Graduate Certificate of Media and Communication
Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
Interested in working in media industries? Or are you already working in the field and want to sharpen your skill set? Our Graduate Certificate of Media and Communication is for you.
Take advantage of the mentorship and industry engagement opportunities and see your professional development skyrocket. In this course, you’ll delve deeper into media theory, industries and ecologies, learn about digital cultures and how to engage audiences. Plus, gain basic production skills. Graduate ready to move up, or across, into a career in public relations, media and communications, journalism, publishing, broadcasting, production, radio, research or web development.
Take advantage of the mentorship and industry engagement opportunities and see your professional development skyrocket. In this course, you’ll delve deeper into media theory, industries and ecologies, learn about digital cultures and how to engage audiences. Plus, gain basic production skills. Graduate ready to move up, or across, into a career in public relations, media and communications, journalism, publishing, broadcasting, production, radio, research or web development.
Duration
12 months part-time
Intakes
Hawthorn (Semester 1, Semester 2) - View application and start dates
Study mode
- Part-time
2023 Start Dates
Semester 1 -
27 February 2023
2024 Start Dates
Semester 1 -
26 February 2024
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
The Graduate Certificate of Media and Communication provides students with both theoretical and practical skills applicable to a wide range of media activities. It is aimed at developing the skills of those interested in working in media-related industries and enhancing the expertise of those already employed in industry. It has a unique focus on media theory, professional development and basic production skills.
Course structure
To qualify for the award of Graduate Certificate of Media and Communication, students must complete four core units of study (50 credit points).
Please note that a unit of study can only be counted once. Units normally carry 12.5 credit points. In each year, eight units normally constitute a full-time load of 100 credit points and four units normally constitute a part-time load of 50 credit points.
Units of study
Core units
Student must complete the following four units of study (50 credit points)
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and graduate skills.
Career opportunities
The Graduate Certificate of Media and Communication provides students with both theoretical and practical skills applicable to a wide range of media activities. It is aimed at developing the skills of those interested in working in media-related industries and enhancing the expertise of those already employed in industry. It has a unique focus on media theory, professional development and basic production skills.
Aims and objectives
Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Media and Communication, graduates will be able to:
- use technical and analytical approaches to analyse contemporary media industry issues in diverse contexts
- critically evaluate media texts using advanced knowledge of media and communications concepts and practices
- interpret and communicate concepts and professional practice methodologies to specialist and non-specialist audiences
- deliver independent and collaborative projects with autonomy, creativity and initiative, drawing on media production knowledge and skills.

Graduate skills
The Swinburne graduate attributes signify that Swinburne intends that its teaching programs assist all its graduates to be:
- capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas and have an ability to engage in critical enquiry
- entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
- effective and ethical in work, community situations and reasoning skills
- adaptable and able to manage change
- aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing (e.g. sociocultural, economic, natural).
Pathways and scholarships
- Credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Fees, entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Course fees
Fees are estimates for students commencing in 2023 only: Tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2023 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.
How do I pay my fees?
FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.
The total tuition fee is dependent upon the combination of units of study selected by the student. Fees are reviewed each year. Find out more about fees.
Entry requirements
Applicants at the Graduate Certificate level must satisfy the following requirements:
Standard entry
Standard entry
- A recognised three-year Bachelor degree with a minimum average score of 60 per cent or more or
- More than five years' relevant work experience*
Documents substantiating work experience need to be provided on company letterhead and clearly detail roles as well as duties and duration of posts held.