From February 2026, Whitehouse Institute of Design, Australia is offering new design pathway: From Diploma to Degree — an accelerated Diploma of Design that credits directly into higher qualifications for students who want to keep going.

The new Diploma pathway is launching exclusively in Brisbane and Melbourne.

The new on-campus Diploma option priced from $29,220, delivered across two trimesters (20 weeks). It’s designed for students who want to move quickly, build real momentum, and gain hands on skills from day one week one.

Students can choose a focus area from:

• Fashion Design
• Interior Design
• Creative Direction & Styling

The focus is simple: get into studio practice sooner, learn through making, and build a portfolio that reflects real progress in a tight timeframe.

The difference is in the structure

Plenty of diplomas exist. What Whitehouse is launching in 2026 is the idea that a Diploma shouldn’t sit on its own — it should be part of a broader qualification journey.

This Diploma is nested within Whitehouse’s Bachelor of Design, meaning students are able to continue on their journey and credit their Diploma subjects into a higher level qualification.

In practical terms, it creates a ladder:

• complete the Diploma of Design after two trimesters, or
• continue into the Associate Degree of Design in four trimesters, or
• progress all the way through to the Bachelor of Design which is a total of six trimesters.

It’s a structure that recognises a truth about modern study: many students want flexibility.

For Whitehouse, the “From Diploma to Degree” message is also a brand statement: the Institute is backing an approach that’s accelerated, on-campus, and portfolio-driven, with a qualification structure that doesn’t leave students stranded after the first step.

Brisbane and Melbourne: exclusive rollout

The new Diploma launch is exclusive to Brisbane and Melbourne in 2026, and Whitehouse is encouraging prospective students to speak with a Student Advisor early.

How to secure a place

Students who want more information — including which stream is right for them and how the Diploma pathway can lead into the Associate Degree or Bachelor — are encouraged to contact a Student Advisor and fill out the “Apply Now” link above to secure a place for June 2026.

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Image: Fashion Design by Whitehouse Bachelor of Design Alumni - Paris Jones