Frequently asked questions
1. Why should I do the Graduate Certificate?
2. Who should do the course?
3. How are places allocated?
4. What does the program cost?
5. Where and when does the program take place?
6. Do I have to do the Graduate Certificate in one year?
7. Do I have to attend every session?
8. Do I receive formal certification that I have completed the program?
9. Who do I call to ask more questions?
1 .Why should I do the Graduate Certificate?
The Graduate Certificate gives you a scholarly basis for your teaching and leads to a formal qualification in tertiary teaching. Participants say that the course helps them to plan and implement changes that lead to real improvements in student learning.
The first two units will develop your understanding of university teaching, learning, assessment and evaluation in the context of your own teaching and in light of the University of Sydney's teaching and learning policies. In the second semester units, you will engage in scholarly inquiry and critical reflection in undertaking a group investigation or development project on teaching and completing a personal teaching portfolio.
2. Who should do the course?
The Graduate Certificate is one of The University of Sydney's main professional development strategies in the area of teaching and learning.
The Graduate certificate is most suitable for members of staff who already have some experience in teaching and priority is given to those people. For those new to teaching, the Principles and Practice Program is most appropriate and is a pre-requisite to undertaking the Graduate Certificate. There are development programs for Sessional Staff, including Tutors, available in many faculties. The ITL's Foundations of Research Supervision program is specifically tailored for those primarily interested in postgraduate supervision.
Those interested in undertaking the Graduate Certificate are advised to plan ahead to accommodate this in their workload. One option is to discuss this with your Head of Department in the context of your workload allocation.
3. How are places allocated?
All participants in the course must be teaching classes of students during at least semester one of the year in which they enrol, and must have completed the Principles and Practice of University Teaching and Learning program before beginning the Graduate Certificate.
If you have not yet completed the Principles and Practice program please register here. On the advice of the DVC(E) and the Deans, the ITL allocates places across the University. Places in the Graduate Certificate are allocated to University staff in order of priority:
- Those with full-time or part-time academic appointments for whom teaching responsibilities are a significant part of their duties;
- Those required to complete the Graduate Certificate as a condition of their appointment;
- Those with casual academic appointments for whom teaching responsibilities are a significant part of their duties;
- Those with non-academic appointments for whom teaching responsibilities are a significant part of their duties;
- Those with academic and non-academic appointments for whom teaching responsibilities are a part, but not a significant part, of their duties.
4. What does the program cost?
The Graduate Certificate is actually a full fee-paying course but the course fees are waived for University of Sydney staff, provided staff have permanent residency/citizenship status. To avoid paying course fees you will need to provide certified copies of evidence of your employment at the University; this can include a copy of your staff ID card or a copy of your pay slip. However, some other fees may have to be paid; for example, if you are not full-time staff member of the university you will have to pay fees to SUPRA, the University's postgraduate association (unless you are already enrolled in another higher degree). Your department may be willing to contribute to these fees.
Please note that staff who do not have permanent residency/citizenship are not entitled to a fee waiver for the Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies (Higher Education).
A very few places are sometimes available for full fee-paying participants from outside the University. Please contact the ITL to enquire about this option.
For all units of study in the Masters program (other than the 4 core units of the Graduate Certificate) full fees will be charged by the Faculty of Education and Social Work.
5. Where and when does the program take place?
The Graduate Certificate class normally meets fortnightly on the Camperdown Campus. Details of the schedule can be found in the Graduate Certificate unit of study outlines and timetables.
6. Do I have to do the Graduate Certificate in one year?
We encourage people to complete the Graduate Certificate in one year, but it is possible to do it in two. There are two units of study in each semester and these are designed to be taken concurrently. After completing the Graduate Certificate you may decide to go on to complete a Masters course in the Faculty of Education and Social Work - see the Graduate Handbook. Visit the faculty website to download the Graduate Handbook.
7. Do I have to attend every session?
Class meetings are scheduled roughly fortnightly during the semester. We understand that unavoidable commitments may occasionally prevent some people from attending every session. However the collaborative learning at these meetings is an essential part of the unit of study. Where participants are unable to attend a session they should notify the course administrator in advance and alternative learning activities are available on request.
8. Do I receive formal certification that I have completed the program?
When you have fulfilled the requirements for any unit of study in the Graduate Certificate you will receive your results for that unit, and when you have completed all units satisfactorily you will be entitled to graduate and to receive a testamur.
However, if you decide to pursue further study after completing the Graduate Certificate, you will not actually graduate. Instead, your 4 units of study will count towards a Masters (8 units).
9. Who do I call to ask more questions?
You can contact the ITL on 9351 3725 or email Kelly Hong.