Undergraduate Certificate in Education Support
UndergraduateTAS-EDS-CTF2024
Drive students to succeed in the classroom
Support children and adults with learning difficulties in a classroom environment. Explore strategies for one-on-one engagement. Develop essential communication and problem-solving skills that will help you excel as an educator.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- 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 Education Support
About this degree
Upon successful completion of this program, the student should be able to:
- Identify and describe features of educational theory and practice, the Australian curriculum and the role of education support staff in enhancing student learning.
- Apply your skills to operate ethically, inclusively and collaboratively in diverse, complex and at times unpredictable learning contexts to support the delivery of a differentiated curriculum for individual learners.
- Communicate clearly and sensitively with students, colleagues, parents/carers.
- Apply your skills and knowledge to contribute to problem-solving, working collectively, to support the delivery learning outcomes for students.
Education Support is essential to educational access and equity, particularly for children and adults who may have distinct learning difficulties, lack confidence or motivation in learning, or who might otherwise be disengaged or marginalised from conventional educational systems or practices.
The Undergraduate Certificate in Education Support provides a foundational understanding of educational practices for Teacher Aides, School Support Officers, and Home Schooling parents. You'll develop problem-solving, communication and critical thinking skills relevant to many education careers, especially in a classroom setting as Integration Aides, Teacher Aides, and School Support Officers. Graduates may also seek employment in the industry training sector and communication-based jobs in other sectors.
Once you have completed the Undergraduate Certificate in Education Support, if you wish to continue with further study, you can enter into the Associate Degree in Education Support .
Please visit our Certificates page for answers to frequently asked questions about the Job Ready Certificates.
Recommended study pattern
For students undertaking full-time study the following study pattern is recommended.
Completion of 4 core subjects from the schedule below:
- TAS-EDU104 Growth and Motor Development Across the Lifespan
- TAS-EDU106 Academic Literacies
- TAS-EES160 Foundations of Literacy Support
- TAS-EES161 The Role of Education Support
- TAS-EES162 Foundations of Numeracy Support
- TAS-EES163 Education Support in Practice
- TAS-EPR130 Arts Education: Music & Visual Arts
Award requirements
Satisfactory completion of 4 subjects, as required in the schedule, within 6 months 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 $2,220
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 Ranking 2024:
- 20
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 19
Entry requirements
Completed at least one undergraduate subject (equivalent to 12.5 UTAS credit points)
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.
Study method requirements
Information on Undergraduate Certificates beyond 2025
The Australian Government has currently determined that Undergraduate Certificate programs will not extend beyond 30 June 2025. If you are enrolled in an Undergraduate Certificate, this means that you will need to complete all required units in 2024 to graduate before this deadline.
Should you not be able to complete all required units in 2024, we can support you to continue your study with us in the Associate Degree in Education Support, where you will receive full credit for all the Undergraduate Certificate units completed so far.
Career opportunities
The Undergraduate Certificate in Education Support is a great way to upskill if you are currently working or plan to work in education or related sectors. Your studies will explore a range of educational theories and practices. You'll also learn about the Australian curriculum, and the role of education support staff in enhancing student learning.
This program is an excellent opportunity to further your career in the education sector, as employment projections for Education Aides are upward trending and set to grow by 17.3% by 2024*. After completing this certificate, you'll have the ability to assist with educational activities to support children and adults who have learning difficulties.
This program is suitable for students from a range of educational backgrounds and minimal or no experience in education support. In addition developing job-ready skills, you'll also have the option to pursue to further study in the Associate Degree in Educational Support.
*Source: Job Outlook Australia , ABS Labour Force Survey, National Skills Commission trend data to May 2019 and projections to 2024
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Education Aides | Below $60K | Up 20.6% |
Library Assistants | N/A^ | Down 8.8% |
^ 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.