Graduate Diploma of Writing and Literature
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Diploma of Writing and Literature |
| Deakin course code | A664 |
| Course credit points | 8 |
| Course version | 3 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts and Education |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2027. |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
| Duration | 1 year full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Course map - enrolment planning tool | The course map for students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 will be available soon 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 | 083988G 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
- Alternative exits
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Other learning experiences
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Advance your reading, writing and analytical skills with Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Writing and Literature. Build on your undergraduate study or professional experience while exploring the theory, history and practice behind impactful writing.
Designed for aspiring authors, editors and professionals who work with words, this course helps you refine your craft in a community of passionate readers and writers. Foundation studies introduce creative writing, professional writing, publishing and literary analysis, while practical tasks build discipline, structure and confidence. Tailor the course through writing, literature and elective study areas to match your interests and career goals. Along the way, you will strengthen transferable skills in communication, research, critical analysis and problem solving, with opportunities to engage with industry trends, internships and the Verandah Journal.
Career opportunities
You’ll graduate from this course with more than just advanced writing skills. You’ll also have expertise in communication, problem solving, critical thinking and research – the kind of skills employers across all industries value.
This course puts you in a strong position to explore a range of career pathways, including:
- author
- editor
- literary critic
- publisher
- advertising executive
- communications specialist
- copywriter
- journalist
- public relations practitioner
- English teacher
For those looking to continue their studies, this course is an approved pathway into the Master of Arts (Writing and Literature).
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.
Alternative exits
| Graduate Certificate of Writing and Literature (A535) |
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Articulate specialist knowledge of a range of literary and creative writing theories, concepts, and approaches, and apply them to the study of literature and the production of written work. |
| Communicate through writing that employs advanced command of the critical and theoretical vocabularies and language required to interpret, argue and fluently and persuasively transmit ideas about writing and literature. |
| 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 scholarly work in writing and literature. |
| Utilise theory and research to critically analyse and apply appropriate forms and conventions in writing and to evaluate the influence of narrative strategies, genre conventions and cultural assumptions on works of literature. |
| Apply a range of theoretical, historical and contemporary critical and analytical approaches to the design and execution of solutions to a range of scholarly, aesthetic and ideological problems that emerge from the analysis and writing of literature. |
| Act with autonomy and initiative while being accountable for working effectively, efficiently and to a high standard in order to achieve goals in writing and literature. |
| Actively contribute to peer feedback activities and make constructive, respectful and informed contributions to creative and critical collaboration in writing and literature. |
| Identify, select, critically analyse, and apply culturally relevant literary theories, concepts, and approaches to writing and interpreting works of literature. |
Approved at Faculty Board September 2021
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Graduate Diploma of Writing and Literature you must pass 8 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.
An 8-credit point Graduate Diploma of Writing and Literature includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- a 1 credit point core unit
- 2 credit points of writing course electives
- 2 credit points of literature course 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 Fine Arts including ACC700 Communication and Creative Arts Internship.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
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 |
Units
| ALL743 | Foundations in Writing and Literature |
Writing and Literature units
Writing units
Select 2 credit points not previously studied from:
| ALL721 | Writing for Children |
| ALL722 | Texts for Young Adults |
| ALL784 | Writing Beyond Boundaries: Finding Form |
| ALW732 | Fiction Writing: Story, Structure and Starting Out |
Literature units
Select 2 credit points not previously studied from:
| ALL706 | Fantasy and Historical Fictions |
| ALL708 | Graphic Narratives |
| ALL728 | Studies in the Discipline |
| ALW727 | Clued In: Crime Fiction and Film |
ACA715 Creating Your Arts Business [No longer available for enrolment]
ALC708 Social Media Content Creation [No longer available for enrolment for this course]
ALJ716 Writing the News [No longer available for enrolment]
ALL705 Vision and Revision: Short Stories Now [No longer available for enrolment]
ALL727 Sex, the Body, and American Poetry [No longer available for enrolment]
ALW738 Editing [No longer available for enrolment]
ALW739 Publishing [No longer available for enrolment]
Electives
Choose 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 Fine Arts including ACC700 Communication and Creative Arts Internship.
Work experience
Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
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
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.