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Postgraduate

Graduate Certificate of Early Childhood Education and Care

Domestic students International students
Graduate Certificate of Early Childhood Education and Care (GCCH)
Entry requirements
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Study mode
  • External
Campus
  • -
Duration
  • 1 year part-time
Start
  • Feb, May, Sep
Intakes

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Overview

  • Are you a primary or secondary teacher wanting to expand your qualifications into early childhood education? The Graduate Certificate of Early Childhood Education and Care provides you with essential qualifications to deliver crucial early childhood and Kindergarten learning.
  • One of the most significant times of a person’s life is during their first 5 years, where brain development is at it’s peak and a supportive, nurturing environment is essential to build a foundation for future learning, health and life success. Expand your teaching qualifications to deliver learning that makes a life-long difference.
  • This Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)-accredited degree is an ideal option for teachers who have the desire to take a role in the early childhood education space, for example, in rural areas where teachers are often limited and the need for staff to become multi-skilled is essential.
  • Once graduated, you will have a broad range of qualifications giving you the ability to deliver essential learning in an early childhood education setting, or to become a manager or advisor of an educational centre for children aged from birth to 5 years of age.
 

Professional accreditation

This degree is an approved Early Childhood Teacher (ECT) qualification with the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

Career outcomes

  • This degree suits teachers who want to broaden their career opportunities and be qualified for in-demand kindergarten career vacancies. This qualification also suits those wishing to pursue management or advisory positions within education settings to work with children from birth to 5 years of age. 

Entry requirements

Find the entry requirements most relevant to you.

  • Completion of an undergraduate initial teacher education qualification in Primary or Secondary Education which leads to teacher registration, such as a Bachelor of Education.
    or
  • Completion of a postgraduate initial teacher education qualification in Primary or Secondary Education which leads to teacher registration, such as a Master of Learning and Teaching.

English language requirements

To meet the English language requirements for this degree, we accept the combined level and duration of study specified below, or the minimum English language proficiency scores from one of the following tests. Your test must be completed within two years of applying to UniSQ. 

Tertiary study
(Diploma level or higher)
 2+ years full-time tertiary study in a country from the Accepted English-speaking countries list.
IELTS (Academic)  Minimum overall score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.5 in each subscore (speaking, listening, reading and writing). 
International Second Language Proficiency Ratings (ISLPR) A rating of at least 4 in each of the skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Please note that the assessment must be completed at an approved testing site.
Professional English Assessment for Teachers (PEAT) Assessment of A in all four areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing.

If you have a current Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) provisional or full registration you automatically meet the English language requirements for this degree.

Teacher registration is the responsibility of jurisdictional authorities and the specifications for English Language requirements are set out under the relevant regulatory schemes. 

Additional requirements for placements

You must be able to meet the physical and other professional requirements of professional experience placements within this degree.

Some childcare centres may require evidence of vaccination prior to undertaking professional experience at the site.

State law in Queensland (Australia) requires that all adults working/undertaking professional experience/researching with children under the age of 18, are required to hold a current Positive Exemption Card (Blue Card) or hold a valid Working with Children Check. Students in other Australian states or in overseas contexts need to ensure they have complied with the equivalent requirements and have registered the details with the UniSQ Education Placement Office.

Recognition of prior learning or work experience

If you have previously studied in your home country, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.

Pathways

If you don't meet the entry requirements, we have pathway options available to you.

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 4 units. Most courses (similar to ‘subjects’) are valued at 1 unit.

Students can enrol in a maximum of 2 courses per semester due to the time constraints which are required to attend professional experience placements. This enrolment pattern is provided to accommodate students' needs, many of whom, in addition to study, are teaching on a full or part-time basis. Therefore, this qualification can only be studied part-time. 

Courses to be studied Units
Core courses 4
Total 4

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

Professional experience / education placements 

A student of the Graduate Certificate of Early Education and Care, you will embark on the following professional placements:

  • 20 days with children aged 3-5 (Kindergarten)
  • 10 days with children aged from birth – 35 months
  • 30 days with children before they start formal schooling or another approved context.

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 international students' first year of study (4 units) in this degree:

Study Mode Cost
External/Online

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

AUD 14120

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2025. 

Student services and amenities fees

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

Placement costs

Placement courses may incur some additional costs, including uniform and equipment, transport to and from venues and, in some instances, living expenses, particularly for placements in rural and remote settings.

Scholarships

At UniSQ, 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 UniSQ.

Apply direct to UniSQ

Intakes

You can select to start your study in Trimester 1, 2 or 3.

Study period  Orientation  Study period start date Finish date
Trimester 1, 2025  Monday 3 February  Monday 10 February  Friday 9 May
Trimester 2, 2025 Monday 19 May Monday 26 May  Friday 22 August
Trimester 3, 2025 Monday 1 September Monday 8 September Friday 5 December 

Further information

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

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Begin your study journey today with the university rated 5/5 stars for graduates starting salaries* and start the degree that’s right for you.

*Good Universities Guide 2025

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