Course Overview
This diploma teaches practical, current social media marketing skills, built around contemporary AI-enabled tools and approaches now used across the industry. Over 8 units of competency, you’ll learn to develop a social media strategy, create and optimise content, run organic and paid campaigns, write persuasive copy, and apply conversion rate optimisation — all while learning how to use AI tools thoughtfully as part of a marketer’s toolkit, supporting your strategy, creativity, analysis and professional judgement rather than replacing them.
The course runs over 52 weeks, made up of 40 weeks of online classes delivered across 4 terms and 12 weeks of scheduled breaks. Each class week you attend a 2-hour trainer-led online class on Microsoft Teams, with up to 1 hour of tutorial support, and complete approximately 22 hours of self-directed study and assessment work.
Who The Course Is For
- Looking to build a career pathway into social media or digital marketing
- A business owner or entrepreneur wanting to manage your own social media marketing
- Already working in marketing or communications and want practical AI skills
- A content creator wanting to formalise your existing skills
- Changing careers into marketing from another field
Key Course Benefits
- A nationally accredited diploma (AQF level 5) — not a short course
- Practical, AI-enabled skills you can apply to a real or MCIE-approved simulated business
- Delivered fully online, with weekly live trainer-led classes on Microsoft Teams
- Tutorial support each week for questions, practice and assessment guidance
- Trainer guidance and learning support throughout your studies
Learning Outcomes
- Develop a social media strategy and content plan
- Create, refine and optimise marketing content, with AI support
- Run organic social media marketing across major platforms
- Plan and optimise paid social media advertising campaigns
- Write persuasive copy and design high-converting landing pages
- Design a marketing communication plan
- Apply conversion rate optimisation techniques, including A/B testing and email nurture sequences
- Manage budgets and financial plans
- Build dynamic websites
- Assess AI tools for pricing, licensing and data-handling considerations before using them
How AI Is Integrated
- Research — Researching current trends in AI-enabled content creation to inform strategy
- Audience Insights — Using AI tools to help analyse and define target audiences
- Strategy — Developing organic and paid social media strategies with AI support
- Content Planning — Building content plans and calendars
- Content Development — Generating, refining and editing content assets and copy using AI tools
- Campaign Support — Selecting and using AI tools for paid advertising campaigns, and AI chatbots to support community engagement
- Analysis — Using AI and analytics tools to interpret content and campaign performance
- Optimisation — Using AI-informed insights for A/B testing, retargeting and campaign optimisation
- Workflow Efficiency — Using automation and scheduling tools to work more efficiently
AI is treated as a tool that supports your marketing strategy, creativity, analysis and professional judgement – not a replacement for them.
Career opportunities after certification include:
Social Media
Marketing Specialist
Digital Marketing Coordinator
Content
Marketing Specialist
Small Business Digital Marketing
Advisor or Consultant
Program details
National Code
11426NAT
Units
5 core units + 3 elective units
Course duration
52 weeks, made up of 40 weeks of online classes across 4 terms and 12 weeks of scheduled breaks. Credit Transfer or Recognition of Prior Learning may shorten your course.
Program Delivery
Online. Weekly 2-hour trainer-led class on Microsoft Teams, up to 1 hour of tutorial support, and approximately 22 hours of self-directed study per week.
Intakes
Rolling intakes, with start dates available throughout the year. Call 1300 737 004 for the next start date.
Course fees and payment
That’s why we offer a range of payment plan options designed to suit different budgets and circumstances.
Whether you prefer to pay upfront or spread the cost over manageable instalments, our team will work with you to find a solution that allows you to enrol with confidence.
Option 1: Pay the full fee (Get 40% discount!)
Tuition Fee: $6,400.00
Discounted Upfront Tuition fee: $3,840.00
Save as much as $2,560.00!
Option 2: Weekly Payment Plan
Pay as low as $52.00 per week (Save $750.00!)
Tuition Fees: $5,760
Initial payment of $200.00
Option 3: Pay us monthly at $208 per month
Pay $208 per month (Save $750.00!)
Tuition Fees: $5,760
Initial payment of $200.00
Entry Requirements
Entry and Suitability
To enrol with MCIE, you must:
- be 18 years of age or older
- be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or hold a visa that allows unrestricted work and study
- have completed Year 12 or equivalent, or pass a Level 4 literacy and numeracy assessment, or hold an AQF Certificate IV or higher qualification
- complete the MCIE Pre-Training Review, a language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) assessment and a digital readiness check
The accredited course has no formal entry requirements. Before enrolment, MCIE will assess each applicant’s suitability, including their language, literacy, numeracy, digital capability and ability to meet the course requirements.
Recommended prior capabilities (part of MCIE’s suitability process, not a formal entry barrier): a general understanding of basic business and marketing concepts; literacy and numeracy sufficient to interpret documents and work with data; comfortable using common digital platforms and social media.
Technology Requirements
A computer or laptop with a stable internet connection. Access to the digital platforms and marketing tools required for course activities. MCIE will provide further information before enrolment about any accounts, software or subscriptions students may need.
You also need Microsoft Teams for weekly classes, productivity software, and intermediate digital skills to use the learning management system. Technical support is available from your trainer, through the online IT Support request form, or at techsupport@mcie.edu.au.
Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT) are available, and you can apply for either during enrolment. Where Credit Transfer is granted, your course duration and fees are adjusted.
Assessment Information
Assessment is competency-based. Assessment methods include written questions and quizzes, scenarios and case studies, practical or simulated activities, and assessor observation of practical demonstrations. Assessment tasks may be based on an appropriate real business, workplace, volunteer organisation or an MCIE-approved simulated case study.
Career Pathways
This course builds practical skills and supports your career pathway – it does not guarantee a job, promotion, income or business outcome.
Further Study: BSB60520 Advanced Diploma of Marketing and Communication. Credit may be available for units common to both qualifications.
Student Support
Students will receive trainer guidance, learning support and information about accessing the online learning platform.
Why Study With MCIE
MCIE is a Nationally Registered Training Organisation, RTO 22172. Our approach focuses on practical learning, trainer guidance and support to help students apply their skills in real or simulated business contexts.
Inherent Requirements
This course has inherent requirements. You must be able to use computers, online platforms and AI tools, read and write marketing content and reports, take part in online classes and discussions, work with basic marketing data and budgets, manage your own study and deadlines, and apply privacy, copyright and responsible AI requirements.
USI and Disability
All students need a Unique Student Identifier (USI) before a qualification can be issued. Valid photo identification is required for assessment.
MCIE welcomes people with disability, learning differences and medical conditions. Acceptance is subject to being able to undertake all course tasks and requirements, as discussed in the Pre-Training Review, with reasonable adjustment where applicable.
Course Units
Core units
- NAT11426001 – Plan, create and optimise marketing content with artificial intelligence in 80 Hours
- SIRXMKT006 – Develop a social media strategy in 30 Hours
- NAT11426002 – Plan, conduct and optimise organic social media marketing with artificial intelligence in 80 Hours
- NAT11426003 – Plan, implement and optimise paid social media advertising with artificial intelligence in 90 Hours
- NAT11426004 – Plan, implement and manage social media conversion rate optimisation with artificial intelligence in 80 Hours
Elective Units:
- BSBFIN501 Manage budgets and financial plans in 70 Hours
- BSBMKG552 Design and develop marketing communication plans in 60 Hours
- ICTWEB513 Build dynamic websites in 60 Hours
Course Unit Overview
- NAT11426001 — Learn to identify content opportunities and use AI tools to generate, refine and evaluate content across channels including social media, email, blogs and websites.
- SIRXMKT006 — Learn to build a social media strategy, including auditing your current presence, setting objectives, identifying your audience and choosing the right channels.
- NAT11426002 — Learn to build an organic presence across relevant social media platforms and use AI-assisted tools to create, schedule and analyse content.
- NAT11426003 — Learn to build paid advertising strategies and campaigns, set up tracking, and analyse performance data to optimise delivery using AI-supported insights.
- NAT11426004 — Learn to write persuasive copy, design high-converting landing pages, run A/B tests, apply retargeting, and build AI-assisted email nurture campaigns.
- BSBFIN501— Learn to plan, implement and monitor budgets and financial plans for marketing and business activities.
- BSBMKG552 — Learn to plan a marketing communication approach — setting objectives, defining target audiences and key messages, selecting channels, and structuring a communication plan.
- ICTWEB513— Learn to plan, build and test dynamic websites that support marketing and customer engagement.
This is nationally recognised training. Successful completion of all 8 units of 11426NAT Diploma of Social Media Marketing with Artificial Intelligence leads to an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification. Students who complete some but not all units receive a Statement of Attainment.
Register your interest now!
Ready to start building your social media marketing skills? Contact us today to discuss your study options.
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