Graduate Certificate in Economics
Overview
Prepare for career success by gaining the high-level analytical and decision-making skills sought after by employers.
This 6-month (or part-time equivalent) postgraduate qualification builds on your understanding of key economic concepts gained through prior study.
Enhance your capabilities with courses about consumer and firm behaviour, the macroeconomy and elements of econometrics, as well as your choice of elective from a diverse range of options.
Studying economics at UQ will develop your analytical ability, critical thinking and logic – all key decision-making skills that can contribute to greater career outcomes. You'll also learn about the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of decision-making that economists deal with every day.
Successful completion of this program can provide an opportunity to undertake further study via the economics master's program.
Program highlights
- Graduate with the skill set to succeed in a dynamic and increasingly competitive business environment.
- Learn from world-class academic staff, whose research-intensive focus ensures content is engaging and relevant.
- Tap into Queensland’s largest School of Economics, boasting more than 70 teaching and research staff.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- 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:
- The Macroeconomy
- Consumer and Firm Behaviour
- Elements of Econometrics
- Business and Economic Decision Techniques
Professional memberships
When you graduate, you may be eligible for memberships with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to become a member.
- Economic Society of Australia
Events
See all events
12 January - 12 January
Institute of Modern Languages High School Enrichment Program
Stories
See all stories
Study tips
Graduate certificate vs graduate diploma
5-minute read
Careers
Predicting the unpredictable: 6 key behavioural economics concepts
6-minute read
Careers
Finance vs economics: what you need to know
4-minute read
Stories
See all storiesStudy tips
Graduate certificate vs graduate diploma
5-minute read
Careers
Predicting the unpredictable: 6 key behavioural economics concepts
6-minute read
Careers
Finance vs economics: what you need to know
4-minute read
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
To be eligible for entry, you'll need:
- a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
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 a relevant discipline.
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
Relevant disciplines for previous qualifications
Relevant disciplines include economics, business, or commerce; or a bachelor's degree containing at least 4 courses in any 3 of the following areas:
- microeconomics
- macroeconomics
- statistics
- mathematics
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 (including Paper Edition) - Overall 87, listening 19, reading 19, writing 21 and speaking 19.
PTE Academic - 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 Economics 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 Student (GS) requirement.
Need help meeting the entry requirements?
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (8 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$22,172
2026
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (8 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $27,048
2026
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 Economics 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
You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent near you.
The program code for the Graduate Certificate in Economics is 5010.
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Graduate Certificate in Economics is 5010.
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.
Visa processing times vary. Apply and accept your offer as early as you can.
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 university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (ATSIS) Unit.
Explore other programs
Express yourself. And your interest.
They say choosing a degree is hard, which is why we've made it easy. Register your interest and we'll send you everything you need to know about applying to UQ.