Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership

Upon successful completion, students should be able to:

1. Describe and explain the purposes and practices of Catholic Education in contemporary settings.

2. Critically assess educational research, methods, and data to improve professional practice.

3. Analyse seminal and contemporary approaches to educational leadership theory, research, policy, and ethical practice.

The Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership is for educators including teachers, middle leaders, principals, and administrators who want to become creative and innovative leaders with influence in education. Participants explore theories of educational leadership, management and administration, and learn to apply them appropriately to their own contexts including Catholic and faith-based educational organisations.

The Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership is not an initial teaching qualification.

Recommended study pattern

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

• EDLE650 Foundations: Vision and Mission of Catholic Education in the Contemporary World.
• EDLE651 Leading Learning in Catholic Educational Communities and Cultures.

Plus a choice of electives. Students may take Electives drawn from the Schedule of Unit Offerings (listed) and/or other units drawn from relevant ACU postgraduate programs; or by cross-institutional study with prior approval of the Course Coordinator. As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you.

Award requirements

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership, a student must complete 40 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings consisting of:

• 20 cp from Specified units (Part A)
• 20 cp from 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.

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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 the following prerequisites:

1. A recognised teaching qualification and a minimum 2 years teaching experience ; OR
2. A Bachelor degree and a minimum of 2 years relevant leadership experience

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

International applicants need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

If your prior study or relevant work experience has provided you with knowledge, skills or experience aligned with the learning outcomes of units in your new course, you may be eligible to gain credit for study or have your prior learning recognised. This means you may be able to complete your ACU course in a shorter timeframe.