Graduate Diploma
Get a professional qualification that allows you to work in the diverse museum sector. When you enrol in museum studies at Deakin, you'll learn how to identify, conserve and interpret objects and collections in museums and galleries and the role of museums within society. Today's museums are evolving. They're designed to be much more accessible and, as such, are attracting more diverse audiences every day. Innovation and new technologies are pushing the contemporary museum to think outside the box and to engage with audiences in new ways.
How do we know what material culture societies ought to conserve? What counts as heritage? Who decides? What is the role of museums in social cohesion, identity formation and development?
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'll study include heritage 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
As part of your studies you can undertake an internship or practical placements in Australia or internationally, usually in professionally-staffed museum or heritage organisations. Internships and practical placements involve working on one or more projects, as agreed with the host institution. You'll be required to spend a minimum of 10 working days on the placement. This can be undertaken full-time (e.g. over a minimum of two weeks) or on a part-time basis.
Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies will lead you to entry to the Master of Cultural Heritage. 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, and project officer.
Deakin University offers admission to postgraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.
All applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements.
Please note that meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee selection, which is based on merit, likelihood of success and availability of places in the course.
For more information on the Admission Criteria and Selection (Higher Education Courses) Policy visit the Deakin Policy Library
Entry will be based on performance in:
Graduates may find employment as practitioners 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 and project officer.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT
To qualify for the Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies, a student must successfully complete 8 credit points of study comprising:
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 Certificates of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies along with the Graduate Diplomas of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies and Master of Cultural Heritage comprise a suite of fully articulated courses. Successful completion of a Graduate Certificate will lead to entry into either the relevant Graduate Diploma or the Master of Cultural Heritage with up to 4 credit points for credit transfer. Successful completion of a Graduate Diploma will lead to entry into the Master of Cultural Heritage with up to 8 credit points for credit transfer.