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Graduate Diploma in Strategic Public Relations

The information on this page applies to future students. Current students should refer to their faculty handbooks for course information.

The Graduate Diploma in Strategic Public Relations focuses on developing your professional public relations knowledge and expertise. Our degree is suitable for those who want to take up career positions in public relations directly, as well as for those who feel an in-depth understanding of public relations would enhance their professional prospects.

Our course covers aspects of government, media, investor, community and environmental relations work, but places its strongest emphasis on the political and corporate communication fields. The political communication strand of our course will make you adept at issuing campaign briefs, developing candidate campaigns and analysing and applying these key messages to forums such as Twitter.

The corporate communication strand develops and applies strategies across companies both large and small throughout the business cycle. There are four core units of study: Strategic Selection in Corporate Public Relations; Public Relations Management and Conflict Resolution; Public Opinion, Public Policy and the Public Sphere; and Political Public Relations.

Taught by current industry professionals with extensive experience, the Graduate Diploma in Strategic Public Relations will equip you for a career in corporate, government, political, investor, community and environmental relations, as well as for a media, social media and communications advisory roles. Students will also be well served by a valuable social network of alumni.

Units of study

For full information on Units of Study available in this course, please visit the Sydney Courses website

For an up-to-date list of units of study for this degree, please refer to the online postgraduate handbook.<br>

Full units of study list

Further course information

Study plan

The Graduate Diploma in Strategic Public Relations requires the satisfactory completion of 6 units of study (36 credit points) (cp), including 3 core units of study. Other units of study are normally chosen from the list of approved electives, or undertaken in a relevant or related field, subject to the approval of the academic coordinator.

Graduate opportunities

The program is intended for graduates with limited experience of academic studies in public relations, and for mid-career professionals either crossing to the profession from other areas such as law, international trade or agribusiness or those interested in redefining their skills in agency or corporate settings. Graduates will be in a strong position to market themselves as senior corporate executives and senior political communicators in a variety of sectors including international corporations, global not-for-profit organisations, and transnational public relations agencies. It is aimed at local and international students who wish to take up, or already occupy, career positions in public relations where a tertiary qualification would significantly enhance their professional ambitions and prospects.

Admission

Admission requirements

Admission to candidature for the Graduate Diploma in Strategic Public Relations requires:

(a) a bachelor’s degree with a minimum credit (60%) average, from the University of Sydney, or an equivalent qualification; or

(b) completion of the Graduate Certificate in Strategic Public Relations with a minimum credit (65%) average, or an equivalent qualification.

How to apply

Domestic students

How to apply

Australian citizens, permanent residents, New Zealand citizens, and holders of a permanent humanitarian visa, apply through UAC - click on the 'Apply now' icon on this page to proceed with your application.

Please note: not all courses are offered in the July semester intake.

International students

How to apply

Overseas applicants may apply:

(i) directly to the University via the International Office. Further information on applications and English language requirements and support services for international students is available on the International Office website; or
(ii) through a University overseas representative (education agent).

Note: International students are required to enrol on a full-time basis.

Fee disclaimer

Domestic students

Indicative postgraduate student contribution amount

Indicative postgraduate student contribution amount not available for Graduate Diploma in Strategic Public Relations.

Annual review for postgraduate student contribution amount

Annual review for postgraduate student contribution amount not available for Graduate Diploma in Strategic Public Relations.

Postgraduate Domestic Tuition Fee

This 2013, tuition fee for a domestic postgraduate student represents the fee that is payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2012 for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). If your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL your fee will differ.

Annual review for postgraduate domestic tuition fee

Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review by the University, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the student contribution and/or course fee. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing and equipment. For further information about these additional incidental fees, please visit the University's Future Students' website.

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information in this prospectus, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.

The academic requirements that are displayed are applicable to currently available courses only, and are updated annually in October and may be changed without notice. The Faculty Handbook and the University of Sydney Calendar are the official legal source of information relating to study at the University of Sydney, and you are referred to those documents

Please note that if you are classified by the University as a Research Training Scheme student in accordance with the Other Grants Guidelines (Research) 2010, you will be exempt from the payment of any SCA or tuition fees for courses undertaken as part of a Research Masters degree and Research Doctoral degree. More information about your eligibility for this Scheme is available here.

International students

International tuition fees for postgraduate students

This 2013, tuition fee for international postgraduate students represents the fees that are payable by you in the calendar year you commence your course, commencing in 2013, for a standard annual full time load of 48 credit points (1.0 EFTSL). If your study load is more or less than the 1.0 EFTSL your fee will differ.

Annual review

Importantly, tuition fees are subject to annual review, and are likely to increase each year of your period of study, effective at the start of each calendar year.

Additional incidental fees and health insurance

For some courses there are incidental fees additional to the tuition fees. Some of those fees are significant, for example, faculty-specific materials, tools, protected clothing, and equipment. The University's Future Students' webpage has further information about these additional incidental fees for postgraduate coursework students and postgraduate research students.

In addition to the fees indicated here for the course of study, International Students studying on an Australian Student Visa must have appropriate health insurance for the duration of their studies on a Student Visa through an approved provider of the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) scheme. This is a requirement of the Australian Government, unless otherwise exempted by the Government.

Potential for inaccuracy

Whilst every reasonable effort has been made to include correct and up to date information here, you are also advised to consult directly with the Student Centre for domestic students or the International Office for international students so that they can provide you with specific and up to date information about those fees.