Graduate Certificate in Education
PostgraduateTAS-EDN-GCE2025
Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Deepen your knowledge and expertise in education
Upgrade your education knowledge and skills to the next level. You’ll explore current theories and innovations in education. Choose a specialisation to focus your studies and build career options. Pursue excellence in the education sector.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 9 Feb 2025,
- 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
Graduate Certificate in Education
About this degree
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Explain how the theoretical foundations and practice of education (including various specialisations) have informed and can facilitate developments in educational practice.
- Synthesise and analyse scholarly literature to evaluate local and international developments in practice.
- Integrate educational theory and professional knowledge to plan, implement and evaluate a professional enquiry initiative or conduct a theoretical investigation.
The Graduate Certificate in Education is based on principles of active learning and practice-oriented enquiry, informed by professional standards, contemporary theoretical perspectives, and research in teaching and learning. The program is founded on a key value of personal and collective professional responsibility for the improvement of educational outcomes and environments for learning across diverse settings.
The program aims to be relevant and responsive to the needs of people in a range of education-related roles. You will work in collegial ways and communicate effectively across professional settings to initiate and support change in and beyond your immediate spheres of influence.
By the end of the Graduate Certificate of Education, you will have new professional knowledge and an understanding of key research principles and methods. You will be able to critically reflect on and investigate practice and apply new ideas in diverse educational contexts. You will build the foundational knowledge and skills of rich reflective practice and models for enquiry that can be applied to your work context or specialised area of study to effect change.
We recognise that relationships are fundamental to effective teaching and that the past experiences of students contribute to their capacity for learning. The Post-graduate Coursework Program is therefore taught in flexible mode using adult education principles to enable learning in online and face-to-face environments.
Recommended study pattern
The Graduate Certificate in Education requires the completion of 50 UTAS credit points (4 x 12.5 credit point subjects). This can be completed either as:
- a 50 credit points Specialisation ; OR
- a 12.5 credit point Core AND 37.5 credit points of subjects from any specialisation or elective subjects.
You can choose the specialisation pathway if you want to focus on a single area of study , which will be named on your testamur.
Alternatively, you can complete the core and elective option, which allows you to choose from subjects in any specialisation or from postgraduate subjects offered by the School of Education to build a degree that suits your needs.
For students undertaking full-time study, the following study pattern is recommended.
Select oneSpecialisation stream from the following:
APPLIED LEARNING
Core Subject:
- TAS-EDP726 Reflective Strategies for Professional Learning
Electives (Select 3 subjects):
- TAS-EDP502 Facilitating Engaging Learning Experiences
- TAS-EDP503 Foundations of Applied Learning
- TAS-EDP504 Contemporary Educational Perspectives
- TAS-EDP505 Educational Professionalism
TESOL
Core Subjects:
- TAS-EDP726 Reflective Strategies for Professional Learning
- TAS-EDP720 Linguistics and Language Analysis
- TAS-EMT517 Languages Teaching Methodologies
- TAS-ESG716 Language, Culture and Diversity
LEADERSHIP
Core Subjects:
- TAS-EDP726 Reflective Strategies for Professional Learning
- TAS-EDP714 Leading Organisational Improvement
- TAS-EDP715 Understanding Leadership
- TAS-EDP716 Leadership for Change
INCLUSIVE EDUCATION
Core Subject:
- TAS-EDP726 Reflective Strategies for Professional Learning
Electives (Select 3 subjects):
- TAS-EDP712 Educating Students with Multiple Disabilities
- TAS-EDP713 Re-engaging Disengaged Students
- TAS-EDP725 Educating Students with Dyslexia and Learning Difficulties
- TAS-EMT603 Inclusive Practices in Education Settings
Or Select the Non-Specialisation Stream from the following:
The non-specialisation stream allows you to complete the Graduate Certificate with greater flexibility around your subject choice. In this Stream you will complete:
- a 12.5 credit point Core subject TAS-EDP726 Reflective Strategies for Professional Learning and;
- 37.5 credit points of Elective subjects from any specialisation or Education postgraduate subjects. You can find the available Elective subjects below.
Core Subject:
- TAS-EDP726 Reflective Strategies for Professional Learning
Education Postgraduate Electives
Select 3 Subjects:
- TAS-EDP502 Facilitating Engaging Learning Experiences
- TAS-EDP503 Foundations of Applied Learning
- TAS-EDP504 Contemporary Educational Perspectives
- TAS-EDP505 Educational Professionalism
- TAS-EDP701 Understanding Educational Inquiry
- TAS-EDP712 Educating Students with Multiple Disabilities
- TAS-EDP713 Re-engaging Disengaged Students
- TAS-EDP714 Leading Organisational Improvement
- TAS-EDP715 Understanding Leadership
- TAS-EDP716 Leadership for Change
- TAS-EDP720 Linguistics and Language Analysis
- TAS-EDP722 Advanced Independent Project
- TAS-EDP725 Educating Students with Dyslexia and Learning Difficulties
- TAS-EMT603 Inclusive Practices in Education Settings
- TAS-ESG716 Language, Culture and Diversity
Award requirements
Satisfactory completion of 4 subjects, as required in the schedule, within 0.5-2 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 $2,320
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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- 20
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 19
Entry requirements
An Initial Teacher’s Education (ITE) degree at Bachelor’s level or equivalent qualification such as a Master of Teaching.
Completed a Certificate IV or equivalent qualification AND 3 years of industry or teaching experience.
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.
Career opportunities
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Education Advisers and Reviewers | $93K to $120K | Up 19.2% |
School Principals | N/A^ | Up 19% |
^ There is no data available
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.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
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
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.