#2 in Australia for education and educational research*
#11 in the world for education and educational research*
Advance your vocational teaching career
Key facts
Duration
1 year part-time
Locations
Key dates
Direct applications to Deakin for Trimester 2 2025 close 29 June 2025
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course overview
Take your teaching expertise and salary to the next level, with Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Adult, Vocational Education and Training. This course will equip you with the advanced knowledge and practical skills – and AQF level 8 qualification – to meet the growing demand for teachers within the TAFE and Vocational Education and Training (VET) system.
With a focus on developing your agency in the classroom, this course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to confidently design, teach and assess in TAFE/VET. You’ll explore the methodologies behind creating authentic and inclusive learning experiences for students and investigate the design, development and evaluation of research in education. You’ll also have the opportunity to undertake your own independent research project relevant to professional practice in education.
Ready to boost your VET professional learning to take your teaching career and salary to the next level?
With a supervised professional practice component, you’ll gain the support you need to integrate the innovative practices and approaches you learn about directly into your teaching, enhancing your expertise – and your career. By developing transferable skills, such as critical enquiry, collaboration and strategic thinking, you’ll also be set to skilfully navigate the challenges of VET teaching, now and into the future.
Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Adult, Vocational Education and Training meets the requirements for an AQF level 8 or above teaching qualification in the Victorian TAFE Teaching Staff Agreement, meaning you’ll graduate qualified to apply for new MEA classifications and associated incremental salary points.
This course is delivered via Deakin’s premium online platform – meaning can get ahead with your career journey while also maintaining work, study and personal commitments. You can also choose to start your course in any of Deakin’s three study periods (trimesters) across the year.
Read MoreCourse information
- Award granted
- Graduate Certificate of Adult, Vocational Education and Training
- Year
2025 course information
- Deakin code
- E506
- Level
- Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Course structure
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Adult, Vocational Education and Training, you must pass 4 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 4 credit points of core units.
Most units are equal to one credit point.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Note: This course is part-time only.
Core units
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
Trimester 1 - March
- Start date: March
- Available at:
- Online
Trimester 2 - July
- Start date: July
- Available at:
- Online
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Participation requirements
Compulsory learning experiences
A total of 200-hours of teaching practice, teacher observation and teacher professional development and professional activities, including:
- 15-days (120-hours) in which the teaching practice of the teacher candidate is observed and evaluated by a qualified teacher educator of the institution conferring the teaching qualification or, by other fully qualified teachers who agree to act as supervisor/s of the teacher candidate.
- 50-hours in which the teacher candidate participates in activities such as
- attendance at meetings of teachers,
- development of course materials,
- student interviews,
- industry liaison and consultation with external authorities and enterprises; and
- 50-hours of other teaching-related activities which may involve further directly supervised teaching practice or further teaching observations or participation in other professional teaching activities (25-hours each embedded in EEE735 & EEE736).
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements or higher to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.
Academic requirements
To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:
- completion of a bachelor degree or higher
- at least two years' relevant work experience (or part-time equivalent)
English language proficiency requirements
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- bachelor degree from a recognised English-speaking country
- IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
- other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)
Admissions information
Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.
Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn’t have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you are able to commit to your study.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
The available fee places for this course are detailed above. Not all courses at Deakin have Commonwealth supported places available.
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical tuition fees for students completing this course within the same year they started. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together four credit points of study. Four credit points is used as it represents a typical enrolment load for a Graduate Certificate.
Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together four credit points of a typical combination of units for your course.
You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook.
Learn more about fees and available payment options.
Scholarship options
A Deakin scholarship could help you pay for your course fees, living costs and study materials. If you've got something special to offer Deakin - or maybe you just need a bit of extra support - we've got a scholarship opportunity for you. Search or browse through our scholarships
Postgraduate bursary
If you’re a Deakin alumnus commencing a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible to receive a 10% reduction per unit on your enrolment fees.
Apply now
To apply, create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal details and education experience, upload supporting documents and submit. Need help? Play this video, or contact one of our friendly future student advisers on 1800 693 888 or submit an online enquiry.
For more information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply webpage. If you're still having problems, please contact us for assistance.
Contact information
Our friendly advisers are available to speak to you one-on-one about your study options, support services and how we can help you further your career.
- Call us: 1800 693 888 Monday – Friday, 9am–5pm
- Live Chat: Monday - Friday
- Submit an online enquiry
- Help hub find common and trending questions and answers
Careers
Career outcomes
Graduates of Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Adult, Vocational Education and Training will have advanced skills, knowledge and expertise to teach in TAFE and the Vocational Education and Training system, including the adult and community education sectors.
For more information go to DeakinTALENT.
Course learning outcomes
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Critically analyse and apply advanced and specialised knowledge of the principles of contemporary vocational education research, curriculum design, pedagogy and evidence-based assessment and their application for teaching and learning in adult, vocational education and training |
| Communication | Employ expert oral and written communication skills and standards required of the adult, vocational education and training teaching and scholarship to be able to transmit complex knowledge to a variety of audiences |
| Digital literacy | Apply a range of digital technologies and data sources to create, search, analyse, report, evaluate and communicate within the practice and scholarship of teaching of adult, vocational education and training |
| Critical thinking | Critically review, analyse and synthesise complex ideas and make informed judgements to improve teaching and learning methodologies, pedagogy and practices in adult, vocational education and training |
| Problem solving | Apply specialist knowledge of theories of learning and teaching, to identify, evaluate and resolve problems and challenges impacting on adult and vocational education and training, including addressing implications for teaching and scholarship |
| Self-management | Apply an evidence-based approach to critical self-reflection in relation to teaching and learning, and evidence of a commitment to ongoing, self-directed lifelong learning and professional development |
| Global citizenship | Analyse and apply ethical and professional standards in engaging with key challenges in teaching and learning globally, and within diverse socioeconomic, cultural and religious contexts |
Approved at Faculty Board September 2019
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Footnotes
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. For more information, visit our list of sources.
++Some courses have limited places, apply early to avoid missing out.