Diploma of Marketing and Communication

The Diploma of Marketing and Communication at Spencer College is a one-year qualification for people who want to work in marketing, advertising, public relations or communications support roles. You cover the basics of how organisations promote themselves and talk to their audiences: consumer behaviour, market research, campaign planning, copywriting, social media, media buying and client and stakeholder communication. Assessment is practical. You write campaign plans, produce content, present pitches and analyse real or simulated marketing problems, so you finish with pieces you can show an employer.

This is a diploma on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which sits below a bachelor degree. It is delivered over one year, usually across two semesters with a break in between. You enrol in units of study, each worth a set number of credit points, and you need to pass all required units to graduate. Some diplomas include a work placement or industry project unit, which gives you supervised time in a marketing team or on a live client brief. Check the official course page for the current unit list, credit point values and whether placement is part of your intake.

You build skills employers ask for in entry-level marketing jobs: writing for different channels, reading analytics and campaign data, planning budgets and timelines, working in a team on a brief, and presenting ideas clearly. The course also covers the legal and ethical side of marketing, including privacy and advertising standards, which matters in Australia. Classes are taught in English, and international applicants need to meet Spencer College's English requirement. IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common standard for courses at this level, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the college's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself, so you may need to meet both.

This diploma suits school leavers who want a practical start without committing to a three-year degree, career changers moving into marketing or communications, and people already working in admin, sales or customer service who want formal skills. It can also be a pathway into a bachelor degree with credit for some units, though how much credit you receive depends on the receiving institution. If you are an international student, a Student visa lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available if you meet its requirements. Tuition and intake dates are published on the CRICOS register, and you should confirm all details on the official course page before applying.

• Marketing assistant or coordinator
• Communications officer or assistant
• Social media coordinator
• Digital marketing assistant
• Advertising or media assistant
• Public relations assistant
• Content or copywriting assistant
• Events and promotions assistant
• Customer engagement or CRM assistant

These roles sit in advertising and media agencies, corporate marketing and communications teams, not-for-profits, government communications offices, retail and e-commerce businesses, and tourism and events organisations across Australia.