Deakin University
Graduate Certificate of Recruitment and Talent Acquisition
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
- Course Type: Graduate Certificate
Acquire the skills that future employers seek with this course, designed in collaboration with industry professionals.
Course overview
Build the skills and qualifications to set yourself apart in a recruitment and talent acquisition career. The need for qualified experts in the field of talent acquisition is growing rapidly. As recruitment challenges become more complex, the demand for highly skilled human resources professionals continues to increase.
Deakin Business School's Graduate Certificate in Recruitment and Talent Acquisition is the first course of its kind in Australia. Co-designed with the Recruitment, Consulting and Staffing Association (RCSA), this course has been specifically created to help meet the growing need for qualified practitioners in the industry.
If you are considering a career change, this is your opportunity to gain highly sought-after skills and enter a growth industry with exceptional career prospects.
Already working in the industry? This course will solidify your understanding of the theory underpinning successful practice. In an industry where fewer than 29% of practitioners have a postgraduate qualification, it's a sure-fire way to set yourself apart.
The industry involvement in developing this course ensures a real-world relevancy. Case studies are drawn directly from practice, meaning you will graduate with both an experiential understanding of what works and a theoretical understanding of why.
The Graduate Certificate in Recruitment and Talent Acquisition prepares you to:
- Be highly skilled at identifying and recruiting talent.
- Become expert in the strategic brand management and marketing of individuals and businesses.
- Understand the theory behind employment relations to create and maintain positive relationships between organisations and employees.
- Implement strategic staffing plans to manage recruitment, selection and retention.
- Utilise people analytics and management technologies to manage and forecast workplace demands.
Key facts
July, 2026
What you will study
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Recruitment and Talent Acquisition, students must attain a total of four credit points comprising three core units and one credit point course elective unit. Students also need to take the compulsory zero credit point module, Academic Integrity Module.
Core units
- Strategic Staffing
- Workplace Relations
- Strategic Brand Management
Course electives
- People Analytics
- Any two 0.5 credit point microcredentials offered by Deakin in the Business and Management interest area
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements and individual circumstances. You must meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
Academic requirements
To be considered for admission to this degree, you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Completion of a bachelor's degree or higher.
- At least two years of relevant work experience (or part-time equivalent).
English language requirements
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- Bachelor's degree from a recognised English-speaking country.
- IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent.
- Other evidence of English language proficiency (contact the university for more information).
Recognition of Prior Learning
The university aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to Deakin's Recognition of Prior Learning system, which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Develop knowledge of recruitment challenges faced by organisations and apply the skills expected of recruitment practitioners in the industry.
- Communicate complex considerations when making informed recruitment and talent acquisition decisions.
- Critically analyse and evaluate trends and current issues practitioners face in the recruitment and talent acquisition market.
- Examine challenges organisations face in recruitment and talent acquisition and formulate appropriate approaches to address these.
- Operate successfully as an independent learner in an online learning environment.
- Identify and respond to authentic ethical and cultural issues faced within the recruitment industry.
Career outcomes
This course gives you the skills and knowledge to work in recruitment. Possible roles include:
- Talent Acquisition Coordinator
- Talent Acquisition Manager
- Talent Acquisition Advisor
- Talent Acquisition Consultant
- Recruitment Advisor
- Senior Recruitment Consultant
- Human Resources Professional
Fees and FEE-HELP
Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $17,100 (domestic full-fee paying place).
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of four credit points (normally four units) per year.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.