Key facts
Duration
1 year part-time
Locations
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course overview
Build the skills and qualifications to set yourself apart in a recruitment and talent acquisition career. The need for qualified experts in the field of talent acquisition is growing. As recruitment challenges become more complex, the demand for highly skilled human resources professionals increases.
Deakin Business School's Graduate Certificate in Recruitment and Talent Acquisition is the first course of its kind in Australia. Co-designed with the Recruitment, Consulting and Staffing Association (RCSA), the course has been created to help meet the need for qualified practitioners working in the industry.
Do you want to join an ever-expanding industry experiencing high demand for qualified practitioners?
If you're looking for a career change, this is your opportunity to gain highly sought-after skills to step into a growth industry with exceptional career prospects.
Already working in industry? This course will solidify your understanding of the theory underpinning successful practice. In an industry where less than 29% of practitioners have a postgraduate qualification, it's a sure-fire way to place yourself ahead of the pack.
The industry involvement in the development of this course ensures a high level of real-world relevancy. Case studies are drawn directly from practice, meaning you will graduate with an experiential understanding of what works and a theoretical understanding of why.
The Graduate Certificate in Recruitment and Talent Acquisition prepares you to:
- be highly skilled at identifying and recruiting talent.
- become expert in the strategic brand management and marketing of individuals and businesses.
- understand the theory behind employment relations and use this to create and maintain positive relationships between organisations and employees.
- implement strategic staffing plans to manage recruitment, selection and retention.
- utilise people analytics and management technologies to manage and forecast workplace demands.
Course information
- Award granted
- Graduate Certificate of Recruitment and Talent Acquisition
- Year
2025 course information
- Deakin code
- M514
- 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 complete the Graduate Certificate of Recruitment and Talent Acquisition, students must attain a total of 4 credit points comprising 3 core units and 1 credit point course elective unit or any two 0.5cp microcredential units offered by Deakin in the Business and Management interest area, plus completion of the compulsory 0-credit point module, DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin.
Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point.
3
Core units
1
Course Elective unit
4
Total credit points
Core units
Compulsory 0-credit point module
To be completed in the first trimester of study:-
Course elective
Plus course elective
or
Any two 0.5cp microcredentials offered by Deakin in the Business and Management interest area
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
*part-time study only in Trimester 1
Trimester 2* - July
- Start date: July
- Available at:
- Online
*part-time study only in Trimester 2
This course is available for part-time study only.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS - International students should note that, due to visa regulations, this course can only be undertaken while living outside Australia.
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
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.
Work experience
This course does not require students to undertake formal 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
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
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 Recognition of prior learning. 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 Recognition of prior learning.
Your Recognition of prior learning 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 (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
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 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. 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
N/A
Further study options
This course acts as a pathway to any Deakin Business School Coursework Masters degree that has provision for a minimum of four credit points of electives or for a Faculty-wide specialisation to be taken as part of its structure.
Careers
Career outcomes
This course gives you the skills and knowledge to work in recruitment within organisations, in job placement programs, in labour hire organisations, and more. Possible roles include:
- human resources professional
- recruitment advisor
- recruitment manager
- senior recruitment consultant
- talent acquisition advisor
- talent acquisition consultant
- talent acquisition coordinator
- talent acquisition manager.
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 | Develop knowledge of challenges faced by organisations in recruitment and apply the skills expected of recruitment practitioners in the industry. |
| Communication | Communicate complex considerations on approaches used to make informed recruitment and talent acquisition decisions. |
| Digital literacy | Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award |
| Critical thinking | Critically analyse and evaluate trends and current issues faced by practitioners in the recruitment and talent acquisition market. |
| Problem solving | Examine challenges faced in recruitment and talent acquisition by organisations and formulate appropriate approaches to address these. |
| Self-management | Operate successfully as an independent learner in an online learning environment. |
| Teamwork | Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award |
| Global citizenship | Identify and respond to authentic ethical and cultural issues faced within the recruitment industry. |