Key facts
English language requirements
IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6) or equivalent
Locations
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course overview
Gain a deeper understanding of the stories we choose to tell future generations, and why and how we tell them. Study our Graduate Diploma of Children’s Literature to explore key literary genres, while analysing storytelling methods and formats and developing critical thinking skills. Deakin is the only university in Australia to offer a graduate diploma in this field.
Interested in developing a unique understanding of one of the world’s most important literary genres?
Begin your course by exploring the fundamentals of narrative theory and how they apply to children’s literature. Then choose a specialisation from six options, such as graphic narratives, where you’ll focus your knowledge and creative practice.
You’ll also benefit from the chance to master complementary abilities, such as the ability to pitch or market a book, in electives selected from the Master of Arts (Writing and Literature), Master of Creative Arts, or Master of Communication.
This course draws a wide range of students from a wide range of backgrounds, from English teachers looking to understand their curriculum better to working writers looking to better explore their genre of choice. The intersection of new voices, ideas, and experience offered in your course will in turn help you discover your views as a reader, strengthen your voice as a writer, and help you broaden your understanding of what children’s literature can do and be. We encourage you to seize every opportunity to collaborate with your classmates and debate new and old ideas with them.
To further your ability to create and critique texts, we also offer publication opportunities and editorial experience in our student-run journals Wordly and Verandah, where you’ll get the chance to share your work or gain practical experience in shaping texts for publication. Many students additionally take advantage of our strong partnerships to secure industry internships, while other writing and literature alumni have gone on to win such awards as the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award and the Melbourne Prize for Literature.
Importantly, this course will provide you with more than expertise in one genre. The projects you’ll work on will train equip you with transferable skills such as critical analysis, communication, problem solving and research – incredibly valuable in every field of work.
Read MoreCourse information
- Award granted
- Graduate Diploma of Children's Literature
- Year
2023 course information
- Deakin code
- A641
- Level
- Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
- Approval status
This course is approved by the University under the Higher Education Standards Framework.
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8.
Course structure
To qualify for the Graduate Diploma of Children's Literature, a student must successfully complete 8 credit points of study comprising:
- 1 credit points of compulsory core units;
- 4 credit points of course electives from list A
- 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
- Academic Integrity AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
6
Core units
2
Elective units
8
Total
Core unit
Course Electives List A
Complete four 1-credit point units chosen from the following course electives list A below:
Students may choose to include the 5th unit listed above as one of the 3 electives
Elective units
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.
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
Trimester 1 - March
- Start date: March
- Available at:
- Online
Trimester 2 - July
- Start date: July
- Available at:
- Online
Additional course information
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
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.
Participation requirements
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.
Work experience
Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
Entry requirements
Entry information
Admission Requirements Specific Entry will be based on performance in:
- a Bachelor Degree in any discipline OR
- a Graduate Certificate in any discipline OR
- at least two years of relevant work experience (or part-time equivalent)
IELTS / English language requirements
Please note that English language requirements exist for entry to this course and you will be required to meet the English language level requirement that is applicable in the year of your commencement of studies.
It is the students’ responsibility to ensure that she/he has the required IELTS score to register with any external accredited courses. (more details)
Deakin University offers admission to postgraduate courses through a number of Admission categories. To be eligible for admission to this program, applicants must meet the course requirements.
All applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements.
Please note that meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee selection, which is based on merit, likelihood of success and availability of places in the course.
For more information on the Admission Criteria and Selection (Higher Education Courses) Policy visit the Deakin Policy Library
Recognition of prior learning
If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for credit transfer. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your credit transfer. Your credit transfer is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.
You can also refer to the Recognition of Prior Learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Learn more about fees and your options for paying.
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing this course in the same year they started. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of Prior Learning.
One year full-time study load is typically represented by eight credit points of study. Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together eight credit points of a typical combination of units for your course.
You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the Handbook.
Learn more about tuition fees.
Scholarship options
A Deakin scholarship might change your life. If you've got something special to offer Deakin – or you just need the financial help to get you here – we may have a scholarship opportunity for you.
Postgraduate bursary
If you’re a Deakin alumnus commencing a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible to receive a 10% reduction per unit on your enrolment fees.
Apply now
Applications can be made directly to the University through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's International Student Application Service. For information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply web page.
Fill out the application form and submit to a Deakin International office or take your application form to a Deakin representative for assistance
For information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply webpage.
If you’re still having problems, please contact Deakin International for assistance.
Careers
Career outcomes
Graduates understand the importance of children’s writing in how we understand children and childhood. They expand their knowledge of a wide variety of text types for children and young adults to develop their understanding of how language and narrative shape the way we understand the world, and how literature can simultaneously reflect and provide insights into aspects of culture, place, and history. Studying children’s literature develops high-level writing skills, critical analysis, and the capacity to undertake independent and collaborative research. Writing and literature graduates have gone on to win awards like the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award Melbourne Prize for Literature for their published works.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT
Course learning outcomes
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Articulate specialist knowledge of a range of literary theories, concepts, and approaches, and apply them to works of literature for children and young adults. |
| Communication | 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 for children and young adults. |
| 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 scholarly work in writing and literature for children and young adults. |
| Critical thinking | Utilise theory and research to critically analyse and evaluate the influence of narrative strategies, genre conventions and cultural assumptions and apply to the examination of literature for children and young adults. |
| Problem solving | Apply theoretical, historical and contemporary critical and analytical approaches to the sophisticated design and execution of solutions to a range of scholarly, aesthetic and ideological problems that emerge from the analysis of literature for children and young adults. |
| 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 and literature. |
| Teamwork | Actively contribute to peer feedback activities and make constructive, respectful and informed contributions to creative and critical collaboration in writing and literature. |
| Global citizenship | Identify, select, and critically analyse culturally relevant literary theories, concepts, and approaches to interpreting works of literature for children and young adults. |
| Approved by Faculty Board September 2021 | |