Graduate Certificate in Climate Change Adaptation

Climate influences all aspects of the earth's systems, including ecosystem function and structure, human health, agricultural productivity and our overall socio-economic well-being. As such, the knowledge that's part of this course is useful across a range of industries, from public health to public sector policy advice.

Key employment sectors

• Public Administration and Safety
• Financial and Insurance Services
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
• Education and Training
• Other Industries

Potential job outcomes

• Environmental consultant
• Environmental manager
• Policy and planning manager
• Business analyst
• Emissions analyst
• Operational researcher
• Environmental health officer
• Policy analyst

*Source: Australian Government Job Outlook.

Higher education

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Climate Change Adaptation, a student must:

• hold a Bachelor degree from a recognised University (or another tertiary education institution of equivalent standing) with a minimum GPA of 4.5 (using a 7.0 point scale)
• OR have a minimum of five years equivalent full-time relevant work experience.

English Proficiency Requirements

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:

• A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 6.0
• OR a minimum score of 575 on TOEFL
• OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 79 (no sub-score less than 19)
• OR no score less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
• OR a minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.

English test results must be no more than two years old.

Griffith University grants credit and recognition of prior learning which may relate to prior formal learning or prior informal and non-formal learning. For more information, please visit the following website:

• Credit transfer

Gain a sound interdisciplinary knowledge of climate change, and tools that increase society's resilience to its impacts, in this graduate certificate. Designed for professionals from any background, this certificate provides the ability to analyse impacts of climate change while also developing the creative skills needed to build durability against those impacts across society and the environment.

This includes the ability to develop and deploy adaptation strategies to protect communities, businesses, government agencies, infrastructure, and natural assets. These skills can be applied at the local, national and international levels in the private, community, and public sectors.

As a student, you will be empowered to get involved in improving the planning of urban areas, providing better services to the public to improve wellbeing. In the process, you'll support the transformation of economic development, the creation of new management plans to conserve biodiversity, the development of treaties to protect major earth systems, and more.

Award Requirements

To be eligible for the award of Graduate Certificate in Climate Change Adaptation (GCertClimChgAdapt), a student must acquire 40 credit points as prescribed below:

• gain 20 credit points for core courses;
• gain 20 credit points for listed electives.

Degree structure can be found here