Graduate Certificate in Editing

The Graduate Certificate in Editing is designed for people interested in editing and proofreading roles in the wider publishing sector, including government departments, specialist publishing and non-governmental organisations. It is also appropriate for people already working in editing and proofreading roles but who have not had editing training, or people who would like to formalise their knowledge of editing conventions and industry standards.

Those who wish to pursue a career in book editing, book publishing or publishing in digital and print media should enrol in the Graduate Diploma in Publishing.

​Programme outline

The Graduate Certificate in Editing is undertaken as two part-time papers, Editing and Editing Project. The first course develops skills and knowledge for a range of professional editing roles in print and digital environments. In the second, students apply their knowledge to a significant project.

Topics include:

• editing overview, the editor’s role and responsibilities
• audience and publication format (print and digital formats, evaluating and assessing content, re-purposing and summarising)
• principles of clear expression and communication, including plain English
• grammar and usage, common errors
• editing tools and resources (style and style sheets, mark-up, editing onscreen)
• editing and proofreading skills
• developing editorial judgement, working with authors and stakeholders
• editing Māori in English-language texts
• legal considerations, fact checking and bibliographic citation
• search and indexing in digital and print

Students studying online with Whitireia use the Moodle Learning Management System (L.M.S), a highly interactive, self-paced learning platform which can be accessed anywhere in the world and at any time, 24 hours a day.

Entry criteria

Undergraduate degree or equivalent and evidence of suitability based on written application and interview

International students

Proven equivalence to domestic entry requirements and IELTS 7.0