Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing

Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing - CUA40118

VOCATIONAL

Explore writing and editing through a professional and creative lens, and gain highly transferrable skills essential to a career in writing.

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Student type:
Learning mode:
On campus
Entry score:

Not applicable

Duration:
Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2 years
Fees:

Fee finder

Next intake:
February, July
Location:
Melbourne City
Learning mode:
On campus
Entry score:

Not applicable

Duration:
Not applicable
Fees:

Not applicable

Next intake:
Not applicable
Location:
Not applicable

Overview

​​Are you keen to explore your creativity, while gaining solid technical skills?

The Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing offers you the fundamentals to write and edit professionally.

Working with expert teachers, you hone your writing skills in fiction and non-fiction, and sharpen your editing skills for publication. You also learn to write clearly with confidence, as well as craft, design and produce content for target audiences across platforms.

Suited both full- and part-time students, this certificate gives you broad, transferable writing and editing skills relevant to any creative or professional writing context.

Why study professional writing and editing at RMIT?

Expert educators

Learn from active professionals who share their insights and skills.

Industry feedback

Present your work to an industry practitioner for analysis and critique.

State-of-the-art facilities

Practise design and experiment on industry-standard software.

This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding.

Please note: this certificate is not available for international students intending to study on a student visa. If you are holding a temporary visa (other than a student visa) and your visa has a full study entitlement, you may be eligible to apply. For more information, see the international students with other temporary (non-student) visas.

Details

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Learning and teaching

All subjects in the Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing are delivered in a blended learning mode, requiring both face-to-face and online learning.

Learning activities include lectures, workshops, demonstrations, presentations, project work, practical exercises, and discussion in class and online forums. You benefit from regular feedback from your teacher and from peers in class workshopping. Industry speakers share their specialist knowledge and expertise, and in designated courses provide feedback on your work.

Assessment methods

Your assessment tasks are closely linked to work performed by professional writers and editors. You write short stories, flash fiction, articles, reviews, essays, advertising copy, online content, journal entries and more. You edit reports and publications, as well as your own and your peers' fiction and non-fiction writing. You design and produce templates, documents and publications using industry-standard software.

Learning at RMIT

The types of classes you have will depend on the course you’re studying. Classes are offered in various formats designed to provide meaningful engagement with staff, industry and peers and provide for access and use of spaces where learning can be applied and active, including an array of specialised equipment.

Most RMIT courses do not include passive large-scale classes such as lectures, instead the content traditionally provided in lectures is made available online. This may be in the form of readings, videos or other on-demand learning materials. This content will also support the basis of interactive learning that takes place in on-campus classes.

Your teachers are practitioners in the field and bring their industry know-how to your classes.

Drawing on their strong networks, they organise guest speakers to share their specialist knowledge and experiences. In BSBWRT501 Write persuasive copy, you will present your copywriting to an industry practitioner for feedback.

The design of this qualification has also been informed by an industry advisory committee comprising professional writers and editors, both in-house and freelance.

To achieve this qualification, students must complete 12 subjects (6 core and 6 elective).

The training comprises of 824 hours of structured activities and 546​ hours of unstructured activities.

The knowledge and skills you will acquire throughout this certificate and how they can be applied in your career are described in the learning outcomes.

This certificate is flexible and modular in design, catering for full- and part-time students. You must complete all 12 subjects to graduate from this qualification.

Core subjects are:

  • Perform writing and editing tasks
  • Write fiction material  
  • Write nonfiction material
  • Write simple stories
  • Write persuasive copy
  • Implement copyright arrangements.

Elective subjects are: 

  • Develop content for publication  
  • Write content for a range of media 
  • Document design and production
  • Design and produce text documents
  • Produce complex desktop publishing documents 
  • Work effectively in the creative arts industry
  • Provide freelance services.

Course structure

Choose a plan below to find out more about the subjects you will study and the course structure.

Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing
Program code: C4405
National curriculum code: CUA40118
Title
Location
Duration
Plan code
CRICOS
Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing
City Campus
1 year
C4405
Location
City Campus
Duration
1 year
Plan code
C4405
CRICOS
View plan

Career

With a writing and editing skill set, your career opportunities are broad.

Work exists in technical writing, corporate writing, writing in digital media, copywriting, creative writing in myriad forms, journalism and publishing. Employment possibilities range from paid positions to freelance work as either a writer or editor.

Specialised skills are in increasing demand, especially in the areas of social media, content management and copywriting. Your software skills, including facility with Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Office, are vital for such work.

Admissions

You need to satisfy all of the following academic (entry) requirements to be considered for entry into this course.

There are no minimum academic entry requirements.

All applicants must submit the selection task

Applicants who are seeking admission on the basis of an approved RMIT pathway will be able to indicate this in the selection task and submit.

All other applicants must complete and submit the selection task requirements.

There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.

Semester 1, 2024

Entry into this program is competitive, and applications are assessed in the order that they are received until this date, if places are still available. For your best chance at admission into this program, you are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Selection task dates

Selection task dates for VTAC applicants
VTAC applicants Register and submit the selection task by
December round 13 December 2023
January rounds 22 December 2023
February rounds 30 January 2024
Selection task dates for direct applicants

If you are applying direct to RMIT, you must complete and submit your direct application. The link to submit your selection task will appear on the applicant dashboard after you have submitted your application. Please see the Apply page for information on eligibility to apply direct.

Applicant type Register and submit the selection task by
Direct applicants 9 February 2024

The selection task requires:

  • A statement outlining your interest in professional writing and editing (maximum 500 words).
  • A 1000-word sample of your writing. Your writing sample can be fiction, non-fiction or factual writing, or a combination, depending on your area of interest.
    • You must upload your writing sample in a Word document or PDF.

Pathways

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Understanding pathways

Undertaking a certificate, diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree can help you meet the entry requirements for your preferred degree. These qualifications often provide credit, reducing the duration of your bachelor degree.

Explore the pathway finder
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Even though there are no formal pathways into this course, there are often other ways you can gain entry.

Credit, recognition of prior learning, professional experience and accreditation from a professional body can reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant experience.

Credit and exemptions will be assessed consistent with the principles of the RMIT Credit Policy.

Successful completion of the Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing guarantees entry into the following qualifications:

For more information, explore our Pathway finder, or contact Study@RMIT.

Fees

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Tuition fees

The tuition fees you will pay for this program will depend on whether you are offered a Victorian Government subsidised place or a full-fee place. To find out if you are eligible for a government subsidised place, follow the steps at How to check if you are eligible.

  • 2024 government subsidised place (with concession): AU$1,300* per annum
  • 2024 government subsidised place (no concession): AU$6,500* per annum
  • 2024 full-fee place: AU$11,500* per annum

*Fees shown are indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at the time of enrolment.

Fee finder

Use our fee finder to get an estimate of your fees for this program.

Additional expenses

  • Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$351 maximum fee for 2024.
  • Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.

Annual fee adjustment

The student tuition fees as displayed by the fee finder are indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.

Eligibility Exemption criteria

**The Victorian Government is currently waiving three (3) eligibility criteria around prior qualifications. This means that more people who want to study a vocational education program at RMIT, and who have studied previously, will be able to access a government subsidised place in a program. Find out how to check your eligibility

Payments and refunds

For information on how to pay your fees or how to apply for a refund, please see Paying your fees and applying for refunds.

In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.

The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2024 is $351.  

For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.

You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.

You may be entitled to apply for a fee concession or exemption if you are in a Victorian Government subsidised place and you meet the eligibility criteria.

If your application for a fee concession is approved, you will be charged 20% of the standard government subsidised tuition fee for your program. You will also be charged a lower rate on your student services and amenities fee (SSAF).

RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.

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The annual tuition fee for 2022 is AU$XX,XXX.

The total indicative tuition fee for 2022 commencement is AU$XX,XXX.

In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:

You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.

Find out more details about how fees are calculated and the expected annual increase.

Applying for refunds

Find information on how to apply for a refund as a continuing international student.

RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Looking for answers or more general information?

Use our Frequently Asked Questions to learn about the application process and its equity access schemes, find out how to accept or defer your offer or request a leave of absence, discover information about your fees, refunds and scholarships, and explore the various student support and advocacy services, as well as how to find out more about your preferred program, and more.

Sorry, this program is not available for international students intending to study on a student visa.

If you hold a different visa type, you may be eligible. Please contact Study@RMIT for more information.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

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aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information