Graduate Certificate or Diploma of Early Childhood Education overview
Graduate certificates are for new entrants to the field. Institutions like Macquarie University provide the opportunity to spend six months full time learning about early childhood development without any prior knowledge. Students can expect to learn how best to develop a child’s creativity, numeracy and literacy skills. Those who can’t commit to full-time study can take these courses part-time, extending their duration by up to a year.
Graduate diplomas are for students seeking a higher level of knowledge, featuring units in best practice and professional experience. Courses hosted by Southern Cross University and others generally take about one year to complete if undergone full time, or more if part-time.
Employment options
Graduates from these programs will find themselves better suited to careers in childcare at centres like Milford Lodge or the Little Beacons Learning Centre. These institutions pride themselves on the passion and dedication their employees regularly show, making this career path ideal for those equally passionate. A career in youth work is also viable, as graduates are well equipped with the necessary patience and understanding to handle children from troubled backgrounds who need someone they can look up to.
Scholarships and funding
There are dedicated scholarships available at master level in early childhood education, but not at these levels. General programs are still accessible, however. The ECIG Scholarship Program or Endeavour Scholarships and Fellows initiative are great examples of these, offering partial funding to students with the initiative or desire to meet their prerequisites. Students are advised to be careful when applying to these due to some of their esoteric requirements. The Gallipoli Scholarship Fund is a perfect example, requiring students to have descendants that died in WWI.
Prerequisites and selection process
Prospective students generally only require bachelor degrees from any discipline to enter these programs, which is a testament to their accessibility. More competitive programs will often check GPA, with a credit (65%) attained through prior study being the preferred level of academic success.