Graduate Certificate of Communication
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Certificate of Communication |
| Course Credit Points | 4 |
| Deakin course code | A539 |
| Course version | 4 |
| Faculty | |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2018 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Campus note | Trimester 3 unit offerings are limited |
| Duration | 0.5 year full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for students commencing from Trimester 1 2026 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS code | 083989G Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Fees and charges
Course overview
In a world of perpetual change, where facts and opinion often collide, one thing remains certain: the need for skilled communicators. Broaden your knowledge, and your mind, to gain a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving job market.
Keen to dip into postgraduate communications study to boost your current skillset and advance your career?
With unprecedented advancement in technology and the increasing globalisation of business enterprises, strategic communication and critical thinking skills are a highly valued, modern-day commodity. Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Communication will give you the specialist knowledge and skills to empower you to thrive in roles that influence and shape opinion.
Tailor your degree to your career goals – undertake intensive study in journalism, television production, public relations, digital media or visual communication design, or explore cross-disciplinary study. Enjoy a flexible, supported and stimulating learning environment, while collaborating with like-minded students, including those already working in industry.
Explore theoretical concepts and frameworks and learn how to apply them in a practical setting. Learn from experienced staff and experts in the field, who ensure our course content stays up-to-date with the latest technological advances, industry demands and market conditions.
The Graduate Certificate of Communication is also an articulation pathway into the Master of Communication. Should you be interested in continuing your studies, you can apply for recognition of prior learning (RPL) upon successful completion of this course.
Whether you’re looking to upskill, change roles or challenge yourself in a new discipline, you will graduate well-prepared for the inevitable industry advances, challenges and opportunities yet to come.
Career opportunities
Now more than ever is a great time to be in the media and communications industry. From media agencies and newsrooms, to publications, community relations and government organisations, anywhere in the world – the career opportunities are vast.
Our Graduate Certificate of Communication can prepare you for roles such as:
- public relations specialist
- journalist
- media adviser
- communications consultant
- technical writer
- visual designer
- social media manager
For more information go to DeakinTALENT.
Participation requirements
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Mandatory student checks
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
Pathways
This course can be a pathway to:
Graduate Diploma of Communication (A639)
Master of Communication (A743)
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply specialist skills and knowledge of communication methods and concepts in professional and scholarly contexts. |
| Communication | Use specialist cognitive and technical skills to communicate ideas, arguments, and solutions to problems in a variety of modes across a range of professional and scholarly contexts. |
| Digital literacy | Make expert use of digital technologies to address a range of communication needs in professional contexts and for diverse audiences within and outside the communication industries. |
| Critical thinking | Critically analyse and evaluate complex ideas in communication theory and communicate conclusions in the context of professional decision-making and scholarship. |
| Problem solving | Use specialised knowledge and skills in communication to identify, investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information in the context of generating creative solutions to industry and scholarly problems. |
| Self-management | Employ autonomy, accountability and initiative when responding creatively to new situations in professional communication contexts. |
| Teamwork | Work and learn collaboratively in professional communication practice and in scholarly contexts, including exercising initiative and accountability as a team member. |
| Global citizenship | Critically reflect on communication-related issues in both domestic and global contexts, as a scholar and in professional practice, taking into consideration cultural and socio-economic diversity, social and environmental responsibility and the application of the highest ethical standards. |
Approved at Faculty Board November 2022
Course rules
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Communication you must pass 4 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 4 credit points of communication course elective units.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Students are strongly encouraged to look at specific concentrations and patterns of unit choice that develop their professional communication skills and should seek advice to create the best combination available to them to achieve their specific course objectives and learning outcomes. Students using the Graduate Certificate as a pathway into the Master of Communication are strongly advised to complete ACX701 Communication Concepts as two of their 4 credit points.
Students using the Graduate Certificate to seek entry into a specialised diploma should take all four units from a single sub-field to enable credit for those units to be granted towards the diploma.
Course structure
Core units
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin |
Electives
| ACC717 | Media Law and Ethics |
| ACF700 | Writing with the Camera |
| ACF705 | Documentary Production Practice |
| ACG702 | Design for the Physical World |
| ACG703 | Design Systems |
| ACG706 | Design for the Digital World |
| ACG708 | Design Strategies |
| ACI700 | Digital Art and Photography |
| ACX701 | Communication Concepts (2 credit points) |
| ALC702 | Making Sense of Communities Online |
| ALC708 | Social Media Content Creation |
| ALJ716 | Writing the News |
| ALJ722 | The Power and Perils of True Stories |
| ALR700 | Public Relations Campaigns |
| ALR701 | Writing for Brands |
| ALR703 | Digital Brand Storytelling |
| ALR704 | Reputation Management: Crisis, Risk and Responsibility |
| ALR710 | Advanced Brand Communication |
| ALR718 | Communication for Social Change |
| ALR733 | Advertising Theory and Practice |
| ASM700 | Introduction to Sports Media |
| ASM701 | Sport Commentary |
Work experience
Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.