Intakes: 

2023: February, July

Duration: 
1 year
Location: 
Fees: 

2023: A$14,600*
* fee per semester

Application due dates:
We are currently accepting applications for this course.

Overview

Gain advanced skills and knowledge for a variety of education settings. The Graduate Diploma of Education extends your career prospects into new and exciting areas.

This course is designed to meet the needs of trainers and teachers in education, community, government and industry. It builds on your qualifications or experience – preparing you for higher roles.

The course provides a perfect mix of hands-on practice and education theory. You’ll gain the confidence and skill set needed to lead school or workplace programs.

We teach up-to-date methods in many areas, including:

  • designing and implementing learning programs
  • educational leadership
  • e-learning
  • evaluation and assessment
  • vocational training.

There’s also the opportunity to conduct workplace research, aimed at improving training or influencing policy and practice.

This diploma is the second of three graduate courses and successful completion gains you admission to the Master of Education.

This course does not provide registration to teach in Australia.

Following the overwhelming success of the revolutionary VU Block Model with undergraduate students, we rolled out the Block Model to our postgraduate courses.

This course is delivered in four-week mode, which means you study one unit (subject) at a time over four weeks, rather than juggling several units at once. And with its focused timetables and smaller, collaborative classes, VU’s Block Model gives you more time to connect with your peers, lecturers and industry partners, helping you to build strong professional networks.

The VU Block Model has improved our student results and engagement, and has won multiple international awards for innovation and excellence.

If you’re aiming for a leadership role in education – or a chance to influence education policy – the Master of Education will help you get there.

Our courses are designed to lead into one another. This course is the second of three that make up the masters degree, following the Graduate Certificate of Education.

The credits earned during your study for the certificate count towards this diploma. Once you’ve successfully completed this Graduate Diploma in Education, you’ll gain entry to the Master of Education – and you’ll already be part way to completing the full masters degree.

The College of Education has strong links with local schools, community centres and industry, especially in Melbourne’s north and west. These offer valuable networks and learning opportunities.

Our education research benefits the whole community, through programs that work towards social transformation and inclusion.

During your diploma, you’ll undertake workplace research. If you progress to a masters degree, you'll undertake a major research project, and present your findings as a thesis.

We offer a variety of research opportunities – and the support of a supervisor – through our Centre for International Research on Education Systems (CIRES) and the Institute for Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities.

VU collaborates with renowned universities and institutes, giving you access to world-class education researchers. These include:

  • Hong Kong Institute of Education
  • National Centre for Vocational Education Research.

Footscray Park has everything you need, all set a pleasant stroll from the Maribyrnong River and parklands.

Facilities include:

  • aquatic and fitness centre
  • childcare services
  • learning common spaces with WiFi, tables and chairs
  • restaurants and café
  • state-of-the-art lecture theatres.

The library gives you constant access to online resources from wherever you are. It also has the following for your use:

  • 14 group study rooms
  • 15 laptops for loan
  • 296 PCs and six Apple Macs
  • printing, copying and scanning
  • WiFi access.

Course e-Brochure

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Careers in education, training and development

Postgraduate study is increasingly important in advancing your education career. This course could lead to a work as one of the following:

  • education professional in schools or other settings
  • manager in specialist education
  • policy maker or developer
  • workplace trainer.

Salaries & job growth

Find out about average salaries and employment prospects on the government job-data site, Labour Market Insights:

Course structure

To attain the award of Graduate Diploma in Education students will be required to completed in total 96 credit points consisting of:

  • 96 credit points of Core studies

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Formulate a commitment to ethical action, social responsibility, and sustainability in an education context;  
  2. Critically review perspectives on the contemporary context of education, vocational training and professional development locally, nationally and internationally;  
  3. Apply knowledge about theories to frame and inform practice as a reflective educator;  
  4. Interpret theoretical perspectives, analyse problems, and build an awareness of current educational research;  
  5. Use technologies for communication, knowledge access, and collaboration in the construction of understanding;  
  6. Explore the concept of educational change and professional learning in the workplace identifying a range of connections within professional and academic communities;  
  7. Undertake educational inquiry and/or research.  

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Admission & pathways

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. We also encourage you to explore our study pathways to help you reach your goal.

Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Entry requirements

Completion of an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in a similar discipline
OR
Completion of an Australian Graduate Certificate (or equivalent) in a similar discipline
PLUS
IELTS (or equivalent): Overall score of 6.5 (with no band less than 6.0 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)

Find out if you meet the entry requirements, including English language and academic requirements.

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.

Additional information

All applicants are required to submit a current version of their CV.

How to apply

We are currently accepting international applications, and we welcome you to apply for this course.

Click 'apply' to begin, and we will guide you through the application process.

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If you have questions, please get in touch:

Information and fees listed above are for non-resident students. Fees are accurate at the time of viewing and will be subject to annual increases. Some courses require students to purchase equipment or clothing that they will need in the course. These equipment or clothing costs are not included in the course fees listed above – check your Letter of Offer for an estimate on non-tuition-fee-related expenses.

VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this course information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that course information is current with the Student Contact Centre.