Graduate Certificate in Climate Change Adaptation

Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Climate Change Adaptation will have:

• an understanding of key climate change issues and concepts;
• a body of interdisciplinary knowledge applicable to the study of climate change; and,
• the ability to apply this knowledge in multi-disciplinary settings.

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.

Recommended study pattern

Study anytime, anywhere - This degree is available online through our Digital campus, giving you more room to fit university with your work and social life.

This Graduate Certificate will be offered full-time and part-time via online delivery.

As a guide, core subjects in this degree can include:

• Urban Futures: Delivering Water Sensitive Cities
• Climate Adaptation Theory and Practice

Plus there’s a selection of electives to choose from. As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you.

Award requirements

For the award of Graduate Certificate in Climate Change Adaptation (GCertClimChgAdapt), you must successfully 40 credit points, made up of:

• 40 credit points for the Foundation Module

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $6,000

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.

Learn more about Griffith University.

Explore Griffith courses.

QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

18

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

21

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

• a recognised Bachelor degree (or higher) in any discipline with a minimum grade point average of 4.0 using a 7.0 scale; OR
• a minimum of 5 years full-time (or equivalent) of relevant ^professional experience.

^Professional Experience: Environmental planning, Environmental policymaking, Environmental management, Impact assessment, Risk assessment, Environmental health, Public health, Medicine, Environmental engineering, Civil engineering, Construction, Development assessment, Natural resource management, Water management, Asset management.

A higher qualification refers to a qualification at a higher level than a Bachelor qualification, which includes any of the following: a Bachelor Honours Degree; Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Masters Degree, MPhil or PhD.

Have a minimum of five years equivalent full-time relevant work experience.

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.

Reduce the time it takes to finish your degree. You can apply to Griffith to recognise your prior learning, including: 

• Formal learning through courses completed at uni and TAFE. 
• Informal learning through workplace experience or volunteer training. 
• Non-formal learning through social experiences and hobbies.