Degree details

This program equips professionals who work with policy or in policy roles with the skills needed to respond to the complex challenges and rapidly evolving demands of policy analysis, design and implementation. The research- led and industry engaged program draws on current thinking and real-life examples to significantly build the professional skills of those in the public and private sector. Whether you already work in government at local, state or national level, or you work with government and want to understand what drives and influences decision-making, this degree will equip you with a sophisticated understanding of how 21st Century policy-making and governance works.

Upon successful completion of the graduate certificate you will be eligible for 40 credit points of advanced standing towards the Master of Public Administration (5580).

The intensive on-campus offering of this program at South Bank is available to current public servants working at the local, state or federal level. They may be fully or partially funded by their agencies or departments.

You’ll be prepared for senior executive roles in government, and have the skills needed to work in organisations that deal with government departments, including ministerial policy adviser, policy analyst, policy officer, senior policy officer, corporate affairs officer, government relations officer, and communications officer. 

Higher education

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Policy Analysis, a student must:

  • hold any Bachelor degree (or higher) from a recognised University (or another tertiary education institution of equivalent standing) with a minimum GPA of 4.5 (using a 7.0 scale) OR
  • have a minimum of five years equivalent full-time professional work experience in or with the public sector OR
  • have a combination of alternative admission criteria such as formal, informal and non-formal learning deemed to be equivalent to either of the above.

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 grade of C on the Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
  • OR a minimum grade of C on the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)
  • 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.

Students who successfully complete the Direct Entry Program (DEP) will satisfy the English Language requirements for this Griffith degree.

Applicants should refer to the English language requirements section of the following University policy for exceptions to these overall requirements:

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:

Award Requirements

To be eligible for the award of Graduate Certificate in Policy Analysis (GCertPolicyAnalysis), a student must acquire 40 credit points as prescribed below:

  • gain 40 credit points for the prescribed core courses