Graduate Certificate in Communication
Overview
Graduate with the knowledge and skills required to excel in the ever-expanding communication industries.
This half year full-time (or part-time equivalent) program is designed to enhance the skills of existing communication graduates and professionals.
You can choose from two fields of study – Communication for Social Change or Strategic Communication – and from a range of courses designed to increase your understanding of the application of communication theory and research to health promotion, business, public relations, policy and politics, intercultural relations and globalisation.
The emerging field of Communication for Social Change explores the different ways in which communication can be leveraged to bring about change in attitudes, behaviour and knowledge in individuals, organisations and communities. If you already have experience in these fields, the program will make you even more competitive as it complements and capitalises on studies and experience in other disciplines.
Strategic Communication develops your understanding and skill-set in professional communication practice and public relations, including campaign development, digital media strategy, and issues and crisis management. Graduates with a specialisation in Strategic Communication are well-equipped for diverse roles in public relations and marketing communication consultancies, not-for-profit organisations and government bodies, including organisational communication, crisis management, government relations, social media management and political campaigning roles.
Program highlights
- Benefit from outstanding research, practical experiences and career opportunities.
- Study at the only Australian university to offer a field in the study of Communication for Social Change.
- Undertake a combination of advanced level coursework and research.
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
- Communication for Social Change
- Strategic Communication
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Research experience
- Seminars
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Communication Theory
- Communication for Social Change: Foundations
- PR and Professional Practice: Foundations
- Academic English & Thesis Writing for International Students
Career possibilities
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Depending on which field you choose, here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- International aid officer
- Community development manager
- Health promotion manager
- Corporate change consultant
- Social media manager
- Marketing strategist
- Political campaign manager
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Entry requirements
Entry requirements
To be eligible for entry, you'll need:
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline; or
- Have completed post-secondary study or at least two years full-time work experience (see below), approved by the executive dean.
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline; or
- Have completed post-secondary study or at least two years full-time work experience (see below), approved by the executive dean.
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
Relevant work experience
Work experience relevant to the field of Communication is defined as:
- a demonstrated record of having worked in communication, public relations, marketing, advertising or community development roles, as a journalist/reporter/media producer or researcher in communication related fields, or in any other profession in which a portfolio was built up demonstrating communication expertise.
Related programs
Depending on your previous qualifications and current goals, you might want to consider
one of these related programs:
English language requirements
IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.
PTE Academic - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.
BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.
OET is not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Graduate Certificate in Communication are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.
Fields of study
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
You'll explore the different ways in which communication can be leveraged to bring about change in attitudes, behaviour and knowledge in individuals and communities. You'll analyse the ways participation can make a difference in the planning, implementation and evaluation of development processes, the key role played by culture in social change, and contemporary uses of community media and information and communications technologies in the facilitation of change. Importantly, you'll strengthen critical skills, develop capacities for work in the state, inter-governmental and NGO sectors, and build research excellence.
You'll also learn the skills required to plan and implement a professional public relations campaign (including goal-setting, budgeting and evaluation), the skills of audience and public opinion analysis, a range of communication theories, and an understanding of how globalisation and the emerging information economy impacts public relations practices.
Fields of study
Tailor your studies to suit your goals. This program offers these options:
You'll explore the different ways in which communication can be leveraged to bring about change in attitudes, behaviour and knowledge in individuals and communities. You'll analyse the ways participation can make a difference in the planning, implementation and evaluation of development processes, the key role played by culture in social change, and contemporary uses of community media and information and communications technologies in the facilitation of change. Importantly, you'll strengthen critical skills, develop capacities for work in the state, inter-governmental and NGO sectors, and build research excellence.
You'll also learn the skills required to plan and implement a professional public relations campaign (including goal-setting, budgeting and evaluation), the skills of audience and public opinion analysis, a range of communication theories, and an understanding of how globalisation and the emerging information economy impacts public relations practices.
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (8 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$15,520
2024
Fee information for 2025 is not yet available. Fee information displayed is for 2024.
$15,520
2025
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (8 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $21,600
2024
Fee information for 2025 is not yet available. Fee information displayed is for 2024.
AUD $21,600
2025
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
FEE-HELP
Domestic students who are accepted into the Graduate Certificate in Communication pay tuition fees.
FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their tuition fees.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Scholarships
You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Graduate Certificate in Communication is 5336.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Graduate Certificate in Communication is 5336.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 2 - May 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in Semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in Semester 2 - June 30 of the year of commencement.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
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