Duration 
Study Intakes 
Units 
Fees 
Why study a Graduate Diploma of Communication with ECU Online?
Customise your study towards your career goalsBuild a Graduate Diploma that aligns with your career ambitions. Select from a variety of advanced and foundational units to enhance your communication skills in an area that interests you.-
Designed by industry leadersUnlock course content that’s been developed by academics and nationally recognised industry experts in the field of communication. Benefit from ECU’s leading research that impacts policy and industry practice in social media and online communication, public relations, identity and cultural diversity.
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People and purpose drivenPurpose and two-way listening are at the heart of successful communications. Become equipped with a distinct set of techniques and strategies to innovate, influence and lead communication in your workplace. Apply social responsibility, inclusive communication, creative and business communication principles to gain a competitive edge in your career.
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Flexible, online delivery with ready-to-apply skillsFit your study to your schedule with our 100% online, accelerated course, where you will focus on one unit at a time over each seven-week study period. Be supported and build connections through our immersive online learning system. Apply your learnings to your career immediately.
Rankings and accreditations
2023 Good Universities Guide
ECU was rated five stars for Postgraduate Overall Experience.
QS World University Rankings Top 150 under 50
ECU has been listed in the QS Top 150 under 50 rankings for 2020.
2022 THE Young University Rankings
ECU has again been ranked in the world's top 100 universities under 50 years old.
What you will learn
Influence through effective strategy
- Become a change agent in your workplace.
- Acquire future-proof ethical and socially responsible digital communication techniques that can be immediately transferred to your career and future roles.
- Explore creative communication skills that deliver campaign objectives in a way that is accessible, inclusive and relevant to professional audiences.
Future-focused, applied learning
- Develop future-proof communication skills designed for the contemporary workforce.
- Learn how to navigate, design and synthesise solutions to complex challenges in communication including digital media communication, crisis and reputation management.
- Apply social responsibility and sustainability frameworks to effectively communicate and meet the needs of stakeholders.
Align communications with organisational goals
- Whether working for yourself or as part of an organisation, build commercial acumen and develop your understanding of how to best use communication techniques as a tool to achieve organisational objectives.
What you will study
The online Graduate Diploma of Communication consists of six units. You can select any combination of units across Foundation or Advanced units.
Foundation units
Understand communication theories and skills that can be immediately applied to contemporary practice.
Explore key concepts, theories, and practices in the communication discipline, including stakeholder management, two-way communication and more to develop a situation analysis and strategic communication plan that analyses and responds to real-world issues.
Examine social and digital media theory and strategy in practice, including ethical and societal issues in social media.
Advanced units
Gain experience in researching, developing, implementing, and evaluating a communication campaign, including setting goals and SMART objectives by using real-world scenarios.
Explore the different spectrums of inclusiveness, accessibility and communication needs to identify strategic elements that lead to best practice inclusive communication.
Uncover the key Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues that organisations are facing today and learn how to respond to these issues by implementing best practice ethical and responsible communication.
Employ real-world case studies to demonstrate the differences between an organisational issue and a crisis. Learn how to apply reputation management strategies to a range of scenarios.
Explore what it is to be creative by developing a communication portfolio of creative works in different mediums and formats, designed for both traditional and digital platforms.
Understand the political, social, and economic environments of business communication and how they operate today. Build commercial acumen skills that provide the means to lead improvements in communication quality and effectiveness and drive ROI.
- Communication Techniques
Understand communication theories and skills that can be immediately applied to contemporary practice.
- Strategic Communication
Explore key concepts, theories and practices in the communication discipline, including stakeholder management, two-way communication and more to develop a situation analysis and strategic communication plan that analyses and responds to real-world issues.
- Social and Digital Media Communication
Examine social and digital media theory and strategy in practice, including ethical and societal issues in social media.
- Communication Techniques
Understand communication theories and skills that can be immediately applied to contemporary practice.
- Strategic Communication
Explore key concepts, theories and practices in the communication discipline, including stakeholder management, two-way communication and more to develop a situation analysis and strategic communication plan that analyses and responds to real-world issues.
- Social and Digital Media Communication
Examine social and digital media theory and strategy in practice, including ethical and societal issues in social media.
- Agile Projects
- Project Cost Management
- Program Management
- Managing Change
- Managing People and Organisations
- Project Leadership
- Project Integration and Procurement Management
- Data Driven Managerial Decisions
- Project Management Capstone
Career and salary outcomes
Upon successfully completing the Graduate Diploma of Communication, you will have the skills and knowledge to succeed in roles across a variety of industries. Here are some examples of the roles and their expected annual salary range in Australia. These roles include:
Entry criteria
Admission requirements
To gain entry to the Graduate Diploma of Communication, applicants must have:
- A bachelor’s degree in any discipline; or
- Equivalent prior learning, including at least five years of relevant professional experience.
If you would like more information, contact one of our Student Enrolment Advisors on 1300 707 760 or request a call-back
Meet your course coordinator
Catherine Archer
Dr Catherine Archer is a researcher and senior lecturer specialising in social media and strategic communication at Edith Cowan University. Her current research interests include social media, particularly related to families and health, with a complementary focus on social media influencer relations and ethics, and the blurring of lines between media, marketing, public relations, and communication. Catherine has won awards for her communication practice and teaching.
To find out more about our teaching team, download the course guide.
Fees and FEE-HELP
The cost of our Graduate Diploma of Communication is $22,680* for all 6 units.
To assist with some or all of your tuition fees, FEE-HELP is available for eligible students. This government-supported loan scheme is designed to help eligible full-fee paying students pay their postgraduate tuition fees.
To find out if you are eligible for FEE-HELP, you can contact one of our Student Enrolment Advisors on 1300 707 760.
*2025 student fees are shown and are subject to change.
Our Graduate Diploma of Communication comprises 6 units and is a great option for students looking to upskill and gain future-proof skills in digital communications. Whereas our Graduate Certificate of Communication comprises 3 units and provides students with a foundational understanding of modern communication techniques and strategies.
If you do not have an undergraduate degree, you may be eligible for the Graduate Diploma of Communication if you have at least five years of relevant professional work experience. Examples of relevant work experience could include work in public relations, advertising or a related discipline. However we recommend getting in touch with our Student Enrolment Advisors to provide a tailored assessment of your eligibility.
After successfully completing your Graduate Diploma of Communication, you can continue your studies by pursuing a Master of Communication. Alternatively, you can apply the skills you gain from this postgraduate diploma in communication to advance your current career or open the door to new opportunities in communication, media, advertising, technology, resources, healthcare, education or not-for-profit sectors, to name some.
Yes, a Graduate Diploma of Communication is worth it. With projected growth of 4.4% expected over the next 3 years*, communication professionals enjoy a varied and rewarding career. Effective and accessible communications is valuable to every industry in some capacity. After successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Communication, you could find yourself working in corporate communications, PR firms or industries such as resources, Government, healthcare or not-for-profit sectors.
* Future employment growth for Advertising, Public Relations and Sales Managers, Labourmarketinsights.gov.au
