Diploma of Marketing and Communication

The Diploma of Marketing and Communication is a one-year qualification that gets you into the practical side of how organisations talk to the people they want to reach. You will study consumer behaviour, campaign planning, digital and social media marketing, copywriting, brand messaging, media buying and market research. Assessment is built around real briefs rather than exams alone, so you graduate with a portfolio of work you can show an employer.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas sit at Level 5 on the Australian Qualifications Framework. They are shorter and more hands-on than a bachelor degree, and they are made up of units of study, each carrying a set number of credit points. This one runs for one year full time. Depending on the provider, the year may be split into two semesters or three trimesters, and some providers let you start in more than one intake. You will usually complete a set of core units covering marketing principles and communication, then choose electives in areas such as digital campaigns, public relations or event promotion. Confirm the exact unit list, intake dates and credit point values on the official course page, because these differ between providers.

Work-integrated learning

Marketing and communication is a field where employers expect to see evidence of real work, so many diploma programmes build in a work placement, an industry project or a simulated agency unit. That might mean writing a campaign plan for a local business, running social media for a not-for-profit, or spending a set number of hours in a marketing team. If placement is part of your course, the provider arranges or approves it, and you will need to meet any attendance and conduct requirements. Check whether your programme includes placement and how many hours are involved before you enrol.

What you gain and who it suits

You finish with skills in campaign planning, audience research, content creation, analytics and client communication. You can write a brief, build a schedule, measure results and explain your decisions. The diploma suits school leavers who want a fast route into marketing work, career changers moving into communications, and people already working in admin, retail or events who want formal recognition of what they do. It also gives you a pathway into a bachelor degree with credit for the units you have completed, which can shorten your degree. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream after you finish, depending on your circumstances. English requirements are set by the provider, with IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall common for courses at this level, and the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself.

• Marketing assistant or coordinator
• Digital marketing assistant
• Social media coordinator
• Communications assistant
• Content or copywriting assistant
• Campaign coordinator
• Events and promotions assistant
• Market research assistant

These roles sit in advertising and media agencies, in-house marketing teams, retail and e-commerce businesses, not-for-profits, government communications units, tourism and hospitality, and professional services firms across Australia.