Diploma of Arts
UndergraduateLAT-ART-DIP2025
Start with the subjects you’re passionate about
Follow your interests on this humanities pathway into university. Choices range from languages to history, politics, and philosophy. Pick up important skills like critical thinking and collaboration. Shape your future in the arts and social science.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 13 July 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 1 year full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 8
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Diploma of Arts
About this degree
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Discover, discuss, and develop introductory knowledge of at least one discipline or interdisciplinary area in the Humanities and Social Sciences.
- Apply creative and analytical skills to recognise problems in a selected social and cultural context.
- Communicate effectively, showing developing ethical, professional and cultural awareness.
- Begin to demonstrate flexibility and resourcefulness to act as critically engaged global citizens.
Start your university adventure with La Trobe’s Diploma of Arts. Choose your own future – we’re here to help you achieve your dreams.
Get straight into your passions when you choose a stream and undertake the first year of the humanities and social sciences degree of your choice. Choose from criminology, global studies, media and communication, and more. Or choose from a wide range of electives – from politics and languages to environmental studies and public health – and study all the topics you’re passionate about.
Once you’ve graduated, you could transfer into one of our most varied and flexible degrees – the Bachelor of Arts – or choose from a range of specialised programs including, Bachelor of Archaeology, Bachelor of Criminology, Bachelor of Global Studies, Bachelor of Languages and Linguistics, Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics, the Bachelor of Media and Communication and the Bachelor of Visual Arts.
No matter which path you choose, you’ll learn from world-class academics and leading researchers, and you’ll build skills in critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration – highly sought-after skills that are vital in today’s workforce.
Get a taste of university life as you study side-by-side Bachelor’s degree students. What’s more, we’ll be with you every step of the way. Receive tailored advice from a dedicated Student Adviser and you can connect with discipline-based peer mentors. We’ll help you enrol, choose your subjects and navigate university systems and requirements. You can also access La Trobe’s Careers Service to help you shape your future.
You’ll learn:
- Critical thinking
- Delve into complex problems. Experts say critical thinking will be a highly valued skill in the workforce of tomorrow. [1]
- Emotional intelligence
- Understand what drives our decisions. Learn how to connect to others with emotion and intelligence.
- Creativity
- Learn how to see new possibilities and turn them into reality.
- Communication
- Learn how to connect, communicate and collaborate with your university peers and future colleagues.
[1] Forbes, 2019, The 10 Vital Skills You Will Need For The Future Of Work; PwC, 2020, 10 skills you need for future employment
- Critical thinking
Recommended study pattern
This degree is an Open Access pathway course, which means there is a recommended series of subjects that, once successfully completed, can be credited towards this degree. To commence the pathway for this degree, simply select subjects identified within the Entry requirements field.
Students who wish to enrol in a part time load are recommended to enrol in two subjects per study period. Please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook to review the full structure.
Students who are studying and want to take a break (minimum one study period) must submit a leave of absence covering the relevant dates.
Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first study period as a CSP student:
LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module
ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Diploma of Arts, students must complete 8 subjects (120 credit points) as follows:
- 1 core subjects
- 7 elective subjects
Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first study period as a CSP student:
LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module
ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education
Choose your subjects
Electives
Students can complete a course related stream sequence (detailed below) or electives consisting of 7 subjects (105 credit points)
Students who are planning to apply for entry into one of the following Bachelor courses, are strongly encouraged to complete the related stream sequence. Please refer to the La Trobe University course handbook page to see the structure of each stream.
- Stream sequence – Arts; Pathway course – Bachelor of Arts
- Stream sequence - Global Studies; Pathway course – Bachelor of Global Studies
- Stream sequence – Politics, Philosophy and Economics; Pathway course – Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics
- Stream sequence - Visual Arts; Pathway course – Bachelor of Visual Arts
Please note: Some pathway courses may not be available for online study.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $15,191
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
The third university established in Victoria, La Trobe University has a diverse community of more than 38,000 students and staff. Its commitment to excellence in teaching and research prepares students to make a bold and positive impact in today's global community. La Trobe provides Open Universities Australia with its core tenets, entrepreneurship and sustainability.
Learn more about La Trobe University.
Explore La Trobe courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 17
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 15
Entry requirements
Successful completion of the following Open Access Pathway subjects:
- HIT1HIT Disruption: History of Innovation and Technology and
- Any other Level one La Trobe University open access subject
Demonstrate proficiency equivalent to Year 12 prerequisites.
Satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice if you:
- are not currently studying an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent)
- have no prior secondary school (Year 12), VET studies, HE studies or relevant work experience that can be considered for entry, or
- do not meet the minimum academic requirements for the program.
Refer to theLa Trobe University STAT page for further information.
La Trobe University will consider applications for advanced standing, or credit for prior study. Credit may be applied to a current degree if you have undertaken previous tertiary study and completed and passed subjects similar in content and standard to those offered at La Trobe, from either another recognised tertiary institution or a different La Trobe course.
Note: Applications for credit will not be considered until you have successfully been admitted to a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in a La Trobe course offered through OUA.
Assessing whether you should apply for credit for subjects in your course:
Credit may be granted for relevant subjects. The following steps will help you to decide which subjects you wish to apply for:
- Identify subjects within your course that you think align with subjects you have already studied and have completed within 8 years of your La Trobe University course commencement year.
- Provide subject outlines with detailed information for each subject that you wish to submit for assessment for credit, identifying which subject within your course that you have identified as a match. Include subject learning outcomes/objectives and subject content for each subject.
- Provide your academic transcript for your previous studies.
*Note that a subject studied can only be used once for credit
Career opportunities
After graduation, you could choose to pursue further study or to work in entry-level positions across a wide range of industries.
Possible roles include:
- Administration assistant
- Support an organisation by monitoring phones and emails, scheduling meetings and performing basic administration tasks.
- Events assistant
- Help coordinate events by liaising with venues and supporting promotional activities.
- Social media assistant
- Help to create, edit and manage social media campaigns on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Facebook.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Arts Administrators and Managers | Over $120K | N/A^ |
| Historians | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
| Policy Analysts | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
| Policy and Planning Managers | Over $120K | Up 53.8% |
| Social Professionals | $75K to $93K | Up 0.4% |
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Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.