Key facts
Duration
Locations
Key dates
Direct applications to Deakin for Trimester 2 2025 close 22 June 2025
Direct applications to Deakin for Trimester 3 2025 close 26 October 2025
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course overview
Advance your career with Deakin's Graduate Certificate of Commerce and gain a broad base of business knowledge and application. This course offers an introduction to the fundamentals of commerce, teaching you skills you can apply in contemporary business contexts.
The Graduate Certificate of Commerce allows you to select subjects to suit your interests and goals and build knowledge to help you make informed business decisions. With studies chosen from the areas of capital markets, business and technology and business and society you will cover a breadth of critical information to forward your career.
Ready to build upon your business skill set and expand your career options?
With options to study at Deakin's Melbourne Burwood Campus or online, you can tailor your study experience to fit around your commitments. Want to keep your options open for further study? This course provides a direct pathway to the Master of Commerce.
Course information
Course structure
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Commerce, you must pass 4 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 4 credit points of course elective units
Most units are equal to one credit point.
As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:-
- Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin
Course electives
Students complete 4 credit points of course electives, which must include at least one from each of the following groups:
Group 1- Capital Markets
- Financial Markets and Digital Innovations
- Accounting
- Financial Interpretation
- Principles of Finance
Group 2- Business and Technology
- Foundation Skills in Data Analysis
- Value of Information
- Managing Digital Transformation
- Digital Transformation of Supply Chains
- Artificial Intelligence Strategies and Enterprise Applications
Group 3- Business and Society
- Economics for Managers ^
- Marketing Management ^
- Business Law
- Human Resource Management
^ MMT/MPT code denotes Study Tour version of the unit
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
Trimester 2 - July
Trimester 3 - November
The final intake into M516 Graduate Certificate of Commerce is T3 2025.
Please note: Full-time study is available in Trimester 1 and Trimester 2 only.
For students commencing before T1 2022, please see the 2021 handbook.
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of prior learning into the Graduate Certificate of Commerce may be granted to students who have successfully completed appropriate postgraduate studies. There are negotiated Recognition of prior learning arrangements in place for CPA members.
Mandatory student checks
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.
Workload
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.
Participation requirements
Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.
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
This course does not require students to complete compulsory work integrated learning units.
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
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 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 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 you have.
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together four credit points of study. Four credit points is used as it represents a typical enrolment load for a Graduate Certificate.
Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together four 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 $54,435.
Please note: fees shown by the calculator are indicative only and based on 2025 rates. Actual fees may vary. We advise confirming fees with Prospective Student Enquiries prior to enrolment.
Estimate your FEE-HELP
FEE-HELP payments
$12
per pay cycle
Take-home pay
after FEE-HELP and tax
$977
per pay cycle
Your estimated FEE-HELP repayments
- $16,300* is the estimated full cost for a Graduate Certificate of Commerce (4 credit points), based on the 2025 fees.
- $624 is the annual FEE-HELP payment, based on your current salary
- 1% of your current salary be spent on FEE-HELP
*Disclaimer
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
To apply, create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal details and education experience, upload supporting documents and submit. Need help? Play this video, or contact one of our friendly future student advisers on 1800 693 888 or submit an online enquiry.
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.
Pathways
This course can be a pathway to:
Further study options
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 Monday – Friday, 9am–5pm
- Live Chat: Monday - Friday
- Submit an online enquiry
- Help hub find common and trending questions and answers
Careers
Career outcomes
Completing a Graduate Diploma of Commerce opens up opportunities for employment in diverse sectors of business and government in Australia and internationally. Equipped with a business mindset and practical experience, you will excel in roles like:
- economist
- human resources manager
- international trade officer
- IT and systems professional
- marketing assistant/manager
- professional accountant
- social and economic policy developer.
Course learning outcomes
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