Undergraduate Certificate in Creative and Cultural Inquiry
UndergraduateCUR-CCI-CTF2026
Course information for 2026 intake
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 18 Jan 2026,
- 28 June 2026
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 2 years part time
- Total subjects
- 4
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Undergraduate Certificate in Creative and Cultural Inquiry
About this degree
Students will achieve the following outcomes from the undergraduate certificate:
- create and express ideas and interpretations in written, artistic and media forms
- apply critical, logical and reflective thinking skills to develop ideas and communicate in academic and professional contexts
- employ presentation skills to communicate with diverse audiences in a variety of media forms
- analyse and interrogate relationships between contemporary art and popular cultural practices and between the artist and the community
- engage respectfully and knowledgeably with First Peoples and people of all cultures in their community and professional practice.
This Undergraduate Certificate is designed for the needs of senior secondary students as an arts and humanities-led alternative pathway to university giving a seamless and gradual transition to university degree studies. Commencing in Year 11, students are welcomed as Curtin students from the beginning and complete four units over Years 11 & 12 alongside their other subjects. While the course is for senior secondary students looking for alternative university entry options, the course is open and available to any students who find the structure of this course suits their needs and interests. Units are completed one at a time, in extended 20-week study periods, offering a graduated adjustment to university study.
The course offers active and experiential learning centred on students’ values, ideas, and concerns in real world contexts, as seen in the Arts and Humanities. As students engage in creative, critical, and cultural inquiry, they are developing important skills for university study and future careers. Successful learning outcomes are supported by the extended time allocation for completing each unit, completion of units one at a time, an engaging online learning interface, tutor interactions and wrap-around support that includes local study support options.
The completed Undergraduate Certificate gives students an ATAR70 level university entry at Curtin that includes English competency. It also gives students a head start on any one of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Creative Arts majors by giving credit for the four units already completed in the Undergraduate Certificate. The majority of these majors are available fully online and on campus, which provides meaningful options for all students including regional, rural and remote students. Students are encouraged to check Study at Curtin for a current list of majors.
Credit for units completed in the Undergraduate Certificate is based on the four units being tertiary level 25 credit point units. One hundred (100) credit points CRL into the Curtin University Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Creative Arts degrees will be given as follows: ENST1001/1002 Sustainability Communication and Action and COMS1003/COMS1012/COM155 Culture to Cultures, are core units in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Creative Arts, and students will receive automatic credit for these units in this course. The other two units, FINA1000/FINA1001 Art & Creativity, and COMS1015/COMS1016 Creating and Presenting Media Stories, will be granted as 50 credits of elective Credit for Recognised Learning (CRL) in the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Creative Arts.
Alternatively, students can use the Undergraduate Certificate for entry into other university degree courses and seek course credit for the completed units. Students should always confirm entry requirements for other courses and at other universities based on completion of this qualification (4 x 25 credit point tertiary-level units).
Recommended study pattern
Students must complete four core subjects. This course is designed to be completed in an extended mode, completed over two years, enrolling in 1 unit per study period, for 4 study periods. Since the undergraduate certificate is open, there is also the opportunity for students to complete the course according to their own scheduling, and unit availability.
Senior secondary school students are expected to complete 1 unit per study period for four consecutive study periods, in the following order:
- COMS1016 Creating and Presenting Media Stories
- VSW100 Art and Creativity
- ENST1002 Sustainability Communication and Action
- COM155 Cultures to Cultures
The Extended study period availability is intended for students admitted to the Undergraduate Certificate in Creative and Cultural Inquiry, students admitted to this course are expected to enrol in units delivered in Extended Periods 1 and 2.
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Undergraduate Certificate in Creative and Cultural Inquiry, students must complete all four subjects.
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 $6,734
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying part-time, which is typically 4 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.
Start your career with Curtin’s globally recognised courses and extensive industry connections. Through OUA, their online courses offer an interactive and collaborative learning experience that gets you the same degree as if you studied on campus. Curtin is a global university with a vibrant culture of innovation and collaboration and is ranked in the top one per cent of universities worldwide.
Learn more about Curtin University.
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- QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:
- 12
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- 18
Entry requirements
This undergraduate certificate has no entry requirements and is open to everyone.
During your application
We’ll ask you to provide your education history. It’s for government data collection only and will not impact your application.
Skip the questions in the Entry Requirements section by selecting Higher Education. Then enter “n/a” in all the Previous Higher Education Studies boxes.
Although you'll need to consent to an academic results search, we won't conduct it when we process your application.
Applications for Credit for Recognised Learning are not considered within this course.
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.
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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.