Graduate Diploma in Cultural Leadership
- Commencing Terms
- Term 1, 2 & 3
- Duration
- 1 Year(s)
- Delivery Mode
- Face-to-face (includes blended), Online
- Campus
-
Paddington
- Codes
- Program code 5312
- CRICOS code 082202M
-
2024 Indicative first year full fee
- $35,500*
-
2024 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $35,500*
-
2024 Indicative first year full fee
- $43,000*
-
2024 Indicative full fee to complete degree
- $44,000*
Fees
Fees
-
Career-focused
-
Art & Design campus
-
Further study pathways
International application pause for 2025 intakes
Applications for international students to study at UNSW in 2025 are currently paused. Please submit your expression of interest to join our application waitlist so we can contact you.
- Overview
- Entry requirements
- What will I study?
- Future careers
- How to apply
- Fees & Scholarships
Overview
The Graduate Diploma in Cultural Leadership consists of eight courses from the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership. It will provide you with a grounding in contemporary art and curating, as well as a pragmatic understanding of the art world and key skills in research.
This program emphasises leadership as a form of action, meant to nurture collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship. You will get a strong foundation in strategic management and ethical practice, with an emphasis on emerging and experimental models of cultural production and audience engagement.
This program suits anyone who intends to play an influential or supportive role across the arts, cultural and creative industries.
Why study at UNSW?
You will choose this program if you aim to specialise in audience engagement and development, exhibition design or strategic management of cultural organisations.
Want to see more from UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture?
Entry requirements
Admission to the Graduate Diploma in Cultural Leadership requires a Bachelors degree in any field. Applicants without a Bachelors degree may be admitted to the Graduate Certificate on a case-by-case basis by the Program Director, on the basis of a continuous history of employment in an art-related field.
The student may articulate up to the Graduate Diploma if they hold a credit average in their courses taken under the Graduate Certificate. Consideration of RPL, including industry experience, will be relevant for entry into the program without a Bachelors degree.
Verified industry experience will include a written statement of service from an employer, client or commissioning agent verifying the position, role, responsibilities, duration and/or project outcomes of employment, service contract or other professional arts engagement.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on your educational background and citizenship. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If you’re completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (e.g. NSW HSC or equivalent), you do not need to provide anything extra to prove your proficiency. Your qualification will be used as evidence of your English proficiency.
If you do need to provide evidence of your English proficiency, this will be indicated in your application. You can prove this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
Admission to the Graduate Diploma in Cultural Leadership requires a Bachelors degree in any field.
Applicants without a Bachelors degree may be admitted to the Graduate Certificate on a case-by-case basis by the Program Director, on the basis of a continuous history of employment in an art-related field. The student may articulate up to the Graduate Diploma if they hold a credit average in their courses taken under the Graduate Certificate. Consideration of RPL, including industry experience, will be relevant for entry into the program without a Bachelors degree.
Verified industry experience will include a written statement of service from an employer, client or commissioning agent verifying the position, role, responsibilities, duration and/or project outcomes of employment, service contract or other professional arts engagement.
English language requirements
You may be asked to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study at UNSW depending on whether you are from an English-speaking background or non-English speaking background. English language skills are vitally important for coping with lectures, tutorials, assignments and examinations - this is why UNSW requires a minimum English language competency for enrolment.
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you can be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses
- Prior study in the medium of English
- Other qualifications
If you need to improve your English skills before you start your degree, UNSW College’s Academic English Programs are for you. The programs are suitable for various English levels and help you prepare for university studies and life in Australia.
Check the specific English language requirements for this program
Full program structure
In this graduate diploma you'll study 8 courses from the Master of Curating and Cultural Leadership over the course of the year with face-to-face and online learning.
Domestic students have the option to study this degree fully online.
Core courses include:
- Communication Skills for Creative Disciplines
- Research Foundations in Art and Design
- Australian Arts Ecology
- Culural Management and Policy
- Exhibiting Cultures
- Global Contemporary Art
- Histories of Contemporary Art
- Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Art
Choose from electives including:
- Designing the Experience: Exhibitions and Beyond
- World Biennales: Field Trip
- Audience Engagement
- Visual and Museum Cultures of the Asia Pacific
- Conservation, Registration and Handling
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art
- Curatorial Studio: Social Space
- Curatorial Studio: Site and Situation
Future careers
Alumni are working in prominent curatorial, arts administration and policy positions in government, public and commercial galleries, the not-for-profit gallery and museum sector, and consultancies.
Potential careers
- Arts curation, policy or administration
- Direction of cultural organisations or institutions
- Cultural research
- Festival programming
- Museum management
How to apply
Applications must be submitted through our Apply Online portal. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term. Some high-demand programs and Faculties with limited places may have an earlier application deadline or commencement date. Find out more.
Ready to start your application?
For most international students, applications are submitted via our Apply Online service. We encourage you to submit your completed application as early as possible to ensure it will be processed in time for your preferred term.
Some high-demand programs with limited places, may have an earlier application deadline or may have an earlier commencement date. For more information visit our international applicant information page.
Ready to start your application?
Fees & Scholarships
*Fees are subject to annual review (or when required) by the University and may vary accordingly.
Indicative fees are a guide only and have been calculated based on the typical enrolment patterns of students undertaking the program. The indicative fees listed here is an estimate for tuition only and excludes non-tuition fees and charges. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year of enrolment, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (48 units of credit (UOC) per year).
You should not rely on indicative fees as fee increases are assessed when required and may exceed the indicative figures listed here. Actual fees are calculated on enrolment. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
*Fees are subject to annual review by the University and may increase annually, with the new fees effective from the start of each calendar year. The indicative fees listed here are based on an estimated average and are for tuition only, other fees and charges are not included. The amount you pay will vary depending on the calendar year to enrol, the courses you select and whether your study load is more or less than 1 Equivalent Full Time Student Load (8 courses per year).
Indicative fees are a guide for comparison only based on current conditions and available data. You should not rely on indicative fees. More information on fees can be found at the UNSW fees website.
Indicative fees to complete the program have been calculated based on a percentage increase for every year of the program. Fee increases are assessed annually and may exceed the indicative figures listed here.
Indicative fees to complete the program include tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs of approximately $1,000 per year. To find out more about other costs, visit UNSW International.
Scholarships
At UNSW, we award over $83 million in scholarships each year. We pride ourselves on rewarding excellence and making university accessible to students from all walks of life. Whether you’re a domestic or international student, our range of scholarships, prizes and awards can support your journey.
QS World University Rankings, 2025.
AFR Top 100 Future leaders Award.
#1 Australian uni attended by start-up founders.
The student community collectively inspire and encourage my individual career goals.
