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Graduate Diploma of Education (Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)) or Graduate Diploma of Education (Full Fee Paying (FFP)) (GDEDorGDEF) - GDE

 Online*
Semester intake:Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 3 (November)
Fees:Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Standard duration: 1 year full-time (dependent on availability of courses), up to 5 years part-time) 
Program articulation:

From: Graduate Certificate of Education.

To: Master of Education (Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)) or Master of Education (Full Fee Paying (FFP)) provided necessary entry requirements are met.

Notes

Specialisations can be either Commonwealth Supported Place or Full Fee Paying. Students who are not eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place within the Graduate Diploma of Education (Commonwealth Supported) will be charged full-fee
A tertiary qualification at Bachelor degree or equivalent (AQF level 7) in an education related discipline from a recognised institution. For candidates who have a Bachelor degree or equivalent (AQF level 7) in a non-related discipline from a recognised institution, USQ’s Graduate Certificate of Education (GCED) or Graduate Diploma of Education GDED/F provide a pathway into the Master of Education. It is recommended that applicants with a Bachelor degree in a non-related discipline initially enrol in the Graduate Certificate of Education (GCED). On successful completion of the GCED/F students are eligible for entry into either the MEDC/F. Students who have followed a recommended articulation pathway from the GCED or GDED/F may apply for up to 4 and 8 units of credit respectively, For further clarification, please contact usq.support@usq.edu.au
Specialisations are divided into either Commonwealth Supported Place or Full Fee Paying. Online mode of study is supported through the USQ ¾«¶«´«Ã½app Desk. This program does not qualify students for teacher registration with relevant teaching authorities. To qualify for teacher registration in Queensland, please refer to Graduate Diploma of Learning and Teaching (Secondary) or the Master of Learning and Teaching (Primary) from Semester 2, 2015.

Footnotes
*Not all courses are available in every mode in every semester or year. Students are advised to check the course and mode offer listings for each semester/year.

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Contact us

Future Australian and New Zealand students  Future International students  Current students 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 269 500
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 5315
Email: study@usq.edu.au  

Phone: +61 7 4631 5543
Email: international@usq.edu.au 

Freecall (within Australia): 1800 007 252
Phone (from outside Australia): +61 7 4631 2285
Email usq.support@usq.edu.au 

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Program aims

The aim of the Graduate Diploma of Education is to provide professionals in education, training and development with the appropriate AQF level 8 coursework that will engage with educational issues that are relevant and meaningful to them and help to sustain their communities and fulfil their lives. The program aims to:

  • facilitate the development and consolidation of knowledge and skills in teaching and learning in community, professional and workplace learning settings that are informed by contemporary learning theory and futures-oriented approaches

  • support the application of knowledge and skills through learner-centred design, flexible delivery and individualised and authentic assessment.


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Program objectives

Students who successfully complete the Graduate Diploma of Education will have acquired advanced knowledge and understanding of key issues and trends within contemporary education and/or of a specialised area of education. Graduates will be able to demonstrate:

  • advanced theoretical and technical knowledge in one or more Teaching Areas

  • the ability to analyse critically, evaluate and transform information to complete a range of activities

  • the ability to analyse, generate and transmit solutions to complex problems

  • the ability to transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to others

  • the ability to apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, well-developed judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner or learner


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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must satisfy the following requirements:

  • Completion of an Australian university Bachelor degree in an education related discipline, or equivalent (AQF Level 7) from a recognised institution.

  • English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 3.


For Applicants who have a Bachelor degree or equivalent (AQF level 7) in a non-related discipline from a recognised institution, USQ’s Graduate Certificate of Education provides a pathway into the Graduate Diploma of Education (Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)) or Graduate Diploma of Education (Full Fee Paying (FFP)). Upon completion and achievement of a minimum GPA of 4.0, they will be eligible for entry into the Master of Education.

All students are required to satisfy the applicable .

If students do not meet the English language requirements they may apply to study a ¾«¶«´«Ã½app-approved . On successful completion of the English language program, students may be admitted to an award program.

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Program fees

Commonwealth supported place

A Commonwealth supported place is where the Australian Government makes a contribution towards the cost of a students' higher education and students pay a , which varies depending on the courses undertaken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

Commonwealth Supported students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called .

Domestic full fee paying place

Domestic full fee paying places are funded entirely through the full fees paid by the student. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the

Domestic full fee paying students may be eligible to defer their fees through a Government loan called provided they meet the residency and citizenship requirements.

Australian citizens, Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders, Permanent Resident visa holders and New Zealand citizens who will be resident outside Australia for the duration of their program pay full tuition fees and are not eligible for .

International full fee paying place

International students pay full fees. Full fees vary depending on the courses that are taken and whether they are studied on-campus, via distance education/online. Students are able to calculate the fees for a particular course via the .

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Program completion requirements

Students who wish to study a broader variety of courses and are not seeking a specialisation should follow the general pathway guidelines.

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Program structure

The Graduate Diploma of Education is a 8-unit program. Three guidelines shape the program structure:

  • Four or five units (depending on specialisation) must be taken from the recommended enrolment pattern of the selected specialisation.

  • One or two discipline courses (depending on specialisation).


All students, domestic or international can take any of the listed Specialisations. Note - for students who are eligible for Commonwealth Supported Places, there are a limited number of specialisations available.

Students who wish to study a broader variety of courses and are not seeking a specialisation should follow the general pathway guidelines. Please note this is a full-fee paying pathway.

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Required time limits

Subject to the availability of the required courses, full-time enrolment normally requires 1 year of study. Part-time enrolment may be extended to 3 years of study.

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Core courses

All specialisations as well as the general pathway have required courses or sequences of courses. Students are advised to note carefully the enrolment requirements for the specialisation and to ensure that they plan their enrolment to allow for completion of the specialisation requirements.

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Specialisation

There are a number of specialisations available in the Graduate Diploma of Education.

All specialisations are available for both domestic and international students in the Graduate Diploma of Education. A limited number of specialisations are available as Commonwealth Supported Places for eligible students. For each of the specialisations students are required to complete the enrolment pattern as outlined in the specialisation requirements. :

Specialisations in the Graduate Diploma of Education are:

  • Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning

  • Applied Linguistics

  • Career Development

  • Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership

  • Early Childhood (eligible for Commonwealth Supported Place)

  • Guidance and Counselling (eligible for Commonwealth Supported Place)

  • Leading and Managing Educational Organisations

  • Multicultural Education

  • Online and Distributed Learning

  • Special Education (eligible for Commonwealth Supported Place)

  • Teaching English Language to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (eligible for Commonwealth Supported Place)


Students who wish to study a broader variety of courses and are not seeking a specialisation should follow the general pathway guidelines. Please note this is a full-fee paying pathway.

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Electives/Approved courses

Education postgraduate discipline courses*   Discipline Focus  Projected semester offers  
  Applied Linguistics, TESOL  1,2 
  Early Childhood 
  Online and Distributed Learning 
  Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning 
  Special Education,   1,3 
  Special Education 
  Guidance and Counselling  1,3 
  Guidance and Counselling 
*  Online and Distributed Learning 
   
  Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership 
  Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership 
  Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership  1,3 
^  Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning, Early Childhood, TESOL, Applied Linguistics  1,2 
  Early Childhood 
  Early Childhood 
  Online and Distributed Learning 
  Online and Distributed Learning 
  Online and Distributed Learning 
  Leading and Managing Educational Organisations 
  Leading and Managing Educational Organisations, Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership 
  Leading and Managing Education Organisations 
  Guidance and Counselling, Career Development 
  Leading and Managing Educational Organisations 
  Leading and Managing Education Organisations  2  
  Special Education 
  Special Education 
  Career Development, Guidance and Counselling   2,3 
  Guidance and Counselling, Career Development 
  Career Development, Guidance and Counselling 
  Guidance and Counselling 
  Special Education 
  Leading and Managing Educational Organisations, Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning, Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership 
  Career Development, Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership 
   
  Multicultural Education 
     
  Multicultural Education 
  Multicultural Education 
  Guidance and Counselling  2,3 
  Special Education 
  Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning, Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership 
  Multicultural Education 
  Special Education 
  Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership, Leading and Managing Educational Organisations 
  Special Education 
  Multicultural Education 
  Early Education, Special Education 
  Online and Distributed Learning 
  Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning, Career Development 
EDU8701   Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning 
  Multicultural Education 
  Special Education 
  Special Education 
  Special Education 
  Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership 
  Leading and Managing Educational Organisations 
  Applied Linguistics, TESOL  1,2 
  Applied Linguistics; TESOL 
  Applied Linguistics, TESOL  1,2 
  Applied Linguistics, TESOL  1,2 
  Applied Linguistics, TESOL 
  Applied Linguistics, TESOL  1,2 
  Applied Linguistics, TESOL  1,2,3 
  Applied Linguistics, TESOL  2,3 
  Applied Linguistics, TESOL 
  Applied Linguistics, TESOL 
‡   

Footnotes
*Subject to approval of the Program Coordinator and provided necessary pre-requisites are met.
^Professional Experience is a required component of this course, please refer to the Course Specification regarding sector specific requirements.
‡This course is offered in even-numbered years only.

Note: Subject to approval of the Program Coordinator and provided necessary pre-requisites are met, students may choose from a range of other postgraduate courses available through USQ.

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IT requirements

Students must have reliable and ready access to email and the Internet. See minimum computing standards for more information.

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Articulation

The Graduate Diploma of Education articulates from the Graduate Certificate of Education. On completion of the Graduate Diploma of Education, students may be eligible for entry into the Master of Education (Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)) or Master of Education (Full Fee Paying (FFP)), provided necessary entry requirements have been met.

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Exit points

Students who successfully complete a minimum of four units of the Graduate Diploma of Education program will be eligible to exit with a Graduate Certificate of Education.
Students wishing to exit prior to a successful completion are advised to contact the Faculty of Business Education Law and Arts.

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Credit

Credit may be granted on the basis of completed equivalent postgraduate study from a recognised institution. In order for credit to be granted, the claim must meet the following specific requirements:

  • the course was passed within five years prior to the application (courses up to ten years old may be considered if evidence is provided that the applicant has been employed in that field)

  • the course passed is sufficiently equivalent in objectives, content and weightings to a course prescribed in the Graduate Diploma of Education, or alternatively, a suitable discipline course

  • the maximum credit granted is no greater than four units for the Graduate Diploma of Education

  • credit approved in the Graduate Diploma of Education will not automatically apply to other programs offered by the USQ


Claims for credit should be submitted prior to or at the time of enrolment in a course. Each claim will be assessed on individual merit in line with USQ policy. Please contact the Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts for further information.

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Enrolment

Students will enrol in the Graduate Diploma of Education on either a full-time or a part-time basis. Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, distance education or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.
Note: Minimum enrolment numbers apply to all courses. Should enrolments not meet the minimum number required students may need to choose alternative courses. Students will be advised of the change prior to semester start.

  • Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning

  • Applied Linguistics

  • Career Development

  • Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership

  • Early Childhood (eligible for Commonwealth Supported Place specialisations)

  • Guidance and Counselling (eligible for Commonwealth Supported Place specialisations)

  • Leading and Managing Educational Organisations

  • Multicultural Education

  • Online and Distributed Learning

  • Special Education (eligible for Commonwealth Supported Place specialisations)

  • Teaching English Language to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (eligible for Commonwealth Supported Place specialisations)


Students who wish to study a broader variety of courses and are not seeking a specialisation should follow the general pathway guidelines. Please note this is a full-fee paying pathway.

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

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Adult, Professional and Workplace Learning

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Graduate Diploma of Education (Full-Fee Paying) (GDEF)


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirementsComments
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     EDU8701 1
     31,3Students require first-hand knowledge of, and access to, a teaching situation in school, post-compulsory, community education or training context.
     3
     1,2Professional Experience is a required component of this course, please refer to the Course Specification regarding sector specific requirements.
     2 Participants MUST have access to a mentee.
     1

Complete two of the following approved courses:

2
1
2
1

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Early Childhood

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Graduate Diploma of Education (Commonwealth Supported) (GDED)

Commonwealth Supported Places available for eligible students

The Early Childhood specialisation is designed to meet the needs of early childhood professionals and other multi-disciplinary practitioners involved in work with young children and their families. It is expected that these students will normally hold an undergraduate degree (or equivalent post-compulsory qualifications) in a discipline other than Early Childhood Education and are keen to enhance their skills, knowledge and ability in relation to the Early Childhood sector. This qualification will also meet the needs of experienced educators who are seeking to further develop their knowledge and skills to gain a specialisation in Early Childhood Education and Care.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirementsComments
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     2
     1Required 15 days Professional Experience.
     1
     2
     1,2Professional Experience is a required component of this course, please refer to the Course Specification regarding sector specific requirements.
     3

Complete two USQ postgraduate courses.


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Guidance and Counselling specialisation

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Graduate Diploma of Education (Commonwealth Supported) (GDED)

Commonwealth Supported Places available for eligible students.

Students seeking employment as a Guidance Officer in Queensland will usually require a four-year degree as a pre-requisite to entering this program. You should check the requirements with your prospective employer prior to enrolling.
This specialisation prepares teachers for work as a guidance officer, guidance counsellor or school counsellor. Students can prepare themselves for a career in developmental guidance work (Primary), Counselling and Career Work (Secondary) or a combination of both (P-12) through the selection of courses in the enrolment pattern below.
The specialisation generally meets the registration criteria for the .
Students from outside Queensland who are intending to use this specialisation for professional accreditation should consult the relevant registration bodies.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     1
     2Pre-requisite:
     1,3
     2
     1
     2,3
     1

Complete one of the following approved courses:

     2,3
     2

Notes

Some courses require access to workplaces.

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Special Education

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Graduate Diploma of Education (Commonwealth Supported) (GDED)

Commonwealth Supported Places available for eligible students.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     1,3

Complete seven of the following approved courses:

     2
     1
     3
     2Pre-requisite: or
     1
     1
     3
     3
     2
     1
     2Pre-requisite: or Equivalent Co-requisite: or Equivalent

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Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Graduate Diploma of Education (Commonwealth Supported) (GDED)

Commonwealth Supported Places available for eligible students.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirementsComments
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     1,21,2
     1,21,2
     1,21,2
     11,2
     21,3

Complete three of the following approved courses:*

     2
     1,2Professional Experience is a required component of this course, please refer to the Course Specification regarding sector specific requirements.
     2
     11,2
     2
     3

Footnotes
*Subject to the approval of the Specialisation Coordinator, one of these courses can be replaced by a course outside the list.

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Applied Linguistics

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Graduate Diploma of Education (Full-Fee Paying) (GDEF)


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirementsComments
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     1,21,2
     11,2
     1,21,2
     2
     22,3

Choose three of the following approved courses:*

     1,2Professional Experience is a required component of this course, please refer to the Course Specification regarding sector specific requirements.
     2
     1,21,2
     11,2
     21,3
     2

Footnotes
*Subject to the approval of the Specialisation Coordinator, one of these courses can be replaced by a course outside the list.

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Career Development

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Graduate Diploma of Education (Full-Fee Paying) (GDEF)

The Career Development specialisation meets the professional learning needs of professionals working in teaching, counselling, training, employment, community development, or information management roles who support the career planning and development of students, clients, and organisations. The Career Development specialisation addresses core and selected specialist competencies from the Professional Standards for Australian Career Development Practitioners, and it has been officially endorsed by the as a qualification for the status of professional career development practitioner under the Professional Standards.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     1
     2
     1
     2
     2,3
     1

Complete two USQ postgraduate courses.


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Curriculum and Pedagogical Leadership

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Graduate Diploma of Education (Full-Fee Paying) (GDEF)


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirementsComments
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     3
     1
     31,3Students require first-hand knowledge of, and access to, a teaching situation in school, post-compulsory, community education or training context.
     2
     2
     2Participants MUST have access to a mentee.

Complete either two of the following approved courses OR two other USQ Postgraduate courses:

     1
     3
     3

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Leading and Managing Educational Organisations

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Graduate Diploma of Education (Full-Fee Paying) (GDEF)


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirementsComments
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     2
     1
     2Pre-requisite:
     1
     1,3
     2commencing 2018

Select one of the following:

     2Australian students only.
     2 Participants MUST have access to a mentee.

Complete one of the following approved courses or two other USQ postgraduate courses:

     2
     2Participants MUST have access to a mentee.

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Multicultural Education

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Graduate Diploma of Education (Full-Fee Paying) (GDEF)


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     1
     1
     2
     3
     1
     2

Complete two USQ postgraduate courses.


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Online and Distributed Learning

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Graduate Diploma of Education (Full-Fee Paying) (GDEF)


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Required Courses

     3
     2
     1
     2
     1
     

Complete two USQ postgraduate courses.


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General Pathway

Students are able to enrol in any offered mode of a course (on-campus, external or online), regardless of the program mode of study they enrolled in.

Graduate Diploma of Education (Full-Fee Paying) (GDEF)

For students choosing this pathway, no named specialisation will appear on their Testamur.


CourseYear of program and semester
in which course is normally studied
Enrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem

Complete four postgraduate Education courses.

Complete any four USQ postgraduate courses.