Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies

During this course you will:

1. Strengthen your leadership expertise in educational practice, policy and theory.
2. Obtain the knowledge and skills required for specialised fields of work.
3. Gain qualifications that enhance career advancement and options.
4. Improve your research skills by engaging in an extended research-based project.

The Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies provides advanced professionally orientated coursework designed for practising teachers, administrators, and other educational professionals, or for professionals in other areas wishing to gain expertise in education. International students may undertake the program but please note that fields of study cannot be completed within one semester due to the sequence of courses.

Recommended study pattern

The Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies is a half-year course for a full-time student or a 1-year course for a part-time student. Each year consists of 2 Study Periods, also known as semesters. The recommended study pattern for a full-time student consists of 4 elective subjects, with 4 to be completed in your first study period. The recommended study pattern for a part-time student consists of 4 elective subjects, with 2 to be completed in your first study period and 2 in your second

Award requirements

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies, students must satisfactorily complete a program of study consisting of 4 subjects.

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

Indicative total fee $2,664

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.

For more than a century, The University of Queensland (UQ) has delivered knowledge leadership for a better world. The most prestigious and widely recognised rankings of world universities consistently place UQ among the world's top universities. UQ has also won more national teaching awards than any other Australian university. This commitment to quality teaching empowers our 56,000 current students, who study across UQ’s three campuses, to create positive change for society.

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QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

6

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

6

To be eligible for entry, you'll need:

• a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, or
• have completed post-secondary study, plus 2 years full-time professional work experience in a relevant or comparable education setting (see below).

You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.

All applicants must satisfy the UQ English language proficiency requirements for admission.

If you've completed previous study, you may be eligible to receive credit for – or exemption from – certain subjects in a UQ program. 

Please note that select courses and assessments may require in-person attendance. Please review the courses and program structure for further details.