Graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education
Postgraduate
ACU-HPE-GDI 2025Course information for 2025 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Theory and skills to guide learners in the health profession
Discover creative new approaches to education in healthcare settings. You’ll pick up contemporary teaching practices and cover topics like curriculum design and ethics. Implement and evaluate quality teaching plans. Explore the role of research.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 1 year full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 8
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education
About this degree
Upon successful completion of the Graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education, students should be able to:
LO1 - Outline evidence-based knowledge and skills required to inform learning and teaching practice
LO2 - Apply advanced knowledge and skills to implement and evaluate quality learning and teaching plans within complex and diverse contemporary health care settings
LO3 - Analyse contemporary challenges in healthcare education to inform quality learning and teaching plans
The ACU Graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education supports educators of health professionals to develop advanced knowledge and skill required to promote change through innovative, engaging and evidence-based education. By building on the foundational knowledge and skill developed through the Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education, this course aims to prepare students with advanced understanding of complex concepts related to learning and teaching of health professions. The course provides students with an understanding of research and ethics in health professional education, and the role these essential elements play in leading practice improvement and through reflective practice, critical inquiry, scholarship and research. Furthermore, the course will provide students with advanced understanding of contemporary teaching practices relevant to health professional education today.
This course is designed for educators of health professions seeking a pathway to scholarship and leadership in health professional education.
Recommended study pattern
To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education degree, a student must complete 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, consisting of:
a. For Project Stream:
- 70 cp from Specified Health Professional Education Units
- 10 cp from Project Stream Units (Part B)
OR
b. For Research Stream:
- 70 cp from Specified Health Professional Education Units (Part A)
- 10 cp from Research Stream Units (Part C)
Specified Health Professional Education Units
- HLSC604 Quality and Safety in Health Care (10cp)
- HLSC608 Theoretical Foundations of Health Professional Education (10cp)
- HLSC609 Facilitating Learning in Helath Professional Settings (10cp)
- HLSC640 Interpreting Health Research (10cp)
- HLSC664 Curriculum Design, Assessment and Evaluation in Health Professional Education (10cp)
- HLSC665 Contemporary Teaching for Health Professional Education
- PHIL623 Healthcare Ethics: Principle in Practice
Project Stream Units
- HLSC605 Leadership in Health Care (10cp)
Research Stream Units
- HLSC642 Biostatistics for Health Science (10cp)
OR
- HLSC646 Qualitative Research Methods (10cp)
Award requirements
To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education, a student must complete 80 credit points from the schedule of subject offerings.
Exit points
A student who has completed the requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education may exit with the relevant award.
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Indicative first year fee
$7,928
Indicative total fee $7,928
The amounts shown here are 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.
Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about ACU.
Explore ACU courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 34
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 29
How to apply
Australian Catholic University manages enquiries and applications for this degree.
Complete your details and we'll make sure your enquiry is sent to Australian Catholic University who will contact you to discuss this degree.
Don't worry, we're still here to help you - you'll receive a personalised follow-up from an Open Universities Australia student advisor to make sure you have found the right degree for you.
Entry requirements
To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education, an application must:
- Have completed either a bachelor degree in a health discipline or equivalent OR Have completed the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Education or the Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education;
AND
- Have completed at least one year of clinical or work experience prior to admission.
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
- Academic IELTS with an overall score of 6.5: with minimum scores of 6.0 in all tests.
- Pearson Test of English (PTE) 58: with a minimum of 50 in all four communicative skills
- Test of English as a Foreign Language - Academic TOEFL Internet based total of 79: with a minimum 21 in writing, 18 in speaking, 13 in reading and 12 in listening
- ACU English Language Test - B(65-74%)
- Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) Overall CAE of 176: with a minimum individual score of 169 in all tests.
If you have already studied at university level or have significant relevant work experience, you might be eligible to have your prior learning recognised.
Career opportunities
ACU graduates from the Graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education have pursued careers in:
- government or private health care
- education facilities in education
- healthcare simulation education
- health education promotion.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
---|---|---|
Training and Development Professionals | $93K to $120K | Up 28.2% |
Vocational Education Teachers | $75K to $93K | Up 3.7% |