Frequently asked questions
1. Why should I do the Graduate Certificate?
2. Who can do the program?
3. What does the program cost?
4. Where and when does the program take place?
5. Do I have to do the Graduate Certificate in one year?
6. Do I have to attend every session?
7. Do I receive formal certification that I have completed
the program?
8. 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.
In the second semester units, you will engage in scholarly enquiry, critical
reflection, and the development of a negotiated research topic relating
to your teaching.
Graduates from this course have been highly successful in winning University
and national awards for excellence in teaching.
2. Who can do the program?
Because of the demand for places in the Graduate Certificate, the University has put in place selection criteria to determine who is eligible to enrol from within the University. Places will be allocated to the following categories, 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.
- Currently, the Faculty of Education and Social Work only accepts
applications for the Graduate Certificate from Australian citizens
or permanent residents.
3. What does the program cost?
The Graduate Certificate is actually a full fee-paying course but the course fees are waived for University staff. However, some other fees may have to be paid; for example, if you are not full-time staff 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.
For all units of study in the Graduate Diploma and 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.
A very few places in both programs are sometimes available for full fee-paying participants from outside the University. Please contact the ITL to enquire about this option.
4. Where and when does the program take place?
The Graduate Certificate class normally meets in Carslaw Building. Details of the schedule can be found in the Graduate Certificate unit outlines and timetables.
5. 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. After completing the Graduate Certificate you may decide to go on into a Graduate Diploma or Masters course in the Faculty of Education and Social Work - see the Graduate Handbook.
Graduate Handbook
This handbook contains information relevant to all students currently
undertaking postgraduate study in the Faculty of Education and Social
Work. It also contains important dates, a message from
the dean, general information, practical advice, course outlines, an
index to postgraduate units of study. Visit
the faculty website to download the Graduate
Handbook.
6. Do I have to attend every session?
You must attend and participate in all sessions. Absences are regarded as exceptional. If you cannot attend the very first session in each semester it will be very difficult for you to participate satisfactorily after that and we will probably advise you to postpone your enrolment. For more detail on this issue, please see the Unit Outlines for each semester.
7. 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 an official transcript of 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 Graduate Diploma (6 units) or Masters (8 units).
8. Who do I call to ask more questions?
You can contact the ITL on 9351 3725 or email Kelly Hong (enrolments and administration).
