Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing - CUA40118
Quick facts
Student type:
Quick facts
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Entry score
Not applicable
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Duration
Full-time 1 year, Part-time 2 years -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
Next intake
February, JulyEntry score
Not applicable
Duration
Not applicableLocation
Not applicableFees
Not applicable
Next intake
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.
Details
This certificate is broad in scope, enabling you to work across a range of writing forms – fiction, non-fiction, copywriting and content writing. You will also develop technical editing, digital and desktop publishing skills, working with industry standard software and programs, across platforms.
Students undertaking this certificate come from a range of backgrounds and with varied goals. This qualification will support you to achieve your goals – whether as a creative writer, professional writer and/or editor, working freelance or in-house. If you plan to undertake further study, you will learn comprehensive writing, editing, design and production skills useful in any field.
All subjects are delivered in a blended learning mode. Every week you access instruction- and activity-rich content via Canvas, our learning management system, and attend a face-to-face class.
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.
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.
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.
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
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate IV in Professional Writing and Editing | City Campus |
1 year
|
C4405 |
Choose a program structure
Program code: C4405
National curriculum code: CUA40118
VTAC Code
If you are eligible to apply via VTAC, copy and paste the below code into VTAC search.
- Plan C4405 - 3200311174
Please ensure that you have checked the admissions requirements and apply page before applying.
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
Semester 1, 2022
You must complete and submit the Professional Writing and Editing (Certificate IV) selection task:
- VTAC applicants must register and submit the selection task here.
- All tasks must be submitted by the dates noted below for each VTAC round:
- Early round (Non year 12 only): 30 September 2021
- Main round (All applicants): 19 November 2021
- All subsequent rounds (if places are available): 17 January 2022
- All tasks must be submitted by the dates noted below for each VTAC round:
- RMIT current or recent students please click the apply button to submit your direct application. The link to submit your selection task will appear on the applicant dashboard after you have submitted your application.
- All tasks must be submitted by 17 January 2022. 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 details
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.
- Any other material you think will support your application. This may include a list of published work, CV, written references, a URL to a website or blog, etc.
- Interview (some applicants):
- If further information is needed to make a selection decision, you will be invited via email to an interview.
- Interviews will be conducted prior to semester commencement.
- Some applicants will be selected based on their selection task and will not be required to attend an interview.
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
Fees
2022 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.
- 2022 government subsidised place (with concession): AU$1,200* per annum
- 2022 government subsidised place (no concession): AU$6,000* per annum
- 2022 full-fee place: AU$11,000* 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$315 maximum fee for 2022.
- 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.
Learn more about fees for vocational study.
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.
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).
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 2022 is $315.
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.