Arts & humanities

Graduate Diploma in Professional Communication

Calling the next generation of professional communicators! Curtin University's online graduate diploma in professional communication integrates creative practice and academic inquiry with training and experience, to give you the competitive edge in communications in every sector.

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Overview

Level of study: What does Postgraduate mean?

Postgraduate

Number of units: What are units?

8 units

How to enrol

  1. This is a restricted course. Enrolment is only available to students who have been accepted into this course.
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How to apply

Units in this course


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The Curtin postgraduate course in Professional Writing and Publishing is aimed at the next generation of professional communicators: people working in (or freelancing for) state, federal and local government, business and industry, the not-for-profit sector, arts organisations, and the magazine and book industries. Uniquely, the Curtin PWP course integrates creative practice and academic inquiry with training and experience in real-world technical and professional skills and competencies. It aims to foster its students’ creative non-fiction-writing talents, developing their skills in storytelling while training them in the specialised genres and conventions of professional communication and delivering advanced instruction in research, writing, editing, and publishing. This equips students to contribute to and influence public discourse which is increasingly being driven by narrative: stories that capture an organisation’s identity, aspirations, and endeavours.

Curtin PWP students learn to convey information, issues and debate to colleagues, clients, constituents, and stake-holders by creating narratives that are rhetorically effective, ethically aware, well-researched, and cogently argued, in a range of genres and forms including features and profiles, speeches, reports, discussion papers, creative non-fiction, and promotional writing. 

Eligibility

Academic

Applicants must have completed a Bachelor degree in another discipline.

English Language Proficiency Requirements

International applicants must have an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with a score of 7.5 in the Writing test.

How to Apply

This program is restricted. Students are required to apply and be approved by Curtin University before they can enrol in units through OUA.

Applications for the Professional Writing and Publishing program are due by Friday two weeks prior to the close of enrolment.

Please complete the application form below.

  1. Read information requirements

    • Select to apply for one or more courses listed on the application form, taking note of the eligibility criteria for each course. If you want to apply for a (restricted) course with a different university, you'll need to submit a separate application from the relevant course page.

    • Read all parts of the application form in advance:

      Receive a faster response by ensuring you have all the required information ready before you start. If you have a web account, sign in first to pre-fill personal details we already have for you on record.

      If you do not have a web account, you'll need to register one within the application form. Once you've registered an account, you'll then be signed in. From here you can choose to complete your application and submit it, or save and return to it later.

      Completing this application should take 15 to 20 minutes.

    • Need help completing your application? Contact us:

      If in doubt about any of the information required to support your application, the more information you can provide the better. If you have any academic queries including how to request credit transfer, contact Curtin University directly. For all other enquiries, contact us.

    • Next steps:

      After submitting your application, you should receive a confirmation email containing a copy of your application for your records.

      Your application will be assessed within 2-4 weeks, and if further information is required, we will contact you. Once your application has been assessed, we will be in touch via email to notify you of the outcome. At the latest this will be one week after the closing date for applications.

      If, after submitting your application, you wish to change your preferences or submit an additional document, please email apply@open.edu.au. Include your full name as it appeared on the application.

  2. Prepare supporting documents

    • Check that you have all the required documents, according to individual course requirements and your personal circumstances, specifically:

      1. Your curriculum vitae - required for entry into postgraduate courses only.
      2. Certified copies of academic transcripts - required in most cases but check course eligibility rules.
      3. A letter of recommendation from your employer on company letterhead - recommended for entry using work experience.
      4. Certified legal documentation - if you have changed your name e.g. a marriage certificate, deed poll name change certificate.
      5. Certified legal documentation - if you need to correct an error in your date of birth e.g. a birth certificate.
      6. English language test results - if your courses were not predominantly in English e.g. IELTS or equivalent test results.
      7. Official translations of any documents not in English.

      A "certified" copy is a copy bearing the recognised mark of a Justice of the Peace, Commission of Oaths or declarations, Public Notary or a Solicitor.

    • Please provide scanned copies of all original academic documents. Only include supporting documentation if you have undertaken studies/qualifications at institutions other than OUA. This application will become the Property of Open Universities Australia and Curtin University and will not be returned. Applications will only be considered if academic records for all courses attempted or completed are included along with the certificate of award conferred.

    • Do not send original documents as they will not be returned.

Then submit your application in one of two ways:

Apply online

Alternatively, you can download, print and email/fax your application:

Curtin_Postgraduate_Application_Form (PDF, 233 KB)

PDF applications should be emailed to: apply@open.edu.au or faxed to: +61 3 8628 2989.

Practicum Placements

GPWP531 has a placement requirement. Students will spend 2 days a week over 9 weeks or 3 days a week over 6 weeks in an approved public or private sector workplace, undertaking a range of professional writing and associated tasks.

Award Requirements

To qualify for the award of Graduate Diploma in Professional Writing and Publishing students must complete eight units.

Students may complete four units and apply for the exit award of Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing and Publishing.

Exit Points

Students may complete any four Curtin Professional Writing and Publishing units to apply for the exit award of Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing and Publishing.

Recognition of Prior Learning / Credit

Students should contact Curtin University for information about applying for credit transfer.

Course Structure

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If you would like to study this unit and enrol today, add it to your Study Cart. Alternatively if you are still exploring your options, you can save this unit to review later by clicking Save to Wishlist.
Professional Communication Total number of units to complete: 8 units
Select
Unit code
Unit name
Provider
2012 Availability
Optional Units: Complete 8 units from the following 10 units
Curtin
Curtin
Curtin
Curtin
GPWP522
Advanced Editing and Publishing
Curtin
Coming in 2013
GPWP530
Writing Creative Non-Fiction
Curtin
Coming in 2013
GPWP5311
Professional Writing Placement
Curtin
Coming in 2013
GPWP541
Writing and Research for Professional
Curtin
Coming in 2013
GPWP542
Writing Humour
Curtin
Coming in 2013
Swinburne

1 This unit has a placement requirement

OR Help
If you would like to study this unit and enrol today, add it to your Study Cart. Alternatively if you are still exploring your options, you can save this unit to review later by clicking Save to Wishlist.

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