Graduate Certificate in Creative and Professional Writing

Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Creative and Professional Writing will have specialised knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge about the concepts, study and practice of creative and professional writing.

Graduates will have familiarity with writing forms, including fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and persuasive writing genres such as speech writing and narrative advocacy.

Graduates will have a strong understanding of the process of creative research, including information-gathering, conceptualisation, writing, editing, critical evaluation and reflexivity, and how creative writing techniques can enhance effectiveness in professional communication.

This program offers postgraduate training in writing as a preparation for creative and professional practice and/or advanced study. You will hone your writing skills for work as a creative writer, social commentator or narrative journalist and for careers in speech writing, public advocacy, information and media communication.

You will gain certified expertise in the theory and practice of creative writing and be introduced to the intersection between writing and information publishing industries. You will develop the techniques of creative and professional written expression, learn concepts and methods in creative research and gain the foundations for advanced study in writing and related fields.

Recommended study pattern

As a guide, core subjects in this degree can include: 

• Writing Creative Nonfiction: Places, People and Journey

• Advanced Research in Creative Writing 

• Advanced Public Writing 

• Writing Contemporary Fiction

As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you.

Award requirements

To be eligible for the award of Graduate Certificate in Creative and Professional Writing (GCertCtveProfWriting), a student must acquire 40 credit points as prescribed below:

• gain 40 credit points for the prescribed courses.

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $12,250

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.

With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.

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QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

18

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

21

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Creative and Professional Writing, applicants must:

• hold a bachelor degree from a recognised University (or another tertiary education institution of equivalent standing).

Note: Degrees from overseas institutions must be assessed as equivalent to a recognised Australian bachelor-level degree.

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:

• A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 6.0
• OR a minimum score of 575 on TOEFL
• OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 79 (no sub-score less than 19)
• OR no score less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
• OR a minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.

English test results must be no more than two years old.

International students who successfully complete the Direct Entry Program (DEP) will satisfy the English Language requirements for this Griffith degree.

The Direct Entry Program (DEP) is not available for Domestic students.

Applicants should refer to the English language requirements section of the following University policy for exceptions to these overall requirements:

• Postgraduate Programs Admission Policy

Reduce the time it takes to finish your degree. You can apply to Griffith to recognise your prior learning, including: 

• Formal learning through courses completed at uni and TAFE. 

• Informal learning through workplace experience or volunteer training. 

• Non-formal learning through social experiences and hobbies.