Graduate Certificate in Theatre Production
Take your stage and production management skills to the next level with the Graduate Certificate in Theatre Production. These advanced technical skills are highly sought-after in theatres, galleries and other venues.
Course essentials
Entry requirements
Credit
A full-time study load is 120 credits a year (usually four 15-credit units each semester). 120 credits equal one equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL). Each credit point equals about 10 hours of learning, so a 15-credit unit means roughly 150 hours.
Duration
Course overview
This exciting new course in 2024 offers advanced training in technical arts specific to live theatre. Students who have previously undertaken courses in performing or visual arts and basic training in technology will benefit from advanced study into all aspects of stage and production management. The course focuses on educating well-rounded technical producers who could work solo or as part of a team at a high level. As contemporary technical equipment is operated through a computer, there is a strong need for graduates with highly developed computer skills and technical knowledge applicable across a broad range of systems in theatres, galleries and other venues as well as site-specific events. Scheduling, faculty management, interpersonal skills for team collaboration and written skills for working with briefs, reporting, ordering and collaborating are also crucial. There are new and exciting innovations occurring in this industry through the application of new technology, as well as the inclusion of intimacy training for the arts environment.
IT requirements
To do this course you’ll need a fast and reliable computer and access to high-speed internet. Expect to use about 5GB of data per month for every unit you’re doing. Find out more about the minimum IT requirements for studying with us.
Got questions?
Call us on 1800 333 864, start a live chat or submit an enquiry.
Student support
The support we offer is second to none. Need academic help? No problem. Extra access or financial assistance? Let’s see what we can do. View our student services.
The fine print
The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.
Everything in this course overview is correct at the time of being published. However, the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Please check for changes before you apply or enrol.
Federation University uses Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding (for eligible students) to deliver training.
School department
Arts Academy
Course co-ordinator
Melanie Beddie
Career paths
Performing Arts technicians provide all technical support for artistic performances. They work with and support the artistic activity of directors, designers, performers, theatre managements and operations. Technical production for theatre and arts venues is a broad term, with duties and skills inclusive of the interpretation and execution of design; set building, bump-in and bump-out; stage and production management; budgeting and purchasing for productions; sound design, installation and operation; lighting design installation and operation; technical support for screen usage in live performance settings such as camera, video and phone uploads, online recordings and data projection; management of props and costumes and maintenance of venues and technical equipment.
Potential employers across Australia and globally may include theatrical venues, theatre companies, arts tour managers, management for dance/opera, community/ youth/fringe companies, circus, cruise ships, educational institutions and musical producers.
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fee information
Commonwealth Supported Places are subsidised by the Australian Government. The tuition fee is called the student contribution amount. The indicative fee above is based on a typical first-year enrolment for this course and should be used as a guide only. For 0.5 EFTSL (60 credit point) courses the certificate fee is displayed. Your fee will depend on the units you chose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved credit you receive.
How it's calculated
The government sets the fee each year. The amount depends on the discipline area and band of each unit. 2026 annual student contribution amounts for 1 EFTSL (equivalent full-time student load) range from $4,738 (Band 1) to $17,399 (Band 4). The sample course structure below link to the EFTSL, Band and fee for each unit or you can use our unit search to find these details.
Other fees
You will also need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Fee assistance
If you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan, you can defer the payment of all or part of your student contribution fee. If you’re also eligible for a SA-HELP loan, you can defer your SSAF payment too. You won’t have to start paying either loan back until your income reaches the compulsory repayment threshold.
Scholarships
There’s a range of scholarships and grants available. Find out what you can apply for.
Course details
Contact hours
You’d be looking at about 25-30 hours per week (if you’re full time), but this includes on-campus classes and self-directed study (i.e. homework).
Sample course structure
Here’s what the course structure could look like. It’s just an example (so don’t use it for enrolment). Interested in the details? You can find current course structure or select a single unit name below to find out what it’s about and how much it costs.
- Theatre Technology 115 credit pointsCGCTP5001
- Theatre Technology 215 credit pointsCGCTP5002
- Stage Management 115 credit pointsCGCTP5003
- Production Management 115 credit pointsCGCTP5004
Entry requirements
Entry requirements (non year 12)
All applicants
Entire academic record:
This course uses the applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations.
Applicants with higher education study
Prerequisite (compulsory):
Successful completion of a bachelor degree at AQF level 7.
Applicants with vocational education and training study
Prerequisite (compulsory):
A vocational education diploma or certificate in a cognate field. Including the following studies:
Box Hill Institute
• Certificate IV in Live Production and Technical Services
Melbourne Polytechnic
- Diploma of Theatre Arts 22598VIC
- Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services - Live Production CUA50420
- Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services - Costume CUA50420
- Certificate I in Work Education - Ignition Theatre 22566VIC
- Diploma of Screen and Media - Specialist Make-Up Services CUA51020
Academy of Film, Theatre and Television (Sydney)
- Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services (Stage Management) Live Production CUA50420
Canberra Institute of Technology
- Certificate III in Live Production and Technical Services - CUA30420
Applicants with work and life experience
Prerequisite (compulsory):
A minimum of 2 years of full-time (or part time equivalent) professional work experience in a related industry.
English language requirements
The minimum score required is an overall IELTS (Academic) band score of 6.0, with no individual band score less than 6.0, or equivalent scores such as PTE Academic or TOEFL.
If you’re only applying for this course, do it via direct application.
Ready to fill out your application?
You'll need this code:
Direct application
Federation University code
- Direct application
- Yes
- Federation University code
- AS4
Hear from our students
Hi, I'm Prue and I'm studying a Bachelor of Performing Arts at Federation University. I love studying here at Fed. The first year I got here I moved all the way from Darwin in the NT to study at the Arts Academy. In my first year I lived on res and got to experience living with everybody else in my course and I had so much fun. Res in first year is, especially in the Arts Academy, a really really good option. Me and my best friend then moved to Mount Helen to do Res to meet more people from the university who aren't just in our course. I really love our course because the lectures really challenge you to get the best out of you. We do lots of shows in a really short amount of time and they really encourage you to work and perform and learn quickly and that's something that I haven't experienced before and I'm really enjoying.