Key facts
Duration
1 year full-time or part-time equivalent duration.
Locations
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course overview
Build specialised and multidisciplinary skills to thrive in an evolving industry with the Graduate Diploma of Journalism. Hone your craft in professional standard newsrooms, connect with leading journalists from day one and graduate with an impressive portfolio of work.
Want to be a multi-skilled communicator and content creator, capable of reporting stories with impact across multiple platforms?
Journalism is in a state of change. Emerging media platforms, the rise of fake news and a dynamic 24/7 news landscape have increased the demand for accurate, versatile and adaptable journalists. A changing industry creates opportunities for those with future-focused skills in critical thinking and analysis, research and investigation, interviewing, writing and reporting and the ability to innovate and connect with diverse audiences across a range of media. Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Journalism trains you in these very skills, preparing you for success no matter where your career takes you.
The course’s focus on cross-platform content creation ensures you graduate as a multi-skilled communicator. Develop skills in:
- multimedia journalism
- investigative journalism
- feature writing
- news practice and analysis, and more.
By building experience across different platforms and styles of journalism, you can confidently navigate the diverse challenges of your future career and move seamlessly between different roles as your interests change. Elective units add another layer of flexibility to your degree and give you the chance to study units from any other postgraduate course in Deakin’s School of Communication and Creative Arts. Enhance your repertoire by studying complementary units in digital media, design, creative writing, public relations or television production.
On top of technical skills, you will learn about the ethical demands of the modern journalist, and discover what it takes to report accurately and with integrity in an age of misinformation.
You’ll get hands-on, early and often, with access to industry-standard facilities like our professional television studio with green screens and live streaming capabilities, editing suites, media resource centre and state-of-the-art newsroom, streaming news from around the world. In addition, you can pitch and produce stories for our very own student publication, DScribe, and secure an industry placement, giving you the chance to produce content alongside established professionals, work to deadlines and build valuable industry connections.
While there are many exciting career pathways for graduates, there are also opportunities for further study upon successful completion of the course. If you’re interested in deepening your journalism expertise and building even more industry experience, you might like to articulate into Deakin’s Master of Communication.
Read MoreCourse information
- Award granted
- Graduate Diploma of Journalism
- Year
2025 course information
- Deakin code
- A649
- CRICOS code?
- 046736B Burwood (Melbourne)
- 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
Course structure
To qualify for the award of Graduate Diploma of Journalism, students must successfully complete:
- 6 credit points in Journalism from the units listed below, plus
- 2 credit points of electives, plus
-
- Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
6
Core journalism units
2
Elective units
8
Total
Core Units
At least six credit points chosen from the list below:
Electives
Electives may be chosen from the remaining units above or from any other postgraduate course in the School of Communication and Creative Arts. Students who intend to move from the Graduate Diploma into the Master of Communication are strongly advised to take ACX701 Communication Concepts for their two elective credit points.
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)
- Online
Trimester 2 - July
- Start date: July
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Online
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing 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. More information available at Disability support services.
Work experience
Elective units may provide the opportunity for Work Integrated Learning experiences.
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements or higher to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.
Academic requirements
To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:
- completion of a bachelor degree or higher
- at least two years' relevant work experience (or part-time equivalent)
English language proficiency requirements
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- bachelor degree from a recognised English-speaking country
- IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
- other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)
Admissions information
Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.
Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn’t have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you are able to commit to your study.
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 (RPL) 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 tuition fees you pay are determined by the course you are enrolled in. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical tuition fees for students completing this course within 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.
We recommend engaging with a Deakin Authorised Agent who can assist you with the process and submit the application.
For information on the application process, including required documents and important dates, see the How to apply webpage.
If you need assistance, please contact us.
Pathways
A shorter course duration is available to students entering from a same discipline background. A 'same discipline' background award for this course is any tagged Bachelor degree (min 3 years) or Bachelor degree (min 3 years) with a major sequence in Journalism or Professional Communication.
| Highest same discipline award held at point of Grad Dip entry | Reduction in course duration | Remaining course duration |
| Bachelor, Bachelor (Honours) same discipline | 0.5 year (4 credit points) | 0.5 year or part-time equivalent (4 credit points) |
Alternative exits
Careers
Career outcomes
The Graduate Diploma of Journalism is designed for people looking to break into journalism and the media and communications industries, as well as current journalists who want to upskill, network and progress to more advanced or diversified roles.
The course recognises that media professionals of the future require versatile skills that allow them to adapt to the changing needs of the industry. Whether you want to work in newspapers, digital media, radio, television, specialist publishing or corporate communications, the course provides you with the multidisciplinary skills and knowledge needed to develop engaging stories and content across all platforms, including traditional and emerging media.
Graduates are prepared to pursue work across a wide range of industry sectors, including:
- multimedia businesses
- sports media
- government departments and not-for-profit organisations
You'll also have the freedom to work as an employee or as a freelancer. You can explore roles as a:
- news reporter
- mobile journalist
- producer
- editor or sub-editor
- blogger
- copywriter
- corporate communicator or media advisor.
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 | Use specialised knowledge and skills to identify, research, plan and produce newsworthy stories suitable for print, broadcast, and online media, and to analyse theoretical issues raised by news stories and the social role of journalism, both nationally and internationally. |
| Communication | Apply advanced communication skills in professional and scholarly contexts, including the specialised ability to interview, write, produce and present stories for print, broadcast and online media in a style appropriate for the specific publication and audience. |
| Digital literacy | Conduct academic and news related research and critically analyse, synthesise, and disseminate this information using a range of technologies, including social media, for a variety of local and global audiences. |
| Critical thinking | Select, critically analyse, and evaluate information relating both to scholarly contexts and to the construction of news stories whilst evidencing knowledge of different publication styles and media audiences in Australia and internationally. |
| Problem solving | Critically analyse the unpredictable and complex problems and situations that arise in journalism, and generate pragmatic and creative solutions in professional and scholarly contexts. |
| Self-management | Act with autonomy, initiative, and resourcefulness when sourcing and following-up news stories, especially under time pressure, evidencing an ongoing commitment to reflective learning about journalism and journalistic practice. |
| Teamwork | Apply a developed knowledge of how to work collaboratively with journalistic colleagues, other professionals, and community members, and build personal contacts and networks. |
| Global citizenship | Apply specialised legal, ethical, and cultural knowledge when engaging in journalistic practice in a range of diverse cultural, social and political environments both locally and globally. |
Approved at Faculty Board November 2022