A postgraduate qualification can allow you to take the next step in your career by upskilling and deepening your knowledge of a chosen field, or even launching into a new career direction.
Find out why many of our students choose to study a graduate certificate or diploma and explore the benefits of these types of degrees.
At first glance, the key difference between a graduate certificate, a graduate diploma and a master's degree is the duration.
Usually, a graduate certificate is six months of full-time study, a graduate diploma one year, and a master’s degree one to two years.
Graduate certificates and diplomas are embedded qualifications – meaning they count towards the higher qualification if you decide to upgrade to a master's.
These degrees give you more flexibility over your level of commitment.
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Graduate certificates and graduate diplomas are usually a subset of the units offered in a master’s degree.
A graduate certificate will typically offer you the essential or core units of study. This is a great option if you are looking to extend your existing knowledge base or upskill in a certain area.
Building on the graduate certificate, a graduate diploma will provide the additional units needed to expand or deepen your knowledge in your chosen study area.
If you want to gain a professional qualification for your next job or acquire specialised knowledge and skills, then a master’s degree could be for you. Some courses allow you to tailor the degree to your specific interests with electives or a research project.
If you intend to complete a master’s degree but don’t meet the entry requirements, you may be able to study a graduate certificate or graduate diploma, and then progress into the master's program.
These qualifications tend to have different entry requirements to the master's but can be considered for admission into the master’s degree upon successful completion.
Not all graduate certificates or graduate diplomas have exact equivalent master’s degrees. Check the information for your course if you are unsure.
Our graduate certificates and graduate diplomas give you the option to explore your interests without a long commitment.
For example, if you aspire to be a psychologist, starting with a Graduate Diploma in Psychology could help you decide if the path is right for you. If you find that it aligns with your interests and goals, you can upgrade to a Master of Clinical Psychology, with the bonus of your previous credits counting towards the degree.Â
Around one-third of our graduate certificate and graduate diploma students upgrade to a higher degree. So think of it as the taster before committing to a higher qualification.