Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership

Course information for - 2025 entry

Offered at 1 locations

Duration
0.5 year full-time or equivalent part-time
Fees (first year)*

$9908 Fee-paying

Start dates
Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2025
Applications open August 2024
Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Beginning July 2025
Applications open April 2025

Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership is for educators including teachers, middle leaders, principals, and administrators who want to become creative and innovative leaders with influence in education. Participants explore theories of educational leadership, management and administration, and learn to apply them appropriately to their own contexts including Catholic and faith-based educational organisations.

The Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership is not an initial teaching qualification.

  • Enhance your professional practice. Become a leader in your school community or organisation.

  • Apply theories of educational leadership, management and administration to a school setting.

  • Offered nationally and in online mode. Complete in six months.

Careers

Our graduates have pursued careers in:

  • management and administration
  • educational leadership
  • policy development

Course details

Course structure

Course map

Open all

Please note: Course maps are subject to change.

Commencing Semester 1

  • Specified unitsEDLE650Foundations: Vision and Mission of Catholic Education in the Contemporary World10 cp
  • Specified unitsEDLE651Leading Learning in Catholic Educational Communities and Cultures10 cp
  • Elective units 10 cp
  • Elective units 10 cp

Graduate statement

Insight

As an ACU graduate you have personal insight founded on an understanding of who you are as a professional, a citizen and a scholar. You embrace change and growth through critical self-awareness and learning autonomy. You are empowered to seek truth and meaning, drawing on the principles of justice, equity, and the dignity of all human beings.

Empathy

As an ACU graduate you value human dignity and diversity. This appreciation is founded on deep reflection, and empathy. You have experience of Indigenous Knowings and perspectives and can engage respectfully when working alongside Australia's First Peoples. You can connect with people and cultures and work with community in ways that recognise the dignity of the human person and all cultures

Imagination

As an ACU graduate you utilise imagination and innovation to solve problems. You critically analyse information from a range of sources to creatively solve practical problems and use critical thinking to make decisions and advance the common good. You appreciate the role of innovation and creative thinking in developing a better future for each person and community.

Impact

As an ACU graduate you recognise your responsibility to work for social justice and a sustainable world founded on a commitment to human dignity and the common good. You lead change through respectful collaboration and effective communication of ideas to diverse peoples, groups and communities in local and global contexts. You are empowered to positively impact your profession and the community.

AQF framework

Graduate Certificate - AQF Level 8

Entry requirements

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

International applicants need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.

To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites:

a. A recognised teaching qualification and a minimum 2 years teaching experience

OR

b. A Bachelor degree and a minimum of 2 years relevant leadership experience

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2025 Admission.

English language requirements

IELTS overall score of 7.0. Individual score of 6.0 in all tests.

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

Further study

Graduates may progress to masters by coursework.

Fees

Course costs

Average first year fee*

$9908 Fee-paying

All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of 40 credit points (normally 4 units) per year.

A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:

  • the number of units studied per semester;
  • the choice of major or specialisation; and
  • elective units.

The University reviews fees annually.

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. 

Explore your options 

Scholarships

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.  

Search our scholarships  

How to apply

Domestic applicants

Direct application

Apply now

Additional application information

Semester 1 applications for this course open in August. Mid-year applications, if offered, open in April.

Please check the start dates at the top of this page for Mid-year availability. Mid-year entry may be offered at other campuses.


For direct applications, read more at our application deadlines page.

To receive information about this course and key application dates, register your interest.

Deferment

Deferment is available for one year. Find out more about deferment.

Staff Profile

Dr Paul Kidson

Course Coordinator, Faculty of Education and Arts

Dr Paul Kidson is Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership and the Head of Postgraduate Studies in the National School of Education. He has extensive school leadership and governance experience, including 11 years as a school principal, which informs the highly practical orientation of his academic research. In addition to his academic research and leadership, he is a member of Australian Council for Educational Leaders (NSW) Executive Committee, a Fellow of the Institute for Managers and Leaders, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute for Company Directors.

His research adopts holistic and interdisciplinary approaches, drawing on a range of academic disciplines and insights. Through this, he explores how school leaders work effectively within, and critically transform, their complex professional lives. This encompasses broader systems and policies which govern the work of educational leaders, as well as how school leaders develop and sustain their personal experience of leadership. He is part of a large-scale research projects on school leadership, and one of the lead researchers on Australia’s largest and longest running principal well-being research project, the Australian Principal Occupational Health and Well-being Survey. 

 

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