Graduate Certificate of Business (Arts and Cultural Management)

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2025 course information
Award granted	Graduate Certificate of Business (Arts and Cultural Management)
Deakin course code	M519
Faculty	Faculty of Business and Law
Campus	This course is only offered Online
Online	Yes
Duration	1 year part-time
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.
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

Take the first step towards a more fulfilling career and graduate with lasting professional networks by studying the Graduate Certificate of Business (Arts and Cultural Management). Learn valuable business skills from academics with successful careers in the arts and creative sectors and use this short, flexible course as a stepping stone into the master degree.

Want to complement your knowledge of the arts with practical business skills that boost your employability?

The Graduate Certificate of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) features four core units from Deakin’s Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) – the only course of its kind in Australia delivered by a business school. This gives our graduates a significant advantage by ensuring they have the practical business experience employers are seeking more than ever. It prepares managers ready for work in both not-for-profit and commercial organisations.

The course is responsive to trends within the sector, better preparing you for your future role. Through hands-on tasks and assignments, you will learn to apply the fundamentals of business – including management, marketing, finance, human resources and project management – in arts and cultural management contexts.

The curriculum's connectedness to the sector comes as a result of course content that’s shaped by advisory boards and delivered by industry experts. Working alongside employers and board members within the industry, our academics develop assessments, projects and content that reflect the challenges of the field. Not only are our academics well-connected, they’re also highly credentialed and experienced. From arts managers influencing arts and cultural policies for government, to Presidents of the Green Room Awards, you will be learning from the very best.

Indicative student workload

You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Professional recognition

Deakin Business School holds both AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. These prestigious accreditations are awarded to business schools that meet strict standards of quality, academic and professional excellence, and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing improvement and innovation in their courses, ensuring graduates are employable worldwide.

Career opportunities

The course’s strong reputation in the industry leads to great career outcomes. Your qualification will give you an advantage when pursuing leadership roles across a range of settings including:

arts and cultural venues
community arts and cultural development
festivals
museums and galleries
performing and visual arts
publishing houses
screen industries
touring companies.

While there are many exciting career pathways for graduates, you will also have the option of continuing your studies into Deakin’s Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management). Many leaders within the industry are graduates from the master’s program and have gone on to work in high-profile organisations such as:

Arts Centre Melbourne
Australian Ballet
Creative Partnerships Australia
Federal, state and local government arts departments.
Melbourne Fringe Festival
Museum Victoria
Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA)
National Gallery of Australia
Opera Australia
Regional Arts Australia
Theatre Network Australia.

Participation requirements

Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

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

Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.

Pathways

This course can be a pathway to:

Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management) (M785)

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Assess a broad range of specialised management approaches and their application to arts organisations
Communication	Develop appropriate communication strategies and techniques in the practice of arts management
Digital literacy	Employ technologies to find, use and disseminate information, concepts and theories in relation to arts management
Critical thinking	Appraise and analyse information in order to understand and apply theories of arts management
Problem solving	Formulate solutions to a diverse range of current and emerging arts management challenges and issues
Self-management	Personalise observations of arts management practice
Teamwork	Analyse the contributions made to arts management from a range of disciplines and backgrounds
Global citizenship	Translate arts management theory and practice from a range of cultural and international contexts

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Certificate of Arts and Cultural Management 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
4 credit points of core units

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

Compulsory 0-credit point module

To be completed in the first trimester of study:-

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin

Core Units

MMK792

Arts Marketing

MMM790

Arts Management

MAA702

Financial Interpretation

MPM722

Human Resource Management

Work experience

This course does not require students to complete compulsory work integrated learning units.

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

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.