriching experience

There are so many ways to enrich your educational journey within the Faculty of Society & Design. Architecture students can participate in our annual design charrette and work together to develop their design skills. Film and television students take the reins of BUFTA, our high school filmmaking competition, finessing their filming and livestreaming skills. International relations students might choose to participate in a Model United Nations conference, whereas those studying psychological science have the unique opportunity to work in our on-campus Psychology Clinic.

Ultimately, studying within Bond’s Faculty of Society & Design should not only set students up for career success, but it should also be a dynamic, engaging, and ultimately, fun experience.

Society & Design networking events

Architecture Lecture Series

Throughout the year, the Abedian School of Architecture hosts the Architecture Lecture Series – a series of free events led by practitioners and academics who are helping to expand and explore the definition and edge condition of architectural practice. These lectures give our students and the community unprecedented access and the opportunity to be inspired by industry leaders and extend their learning.

Learn more

Industry Engagement Forum | Bond Built Environment Student Association x Faculty of Society & Design

The Faculty of Society & Design, in conjunction with Bond Built Environment Student Association (BBESA), is proud to present the Industry Engagement Forum for current and future students. This forum is a fantastic opportunity for students to interact and engage with industry professionals, and we strongly encourage you to take advantage of this event to ask questions, network, and gain insider knowledge to help you achieve your career goals. A panel of industry experts will be sharing the ins and outs of their fields, and their journey from Bondies to successful professionals in the built environment industries.

The Communication and Digital Media Showcase

The Communication & Digital Media Showcase will provide all Bond University Students who are taking Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, Advertising, Social Media, and Digital Media subjects with a forum to network and proudly display their work to their family, friends, the University community, invited industry guests and future students.

Learn more

Accreditations

Leveraging key industry connections to benefit our students, the Faculty of Society & Design delivers programs that meet industry standards and produce workplace-ready graduates who are eligible for professional membership.

 View Faculty of Society & Design Degree and Program Accreditations