Course Overview
The Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies will provide you with the diverse skills and developed knowledge base appropriate to multiskilled work in all kinds of museums.

This course gives you access to more subjects in museum studies than the related Graduate Certificate, and consequently is highly regarded as a professional qualification.

The Museum Studies program will help you to become an independent, innovative and creative thinker; have a commitment to reflective practice in museums; have an understanding of best practice standards in museum work; competently undertake a range of museological techniques; demonstrate ethical leadership in your chosen field of museum activity; and have a commitment to continuous improvement.

Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies will lead you to admission to the Master of Cultural Heritage.  

Career opportunities

Graduates may find employment as practitioners in museums, heritage institutions, government agencies, private corporations, community organisations and in private practice. Typical job titles include: curator, heritage officer, collections manager, registrar, public programs officer, researcher and project officer.

Course Rules
To qualiify for the Graduate Diploma of Museum Studies, a student must successfully complete 8 credit points of study comprising: (a) 3 credit points of core units; and (b) 5 credit points of electives selected from the specified list of units below

Course Structure
Core units

Semester 1

AIM721 Museums: Context and Issues  

AIM723 Heritage Interpretation  

Semester 2

AIM722 Collections and Movable Cultural Heritage  

Electives: The 5 elective credit points give students the chance to extend their knowledge in ways that are relevant to their own learning goals. Students may select their electives from the specified list of AIM-coded units, or (with relevant approvals) from any other appropriate postgraduate units.

Note: Students can gain relevant international experience through AIM717 .

AIM701 Heritage and Development in the Asia-Pacific Region  

AIM704 Heritage and Sustainable Cultural Tourism  

AIM707 Building Conservation Techniques  

AIM709 Intangible Heritage  

AIM716 Heritage and the City  

AIM725 Museums: Strategies and Marketing  

Semester 2

AIM703 Heritage Law, Planning and the Property Market  

AIM705 Architectural Conservation Practice  

AIM708 World Heritage  

AIM710 Shared Heritage: Issues and Perspectives  

AIM714 Cultural Landscapes  

AIM726 Museums: Operational Issues  

AIM727 Exhibitions  

Semester 1 or semester 2

AIM712 Cultural Heritage Research Methodology  

AIM713 Cultural Heritage Research Project  

AIM717 Heritage in the Field

Admission requirements
Deakin University offers admission to postgraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.

In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicants previous academic record.

The minimum requirements are:
(i) successful completion of a three-year undergraduate degree, or equivalent, from an approved university or other educational institution or
(ii) successful completion of other equivalent qualifications gained by examination or
(iii) approved professional or industrial experience

English language requirements - Postgraduate courses
Postgraduate applicants to Deakin University must demonstrate their competence in English by providing certified/notarised documentary evidence of one of the following. Certain courses may require a higher level of English proficiency.

(i) Where the applicant’s first language is English and secondary and/or undergraduate studies were conducted in English, a certified/notarised copy of the applicant’s studies record, clearly indicating that English was the language of instruction, must be supplied.
(ii) An overall band score of 6.5 or better in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test (Academic module) conducted by the British Council/IDP Education Australia office, provided that no individual band score is less that 6.
(iii) A score of 237 or better (essay rating 5) in the computer-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
(iv) Satisfactory completion of a post secondary studies program which is at least two years full time or equivalent within the last five years in an institution where English is the language of instruction and assessment.
(v) A minimum of three years professional practice in English, and satisfactory completion of study in English language leading to certification by the governing body of the profession.
(vi) Successful completion of an English language program at the Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) or other English language program deemed to be equivalent to this by the Academic Board.
(vii) Satisfactory completion of the DUELI test of English language competence.
(viii) Other evidence of English language competence deemed acceptable by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).

University Profile
More than 40 percent of Deakin students study by distance education.

Deakin has many years' experience in using online technologies to support and enhance the learning experiences of distance education students.

Distance education is an ideal choice for people who do not live near a campus to complete a course; or for people who wish to combine study with their job, as you may choose when and where you study.

Teaching and learning
Off-campus courses are the same as on-campus courses – the only difference is that rather than attend lectures, tutorials and practical classes in person, you study using a variety of other methods.

Deakin Studies Online (DSO)
DSO is Deakin University’s online teaching and learning environment. It delivers web-based course material and assessment tasks and facilitates communication and collaboration between staff and students.

DSO is being implemented as the university-wide learning management system.

Deakin's online environment gives you flexible and convenient access to learning resources and will enrich your learning experiences.

Distance Campus Support - Deakin University Student Association
The Distance Student section of the Deakin University Student Association website is devoted to information tailor-fitted to the needs of off-campus students on what DUSA in general and the Distance Campus Committee (DCC) in particular can do.

The DCC is here to represent YOU if you are a student at Deakin studying off-campus: looking out for your needs, putting you in contact with services, representing you to the University and making themselves available for advice.