Graduate Certificate in Business (Public Sector Management)

Name: Graduate Certificate in Business (Public Sector Management)
Author: Queensland University of Technology

Highlights

Understand and manage the business of government.
A strong balance between academic theory and hands-on practical skills will ensure your learning can be applied directly in your workplace.
Delivered over 15 months with four intensive mandatory 3 or 4-day workshops.
This program is delivered in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
Undertake a work-based project that delivers real outcomes for your organisation.
Scholarships are available for NGO and local government employees. Find out more at the scholarships page.

Highlights

Understand and manage the business of government.
A strong balance between academic theory and hands-on practical skills will ensure your learning can be applied directly in your workplace.
Delivered over 15 months with four intensive mandatory 3 or 4-day workshops.
This program is delivered in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
Undertake a work-based project that delivers real outcomes for your organisation.

Real-world learning

QUT delivers a holistic, theoretically rigorous and real-world focused program through an innovative workplace blended learning framework.

You will undertake a workplace project delivering real outcomes for your organisations.

Explore this course

What to expect Careers and outcomes Details and units Requirements Fees Scholarships

What to expect

The Australian Public Service Commission has appointed QUT to deliver the Public Sector Management Program nationally. The program continues to make a significant impact on the Commonwealth, State and Local governments with a 25-year track record of success.

Offered to both public sector and non-government organisation (NGO) staff, the program provides an engaging and relevant curriculum, delivered through a unique blend of work-based learning, workshops and a virtual learning environment.

For more information download a copy of the Public Sector Management Program brochure (PDF file, 467KB).

Course timetables

Timetables are available for the below state cohorts:

Flexible delivery

Designed to maximise workplace learning, this national curriculum employs a blend of workshops, workplace projects, case studies and a virtual online learning environment offering participants access to QUT’s library database, PSM cohort Blackboard (online learning software), weblinks, videos and PDF e-books.

Duration

The four-unit course is delivered over 15 months and is focused around four intensive 3-4 day workshops, minimising disruption to the workplace.

Assessment items

Assignments will be marked by the unit facilitator in accordance with standard assessment criteria and moderated nationally to ensure consistency.

Student support

QUT supports participants throughout the course, delivering a high-quality learning experience with a national team of committed administrative and academic staff.

As a PSM Program participant you will be enrolled as a QUT student before the start of the program. You will have access to student support such as QUT library access and library support, learning support and academic writing support.

Graduation

QUT will hold an annual graduation ceremony in each capital city. Students have the opportunity to wear full graduation robes.

Careers and outcomes

Possible careers

Assistant Director
Director
Manager
Program Manager
Project Manager

Details and units

Program content

The public sector management program is designed in collaboration with the governments of Australia to meet the needs of the contemporary public sector. It consists of four core units.

Unit One: GSZ631 Managing within the Context of Government

GSZ631 provides the 'big picture' of government and the context within which public sector managers operate. It develops an understanding of the institutional frameworks and conventions which guide practice and ensure sustainable democratic processes.

Unit Two: GSZ632 Managing Self and Others

GSZ632 provides insights into key individual and group behaviours, and offers skills for communicating and managing people and teams.

Unit Three: GSZ633 Managing Outwards in a Networked Government

GSZ633 explores the variety of relationships that managers need to build across the public sector and outside it - with the private sector, with community and not-for-profit sector and with citizens and clients of government services.

Unit Four: GSZ634 Managing Operations for Outcomes

GSZ634 builds on the overall operational capabilities of managers and provides them with highly effective and appropriate tools, processes and diagnostic capabilities to deliver and sustain the business of government. This unit also includes a workplace project.

Course coordinators are located across Australia with administrative support staff in Brisbane and Canberra.

Requirements

Course code: GZ35

Delivery

External

This course is offered in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. Refer to the 'Details' tab for further information.

Duration: 15 months part-time; The delivery is blended with face to face and online components.

Entry: March, April, May, June, July, August, September and October

Entry

Academic entry requirements

A completed recognised bachelor degree in any discipline with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 4.5 (on QUT's 7-point scale); and you need to:

be sponsored by your employer; and
have a minimum 3 years full-time post-degree work experience consisting of 2 years minimum relevant professional work experience and 1 year minimum supervisory/management experience*. (Note: *Supervisory experience is experience either supervising staff or managing complex groups of stakeholders); and
provide a short curriculum vitae (CV) demonstrating relevant work experience.

At the discretion of the Program Academic Coordinator, or nominee, you may be required to attend an interview and, if requested, sit the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). The GMAT is the worldwide standard in aptitude assessment for admission to postgraduate management programs, and you must achieve a minimum score of 550. GMAT details (PDF file, 271.8 KB))

Alternative entry requirements

If you do not hold a bachelor degree, you may be still considered for entry. You must:

be sponsored by your employer; and
have a minimum of 7 years full-time work experience consisting of 6 years minimum equivalent professional work experience plus 1 year minimum full-time supervisory/management experience; and
provide a short CV demonstrating relevant work experience.

At the discretion of the Program Academic Coordinator or nominee, you may be required to attend an interview and, if requested, sit the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), the worldwide standard in aptitude assessment for admission to postgraduate management programs, and achieve a minimum score of 550. GMAT details (PDF file, 271.8 KB)

Minimum academic requirements

Academic entry requirements

A completed recognised bachelor degree in any discipline with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 4.5 (on QUT's 7-point scale); and

You are sponsored by your employer; and

You have a minimum 3 years full-time post-degree work experience consisting of 2 years minimum relevant professional work experience and 1 year minimum supervisory/management experience*. (Note: *Supervisory experience is experience either supervising staff or managing complex groups of stakeholders); and

You must provide a short curriculum vitae (CV) demonstrating relevant work experience.

Alternative entry requirements

If you do not hold a bachelor degree, you may be still considered for entry. You must:

be sponsored by your employer; and
have a minimum of 7 years full-time work experience consisting of 6 years minimum equivalent professional work experience plus 1 year minimum full-time supervisory/management experience; and
provide a short CV demonstrating relevant work experience.

International student visa holders

As this is a corporate course, entry is not available to international student visa holders.

International employees of sponsoring organisations may apply for entry into the Graduate Certificate in Business. International applicants must hold, or enter Australia on, a visa other than a student visa.

Minimum English language requirements

Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.

Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, United States of America and Wales.

If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.

We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests.

English Test	Overall	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
Cambridge English Score Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT. You must provide your Candidate ID and Candidate Secret Number, these are printed on your Cambridge English Confirmation of Entry.	176	169	169	169	169
IELTS Academic Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT.	6.5	6	6	6	6
Pearson PTE (Academic) Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT.	58	50	50	50	50
TOEFL iBT Test must be taken within 2 years of commencement at QUT.	79	16	16	21	18

Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!

We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.

When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.

Haven't completed an English language test? We can help!

If you have not completed an English language test, you can sit the IELTS test at our IELTS test centre

Fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.

2021 fees

2021: $11,500 per course GST exempt

2020 fees

2020: $11,100 per course GST exempt

2020 fees

Scholarships

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

Browse all scholarships

You may also be eligible for

Centrelink payments

Gain knowledge and confidence

‘The Public Sector Management Program (PSMP) was both challenging and rewarding and I gained a rich understanding of the systems of government. Having not undertaken any tertiary studies before, completing the PSMP instilled a new confidence around learning, resulting in my continuation of further postgraduate studies through QUT.’

Jeffery Ropati
NSW Department of Education

Enhance your management skills

Specifically designed in consultation with the governments of Australia, the Public Sector Management Program is all about developing your management skills in the business of government. Upon successful completion of the program, you’ll be awarded a Graduate Certificate in Business (Public Sector Management).

Watch video

Lead in the public sector

‘The Public Sector Management Program provided me with knowledge of national and global contemporary business practices that I now apply directly to the workplace. Working with colleagues across the public sector gave me a greater depth of understanding of the similar challenges we face in a complex public sector environment and the important role we plays as managers and leaders.’

Carolyn Paterson

Further your career

‘The Public Sector Management Program played a significant role in advancing my career. It gave me the confidence to continue postgraduate studies and opened up doors that would have otherwise been unavailable to me. With a solid grounding in management theory, public sector expectations, culture, governance, policy and strategy I was able to take on the more demanding roles of senior executive management.’

Mark Crosweller AFSM
Director General
Attorney General's Department
Emergency Management Australia

Develop work-based skills

‘We enrolled in the public sector management program because we saw the opportunity to extend our personal knowledge and skills. Our workplace was supportive because of the contribution previous participants have made to service development and improvement. The online resources and support from tutors were excellent. They helped us to successfully develop work-based projects that are now progressing to implementation.’

Jackie Sutherland with Marie Guimaraes

Relevant, contemporary knowledge

‘I found the Public Sector Management Program (PSMP) directly relevant to my role and functions within the Department. The course is grounded in solid academic concepts and principles that are tailored to the complexity and challenges of public sector service delivery and governance.’

David Brinton