Graduate Certificate in Education

Overview

• Ideal for educators who want to enhance their competitiveness, or those looking for a career change.
• Provides a framework for professional development, and can contribute to current teachers’ professional development requirements.
• Flexible study options include online or on campus, over 1 semester full-time or 2 semesters part-time.
• Specialise in several areas such as Career Development, Early Years, Education Research, Leadership and Management, Information and Communication Technology, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).
• Opportunity to progress onto the Master of Education.
• Commonwealth Supported Places available for Australian citizens and permanent visa holders, and New Zealand citizens (subject to change).

Details

Our Graduate Certificate in Education is one of the most innovative postgraduate education courses in Australia. You can study a range of diverse and current areas which enhance your competitiveness or provide opportunities for a career change. These programs will suit teachers, educators and graduates with relevant employment experience and adopt an approach to learning that values both the individual component and peer-to-peer relationships.

You have the option of entering the Master of Education via the Graduate Certificate in Education or exiting with the award of a Graduate Certificate in Education once you have completed four units.

Study areas 

All students (including international students)

Generic

This study area is suitable if you want Graduate Certificate in Education qualification but don't want to specialise in a particular area.

Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages (TESOL)

This study area will prepare you to teach English as a second language to speakers of other languages. 

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) - full-time students must start in Semester 1

This study area will enable you to be eligible to teach English as a foreign language.

Study areas not available to international students

Career Development

This study area will enable you to work as a career counsellor, career teacher or career coach. You will also meet the requirements of the Professional Standards for Australian Career Development Practitioners and the Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA) professional standards (valid until 2014).

Early Years

This study area enables professionals working in early education and child care, child protection or family services to enhance their knowledge of working with young children and their families.

Education Research: Theory and Practice

This study area prepares you to undertake a major research project in higher degree research or in your employment, and will provide you with tools to evaluate research issues and research methodologies.

Information and Communication Technology

This study area enhances your knowledge of ICT in teaching and learning. You will engage with emergent technologies and ICT-supported teaching methods.

Information-Learning Connections

This study area extends your knowledge of the impact that the rapidly changing information-rich learning environment has on teaching and learning. It will provide an opportunity for your career development across education, librarianship and information services.

Leadership and Management

This study area is suitable for aspiring and current leaders in schools as well as education professionals in hospitals, government and community organisations.

Studies in Literacy

This study area allows you to study contemporary and historical perspectives on curriculum practices of literacy in schools. 

Teaching for Diversity: Disability and Learning Difficulties

This study area is designed for regular classroom teachers, specialist staff and guidance officers whose work involves students with learning, social and behavioural challenges.

Units

The Graduate Certificate in Education is comprised of four (4) units. If you have chosen one of the study areas, you will be required to complete the four core units from that study area (48 credit points). Alternatively, students can undertake a generic structure with no study area, consisting of four units of your choice from any of the OPTION UNITS listed below.

Entry requirements

Applicants for the Graduate Certificate in Education must hold: 

• An appropriate four-year Bachelor degree or equivalent at a standard acceptable to the Executive Dean 

OR 

• A three-year Bachelor degree or equivalent at a standard acceptable to the Executive Dean PLUS at least one year of appropriate professional or industrial experience. 

In you intend to apply for the TESOL study area, you must have a teaching background (at least one year of appropriate professional experience). If you do not have a teaching background, you can apply to take the TEFL study area instead. 

Course fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. All fees are based on current fixed fee prices. We review fees annually.

HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay your course fees

You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.

Find out if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan

Scholarships and financial support

You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.

View all scholarships

You may also be eligible for Centrelink payments