Graduate Certificate or Diploma of Development Studies overview
Graduate certificate and diploma level degrees in development studies are generally half a year to one year in length, and provide a good foundation on the subject. They will often be a pathway to a master’s degree or research program in the field.
Employment options
A graduate certificate or diploma will get your foot in the door with many development sector employers, but a master’s degree is more commonly a prerequisite. Since undergraduate courses aren’t especially common, employers prefer a more rigorous postgraduate degree.
You can read more about employment options for development studies here.
Scholarships and funding
Austudy for development studies coursework programs is approved on a university by university basis.
Prerequisites and selection process
Students don’t need to have studied a related degree in order to be an accepted into a graduate certificate or diploma of development studies; a bachelor degree or equivalent degree in any discipline will satisfy most institutions. Some universities will accept three years of full-time equivalent relevant work experience as a replacement for undergraduate study.
Good academic performance in an undergraduate degree will be looked upon favourably, but the experience is also highly regarded.