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Undergraduate Certificate in Family History
UndergraduateTAS-FHI-CTF2025
Discover the roots of your family tree
Study family history and piece together the past. Use technology in an ethical way to find historical data and organise research. Create accurate family histories, communicate what you discover and tell your own story.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 6 July 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 6 months full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 4
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Undergraduate Certificate in Family History
About this degree
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Locate and analyse historical information to provide the evidence for family histories.
- Organise family history data and research materials to facilitate the creation of family histories.
- Use historical information to create family histories in a variety of forms.
- Communicate historical knowledge, ideas and skills accurately, ethically and creatively in a range of contexts.
- Use relevant digital tools and technologies, such as computers, software and the internet, for family history.
Family history is for everybody. We all have stories in our family tree waiting to be told. The Undergraduate Certificate in Family History will give you essential knowledge and tools to bring the past to life through tracing your family experiences and understanding the historical forces that shaped them.
Taught by leading scholars in family history, and specialists in Australian, European and Asian histories, this practical course will assist you in exploring your family’s past and enable you to become more proficient and comfortable in a digital environment.
The Undergraduate Certificate teaches core skills in contemporary family history to research your ancestors and others, including planning and conducting online research, locating and managing historical data, and writing compelling family histories.
You'll learn how to use oral history, family heirlooms and photographs, as well as physical and digital archives to illuminate your family’s past. The Undergraduate Certificate in Family History focuses on understanding individual lives in their wider historical contexts, through investigating the impacts of events such as war, convict transportation, and migration.
Recommended study pattern
For students undertaking full-time study the following study pattern is recommended. If students are undertaking part-time study, we recommend that students complete all first year compulsory subjects prior to completing elective subjects to maximise success.
Completion of no more than 4 foundation level subjects from the schedule below:
- TAS-HAA003 Introduction to Family History
- TAS-HAA004 Writing Family History
- TAS-HAA006 Place, Image, Object
- TAS-HAA007 Convict Ancestors
Completion of no more than 4 introductory level subjects from the schedule below:
- TAS-FXA102 The Family Photo Essay
- TAS-HAA104 Writing the Family Saga
- TAS-HAA106 Oral History
- TAS-HAA107 Families and War
- TAS-HAA108 Migrant Families
*While you may complete the units in any order, we strongly recommend commencing your course with HAA003 Introduction to Family History
Award requirements
Satisfactory completion of 4 subjects, as required in the schedule, within 0.5 to 2 years from commencement.
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $8,500
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.
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- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 20
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 19
Entry requirements
- Partially completed an undergraduate course at Diploma level or higher (or equivalent). Applicants must have completed at least one subject of study (equivalent to 12.5 UTAS credit points). If an applicant has failed any subjects the application may be subject to further review before an offer is made ;OR
- Completed the UTAS University Preparation Program (or an equivalent qualification offered by an Australian University).
Successful completion of one OUA open access subject of study at the equivalent AQF level, unless otherwise specified.
Completed the TCE (or equivalent)
Successful completion of a Certificate III or higher
If you have not successfully completed senior secondary, tertiary or TAFE/VET study, but have relevant work and life experience you can complete a personal competency statement. You may be eligible for an offer if you have work and life experiences that demonstrate a capacity to succeed in this program.
The University of Tasmania grants credit and recognition of prior learning that may include formal and/or informal prior learning. More information is available here.
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Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
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Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
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