Diploma of Visual Arts

The Diploma of Visual Arts at Melbourne Polytechnic is a one-year qualification for people who want to make art seriously, whether that means moving into further study or building a practice of their own. You work across studio areas rather than specialising too early, so you get a feel for what holds your attention before you commit to it. Expect drawing and visual thinking as the base, then painting, printmaking, sculpture, digital and photographic work depending on what the course offers that year. You will also learn how to talk about your work, write about it, and present it in a gallery or exhibition context.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are made up of units of study, each carrying credit points, and you need to pass the required number of units to graduate. Melbourne Polytechnic runs most of its programs on a semester basis, though some vocational courses use trimesters or block delivery, so check the official course page for the exact pattern. Assessment is mostly practical: studio projects, folio submissions, written reflections, group critiques and a final exhibition or presentation. There is no thesis at diploma level, but you will build a body of work that shows what you can do.

Skills you come away with

You finish with a folio, not just a transcript. That means you can draw confidently from observation, work an idea through from sketch to finished piece, handle materials and equipment safely, and use software for digital and photographic work. You also learn the professional side: how to photograph your own work, write an artist statement, price and hang a show, and apply for opportunities. Those are the things that keep artists working, and they are taught here alongside the making.

Who it suits

This diploma suits school leavers who want a studio-based start, people changing careers into creative work, and practising artists who want formal training and a structured folio. It is also a common pathway into a bachelor degree in fine art or visual arts, with credit for your diploma units. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while you study, and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available once you finish, depending on your circumstances. English proficiency is required; IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the usual standard for coursework programs, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and Melbourne Polytechnic's own English programs accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 111061H. Confirm all details on the official course page before you apply.

• Studio artist working across painting, printmaking, sculpture, digital or photographic media
• Exhibiting artist showing in artist-run spaces, commercial galleries and public programs
• Arts administrator or gallery assistant in Australian public galleries, commercial galleries and artist-run initiatives
• Arts worker in community arts organisations, local councils and cultural development programs
• Creative industries roles in design, illustration, photography, set and prop making, and public art
• Freelance creative practice, commissions, murals and public art projects
• Further study pathway into a bachelor degree in fine art or visual arts, with credit for diploma units