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1st for skills development for IT courses in Australia
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1st for learner engagement for IT courses in Australia
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1st for teaching quality for IT courses in Australia
Course information for - 2026 entry
- Duration
- 0.5 year full-time or equivalent part-time
- ATAR
- N/A
- Fees (first year)*
- Start dates
- Not on offer, ACU Term 3, ACU Term 4
Overview
Accelerate your career with a future-focused Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence.
This unique program provides strong technical foundations in data analytics, programming, machine learning, and cloud computing, while immersing you in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital twins, and quantum computing. You’ll also develop expertise in responsible innovation, with a strong emphasis on cybersecurity, digital trust, and the ethical design of technology.
Beyond technical excellence, the program fosters the professional capabilities needed to lead in complex, dynamic environments, contribute to your community, and influence positive change.
Upon graduation, you’ll be equipped to lead innovation, solve complex challenges, and thrive in high-growth roles across the global tech landscape. You’ll also be empowered to develop solutions that address real-world problems and deliver meaningful social impact across industries and communities.
Careers
You’ll graduate ready for a range of career opportunities, including:
- Software & Application Developer
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Engineer
- Cybersecurity & Digital Trust Specialist
- Data Scientist / Data Analyst
- Cloud Solutions Architect
- IT Strategy & Innovation Consultant
- Digital Ethics or Tech Policy Advisor
- User Experience (UX) Designer
- Systems & Network Infrastructure Architect
- Game or Simulation Developer
- Digital Product Manager
- Tech-for-Good / Social Impact Technologist
Course details
Course structure
To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence you must complete 40 cp.
Course map
Graduate statement
AQF framework
Entry requirements
To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence, applicants must comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
To receive an offer, applicants must have completed one of the following:
1. A Bachelor’s degree or higher qualification in any field OR
2. Evidence of equivalent prior learning and demonstrated capability through relevant industry certifications or professional experience, such as Microsoft Azure AI Engineer, AWS Certified Machine
Learning, Google Cloud AI Engineer, or other recognised AI and Machine Learning credentials.
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2026 Admission.
Inherent requirement
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.
Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you
Pathways
Pathways into course for applicants with previous study and/or life experience
Are you applying to ACU as a non-school leaver?
By that we mean, you’re not currently completing Year 12 and haven’t completed it in the two years previously. If the answer is yes and your selection rank isn’t enough to meet the requirements for your desired course you still have a number of options to help you achieve your study goals.
If you’re over 21, you can sit the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT), or you can complete a diploma or bridging course relevant to your desired course.
Fees
Course costs
*This is an indicative first-year fee based on the tuition fee rates for a full-time student, using unit enrolment data from domestic students who studied the course in the previous year.
A student’s annual fee will vary depending on factors including:
- Number of units studied per year
- Choice of major or specialisation
- Elective units
The University reviews fees annually.
You can view current course costs and domestic tuition fee rates by unit.
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support.
Scholarships
The University has allotted a total of 10 equity scholarships available for Computer Science students under the following categories:
- 5 scholarships for women in STEM - NextGen Women in STEM Pathways Scholarship - Australian Catholic University Scholarships
- 5 scholarships for Indigenous students - Indigenous Code and Data Scholarship - Australian Catholic University Scholarships
The scholarships are valued at $3,000 each and will be assessed by a panel chaired by the Office of the Provost. Applicants are required to submit a short written statement addressing the selection criteria.
In addition you could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.
Apply for this course
ACU Online Applicants
Deferment
Deferment is available for one year. Find out more about deferment: Deferment Information.
Staff Profile
Associate Professor Eila Erfani
Program Director for the Computer and Data Science
Associate Professor Eila Erfani is the Program Director for the Computer and Data Science discipline at Australian Catholic University. She leads with a strong commitment to responsible innovation, high-impact research for social good, and future-focused teaching. Her work focuses on the ethical application of emerging technologies (e.g. AI) to address societal challenges and create meaningful human impact. Eila champions a user-centric approach to education that fosters both technical excellence and socially conscious, ethically grounded thinking.
Dr Mashud Rana
Senior Lecturer, Computer and Data Science
Dr Mashud Rana is a Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at the Australian Catholic University (ACU), with expertise in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and data science. Prior to joining ACU, Dr Rana was a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO’s Data61 (2018–2024), where he led several nationally significant, cross-disciplinary projects focused on applying AI/ML to address challenges in energy, health, and environmental systems. In early 2025, he served as Assistant Director (Data Science) at the Australian Government’s Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency, where he played a key role in developing AI governance and analytics to support national policy and risk management. Earlier in his career, he held Research Fellowships positions at the University of New South Wales (2015–2016) and the University of Sydney (2016–2018).
Dr Rana completed his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Sydney. His research interests include deep learning for time series and sensor data analytics, interpretable ML, information fusion, and AI-enabled decision support systems. He is passionate about bridging academia and industry through translational and collaborative research that delivers real societal impact.
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