The Graduate Certificate in Education is designed to enable qualified practicing teachers to update and/or add an additional teaching area to their formal qualifications.

The teaching areas include:
Aboriginal Studies; Business Studies; Drama; Economics; English; English as a Second Language; Geography; History; Languages (Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Korean and Spanish); Mathematics and Science.

At the end of this program students should be able to:
1. acquire a substantial understanding of recent developments in theory, research, policy and practice in education;
2. know the range of expert writing and research on their specific area of education;
3. apply principles for action, based on relevant scholarship and research to their own professional context;
4. develop a commitment to the study and practice of education;
5. establish a pathway to access Master’s level options.

In the Graduate Certificate in Education students undertake four courses (24UOC).

Students who have successfully completed the requirements for the Graduate Certificate of Education may choose to apply for entry to the Master of Education program. The program of study will normally be completed over two semesters.

Students are required to complete three core courses from the Graduate Certificate in Education program and one elective course.

Core courses

Elective courses
Any one elective course (6 UOC) from those courses offered each year in the Master of Education program, or, subject to approval by the Program Coordinator, from other relevant Master’s level programs in the Faculty or University.

1. A Graduate Certificate of Education may be awarded by the Council to a candidate who has satisfactorily completed a program of advanced study.


Entry requirements

2. (1) A candidate for the Graduate Certificate of Education shall:


(a) have been awarded an appropriate degree of Bachelor from the University of New South Wales or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution at a level acceptable to the Standing Committee of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (hereinafter referred to as the Committee);
and (b)(i) have been awarded a Diploma in Education from the University of New South Wales or a qualification considered equivalent from another university or tertiary institution at a level acceptable to the Committee, 

or
(ii) have had at least one year's practical experience in an area relevant to the study of education of a kind acceptable to the Committee. 


(c) have already completed or be in the process of completing approved background studies in the relevant teaching area, normally a minor or four semester length units.
(2) In exceptional cases an applicant who submits evidence of such other academic and professional qualifications as may be approved by the Committee may be permitted to enrol for the degree. 


(3) If the Committee is not satisfied with the qualifications submitted by an applicant the Committee may require the applicant to undergo such assessment or carry out such work as the Committee may prescribe, before permitting enrolment. 



Enrolment and Progression

3. (1) An application to enrol as a candidate for the degree shall be made on the prescribed form which shall be lodged with the Registrar at least two calendar months before the commencement of the semester in which enrolment is to begin. 


(2) To qualify for the award of the Graduate Certificate candidates must obtain over a period of study of no less than one semester (full-time) or two semesters (part-time) 24 units of credit. The maximum period of candidature shall be one academic semester from the date of enrolment for a full-time candidate and two semesters for a part-time candidate. In special cases an extension of these times may be granted by the Committee. 

(3) A student enrolling in a course must satisfy the prerequisite and co-requisite requirements in that course. These requirements may be waived at the discretion of the Head of the School. 


(4) The progress of a candidate shall be reviewed at least once annually by the Committee and as a result of the review the Committee may cancel enrolment or take such other action as it considers appropriate. 



Advanced Standing
4. Students seeking advanced standing must submit documentary evidence of courses completed at the time of initial enrolment. Faculty will then determine the number of units of credit to be granted. Advanced standing will not be granted for courses completed more than six years previously. The maximum advanced standing for a Masters is 18 uoc (equivalent to three courses), a Graduate Diploma is 12 uoc (equivalent to two courses) and a Graduate Certificate is 6 uoc (equivalent to one course).

Articulation
5. The Graduate Certificate in Education forms part of a sequence of articulated programs comprising the Graduate Certificate and Master of Education degree. A postgraduate student enrolled in an articulated program may progress from the Graduate Certificate to Master’s degree with full credit for courses completed in the Graduate Certificate in Education.

Fees

6. A candidate shall pay such fees as may be determined from time to time by the Council.

For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website:  https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html