Graduate Certificate or Diploma of History

Graduate certificates and diplomas allow students to explore their area of historical interest with brevity, with each taking six months to a year of full-time study respectively. Macquarie University, for instance, is dedicated to an ancient history regarding Greece, China, Egypt and any number of cultures from antiquity. This particular course takes the form of a certificate, whereas University of New England provides a diploma in heritage conservation and monuments. There’s something for plenty of historical enthusiasts throughout these programs.

Employment options

The employment options specified here are great for graduates from these programs. Working as a museum curator, for instance, is ideally suited. Students can develop insight into the historical contexts behind each exhibit and better provide for whatever museum they seek employment at. Secondary teaching is also valuable, as it allows students to pass on the information they’ve learned to students who might be able to utilise it throughout their personal and professional lives.  

Scholarships and funding

The ARC Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions provides $13,500 to students of history willing to study in Europe over the course of a year. They are required to study the history emotions between 1100 - 1800 CE, learning how they influenced historical events and figures. Apart from this, history scholarships tend to be targeted at master or PhD level students. General scholarships are therefore the next best thing for a graduate certificate or diploma students, with the full list of these being available here. Prominent examples include:

• Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships, granting a staggering $69,500 pa to students willing to study overseas
• The EU 2020 Horizon Scholarship for Curtin University students aspiring to study in Europe
• The Gallipoli Scholarship Fund for students who had veterans of WWI in their ancestry

Prerequisites and selection process

Both of these courses only require students to have completed a bachelor degree in any discipline. This makes them flexible options for those from other disciplines, as they do not build off prior knowledge. It is sometimes the case that students require a credit GPA average attained throughout the prior study (65%) to enter, but for graduate certificates and diplomas this is rarely the case. Students are nevertheless advised to check the admission requirements for their institution of choice carefully before applying.