Graduate Certificate in Writing, Editing and Publishing
Overview
In a world of rapid change, there has never been a greater demand for the mastery of the written word.
In a rapidly changing world, the digitisation of the modern economy has created a raft of new job titles, all of which require expertise in writing and editing – in addition to the jobs that already drive Australia’s dynamic creative industries. Gain the writing, editing, publishing, design and research skills to build a rewarding career in print or online.
The Graduate Certificate in Writing, Editing and Publishing covers all stages of the writing and publishing process, and the skills needed to meet growing demands. During this half year full-time (or part-time equivalent) program, you'll develop practical knowledge and experience in writing and editing across genres including creative writing, corporate and technical documents, academic research in the creative arts, advertising and marketing.
Your lecturers will include award-winning authors and arts industry professionals, as well as an array of guest lecturers with expertise in all aspects of professional writing and publishing. Together, they'll provide you with up-to-date insights and industry knowledge across traditional and new media.
You’ll learn about the continually evolving landscapes of the Australian and international publishing industries, and have the opportunity to intern at arts organisations, such as the highly respected University of Queensland Press, literary journals, educational publishers and trade publishers, including UQ’s own Corella Press, which specialises in rediscovering nineteenth century crime and mystery writers.
Program highlights
- Learn from award-winning authors and arts industry professionals.
- Develop practical knowledge and experience in writing and editing across a range of genres.
- Intern at highly respected journals and publishing houses.
- Become qualified to meet the growing demand for mastery of the written word.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Work placements
- 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:
- Publishing and Professional Practice
- Special Research Topic in Writing, Editing & Publishing
- Fundamentals of Advertising
- Industry Internship
Career possibilities
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Author
- Editorial writer
- Editor
- Book editor
- Content creator
- Content producer
- Copywriter
- Publishing coordinator
- Sub-editor
- Online publisher
Next steps after graduation
Our graduates have built rewarding careers in publishing, editing, and professional writing, with some going on to become best-selling authors and creatives.
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Entry requirements
To be eligible for entry, you'll need:
- an applicant must submit a ten page portfolio for the review of the Program Convenor (see below), and have either
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, or
- have completed post-secondary study, or
- 2 years full-time equivalent relevant work experience (see below).
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
- an applicant must submit a ten page portfolio for the review of the Program Convenor (see below), and have either
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, or
- have completed post-secondary study, or
- 2 years full-time equivalent relevant work experience (see below).
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
Relevant disciplines for previous qualifications
Relevant disciplines include English, English literature, writing, journalism, communication, art history, history, law as well as other relevant fields from the humanities and social sciences.
You must have completed a minimum amount of content in a relevant discipline, this would be at least a major, field of study, or approximately 30% of program content in the discipline, including a mix of introductory and advanced courses.
Relevant work experience
Relevant work experience includes work using writing and editing in a professional or volunteer context. Relevant work experience includes work in: government departments, office management, corporate communications, administration, journalism, and public relations, among others, which should be supported with evidence outlined below.
Evidence of relevant work experience should include a letter from your employer (and/or previous employers) stating the following:
- that you work (or worked) within the specified organisation
- the nature of your work, including any relevant duties and responsibilities
- the length that you were there (i.e. 2 years)
- the level at which you worked (full-time, part-time or casual). If part-time or casual, please list the average amount of hours worked per week.
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 7; reading 7; writing 7; speaking 7; listening 7. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 100, listening 25, reading 25, writing 27, speaking 23.
PTE Academic - Overall 72, sub bands minimum 72.
CES - Overall 185, All sub bands minimum 185.
BE and OET are 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 Writing, Editing and Publishing 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.
Additional application information
- Applicants are required to submit a portfolio with their application for enrolment and demonstrate an appropriate standard to the satisfaction of the program director. The portfolio should include approximately 10 word processed pages of writing (e.g. assignments submitted in previous courses, workplace documents, creative writing manuscripts).
- This portfolio should be original work of the applicant and in English and completed without the use of AI or Machine Translation (MT) technology.
Portfolio Criteria ¿ The portfolio allows applicants to showcase their writing skills while also demonstrating their readiness for graduate-level study. These criteria are designed to assess current abilities and future potential.
1. Quality of Writing
Demonstrates strong command of language
Competent expression appropriate to the purpose and audience
Shows creativity, originality and/or effectiveness in ideas and expression
2. Variety of writing samples
Demonstrates versatility and range as a writer
May include different styles and/or genres of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, academic writing, workplace writing, journalistic pieces, etc.
3. Editing skills
Demonstrates attention to detail and proofreading abilities
Shows familiarity with the most common grammar and punctuation conventions
4. Professional presentation
Portfolio is well-organised and easy to navigate
Writing samples are polished and formatted appropriately
5. Potential for growth
Shows promise and room for development at the postgraduate level
Additional application information
- Applicants are required to submit a portfolio with their application for enrolment and demonstrate an appropriate standard to the satisfaction of the program director. The portfolio should include approximately 10 word processed pages of writing (e.g. assignments submitted in previous courses, workplace documents, creative writing manuscripts).
- This portfolio should be original work of the applicant and in English and completed without the use of AI or Machine Translation (MT) technology.
Portfolio Criteria ¿ The portfolio allows applicants to showcase their writing skills while also demonstrating their readiness for graduate-level study. These criteria are designed to assess current abilities and future potential.
1. Quality of Writing
Demonstrates strong command of language
Competent expression appropriate to the purpose and audience
Shows creativity, originality and/or effectiveness in ideas and expression
2. Variety of writing samples
Demonstrates versatility and range as a writer
May include different styles and/or genres of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, academic writing, workplace writing, journalistic pieces, etc.
3. Editing skills
Demonstrates attention to detail and proofreading abilities
Shows familiarity with the most common grammar and punctuation conventions
4. Professional presentation
Portfolio is well-organised and easy to navigate
Writing samples are polished and formatted appropriately
5. Potential for growth
Shows promise and room for development at the postgraduate level
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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.
$12,640
2025
$12,640
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
2025
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 Writing, Editing and Publishing 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 Writing, Editing and Publishing is 5678.
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 Writing, Editing and Publishing is 5678.
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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