Future students

Course search

print
 

Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing

Course summary for local students

Award granted Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing
CampusOffered at Melbourne Burwood Campus
Off-campusYes
Length1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Next available intake

March (Trimester 1), July (Trimester 2)

Indicative annual fee 2013$19,020* - Full-fee paying place
Faculty contacts

Arts and Education Postgraduate Student Support and Enrolment Enquiries

Tel 03 9244 6007

or 03 9251 7071 
artsed-pg@deakin.edu.au

 

Course Director

Virginia Murray, +61 3 924 43964, virginia.murray@deakin.edu.au

 

Contact the Course Director for matters relating specifically to the academic content of this course - all enrolment related queries must go to the Student Support Office.

CRICOS course code015197C
Deakin course code A661

Course sub-headings

Course overview

The Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing offers studies in various forms of professional writing and editing for graduates with major sequences in other disciplines. The emphasis is on helping you to develop the skills required to prepare work for publication. In each area of study-fiction, creative non-fiction, writing for children, poetry, editing, publishing and scriptwriting - you will be given practical experience of the process of writing and revision. The program will develop your understanding of the requirements of writing and editing for different readerships. The units in the program will be valuable to you if you are experienced in writing but feel the need for further guidance, or if you want to begin a career in writing. Study at this level can also help you if you are required to write in the course of your employment and wish to enhance your skills in written communication. The editing course introduces you to the key skills required for employment in publishing books and magazines. The School adopts the philosophy that writing and editing should be taught by published writers and practitioners. The teaching staff includes well-known writers and editors, and the program draws on the talents of other publishing professionals as guest speakers.

Back to top

Fees and charges

Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)
EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is the standard full time load for one year of study.

Fee paying place - Domestic (DFP)
A Fee paying place is one for which the university does not receive any government funding. As such, students enrolled in these places are required to contribute the full cost of their course.
Fee paying places are available to domestic students. Domestic students are those who are Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or holders of a permanent visa.

*Indicative course fees should be used as a guide only. Deakin University assumes no responsibility for persons relying on indicative course fees to calculate the total future cost of their course. The indicative course fee is an estimate based on a typical enrolment a student may have for their first year of study in 2013 for their course. The indicative course fee is based on historical first year enrolments within the course, reflecting the discipline cluster of the units which may be studied within the course. The actual fees charged will depend on the individual units chosen. The cost of each unit can be viewed from the Unit Search. Please note that the fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and services.

Career opportunities

The program is designed to provide career enhancement for students employed or wishing to be employed in the fields of children's literature, literature and professional writing.  It enables students currently employed in these fields to upgrade their qualifications in order to apply for specialist positions and enhance their opportunities for promotion.  It also provides for those seeking a qualification to enable refocusing of career options.

Back to top

Course rules

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing, a student must successfully complete 8 credit points of study comprising:
  • 4 credit points of Professional Writing units selected from the specified list below; and
  • 4 credit points of electives selected from the remaining Professional Writing units and/or from the following disciplines


See Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) (A748) and Master of Communication (A747) for units available in the disciplines above.

 

Note: Students who complete a specialisation of 4 credit points will have the specialisation indicated on their academic transcript.

Back to top

Course structure

Trimester 1

ALR715 New Ventures in Creative Enterprise  

ALW730 Creative Non-Fiction Writing A  

ALW732 Fiction Writing: Story, Structure and Starting Out  

ALW734 Script Writing A  

ALW736 Poetics of Writing A  **

ALW738 Editing  

ALW749 Crossing Borders - in Country Travel and Research Project  **


Trimester 2

ACM733 My Story: Autobiographical and Experimental Video Production  

ALL705 Short Stories: Writers and Readers  *

ALL706 Histories, Fictions  

ALW720 Travel Writing  

ALW729 Writing for Communication Media  

ALW731 Creative Non-Fiction Writing B  

ALW733 Fiction Writing: Ideas and Innovations  

ALW735 Script Writing B  

ALW739 Publishing  

 

Trimester 3

ALW749 Crossing Borders - in Country Travel and Research Project  **

 

* ALL705 also offered trimester 3

** ALW736 and ALW749 are not offered 2013, re-offered 2014.

 

Note: Students may complete any combination of units, though they should be aware that B units require A units as prerequisites.

 

Back to top

Entry requirements - general

Deakin University offers admission to postgraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.
For more information on the Deakin Admissions Policy visit The Guide.

Back to top

Entry requirements - specific

To be eligible for entry into the Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing applicants require a bachelor degree from an approved tertiary institution or equivalent:

  • a bachelor degree from an approved tertiary institution; or
  • qualifications deemed to be equivalent.

Back to top

Credit for prior learning - general

The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.

You can also refer to the Credit for Prior Learning (Credit Transfer) Search which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.

Back to top

Credit for prior learning - specific

Applications for credit for credit transfer will be considered depending on the student's prior qualifications and professional experience.

The Graduate Certificate of Professional Writing, the Graduate Diploma of Professional Writing, the Master of Communication or the Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) comprise a suite of fully articulated courses. Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate will lead to entry into either the Graduate Diploma, the Master of Communication or the Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) with up to 4 credit points for credit transfer. Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma will lead to entry into the Master of Communication or Master of Arts (Writing and Literature) with up to 8 credit points for credit transfer.

Back to top

How to apply

Applications must be made directly to the University through the Applicant Portal.  Details of available courses and application closing dates can be found on the Apply webpage. Please note that closing dates may vary for individual courses.


Your course may require further information in support of your application. Please refer to the faculty information website for further details.

Back to top

Alternate exits

Graduate Certificate of Professional Writing (A561)
 

Deakin University acknowledges the traditional land owners of present campus sites.

8th June 2007