Diploma of Marketing and Communication

The Diploma of Marketing and Communication is a practical, one-and-a-half-year qualification taught at Warwick Institute of Australia. It sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it is a focused, vocational qualification rather than a full degree. You will study the core mechanics of marketing: how to research a market, define an audience, plan a campaign, write copy that works, manage a brand's social media presence, and measure whether any of it actually moved the needle. Communication units run alongside the marketing units so you finish with both the strategy and the words to execute it.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are built from units of study, each carrying a set number of credit points. You typically enrol in several units per semester or trimester, and you need to pass all required units to graduate. Delivery at this level is usually face-to-face or blended, with assessment based on real tasks: campaign plans, content calendars, presentations, reports and group projects rather than only exams. Some diplomas include a work placement or industry project unit, so check the official course page to see whether this one does and how it is arranged.

What you actually learn

Expect to spend time on consumer behaviour, market research methods, digital and social media marketing, advertising principles, public relations, and professional writing. You will learn to build a marketing plan from scratch, choose channels based on evidence rather than habit, and present your thinking to a room. Group work is common, which mirrors how marketing teams actually operate. By the end you should be able to take a brief, ask the right questions, and produce a campaign that a small business or agency could run.

Who it suits

This diploma suits school leavers who want a job-ready qualification without committing to a three-year degree, career changers moving into marketing or communications, and people already working in admin, retail or hospitality who want to formalise their skills. It can also be a pathway: many Australian institutions give credit towards a bachelor degree for completed diploma units, so you may be able to start a degree with some units already done. Confirm the credit arrangements with the institution directly.

For international students, this course is registered on CRICOS (course code 105465E), which means it is available to Student visa holders. While studying, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be an option depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register. English requirements are set by the institution and separately by the Department of Home Affairs for the visa; check both before applying.

• Marketing assistant or coordinator, supporting campaign delivery for agencies, retailers, property groups and not-for-profits.
• Social media coordinator, planning content, scheduling posts and reporting on engagement for brands and small businesses.
• Communications officer, drafting newsletters, media releases and internal updates for corporations, councils and community organisations.
• Digital marketing assistant, running email campaigns, basic SEO tasks and paid social ads under a manager's direction.
• Events and promotions assistant, coordinating activations, sponsorships and community events.
• Sales and account support, working with clients in media, advertising or marketing services firms.

These roles appear across advertising and media agencies, e-commerce businesses, tourism and hospitality groups, government departments, education providers and the growing number of Australian small businesses that now run their own marketing in-house.