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Postgraduate

Graduate Certificate of Professional Studies

Domestic students International students
Graduate Certificate of Professional Studies (GCPS)
Entry requirements
View full details
Study mode
  • External
  • On-campus
Campus
  • Toowoomba
Duration
  • 0.5 year(s) (or part-time equivalent)
Start date
  • February
  • July
  • November

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Overview

  • Have you ever wished you could work full-time and have the opportunity to contribute towards gaining a higher degree qualification? The Graduate Certificate of Professional Studies is specifically designed for people wanting to develop their professional skills in work and gain a graduate qualification.
  • Your prior learning can be used as an entry pathway to this program in the place of a Bachelor degree.
  • Develop your professional practice and career while working. Your day-to-day tasks in work can form part of your study leading to benefits for you and your organisation or community.
  • Focus on a real-world, real-time work-based project, enables you to become a leader in your profession and while making a contribution to your community of practice.
  • Linked to the need for self-directed career development, the program is multi-disciplinary, relevant, and personalised to your work and profession.

Further study

Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Professional Studies will qualify you to apply for:

Career outcomes

  • By completing the Graduate Certificate of Professional Studies you will gain a postgraduate qualification illustrating the high level of expertise you have gained in your profession, make a contribution to your organisation or community, and to your own development and career.
  • Use this degree to advance further in the public service, become a specialised professional leader in the private sector, and become a thought leader in your profession. 

Entry requirements 

  • 3-year bachelor degree from an Australian University or equivalent plus at least 3 years experience in their field of professional practice

English language requirements

You are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires a minimum of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If you do not meet the English language requirements you may apply to study a University-approved English language program.

Recognition of prior learning or work experience

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.

Pathways

USQ offers a number of bachelor degrees for you to study to help you meet the entry requirements for your chosen degree.

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 4 units. Most courses (similar to ‘subjects’) are valued at 1 unit. To study full-time you would usually complete 4 units per semester.

Courses to be studied Units
1 x core course 2
1 x workplace-based project course 2
Total 4

Refer to the USQ Handbook for courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Fees and scholarships

Your actual fees may vary depending on the courses you select. We review our fees annually so these may be subject to change.

Approximate annual costs1 for your first year of study (4 units) in this degree are:

Study Mode Cost
Domestic full fee paying

You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee.

AUD 10760

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2020. 

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Loan to help you pay your fees

You may not have to pay your course (subject) fees upfront. FEE-HELP allows you to defer your fees until your income reaches a certain level. Find out if you are eligible for FEE-HELP. 

You may also be eligible to receive financial support from Centrelink.

Scholarships

At USQ, we offer a range of scholarships to support your success at university. Find a scholarship that works for you.

How to apply

Complete your online application directly to USQ.

Apply direct to USQ

The closing dates for applying directly to USQ are:

  • Semester 3, 2020 - applications close Friday 20 November, with semester 3 commencing on Monday 16 November, 2020.
  • Semester 1, 2021 - applications close Monday 22 February, with semester 1 commencing on Monday 22 February, 2021.
  • Semester 2, 2021 - applications close Monday 12 July, with semester 2 commencing on Monday 12 July, 2021.
  • Semester 3, 2021 - applications close Monday 15 November, with semester 3 commencing on Monday 15 November, 2021.

More information on applying key dates is available.

Further information

Discover further information on applying to study at USQ that is relevant to you.

Got questions?

 

Begin your study journey today with Australia’s #1 University for graduate starting salary* and start the degree that’s right for you.

*(Good Universities Guide, 2020.)

Talk to our degree advisors