Course overview
Whether you aspire to elevate your writing capabilities or embark on a writing-focused career, this Diploma equips you with the essential tools to excel in the realm of creative storytelling.
With the Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing, you can choose to explore six pivotal units within the course structure provided to equip you with indispensable skills needed to craft compelling narratives.
After completing your Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing, you can continue your studies to gain a Master of Creative Writing to refine your storytelling and literary finesse and reach audiences across various mediums.
Why study a Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing with ECU Online?
Taught by top industry experts
Learning is led by accomplished authors who bring real-world publishing experience to the classroom. Gain invaluable insights, personalised feedback, and practical tips to ignite your passion for writing and improve your skills to professional levels.
Enhance your writing craft
Build a contemporary toolkit of creative writing techniques allowing you to generate fresh ideas, unleash your artistic potential and write the stories you're burning to tell.
Diverse forms of writing
Engage with diverse forms of writing including fiction, poetry and plays as well as non-fiction, including content writing, in our immersive and hands-on course.
What you will learn
The Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing is for students looking to enhance their writing skills. Students will learn modern writing principles and practices - empowering them to thrive as skilled wordsmiths.
- Build a contemporary toolkit of creative writing techniques allowing you to generate fresh ideas.
- Unleash your artistic potential and;
- Write the stories you're burning to tell.
- Tailor your skills to the forms of writing that inspire you with our dynamic course.
- Apply new learnings to passion projects and work towards personal writing goals.
- Choose electives that best align with your interests.
What you will study
The online Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing consists of six units from a pool of eight.
- Writing Fiction
This unit introduces the fundamentals of writing fiction through reading a range of short stories. - Writing Realities
This unit explores writing based on actual events, including history, biography, true crime and stories of place and family. - Writing for Performance
This unit introduces skills for writing drama or monologue for performance. - Writing and Audience
This unit cultivates a writer's understanding of their work with consideration of genre and readership, including online audiences. - Editing and Publishing
This unit explores the business of writing, editing, and publishing, including processes and workflow for professional editing, seeking publication, and presenting the professional author platform. - Writing for the Planet’s Future
This unit takes an ecocritical approach to writing about place and environment in the production of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. - Writing and Empathy
This unit explores the core practice of writing and embodiment - including writing about love and characters outside our own viewpoint. - Writing Fiction that Scares and Unsettles
This unit explores the darker aspects of fiction including genres such as horror and gothic, as well as thematic concerns like violence, trauma, and conflict.
Course information
Admission requirements
To gain entry to the Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing online you will need:
- A bachelor’s degree in any discipline; or
- Equivalent prior learning including at least five years relevant professional experience.
- Students must submit a full-length publication (book), or a portfolio of creative works published in literary journals, online or in print. For example, short stories or essays or poems which constitute the equivalent of a full-length publication, or minimum 40,000 words of prose/100 pages of poetry. This excludes all self-published works.
Not sure if this course is right for you?
Get personalised course advice before you apply
Pathway to further study
Remain flexible while you pursue your postgraduate degree with our gateway qualifications. If you need to exit early, you could still receive a Graduate Certificate of Creative Writing after completing your first three units.
Graduate Certificate
3 units
or continue studying
Graduate Diploma
+3 units
(6 units total)
Master Degree
+ 4 units
(10 units total)
Or
Master (Fast-Track)
+ 1 unit
(7 units total)
Frequently asked questions
Our Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing comprises 6 units and is a great option for students looking to enhance their writing skills through the application of modern principles and practices and apply these new skills to reach their creative and professional goals. Our Graduate Certificate of Creative Writing comprises 3 units and provides students with a foundational understanding of the techniques of creative writing practice.
If you do not have an undergraduate degree, you may be eligible for the Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing if you have equivalent prior learning, including at least two years of relevant professional experience or you arrange with ECU Online to submit a piece of published work. To find out more we recommend contacting our Student Enrolment Advisors to provide a tailored assessment of your eligibility.
After successfully completing your Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing, you can continue your studies by pursuing a Master of Creative Writing. Alternatively, you can apply the skills you gain from this postgraduate diploma to advance your current career or open the door to new opportunities in content creation management and editing, brand storytelling and as a writer for media, advertising, not-for-profit sectors or in pursuit of your personal writing goals.
Whether a Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing is worth pursuing depends on your personal and professional goals. It’s important to consider:
Career Aspirations:
The Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing offers a unique platform to showcase advanced writing prowess, cultivate the essential skills for successful publication, and craft captivating written material. Graduates can unlock pathways to elevated roles in writing and editing within their selected domains.
Personal Growth:
Through the Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing, students can refine their creative voices, communication expertise, and purpose-driven strategies. Graduates often find a deeper connection with their personal goals and are equipped to integrate their passions into their careers, fostering positive change and personal fulfillment.
Versatile Skills:
In addition to gaining a comprehensive understanding of various writing techniques, students learn to creatively apply them to achieve their own unique career and personal objectives. They become adept at crafting impactful messages that resonate with diverse audiences while addressing the broader needs and values of the community.
At ECU Online we understand that everyone has different work arrangements, family responsibilities, locations and learning styles. This is why our postgraduate courses are offered 100% online, so you can balance your study with other commitments. As an ECU Online student, you will have access to academic and non-academic support.
Our accelerated online courses are developed by industry experts and engaged academics. You can easily connect with learning facilitators and course coordinators through our easy-to-use online learning environment to gain feedback and ask academic questions. You can also reach out to a Learning Advisor who can help with things like assessment writing, study skills and more.
You will have a dedicated Student Success Advisor available to you from when you start studying through to graduation. They will be available to provide non-academic support, such as assistance with scheduling time to study and more.
As an ECU online student, you also have access to all the support offered by ECU, both on-campus and online:
- Access and inclusion services
- Student health services
- Psychological counselling support
- Careers and employability services
- Student Guild, clubs, and associations
Do I need to attend on-campus classes at specific times in the Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing?
No, the Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing is 100% online and does not include any on-campus components. We have designed this course to be flexible so you can tailor your studies to fit your lifestyle.
Yes, creative writing can be a source of income through publishing novels, short stories, scripts, or freelance writing projects. While income may vary depending on experience, genre, and audience, completing a graduate diploma or related creative writing courses online can enhance skills, credibility, and professional networks, increasing opportunities for paid work. The ECU Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing Online provides practical, structured training in storytelling, editing and narrative craft, with a strong emphasis on mentorship and creative development. Students build professional writing skills across fiction, genre writing, poetry and other contemporary forms, while exploring themes of empathy, environment and nature that shape meaningful, socially aware storytelling. Guided by experienced writing mentors, students develop their voice within a supportive creative community designed to nurture confidence, connection and career readiness. The Graduate Diploma also offers a clear pathway to further study, articulating into the Master of Creative Writing for those who wish to deepen their practice.
Creative writing focuses on imaginative storytelling, literary expression, and narrative craft, often for artistic or entertainment purposes. Copywriting, on the other hand, is commercially driven, aiming to persuade or market products and services. Both require strong writing skills, but the intent and techniques differ. The ECU Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing Online develops advanced creative skills, enabling students to excel in narrative development and storytelling, which can complement professional writing roles alongside copywriting.
A graduate certificate is a shorter postgraduate qualification, typically 3-4 units, offering foundational knowledge and practical skills in a specific field. A graduate diploma is more extensive, often 6 units, providing deeper study, broader skill development, and a stronger pathway to a master’s program. The ECU Graduate Diploma of Creative Writing Online offers an accelerated, 6-unit structure that provides a more comprehensive development of creative writing skills than a graduate certificate, while still being flexible for part-time study.
Still have questions?
Download a course guide or speak with a Student Enrolment Advisor. Our team can assist you with:
- Eligibility & enrolment enquiries
- Course duration & fees
- Flexible entry & study pathways
- How online study will fit with your schedule
