Graduate Certificate in Education

Upon successful completion, students should be able to:

1. Describe and explain the purposes and practices of Catholic Social Teaching in contemporary settings.
2. Critically assess educational research, methods and data to improve professional practice.
3.  Investigate contemporary approaches to diverse pedagogical needs and priorities.
4. Analyse and synthesise relevant concepts, theories and current debates and apply this to enhance or innovate professional practice.

Advance your career and become a specialist in your discipline area. The Graduate Certificate in Education will enable you to deepen your knowledge and expertise in a specialisation area and empower you to extend your understanding of educational disciplines. 

The Graduate Certificate in Education specialisations are:

• Gifted Education
• Inclusive Practice
• Literacy: Teaching Foundational Reading Skills
• Wellbeing

The course is open to teachers and other professionals engaged in lead educational roles, such as education administrators, researchers, policymakers, school wellbeing leaders, psychologists, members of the defence forces, youth ministers and family/parish educators. 

You are able to complete the Graduate Certificate in Education with or without a named specialisation. Named specialisations are only available in part-time mode and the duration is one year. 

The Graduate Certificate in Education is not an initial teaching qualification

Award requirements

To qualify for a Graduate Certificate with a named specialisation, a student must complete at least 40 cp from ONE of the following specialisations (Part A):

• Gifted Education
• Inclusive Practice
• Literacy: Teaching Foundational Reading Skills
• Wellbeing

To qualify for a Graduate Certificate without a named specialisation, a student must complete 40 cp of Elective units(Part B)

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

Indicative total fee $2,368

The amounts shown here are 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.

Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.

Learn more about ACU.

Explore ACU courses.

QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

33

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

27

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed a Bachelor degree.

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

International applicants must also meet the English language proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

Police checks and/or Working with Children Checks (or equivalent) may be required prior to TESOL practicum.