6 creative specialisations to choose from
Build practical experience in world-class creative studios
Graduate with an impressive portfolio of work
Key facts
Duration
This course is 1 year full-time or part-time equivalent duration.
Locations
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Waterfront (Geelong)*
Key dates
Direct applications to Deakin for Trimester 2 2023 close 25 June 2023
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course overview
Upskill for the creative career you’ve always wanted with the Graduate Diploma of Creative Arts. Collaborate on real-world creative projects to build your portfolio and customise your degree to match your personal and professional interests.
Ready to join a high-achieving group of like-minded creatives on the path to career progression?
The Graduate Diploma of Creative Arts allows you to hone your creative practice alongside students from our six creative arts disciplines: visual arts, photography, animation and motion capture, visual communication design, dance and drama. By collaborating with artists from different fields, you’ll broaden your understanding of creativity while developing transferable skills that employers value, such as imaginative thinking, problem solving and leadership.
On top of core units of study, you’ll strengthen your creative repertoire with six elective units. Your electives can play to your strengths, or help you upskill in an unfamiliar discipline. Some of your elective options include:
- Writing with the Camera
- Documentary Production Practice
- Arts Marketing
- Introduction to Digital Photography
- Design Thinking and Problem Solving.
Elective units provide lots of practical experience, including industry-relevant creative projects that challenge you to apply theoretical frameworks in teams and as an individual. You can also get hands-on in our professional standard facilities, including TV broadcast studios, dance and drama studios, a professional photographic light studio, visual arts and design studios and dedicated gallery spaces.
While there are many exciting career pathways for graduates, there are also opportunities for further study upon successful completion of the course. If you want to continue building your creative expertise, you might like to articulate into Deakin’s Master of Creative Arts.
Read MoreCourse information
- Award granted
- Graduate Diploma of Creative Arts
- Year
2023 course information
- Deakin code
- A659
- CRICOS code?
- 083982C Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong)
- 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 Creative Arts, a student must successfully complete 8 credit points of study comprising:
- 2 core units: ACA710 and ACA712
- Choose 6 credit points of electives from the Master of Creative Arts, Master of Communication or Master of Arts (Writing and Literature)
- Academic Integrity AAI018 Academic Integrity (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
Core Units
Electives
Choose 6 credit points of electives from within the Master of Creative Arts, Master of Communication or Master of Arts (Writing and Literature)
Other units that may be counted as electives are:
ACF700 Writing with the Camera [No longer available for enrolment]
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:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
Trimester 2 - July
- Start date: July
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
Disciplines on offer
Burwood (Melbourne) - Animation & Motion Capture, Dance, Drama, Photography, Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design
Waterfront (Geelong)* - Photography, Visual Communication Design and Visual Arts
Please Note: *This course will not be offered at Waterfront (Geelong) from Trimester 1 2023.
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.
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.
Work experience
Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
Need help?
Ask a question about studying at Deakin
Entry requirements
Entry information
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)
Deakin University offers admission to postgraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
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
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 Recognition of Prior Learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Learn more about fees and your options for paying.
The available fee places for this course are detailed above. Not all courses at Deakin have Commonwealth supported places available.
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing this course within the same year. 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 fees and available payment options.
FEE-HELP calculator
What is FEE-HELP?
FEE-HELP loans cover up to 100% of tuition fees for eligible students. By taking out a FEE-HELP loan, the government pays your tuition fees directly to Deakin, and the balance is repaid from your employment income - but only once you're earning over $48,361.
Please note: fees shown by the calculator are indicative only and based on 2023 rates. Actual fees may vary. We advise confirming fees with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.
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- $* is the estimated full cost for a Graduate Diploma of Creative Arts (8 credit points), based on the 2023 fees.
- is the annual FEE-HELP payment, based on your current salary
- of your current salary be spent on FEE-HELP
*Disclaimer
Deakin University (Deakin):
- gives no warranty and accepts no responsibility for the currency, accuracy or the completeness of the information provided;
- advises users that no reliance should be placed upon on the information provided, and;
- instructs users that they should confirm the actual course fee with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.
This tool provides indicative information about the fees that will be payable in respect of courses and subjects offered to prospective students domiciled in Australia during the periods indicated.
Please note that the fees shown by the calculator are indicative only and actual fees may vary. Users are advised to confirm the actual course fee with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.
The estimated course fee is based on the tuition fee costs applicable to a domestic full time student commencing the course in Trimester 1 and studying full time for the duration of the course but:
- does not include non-tuition costs that may apply, such as Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF);
- does not take into account any scholarships or bursaries awarded to the student (including the 10% Deakin alumni discount);
- assumes the maximum number of units that need to be successfully completed actual number completed may be reduced if recognition of prior learning is granted;
- assumes that no exceptional, or non-typical, circumstances apply to the proposed course of study;
- assumes that the options that the user selects are appropriate for the course of study that they intend to undertake;
- where fees are estimated for future years those fee will be subject to annual increases in accordance with increases in the cost of course delivery.
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 the Deakin Application Portal. For information on the application process and closing dates, see the how to apply web page. Please note that closing dates may vary for individual courses.
For more information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply webpage. If you're still having problems, please contact us for assistance.
Entry pathways
Alternative exits
Contact information
Our friendly advisers are available to speak to you one-on-one about your study options, support services and how we can help you further your career.
- Call us: 1800 693 888 Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm
- Live Chat: Mon–Thurs, 8am–7pm, Fri 8am–5pm
- Submit an online enquiry
- Help hub find common and trending questions and answers
Careers
Career outcomes
Graduate with specialist knowledge, transferable creative skills and real-world experience that prepares you for a diverse range of creative roles in areas such as:
- entrepreneurship and management in the creative arts
- design
- video, sound and multimedia production
- freelancing as a creator or artist
- art production and curation
- consulting.
Your skills will be sought-after in museums and galleries, all levels of government, boutique art companies and design agencies. You can also explore opportunities in festivals, community events and curatorial projects typically funded by government and philanthropic entities.
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 | Apply and extend specialist knowledge and technical and creative skills in creative arts practice in one or more disciplines or areas of creative arts including drama, dance, photography, visual arts, animation and design. |
| Communication | Use specialist creative arts technologies and skills to communicate complex ideas to a range of audiences in academic and non-academic contexts. Harness specialist creative arts technologies, skills and discourse to communicate complex ideas to a range of audiences in academic and non -academic contexts. |
| Digital literacy | Draw on, analyse and assess digital technologies to produce, document, present and publish in the creative arts. |
| Critical thinking | Evaluate, interpret and synthesise complex ideas within creative arts drawing on discourse and practice. |
| Problem solving | Address theoretical and methodological challenges in the creation of work that is discursive and reflective and engages in creative decision -making processes within the relevant field. |
| Self-management | Develop systematic and episodic reflective approaches to creative work practices. |
| Teamwork | Advanced interpersonal and communication skills to participate effectively in the critical culture of production, completion and presentation of creative arts projects. |
| Global citizenship | Establish ethical approaches that interrogate the value of art and performance in diverse communities and cultures and transfer creative practice outcomes into real world contexts |
| Approved by Faculty Board November 2018 | |
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