Advanced Diploma of Marketing and Communication

The Advanced Diploma of Marketing and Communication at the Australian College of International Studies is a two-year qualification that sits at the diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework. It is built for people who want to work in marketing and communications roles and need practical skills, not just theory. You will study how to plan marketing activities, write for different audiences, run campaigns, use digital channels, and measure whether any of it worked. The course also covers communication strategy, so you learn how to shape messages for customers, staff, and the public.

How the course is structured

Australian diploma-level qualifications are usually delivered over two years full-time, split into semesters or trimesters. You enrol in units of study, and each unit carries a set number of credit points. To finish, you need to pass the required number of units and accumulate the total credit points set by the college. Some units are core, meaning everyone takes them. Others may be electives, so you can focus on areas such as digital marketing, public relations, or campaign management. Assessment is typically a mix of assignments, group projects, presentations, and practical tasks rather than one big final exam. The college may also include a capstone unit or a work-integrated learning component, such as an industry project or a placement with a marketing team. That kind of hands-on work is common in this field because employers want to see what you can do, not just what you know.

What you actually learn

You will learn to write marketing plans, conduct basic market research, create content for social media and websites, and use data to judge campaign performance. Communication units will push you to write clearly and present ideas to different audiences. Group work is a big part of the experience, because marketing and communications teams rarely work alone. By the end, you should be able to put together a campaign from brief to evaluation, explain your choices, and work with others to get it delivered.

Who this course suits

This qualification suits school leavers who want a practical start in marketing without committing to a full bachelor degree, and people already working in admin, sales, or customer service who want to move into a marketing or communications role. It also works for international students who meet the English requirement and want an Australian qualification that leads to work in the marketing industry. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English entry is usually IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, or an accepted equivalent such as TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, or Cambridge C1 Advanced. The Student visa has its own separate English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs. Tuition fees are published on the CRICOS register under course code 114914K. Check the official course page for the current unit list, credit points, and intake dates before you apply.

• Marketing coordinator, supporting campaign delivery, tracking budgets, and liaising with agencies and suppliers. Hired by retail groups, property firms, and not-for-profits.
• Digital marketing assistant, running social media accounts, scheduling content, and reporting on engagement. Common in e-commerce, hospitality, and tech companies.
• Communications officer, drafting newsletters, media releases, and internal updates. Found in government departments, universities, and health organisations.
• Public relations assistant, helping manage media enquiries, events, and stakeholder lists. PR agencies and corporate affairs teams hire for these roles.
• Content creator or copywriter, writing web copy, blogs, and ad text. Freelance and in-house roles exist across publishing, education, and tourism.
• Sales and marketing support, preparing proposals, maintaining customer databases, and coordinating promotions. Common in manufacturing, finance, and business services.
• Events and promotions assistant, organising launches, expos, and community activities. Local councils, industry associations, and event companies are typical employers.