Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2025 course information
Award granted	Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing
Deakin course code	A661
Faculty	Faculty of Arts and Education
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Online	Yes
Duration	1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025. Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS course code	095260E 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

Develop the skills and business acumen to pursue a career as an agile and versatile writer through Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing. In your course, you will explore the foundations of good writing, discover how to write to a range of different briefs, and learn how to professionally manage your writing work.

Build an impressive portfolio of work and comprehensive skills in editorial management that will help you secure positions across a range of industries.

Are you ready to become a highly sought-after writer, with the ability to move between genres, platforms, and audiences with ease?

In core units, you will explore what makes for good writing and master the tools every working writer needs such as the ability to:

research
blueprint a draft
take a concept through various stages of revision.

You’ll then tailor and refine your literary abilities by choosing from a range of different writing specialisations such as feature writing, social content creation, and general publishing. You will also complement your writing knowledge with electives chosen from the Master of Arts (Writing and Literature), Master of Creative Arts and Master of Communication, such as in the foundations of narrative in theory.

The cross-disciplinary knowledge, mentorship from working writers and combination of units offered in this course will ensure you graduate industry-ready, with an impressive set of skills to help you stand out from the crowd.

We also encourage students to get involved with Verandah, an annual student-run publication that showcases the best work of emerging writers and artists, and gives students the chance to develop expertise in selecting, editing and proofreading submissions for publication.

With an impressive body of work and highly developed critical thinking and creative skills, you will graduate ready to work as a professional writer in a range of different forums.

Career opportunities

Graduates are able to pursue work in a range of roles that call for writing and editing skills and agility, such as:

freelance writer
journalist
content creator
editor.

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	Articulate specialist knowledge of a range of writing theories, concepts, and approaches, and apply them to the production of written work.
Communication	Communicate through writing that is technically and aesthetically proficient and demonstrates awareness of, or ability to extend, established writing conventions to produce works that communicate complex ideas effectively using suitable written forms and specialised techniques.
Digital literacy	Employ a range of technologies and make evaluative judgments in the use of research databases, bibliographic and digital communication technologies to research, produce and present work in writing.
Critical thinking	Utilise theory and research to critically analyse and apply appropriate forms and conventions in writing.
Problem solving	Analyse and respond creatively and professionally through writing to identify, solve or reframe complex aesthetic, theoretical or real-world challenges and limitations.
Self-management	Act with autonomy and initiative while being accountable for working effectively, efficiently and to a high standard in order to achieve goals in writing.
Teamwork	Actively contribute to peer feedback activities and make constructive, respectful and informed contributions to creative and critical collaboration in writing.
Global citizenship	Identify, select, and critically analyse culturally relevant literary theories, concepts, and approaches to writing and interpreting works of literature.

Approved at Faculty Board September 2021

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing students must pass 8 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
1 credit point core units
4 credit points of course electives chosen from list A
3 credit points of course electives chosen from units within the specialisations of the Master of Communication or Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) or the core or electives of the Master of Creative Arts including ACC700 Communication and Creative Arts Internship

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.

Course structure

Core Unit

ALW740

Foundations in Writing

Course Electives List A

Complete four of the following units:

ACA715

Creating Your Arts Business

ALC708

Social Media Content Creation

ALJ716

Writing the News

ALW738

Editing

ALW739

Publishing

Students may choose to include the 5th unit listed above as one of the 3 electives

Electives

3 credit points of electives chosen from units within the specialisations of the Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) or the Master of Communication or the core or electives of the Master of Creative Arts including ACC700 Communication and Creative Arts Internship.

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 will be opportunities throughout the course for students to engage with industry professionals. These experiences will be integrated into units where students will have external clients or industry representatives provide content to more closely connect the learning experience with industry practices.

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.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.