Graduate Certificate in Development Practice
Overview
Develop the practical and intellectual skills to navigate the complex landscape of development, critically engage with key debates and be part of creating sustainable alternatives for the future.
UQ’s Development Practice program addresses key challenges in the world today, including the rights of Indigenous people, inequality, gender, health, violence, alternative economics, climate justice and environmental sustainability.
With a diversity of delivery options – including intensive, online, practice-based learning environments and in-field research – focusing on the fundamentals, this six-month program is suitable for students with an approved degree, or post-secondary study and relevant work experience. The program is designed to fit in with your interests and availability, whether you're starting, advancing or rethinking your career.
Local communities in Australia and overseas are situated within rich and complex global dynamics. Our program equips you with theoretically informed skills to embrace the challenges of understanding, practising and rethinking development at different scales.
Drawing from anthropology, community development, planning, political science, sociology and related fields, UQ's Development Practice offers you a unique, multidisciplinary and practice-based learning experience.
Our graduates work across government, industry and community settings in development, social services, health, planning and elsewhere, to contribute to collaborative social change.
Program highlights
- Benefit from a program taught and supervised by scholars engaged in the field through research and practice.
- Become part of a multicultural study environment and connect to an international cohort who contribute rich and diverse experiences.
- Develop a strong multidisciplinary foundation and complete core courses including community development, planning, sociology, international relations and politics.
- Join a program that welcomes applicants from various academic, professional and cultural backgrounds who are eager to rethink and redefine development practice.
How you'll learn
Due to the way they are taught, certain programs and plans are not offered online in Semester 1, 2023.
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Overseas study
- Research experience
- Seminars
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Foundations of Sustainable Development
- Global South Cities: Development planning theory and practice
- Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Health
- Applied Anthropology and Indigenous Territories
Career possibilities
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Community development practitioner
- Multicultural liaison officer
- Social inclusion officer
- Indigenous community adviser
- Community planning and policy adviser
- International aid worker
- Outreach services officer
- Sustainability researcher
- Community development manager
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Entry requirements
Entry requirements
To be eligible for entry, you'll need:
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline; or
- 2 years full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in a paid or substantial volunteer capacity, evidenced through the submission of a portfolio that demonstrates the contribution made to the organisation or relevant community of interest.
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline; or
- 2 years full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in a paid or substantial volunteer capacity, evidenced through the submission of a portfolio that demonstrates the contribution made to the organisation or relevant community of interest.
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
Related programs
Depending on your previous qualifications and current goals, you might want to consider
one of these related programs:
English language requirements
IELTS overall 6.5; reading 6; writing 6; speaking 6; listening 6. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL IBT - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.
TOEFL PB - Overall 570, listening 54, reading 54, writing 59/5.
Pearsons - Overall Score of 64 and 60 in all sub bands.
BE - A minimum overall grade of 4 plus a minimum grade of C in all macro skills.
CES - Overall 176 and 169 in all sub bands.
OET is not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Graduate Certificate in Development Practice are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement.
Additional application information
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (8 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$13,350
2023
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (8 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $16,632
2023
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
FEE-HELP
Domestic students who are accepted into the Graduate Certificate in Development Practice pay tuition fees.
FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their tuition fees.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government offers a number of income-support payments to eligible Australian university students.
Scholarships
Make your university experience more affordable with a scholarship. Opportunities include:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Graduate Certificate in Development Practice is 5344.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Graduate Certificate in Development Practice is 5344.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in semester 2 - May 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in semester 1 - November 30 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in Semester 1 - January 31 of the year of commencement.
- To commence study in Semester 2 - June 30 of the year of commencement.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying - or if you have any questions about Uni - get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
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