Degree details

The Graduate Certificate in Professional Learning will equip students with specialised knowledge in the areas of adult learning with particular emphasis on professional learning in practice and leading and building learning communities in professional practice contexts. The program will be highly relevant to all professionals seeking the next step in their professional learning.

It will be offered part-time over two trimesters to enable working professionals to undertake the program. Assessment can take the form of a portfolio, journal, report, essay, poster or presentation.

Recognition and credit for prior learning is available and can be applied to the elective component of the program.

This program is directed primarily at people who wish to gain specialised knowledge in specific areas of adult learning, with emphasis on professional learning in practice. It is well suited to working professionals, in corporate areas (such as HR or change management) or non-corporate environments, including those already working in higher education, either in a teaching role or in educational, administrative or technical roles that support teaching and learning.

Graduates will be better able to advocate for adult learning requirements in practice settings, as well as better placed to identify and explain issues requiring innovation and change. They will also be well equipped to plan and implement change and communicate and manage the changes in professional contexts.

Higher education

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Professional Learning, a student must:

  • hold any Bachelor degree from a recognised University (or another tertiary education institution of equivalent standing) with a minimum GPA of 4.0 (using a 7.0 point scale).

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.

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 Professional Learning (GCertProfLearn), a student must acquire 40 credit points as prescribed below:

  • gain 30 credit points for core courses and
  • gain 10 credit points for an elective course.