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Undergraduate

Diploma of Professional Communication

Domestic students International students
Diploma of Professional Communication (DAPC)
Entry requirements
ATAR 65.00
View full details
Study mode
  • On-campus
  • External
Campus
  • Springfield
  • Toowoomba
Duration
  • 1 year(s) (or part-time equivalent)
Start
  • Jan, May, Sep
Intakes

Note: This degree is pending CRICOS registration. Offers will not be issued to International Students wanting to study on campus until CRICOS endorsement is granted.

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Overview

  • Build strong communication skills and become a creative storyteller with UniSQ’s Diploma of Professional Communication.
  • A diploma is an ideal choice if you want a university qualification but can’t commit to studying a full bachelor degree.
  • Study a selection of advertising, public relations and journalism courses to develop professional, industry-relevant skills and knowledge across key communications and media sectors.
  • Develop unique skills to report on stories that impact people’s lives and communities, delve into advertising, or public relations, learn how to effectively communicate with consumers and audiences.
  • Future-proof your career and fine tune your career direction. This diploma has direct career and employment application and helps make the leap into university then employment less daunting.
  • A diploma can be completed in just one year. If you decide to continue to study, your diploma is also a stepping-stone to a bachelor degree, with successfully completed courses often contributing as credits.

Further study

After successfully completing the Diploma of Professional Communication, you have the option to take the credit from your studies and go on to complete the Bachelor of Communication and Media.

Thinking of studying in 2024? UniSQ will be delivering flexible new ways of teaching, with different calendar offerings, making the balance of study and life easier. Read more in our new academic calendar FAQs.

Career outcomes

  • The Diploma of Professional Communication will help you develop skills that are highly valued and sort after by employers across all industries. Arts, entertainment, design, finance and professional services are industries that have a particularly high need for strong communication skills.
  • This diploma also offers an alternative pathway into a bachelor degree and will prepare you for a range of careers.

Entry requirements

Find the entry requirements most relevant to you.

Recent secondary education

Adjusted Entry score including adjustment factors (additional points given in certain circumstances). Unadjusted Entry score not including adjustment factors.
ATAR The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a percentile rank used to assess the results of high-school applicants for undergraduate entry into university. 65.00 -

Pre-requisites

To study this degree we assume you have sound knowledge in:

  • English (Units 3 & 4, C) 

We assume that your knowledge is equivalent to a grade C or higher in Units 3 and 4 at high school level (typically studied in Year 12). Find out more about assumed knowledge.

Special entry schemes for admissions may increase your Rank, through the allocation of additional points in certain circumstances, such as educational disadvantage where you live, and subjects you passed. 

UniSQ is committed to greater admissions transparency. Learn more about the education and work experience, as well as average Ranks for this degrees' student cohort from the previous year.

Tafe (VET) qualification

If you have completed a qualification from a TAFE or qualified private provider, you may be able to use these qualifications to meet UniSQ's entry requirements.

Work and life experience

You may be able to use your work experience and other adjustment factors to increase your selection rank and meet UniSQ's entry requirements.

English language requirements

You are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires a minimum of IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. If you do not meet the English language requirements you may apply to study a University-approved English language program.

Recognition of prior learning or work experience

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.

Pathways

If you don't meet the entry requirements, we have pathway options available to you.

If you identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent you may be eligible to enter the Indigenous Higher Education Pathways (IHEPP).

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete eight units. Most courses (similar to ‘subjects’) are valued at one unit. To study full-time you would usually complete four units per semester.

Courses to be studied Units
Core courses 2
Advertising, journalism, and public relations courses 6
TOTAL 8

Refer to the UniSQ Handbook for courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Fees and scholarships

Your actual fees may vary depending on the courses you select. We review our fees annually so these may be subject to change.

Approximate annual costs1 for your first year of study (8 units) in this degree are:

Study Mode Cost
Commonwealth supported

The Federal Government contributes to the cost of your course and you need to pay a student contribution.

AUD 16332
Domestic full fee paying

You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee.

AUD 25040

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2024. 

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Loan to help you pay your fees

You may not have to pay your course (subject) fees upfront. HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP allows you to defer your fees until your income reaches a certain level. Find out if you are eligible for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP.

You may also be eligible to receive financial support from Centrelink.

Scholarships

At UniSQ, we offer a range of scholarships to support your success at university. Find a scholarship that works for you.

How to apply

Apply via QTAC

Apply via QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre) if you:

  • have never studied with UniSQ before, or
  • are a Year 12 student, or
  • want to transfer to UniSQ from another university.
Mode QTAC Codes
External 909525
Springfield 929521
Toowoomba 909521

Copy your QTAC code and continue through to the QTAC website to complete your application.

Apply through QTAC

If you are applying via QTAC, please check the QTAC closing dates.

Apply directly to UniSQ

You may be able to apply directly to UniSQ if you:

  • are a current or previous UniSQ student returning to study with complete or incomplete qualifications (excluding Head Start students), or
  • have recently graduated from TAFE.
Apply direct to UniSQ

The closing dates for applying directly to UniSQ are:

  • Semester 3, 2023 - applications close on 13 November and Semester 3 study period commences on Monday 13 November, 2023.

Intakes

You can select to start your study in Trimester 1, 2 or 3.

Study period  Application closing date Orientation  Study period start date Finish date
Trimester 1, 2024  Monday 22 January Monday 15 January Monday 22 January Friday 26 April 
Trimester 2, 2024 Monday 13 May Monday 6 May Monday 13 May  Friday 16 August
Trimester 3, 2024 Monday 2 September Monday 26 August Monday 2 September Friday 6 December 

More information on applying key dates is available.

Further information

Discover further information on applying to study at UniSQ that is relevant to you.

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Got questions?

 

Begin your study journey today with the university rated 5/5 stars for graduates starting salaries* and start the degree that’s right for you.

*Good Universities Guide 2024

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What are the entry requirements and pathways to entry?

The entry requirements for a communications diploma will vary depending on the learning provider you choose to study with.

At UniSQ, to gain entry into our Diploma in Professional Communication you need to meet a specific ATAR, pre-requisites and assumed knowledge requirements. ‘Assumed knowledge’ is the term we use to explain the minimum level of knowledge we presume you have in some subjects before you start your degree.

For more information on entry requirements, please view the entry requirements section of this page.

If you don’t meet the entry requirements for this diploma of communication we have a pathway options for you.

Do you still have questions? Get in touch with one of our iconnect support staff to talk through your options. 

Can the credits from this certificate be applied to further studies?
Yes. You can use your communications diploma as stepping-stone to further study. At UniSQ after you complete your Diploma of Professional Communication you have the option to take these credits into our Bachelor of Communication and Media. 
How long does a communications diploma take to complete?

The duration of a communications diploma will vary depending on the education provider you choose.

At UniSQ, a Media and Communication Diploma in Professional Communication will take you approximately one year to complete. Some students choose to study part-time which increases the time it takes to finish the required courses to finish your Diploma of Communication subjects.

Are flexible study options available?

How you can study a Diploma of Communication will vary depending on the learning provider you choose to study with.

At UniSQ you can study our professional diploma of communication online as an external student. If you want to immerse yourself in on-campus life, you can study at our Toowoomba or Springfield campus. When you study externally, you to learn your subject theory online and come on campus when required. We’ve been delivering distance education for over 40 years, so you can be sure that you are learning your degree from the online education experts.

Discover more about the different ways you can study at UniSQ.