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Deakin University

  • 21% international / 79% domestic

Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies

  • Graduate Diploma

Earn a professional qualification that allows you to work in the diverse museum sector. When you enrol in the Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies at Deakin, you will learn how to identify, conserve and interpret objects and collections in museums and galleries and the role of museums within society.

Key details

Degree Type
Graduate Diploma
Course Code
A668, 012804J

About this course

Earn a professional qualification that allows you to work in the diverse museum sector. When you enrol in the Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies at Deakin, you will learn how to identify, conserve and interpret objects and collections in museums and galleries and the role of museums within society.

Do you want to play a role in how society interacts with contemporary museums?




Today's museums are evolving. They're designed to be more accessible and increasingly interactive. As such, they're attracting more diverse audiences every day. The Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies is designed to provide you with the range of hands-on skills and theoretical knowledge required to work in all kinds of museums.

Some of the areas you will study include interpretation, collections and curatorship, cataloguing and documentation, and the ethical and legal implications of moving, acquiring or disposing of an object or collection.

You'll also look at the role and function of exhibitions, including budgets, planning, policy and audience involvement. Be ready to take the lead in your career and run exhibitions that engage the community and are meticulously organised behind the scenes.

The core units you will study are built around the categories above and they include:

  • Cultural Heritage and Museum Practice
  • Managing Collections
  • Developing Exhibitions
  • Museums, Heritage and Society

Plus, you will have a choice of four elective units, some of which include:

  • World Heritage
  • Intangible Cultural Heritage
  • Digital Interpretation
  • Applied Heritage Project
  • Internship
  • Digital Curation

As part of your studies, you can undertake work-integrated learning through your choice of electives. The Applied Heritage Project unit is developed in consultation with industry partners and gives you an opportunity to work in a team on a specific heritage project.

If you want to develop workplace skills, gain industry knowledge and extend your professional networks you can choose to complete an internship unit where you will undertake a professional work placement within a host organisation in Australia or overseas.

Career pathways

The Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies will give you the foundation of knowledge needed to enter the museum sector ready to thrive.

As a graduate, you may find employment in museums, heritage institutions, government agencies, private corporations, community organisations and in private practice.

Typical job titles include:

  • curator
  • heritage officer
  • collections manager
  • registrar
  • public programs officer
  • researcher
  • project officer.

Alternatively, completion of the course qualifies your entry into the one year *Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies. This program gives you the freedom to focus your studies on a specific area of interest, driving your career in the direction you wish to go.

For more information go to DeakinTALENT

Course structure

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies, a student must successfully complete 8 credit points of study comprising:

  • 4 credit points of core units;
  • 4 credit points of units selected from the specified Course Electives list; and
  • Academic Integrity Module DAI001
  • Academic Integrity Module (0-credit-point compulsory unit)

4

Core units

4

Elective units

8

Total

Credit for prior study or work

The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.

You can also refer to the Recognition of prior learning system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.

Applications for credit transfer will be considered depending on the quality and subject matter of the student's prior qualifications and professional experience.

The Graduate Certificate of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies and Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies and the Masters in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies comprise a suite of fully articulated courses. Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies will lead to entry into either the Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies with up to 4 credit points of RPL or allows for entry into the Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies [8cp]. Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies or equivalent will lead to entry into either the Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies or Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies (Professional) with up to 8 credit points for credit transfer.

Graduate outcomes

Graduate satisfaction and employment outcomes for Teacher Education courses at Deakin University.
81.6%
Overall satisfaction
73.6%
Skill scale
71.8%
Teaching scale
87.5%
Employed full-time
$78k
Average salary