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Graduate Certificate of Science (GCSC) - GradCertSci

QTAC code (Australian and New Zealand applicants): Toowoomba campus: GCSC01; External: GCSC02

CRICOS code (International applicants): 069701A

 On-campus * +External#*^
Start:Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 1 (February)
Semester 2 (July)
Semester 3 (November)
Campus:Toowoomba -
Fees:Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Commonwealth supported place
Domestic full fee paying place
International full fee paying place
Standard duration: 1 semester full-time, 1 year part-time  
Program articulation:

To: ; Graduate Diploma of Science

Footnotes
* Please refer to the Program Structure for further information on mode of offer for each specialisation.
+ The Computing specialisation is available to international on-campus students at USQ Toowoomba.
#Only the Applied Data Science, Computing or General (depending on the courses chosen) specialisations have a Semester 3 intake.
^The Psychology in Schools specialisation is only available part-time and has a Semester 1 intake only.

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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 Graduate Certificate of Science provides students with the opportunity to further their knowledge in discipline areas critical to their professional responsibilities and interests.

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Program objectives

On completion of the program graduates should be able to:

  • Understand a body of specialised knowledge in a discipline of science

  • Apply established theories to a body of specialised knowledge or practice in a relevant science discipline

  • Critically analyse and reflect on complex information, problems, concepts and theories applicable to a relevant science discipline

  • Interpret and transmit specialised knowledge, skills and ideas, both individually and collaboratively, to a range of audiences

  • Display autonomy, responsibility, adaptability and ethical practise in decision-making and engage in lifelong learning through critical reflection in a range of professional and cultural contexts.


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Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a single national, comprehensive system of qualifications offered by higher education institutions (including universities), vocational education and training institutions and secondary schools. Each AQF qualification has a set of descriptors which define the type and complexity of knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills that a graduate who has been awarded that qualification has attained, and the typical volume of learning associated with that qualification type.

This program is at AQF Qualification Level 08. Graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional or highly skilled work and/or further learning.

The full set of levels criteria and qualification type descriptors can be found by visiting .

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Admission requirements

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

  • Completion of an Australian university three year Bachelor degree in any area, or equivalent.

    Or

    equivalent professional work experience, as determined through the .

  • English Language Proficiency requirements for Category 3.


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 structure

All specialisations within the program consist of four units of study taken from the Recommended Enrolment Pattern section. The Program Coordinator, via usq.support@usq.edu.au may also grant substitution of one course from outside these disciplines. At least two courses must be Level 8 (all specialisations). The student must select courses according to the pre- and co-requisite requirements contained in individual course specifications. Some courses may include a mandatory or highly recommended residential school.

Specialisation  Offering 
  ONC  ONL  EXT 
Agricultural Science (part-time only) @  Toowoomba   Online  or external with highly recommended residential schools depending on chosen approved courses 
Applied Climate Science (part-time only)    Online only   
Applied Data Science (part-time only) ^  Toowoomba  Online   
Astronomy (part-time only)    Online only   
Biology (part-time only) @  Toowoomba  Online   or external with highly recommended residential schools depending on chosen approved courses 
Chemistry (part-time only) @  Toowoomba    external (some courses have highly recommended residential schools) 
Computing (full-time or part-time) @  Toowoomba  Online  or external (some courses, depending on topics, have workshops) 
Environment and Sustainability (part-time only)  Toowoomba  Online   
Mathematics and Statistics (part-time only)  Toowoomba  Online   
Mathematics for High School Teaching (part-time only) #  Toowoomba  Online   
Mathematics for Primary/Middle School Teaching (part-time only) #    Online only   
Physics (part-time only)    Online only   
Psychology in Schools (part-time only and Semester 1 intake only)      External (one course has a mandatory residential school) 
Science for Primary/Middle School Teaching (full-time or part-time) # @  Toowoomba  Online  or external with highly recommended residential schools depending on chosen approved courses 
Wine Science (S1 part-time only, S2 full-time or part-time) @  Toowoomba  Online  or external with mandatory or highly recommended residential schools depending on chosen approved courses). 
General  Toowoomba  Online  or external with highly recommended residential schools depending on chosen approved courses 

Footnotes
@ Some approved courses for selection have mandatory or highly recommended residential schools and students enrolled externally must be able to attend the residential schools at the specified USQ campus.
^ The Semester 2 intake for the Applied Data Science specialisation will be subject to the approval of the Program Coordinator and may only be available less than part-time (<2 courses in some semesters).
# The teaching specialisations alone do not meet eligibility for teacher registration and therefore should only be taken by students who already have completed an initial teacher education program.

Those teachers studying who are relying on government scholarships or are seeking accreditation in a particular state, are advised to check with their funding agency or Education Authority that they are enrolled in an appropriate approved combination of courses. For further advice on these and other possible course combinations please contact the Program Coordinator via usq.support@usq.edu.au.

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Required time limits

Students have a maximum of 3 years to complete this program.

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IT requirements

Students should visit the USQ to check that their computers are capable of running the appropriate software and versions of Internet web browsers and to check the minimum and recommended standards for software.

Students will need internet access to retrieve course materials, undertake assessment and participate in course online activities.

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Residential schools

The attendance requirement of residential schools within this degree is indicated by the following letters: R = Recommended; HR = Highly Recommended; M = Mandatory. To find out more about , visit the to view specific dates for your degree, or visit the .

Agricultural Science (approved course)
•

Biology (approved course)
•
•
•

Chemistry (core courses)
•
•

Psychology in Schools
•

Science for Primary/Middle School Teaching (approved courses)
•
•

Wine Science (approved courses)
•
•
•

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Articulation

A student successfully completing all courses in the Graduate Certificate of Science program will receive full credit towards the Graduate Diploma of Science in the same specialisation. Students intending to continue with the Graduate Diploma must apply for separate admission and may EITHER Graduate with a Graduate Certificate and receive full credit as exemptions into the Graduate Diploma, OR choose not to graduate with the Graduate Certificate, in order to transfer their grades, maintain their GPA and articulate into the Graduate Diploma and ultimately qualify from this higher award only. Students who wish to transfer their grades and maintain their GPA into the Graduate Diploma, must advise the Faculty in writing ( usq.support@usq.edu.au) of their intention to articulate and this must occur prior to completion of the Graduate Certificate of Science.

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Credit

Exemptions/credit will be assessed based on the .

Students who have successfully completed STA2300 are not permitted to undertake . Instead they should contact the Program Director to choose an alternative Level 8 course.

Applied Data Science specialisation: Where a student’s enrolment pattern does not allow them to complete in S1, they may replace it with STA2300 in S2 or S3, as long as the student completes the required number of Level 8 courses for their program.

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Enrolment

Enrolment patterns will need to be determined for individual students. On acceptance into the program, students must submit an enrolment pattern for approval to the Program Coordinator via usq.support@usq.edu.au. Pre-requisite courses should be taken as a guide to the assumed knowledge required for a course. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that they have the assumed knowledge before enrolling in a particular course.

Recommended enrolment patterns

In this section:

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Agricultural Science specialisation recommended enrolment pattern - part-time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedResidential schoolEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
1 1
Approved course (Select from the approved course list below)
2 2
Approved course (Select from the approved course list below)

Approved courses: Choose two from the following:

1 1
1 1
1
1
# 3 1,2,3 Pre-requisite: Completion of 2nd year (or 2 years full time study in a relevant area)
2 2
^ 2 2 HRPre-requisite: or BIO1100 or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCSC or GDSI or MSCN.
2
2 2Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCEN or GCSC or GDSI or METC or MEPR or GCNS or GDNS or MENS or MSCN.
2 2

Footnotes
# Industry Placement may be available subject to approval of the Program Coordinator and availability of relevant placement.
^ This offering has a highly recommended residential school (linked to an assessment item and non-attendance will mean a student misses an element for assessment preparation or an element of assessment).

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Applied Climate Science specialisation recommended enrolment pattern - part-time Semester 1 entry

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
1
1
2
2

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Applied Data Science specialisation recommended enrolment pattern - part-time S1 entry

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
1 1,2Enrolment is not permitted in if STA2300 or has been previously completed.
1,2 1,2,3
2 2
* 2 2,3Pre-requisite or Co-requisite: and (STA2300 or or ) or equivalent program and statistical knowledge and skills.

Footnotes
* Unavailable on campus at Springfield in S2, 2021

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Astronomy specialisation recommended enrolment pattern - part-time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
1,2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: MSCN or MSCR or MCTN or MADS or GCSC or GDSI or DPHD or its equivalent. Enrolment is not permitted in if has been previously completed.
* 1 1
1,2
* 2 2

Footnotes
* Astronomical observations for each course are made remotely via internet access to USQ'S Mt Kent Observatory. Voluntary field nights will also be made available.

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Biology specialisation recommended enrolment pattern - part-time

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.

At least two of the four courses completed must be at Level 8.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedResidential schoolEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
Approved course (Select from the approved course list below): 1 1 1
Approved course (Select from the approved course list below): 1 1 1
2
Approved course (Select from the approved course list below): 2 2 2

Approved courses: Choose three from the following (at least one must be Level 8):

1
† 1 1 HRPre-requisite:
† 2 2 HRPre-requisite:
† 2 2 HRPre-requisite: or BIO1100 or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCSC or GDSI or MSCN.
1
2 2
2 2Pre-requisite: (BIO1100 or or )
† 2 HRPre-requisite:
2

Footnotes
† This offering has a highly recommended residential school (linked to an assessment item and non-attendance will mean a student misses an element for assessment preparation or an element of assessment).

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Chemistry specialisation recommended enrolment pattern - part-time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedResidential schoolEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
1Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: MSCN or MSCR or MCTN or MADS or GCSC or GDSI or DPHD or its equivalent. Enrolment is not permitted in if has been previously completed.
† 1 1 HR
1,2
† 2 2 HRPre-requisite:

Footnotes
† External offering has a highly recommended residential school (linked to an assessment item and non-attendance will mean a student misses an element for assessment preparation or an element of assessment).

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Computing specialisation recommended enrolment pattern - full-time or part-time

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.

Take four approved courses, with at least two being at Level 8.


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

Approved courses (at least two must be at Level 8):

* 1 1Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDTI or GCSC or MCTN or GCSC or GDSI or MSCN or MADS.
1 1Pre-requisite: or enrolled in at the same time as or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDTI or GCSC or MCTN
2 2Co-requisite:
1 1Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDTI or GCSC or GCEN or METC or MCOT or MCTE or MCOP or MPIT or MCTN
1,2 1,2Pre-requisite:
2 2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDTI or GCSC or MCTN or MCYS or MCOP
^ 2 2Pre-requisite: or and Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDTI or GCSC or MCTN or MCOP
1,2 1,2,3
2 2Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDTI or GCSC or GCEN or METC or MCOT or MCTE or MCOP or MPIT
2 2Pre-requisite: or or have experience using Linux systems or students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDTI or GCSC or GCEN or METC or MCOT or MCTE or MCOP or MPIT
2 2Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: UCCC or GDTI or GCEN or METC or MCOT or MCTE or MCOP or MPIT or MCTN or BSED
2 2Pre-requisite: or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GDTI or GCSC or GCEN or METC or MCOT or MCTE or MCOP or MPIT or MCTN

Footnotes
* This course will be replaced by CSC8450 Relational Database Systems in 2022.
^This course will be replaced by CSC8540 Routing and Switching in 2022.

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Environment and Sustainability specialisation recommended enrolment pattern - part-time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
1
1Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: MSCN or MSCR or MCTN or MADS or GCSC or GDSI or DPHD or its equivalent. Enrolment is not permitted in if has been previously completed.

Approved courses: Take any two of the following::

2
2 2
2 2
1
2

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Mathematics and Statistics specialisation recommended enrolment pattern - part-time

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.

Students may seek approval from the Discipline Coordinator to enrol in courses not listed in this table.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
1 1,2Enrolment is not permitted in if STA2300 or has been previously completed.
1 1
** 2 2
2 2

Footnotes
** MAT8190 is a topics based course. Students should select their topic from the course specifications and email the examiner prior to enrolment to receive enrolment approval.

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Mathematics for High School Teaching specialisation recommended enrolment pattern - part-time

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.

This specialisation alone does not meet eligibility for teacher registration and therefore should only be taken by students who already have completed an initial teacher education program.

Students may seek approval from the Discipline Coordinator to enrol in courses not listed in this table.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
# 1 1
2
1 1,2Enrolment is not permitted in if STA2300 or has been previously completed.

Approved courses: Choose one of the following (other courses are available from the Mathematics and Statistics specialisation):

# 2 2Pre-requisite: or MAT1502 or or Students must be enrolled in the following program: MSCN or MEPR or BSED
2 2Pre-requisite: or or equivalent or approval from the examiner. Enrolment is not permitted in if MAT1200 has been previously completed.
1 1

Footnotes
# and give a higher level of Algebra & Calculus that are essential for teaching Mathematics B & C (or equivalent) in schools. Students without an appropriate background for MAT1102 should contact the Program Coordinator via usq.support@usq.edu.au to discuss options. Students can take and as alternatives to these two courses with the approval of the Program Coordinator.

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Mathematics for Primary/Middle School Teaching specialisation recommended enrolment pattern - part-time

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.

This specialisation alone does not meet eligibility for teacher registration and therefore should only be taken by students who already have completed an initial teacher education program.

Students may seek approval from the Discipline Coordinator to enrol in courses not listed in this table.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
Approved Course (choose from the list below): 1,2
Approved Course (choose from the list below): 1
2
** 2

Approved courses: Choose two of the following:

2 2
1 1
1

Footnotes
** is a topics based course. Students should select their topic from the course specifications and email the examiner prior to enrolment to receive enrolment approval.

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Physics specialisation recommended enrolment pattern - part-time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
1 1 Co-requisite: ( or ) or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MSCN or GDSI or GCSC
1Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: MSCN or MSCR or MCTN or MADS or GCSC or GDSI or DPHD or its equivalent. Enrolment is not permitted in if has been previously completed.
2 2 Co-requisite: ( or ) or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MSCN or GDSI or GCSC
2

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Psychology in Schools specialisation recommended enrolment pattern - part-time S1 entry

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedResidential schoolEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
1 1,3
2 1,2
2Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in the following Program: GCSC or BSED
* 1 M

Footnotes
* This offering requires attendance at a mandatory residential school (a mandatory residential school is compulsory and has an associated pass/fail assessment linked to the residential school attendance).

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Science for Primary/Middle School Teaching specialisation recommended enrolment pattern

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.

This specialisation alone does not meet eligibility for teacher registration and therefore should only be taken by students who already have completed an initial teacher education program.

Choose four approved courses, at least two of which must be at Level 8.


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

Approved courses: Choose four courses, at least two of which must be at Level 8:

† 1 1 HR
1 1
* 1 1
+ 1 1 Co-requisite: ( or ) or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MSCN or GDSI or GCSC
1
1Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: MSCN or MSCR or MCTN or MADS or GCSC or GDSI or DPHD or its equivalent. Enrolment is not permitted in if has been previously completed.
2 2
2 2
† 2 2 HRPre-requisite:
2 2Co-requisite: ( or ) or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: MSCN or GDSI or GCSC
* 2 2
2
2

Footnotes
† External offering has a highly recommended residential school (linked to an assessment item and non-attendance will mean a student misses an element for assessment preparation or an element of assessment).
* Astronomical observations for each course are made remotely via Internet access to USQ’s Mt Kent Observatory. Voluntary field nights will also be made available.
+ This course uses in-home practical kits. There is no residential school requirement.

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Wine Science specialisation recommended enrolment pattern - part-time

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.


CourseYear of program and semester in which course is normally studiedResidential schoolEnrolment requirements
On-campus
(ONC)
External
(EXT)
Online
(ONL)
YearSemYearSemYearSem
1Pre-requisite: Students must be enrolled in one of the following programs: MSCN or MSCR or MCTN or MADS or GCSC or GDSI or DPHD or its equivalent. Enrolment is not permitted in if has been previously completed.
Approved course: (choose from the list below):
2
Approved course: (choose from the list below):

Approved courses: Choose two from the following:

1,2
1
2Pre-requisite:
† 1 1 HR
* 1 MCo-requisite:
2Pre-requisite:
3 1,2,3 Pre-requisite: Completion of 2nd year (or 2 years full time study in a relevant area)
† 2 HRPre-requisite:

Footnotes
† This offering has a highly recommended residential school (linked to an assessment item and non-attendance will mean a student misses an element for assessment preparation or an element of assessment).
* This offering requires attendance at a mandatory residential school (a mandatory residential school is compulsory and has an associated pass/fail assessment linked to the residential school attendance).

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General 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.

This specialisation enables students to choose four courses from within any of the Graduate Certificate of Science specialisations, with at least 2 courses being at level 8. This specialisation is designed primarily to enable a general exit point from the GDSI Graduate Diploma of Science or the MSCN Master of Science .