Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies

This graduate certificate is for people who are already working with or wish to work with people with a disability. It may allow you to upskill to meet the needs of your current role, to improve the care you can provide to one of your own family members, or to move into and entirely different career. That could be in healthcare, teaching, social work, criminal justice, and many other areas.

Key employment sectors

• Healthcare and Social Assistance
• Public Administration and Safety
• Education and Training

Potential job outcomes

• Carer
• Specialist teacher
• Nurse
• Allied health professional
• Social worker
• Disability advocate
• Policy adviser

*Source: Australian Government Job Outlook.

Higher education via OUA

Higher education

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Disability Studies, applicants must hold:

• a completed a Bachelor (or higher) degree in any discipline
• OR completed a Certificate IV or Diploma VET/TAFE qualification in a related discipline AND a minimum of one year full-time professional experience in the disability, rehabilitation or related human services fields
• OR completed a minimum of three years full-time professional experience in the disability, rehabilitation or related human services fields and can demonstrate the ability to undertake graduate study through a discussion with the Program Director and provision of curriculum vitae and an employer's reference.

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