Diploma of Marketing and Communication

The Diploma of Marketing and Communication at Elizabeth Institute is a practical, one-and-a-half-year qualification for people who want to work in marketing, communications or a related business area. You study how organisations promote themselves, how audiences are researched, how campaigns are planned and how messages are delivered across different channels. The subject area sits alongside human resource management, which means you also look at how people, teams and internal communication fit into the way a business operates.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are made up of units of study, each carrying credit points. You usually complete them over semesters or trimesters, with full-time study taking about eighteen months. Assessment is a mix of written tasks, group projects, presentations and practical work rather than exams alone. Some diplomas include a capstone unit where you bring your skills together on a real project, and many build in work-integrated learning or a placement with an employer. Check the official course page for the exact unit list, credit points and whether placement is part of your intake.

What you actually learn

You learn to write for different audiences, plan and run campaigns, use digital and social media, interpret market research, and present ideas clearly to clients and managers. There is also the day-to-day side of marketing work: budgets, timelines, briefs, reporting and working with designers, writers and sales teams. Because the subject area includes human resource management, you get a grounding in how organisations recruit, manage and communicate with staff, which is useful when marketing and internal communication overlap.

Who it suits

This diploma suits school leavers who want a job-ready qualification without committing to a full degree, people already working in administration, sales or customer service who want to move into marketing, and international students looking for an Australian qualification at diploma level. It also works as a pathway: on the AQF, a diploma sits below a bachelor degree, and credit from your units may count towards further study if you choose to continue. English requirements for international applicants are typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the institute's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. While studying, a student visa usually allows 48 hours of work per fortnight, and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available after you finish, depending on your circumstances. Confirm fees, intake dates, unit details and English requirements on the official CRICOS page and with Elizabeth Institute before you apply.

• Marketing assistant or coordinator
• Communications officer
• Digital marketing assistant
• Social media coordinator
• Advertising or campaign assistant
• Public relations assistant
• Sales and promotions support
• Human resources assistant (where the role covers internal communication and staff engagement)

Graduates work across Australian industries including retail, professional services, government, not-for-profit organisations, education, health and hospitality. Marketing and communication roles exist in almost every sector, and the HR side of the qualification opens doors in recruitment, people and culture, and internal communications teams.