Graduate Certificate of Politics and Policy
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Certificate of Politics and Policy |
| Deakin course code | A502 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Online | Yes |
| Duration | 1 year part-time |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | The course map for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025 will be available soon. The course map for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2025. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| 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
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Other learning experiences
- Research and research-related study
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Discover how you can shape the future of public life through Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Politics and Policy. Combining contemporary theory with industry-relevant skills, this course will equip you with the foundation knowledge to understand the complex machinations of the contemporary democratic system and its most pressing challenges. You’ll also gain the professional skills required to develop, execute and evaluate policymaking across vital public sectors including education and employment.
Are you ready to build an impactful career helping to shape society through the dynamic realms of politics and policy?
Prepare for the challenges and excitement of transforming political ideas into beneficial public policy. In this industry-shaped course, you will learn from academics who are experts in their fields and have extensive professional networks in politics and policy. You’ll gain industry-relevant experience and practical skills by working on real-world projects, such as developing policy briefing papers or political communication strategies.
Through electives, you will have the opportunity to delve deeper into the complex and often competing array of accountabilities at force in governance, the distribution of power and authority between the tiers of the federal system of government, and the interplay of communication, politics and public opinion. You’ll also gain insights into current Australian public policy in key fields such as foreign policy, crime and urban design, and consider innovative ideas for changes of policy direction drawing on lessons from overseas.
With a dual understanding of the theoretical foundations of politics and the nuances of effective and ethical policymaking, you will graduate job ready with a range of industry-relevant skills and an applied understanding of politics in action.
This course is delivered via Deakin’s premium online platform, ensuring a collaborative, fully supported and flexible study environment, so you can get ahead with your career journey while also maintaining work, study and personal commitments.
Career opportunities
Graduate with the expertise and practical skills to confidently enter a role as policy officer, analyst, consultant or adviser in a variety of professional fields, including:
- local, state and national government
- political office
- international relations
- industry and the private sector
- stakeholder engagement
- communication and training
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.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Advanced knowledge of, and specialised cognitive skills involving Australia’s political system and governance that may be applied in professional practice and adapted to different contexts. Sound understanding of policy development, implementation and evaluation. |
| Communication | Ability to communicate effectively potentially complex knowledge and ideas involving political and policy issues to a variety of audiences, both specialist and non-specialist. |
| Critical thinking | Develop the skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas and proposals involving diverse institutions and actors, within and beyond the ‘formal’ political sphere. |
| Problem solving | Employ appropriate methods of research and analysis to investigate complex real world problems in a systematic manner and generate and evaluate potential responses to issues in such areas as: public policy; political institutions, processes and practices; democratic governance; citizen engagement; and, political communication. |
| Self-management | Demonstrate autonomy, responsibility, accountability and a continued commitment to learning and skill development personally, academically and professionally in the field of politics and/or public policy. |
| Teamwork | Work and learn collaboratively with others from similar, but also at times quite different disciplines and backgrounds. |
Approved at Faculty Board July 2019
Course rules
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Politics and Policy students must pass 4 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- 2 credit points of core units
- 2 credit points of course electives
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.
Note:
- This course is part-time only.
Course structure
Core Units
| AIP704 | Making Policy |
| AIP783 | Rethinking Democracy: Past, Present and Future |
Course Electives
| AIP740 | Policy Lessons From Overseas |
| AIP748 | Intergovernmental Relations: Federalism, Power and Multi-Level Governance |
| AIP773 | Governance and Accountability in Turbulent Times |
| AIP781 | Political Communication: Public Watchdog Or Propaganda Machine? |
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.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Other learning experiences
There are options for WIL and study tours across many of the SHSS courses.
Research and research-related study
Independent research components are embedded across a number of units.
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.