Tailored business education with strong arts sector links
Learn from arts industry experts
#2 Victorian university for career impact
Why choose Deakin
Open up new career possibilities in a creative sector that faces acute skills shortages in management and leadership. Study in Australia’s only business school-based arts management program and gain the advantages of rigorous business learning with deep creative industries engagement.
This flexible course develops practical skills relevant to the performing arts, visual arts, galleries, festivals, cultural institutions and creative enterprises. Explore areas such as arts marketing, finance, governance, project management and audience development, while learning how creative organisations operate in real-world contexts. Taught by academics and practitioners from the arts and creative sectors, you’ll connect theory with current industry practice and apply your learning to professional scenarios.
Advance to the Master of Business (Arts and Cultural Management), or graduate and take the next step in your career ready to support the management of arts and creative organisations.
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Top-ranked business school
Study arts and cultural management at a top 3 business school in Victoria, with academics whose arts sector connections run deep.
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In-demand cultural and business capability
Build tailored expertise that meets the sector's acute skills shortages in management and leadership.
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Industry-focused arts and cultural management
Explore how arts organisations operate, including sponsorship, fundraising and audience engagement.
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Flexible postgraduate study
Complete your degree online, with the option to study part time. Balance work and study and continue advancing your career in cultural management.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Develop practical management capabilities for creative organisations and cultural institutions. You may pursue opportunities across festivals, arts venues, museums, galleries, publishing, screen and community arts.
Producer
Plan and deliver festivals, performances and cultural events by coordinating programs, venues, budgets, suppliers and stakeholders while ensuring each event meets audience and organisational needs.
- $73.4k
Typical Australian annual salary
- 9.7%
Projected job growth in 5 years
Marketing manager
Develop marketing strategies that grow audiences and strengthen engagement. In creative organisations, you may manage campaigns, digital content, brand activity and insights that support programs and events.
- $70k
Typical Australian annual salary
- 9.7%
Projected job growth in 5 years
Workplace settings
- Arts and cultural venues
- Community arts organisations
- Festivals
- Museums and galleries
- Publishing houses
- Screen industries
Key dates
Direct applications
Trimester 1 2027 applications close 7 February 2027
FAQs
A Deakin postgraduate degree can help you advance your career, deepen your expertise in a specialist field, pivot into a new industry and stand out in a competitive job market. Every course is built with industry input and taught by academics who are active practitioners, so the skills you gain are immediately applicable. Postgraduate study at Deakin is also your chance to connect with leaders in your field and build a network of industry contacts who become valuable professional connections, giving you an advantage that goes well beyond the qualification itself.
Most Deakin postgraduate courses are fee-paying, but there are practical ways to manage the cost of study. You can defer fees with a FEE-HELP loan, repaid through the ATO once you earn above the income threshold. A number of courses have Commonwealth Supported Places where the government covers part of your tuition. Deakin scholarships recognise academic achievement, professional experience and financial need. If you've studied at Deakin before, you may be eligible for a 10% alumni discount. Recognition of prior learning can also reduce costs by crediting past study so you finish sooner.
Yes to all three. Most Deakin postgraduate degrees can be studied online, on campus or a blend of both, and you may be able to switch between full and part time at the start of each trimester to suit your life. If you want to move faster, select courses offer a one-year masters degree designed for working professionals. With three start dates each year for most courses – March, July and November – you don't have to wait long to begin.
The main differences are depth, duration and career outcomes. A graduate certificate is a short, focused qualification, typically six months full time, ideal for upskilling quickly in a specific area. A graduate diploma offers broader knowledge or supports a career change, usually one-year full time. A masters degree delivers advanced expertise and professional recognition, typically one to two years full time. You can also stack qualifications – complete a graduate certificate and use the credit towards a masters.
Each Deakin postgraduate course has a unique structure, check the course stucture section of the course page to see compulsory units, electives and any specialisation streams available. All courses are shaped by industry, so content reflects real challenges in your field. Many courses let you tailor your studies through elective units or specialisations, and some include a capstone project where you apply your learning to a genuine workplace problem.
Entry requirements vary by course, so check this tab on the course page for specific criteria. Most Deakin postgraduate courses require a relevant bachelor degree, though some may accept significant demonstrable work experience as an alternative. You may also be able to build eligibility through a graduate certificate or graduate diploma, which in many cases could count towards a masters degree.
Deakin postgraduate courses are built with industry input, so you're learning skills employers are actively looking for. Depending on your course, you may access work-integrated learning through placements, internships or industry projects with partners including Microsoft, KPMG, National Australia Bank and the Geelong Cats Football Club. DeakinTALENT, Deakin's career service, supports you throughout your studies and for life, helping you grow your network and connect with opportunities in your field.
Yes. Recognition of prior learning (RPL) may turn your previous study or work experience into course credit, reducing both your study time and tuition costs. For some masters degrees, you may be able to receive credit for up to two-thirds of the course, if eligible. Use the RPL calculator to get an indication of what you might receive, and note that prior learning must generally be within the last 10 years, although some courses have a shorter time limit. You can apply for RPL as part of your course application.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Graduate Certificate of Business (Arts and Cultural Management)?
Build the business knowledge needed to support creative organisations and cultural institutions. You will learn how strategic thinking, management and marketing shape sustainable arts and cultural enterprises.
Foundations of arts and cultural management
Understand the creative industries
Explore how arts organisations engage and grow audiences, deliver programs, promote experiences and operate within complex funding and stakeholder environments.
Build core management capability
Develop skills in planning, people management and organisational decision-making to support effective operations.
Develop governance knowledge
Understand financial management, accountability and governance in cultural and creative contexts.
Course structure
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Arts and Cultural Management, you must pass 4 credit points.
Most units are equal to one credit point. This course is available part time only, with students typically studying one to two credit points each study period.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
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.
What to expect while studying
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
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.
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.
Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.
This course does not require students to complete compulsory work integrated learning units.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|
| Assess a broad range of specialised management approaches and their application to arts organisations |
| Develop appropriate communication strategies and techniques in the practice of arts management |
| Employ technologies to find, use and disseminate information, concepts and theories in relation to arts management |
| Appraise and analyse information in order to understand and apply theories of arts management |
| Formulate solutions to a diverse range of current and emerging arts management challenges and issues |
| Personalise observations of arts management practice |
| Analyse the contributions made to arts management from a range of disciplines and backgrounds |
| Translate arts management theory and practice from a range of cultural and international contexts |
- Award granted
- Graduate Certificate of Business (Arts and Cultural Management)
- Year
2027 course information
- Deakin code
- M519
- Level
- Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Fees
Estimated tuition fee
$15,900
- Full-fee paying place
The estimated tuition fee above is based on a typical enrolment of 4 credit points undertaken within the same academic year and is provided as a guide only. Your tuition fees are determined by your course and unit enrolment. Your tuition fees will vary depending on your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning. You may also be eligible for a FEE-HELP loan to defer payment of all or part of your tuition fees.
Scholarships
A Deakin scholarship can open the door to new opportunities. Whether you have something unique to offer or simply need a bit of extra support to reach your goals, we’re here to help. Scholarships can assist with course fees, living costs and study materials – so you can focus on achieving your best.
Anthony Costa Foundation Arts Management Scholarship
Supporting arts management study for applicants experiencing any disability or long-term medical condition, helping ensure arts sector leadership reflects the diversity of its audiences.
Brookes First Nations Arts Managers Scholarship
Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to pursue careers in arts management and leadership, to help improve the representation of First Nations people across the arts management workforce.
George Fairfax Arts Management Scholarship
Supporting students commencing or continuing in postgraduate arts and cultural Management study, with preference given to students working in small-to-medium arts organisations, moving into arts sector careers or living in remote areas.
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust Arts and Cultural Management Scholarship
Building fair, creative and resilient Victorian communities by supporting female students who are living in, or relocating from, rural or regional areas to study the Graduate Certificate of Business (Arts and Cultural Management).
Applications for 2027 are open
Ready to take the next step? Apply now to start your journey at Deakin and get ready for what’s next.
Key dates
Direct applications
Trimester 1 2027 applications close 7 February 2027
Apply now
Apply direct
Simply create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal and educational details, upload your supporting documents and submit your application.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.
Pathways
This course can be a pathway to: