#13 worldwide for education
Professional recognition for higher education
Pathway to UK Higher Education Academy
Why choose Deakin
Progress your career in tertiary education and enhance your understanding of teaching and learning with Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Higher Education (Learning and Teaching). You will graduate as an effective educator who meets the learning needs of diverse learners across a range of higher education contexts.
Designed for early career and experienced teachers and academics who wish to consolidate their skills in designing and delivering effective learning programs. You will learn to improve student experience by creating and sustaining digitally enriched, supportive learning environments. You will be supported in developing and implementing effective approaches to feedback, assessment and evaluation, and in engaging in ongoing professional learning. Completing the degree assessments makes Deakin academics eligible for Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). External students can use the assessments as evidence to support an FHEA application (United Kingdom).
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Top-ranked education
Learn with staff who are active researchers in a field ranked #3 in Australia and #13 worldwide for education and educational research.
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Recognition with global reach
Assessments are designed to provide evidence to support an application to the United Kingdom Higher Education Academy.
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Built for tertiary teaching
This graduate certificate focuses on university teaching, assessment and inclusive learning in higher education.
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Flexible career growth
Study online and part-time while building capability for university teaching and higher education leadership.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Strengthen your higher education practice for academic teaching, research supervision and leadership roles, with advanced skills in curriculum, assessment, inclusive learning and scholarly practice.
Lecturer
Teach undergraduate and postgraduate students, design learning and assessment, provide academic guidance and contribute to curriculum and scholarly practice in universities and tertiary institutions.
- $128k
Typical annual salary in Australia
- 4/5
Job satisfaction
Academic
Combine teaching and research with scholarly practice, research supervision and academic leadership, contributing to learning and knowledge within universities and other higher education settings.
- $123k
Typical annual salary in Australia
- 5.7%
Projected job growth in 5 years
Professional areas include
- Academic development
- Curriculum leadership
- Higher education leadership
- Postgraduate teaching
- Undergraduate teaching
Key dates
Direct applications
Trimester 1 2027 applications close 7 February 2027
FAQs
Yes – every Deakin student can access work-integrated learning (WIL) in their degree. Each year, more than 30,000+ students complete a placement or internship with partners including Microsoft, KPMG, EY and the National Australia Bank. You can access WIL through placements, industry projects, field-based experiences, simulations and global programs, helping you apply your skills and graduate with the experience and confidence employers value.
DeakinTALENT is Deakin's award-winning career service, and you can access it for life – not just while you're studying. From personalised career coaching sessions and AI-enhanced resume support to a jobs and internships board with employment opportunities, it’s designed to give you the career management skills and connections you need to stand out. Every Deakin degree is built with input from employers, so your course is designed around real workplace needs, now and into the future.
Entry requirements and the minimum ATAR vary by degree and are detailed on the degree page, but if your ATAR is below the cut-off, you still have options. Use the pathway finder tool to find the opportunities available to you, including associate degrees and Deakin Guaranteed ATAR, which offers eligible students a guaranteed entry score that's on average 10 points below the lowest selection rank. If you don't have an ATAR, Deakin Uni Ready is a free, supported program designed to build your skills and confidence and open doors to degrees in arts, health, science and business. Access programs and equity schemes are also available.
At Deakin, employability isn't an add-on – it's built in. Our degrees are designed with industry input, so your skills are aligned to what employers actually need. Every Deakin student can access work-integrated learning through opportunities such as placements, internships and industry projects, helping you build your professional network and practical experience before you even graduate. It's an approach that works: nine out of 10 Deakin graduates get a job within four to six months of finishing their degree.
Yes. Most eligible undergraduate students are offered a Commonwealth Supported Place meaning the government subsidises part of your tuition fees. If eligible, you can pay your student contribution using a HECS-HELP loan that you only start repaying once your income is above the repayment threshold. Deakin has scholarships that cater to our diverse student community, ranging from $5,000 per year for high ATAR achievers to $10,000 per year for students facing financial or personal hardship. The University also offers support services including financial counselling, budgeting help and access to short-term, interest-free loans to help you stay on track.
Deakin is the #1 Victorian university for student support and that starts the moment you accept your offer. Orientation is designed to help you feel welcome and get to know your community of classmates and teachers from day one. Across all campuses, there's a vibrant student community with clubs, events and opportunities to build real friendships. Deakin offers a range of services to help students stay healthy and safe, including sport and fitness facilities, free counselling, on-campus medical services and around-the-clock security.
Yes, and it's straightforward. You can transfer to Deakin in a few steps and apply for credit through recognition of prior learning (RPL), so you won't necessarily repeat subjects you've already completed. If you're coming from a TAFE partner, you may get guaranteed entry into second year with guaranteed RPL. Deakin's three-trimester system also means you may be able to start mid-year rather than waiting until March.
Most Deakin courses run across three trimesters per year instead of the traditional two semesters. Trimester 1 begins around March, Trimester 2 around July and Trimester 3 around November, each with roughly 12 weeks of teaching followed by an exam period. This means you can usually start your degree at three different points in the year and have more flexibility to manage your study load. Check the intakes by location section on the course page for details.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Graduate Certificate of Higher Education (Learning and Teaching)?
Build advanced capability in learning design, assessment, inclusive digital teaching and scholarly reflection on your practice.
Design, teach and refine
Design learning with intention
Build advanced understanding of curriculum design and student-centred teaching. Create learning experiences that are purposeful, engaging and aligned with contemporary higher education practice.
Strengthen assessment and inclusion
Develop practical approaches to feedback, assessment and supportive learning environments, with attention to diverse learners and the realities of digital teaching.
Advance your academic practice
Critically evaluate your teaching, refine your professional judgement and be prepared for academic teaching, research supervision and leadership roles in higher education.
Course structure
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Higher Education (Learning and Teaching), you must pass 4 credit points.
Most units are equal to one credit point. This course is available part-time only, with students typically studying one to two credit points each study period.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
Compulsory 0-credit point units
To be completed in the first trimester of study:
Units
* This unit requires Trimester 3 study
Professional recognition
On successful completion of the assessments in the course, Deakin academics will receive a Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
For those students/learners who are external to Deakin University, the successful completion of the assessments in the course will provide them with the evidence required to support an application to the United Kingdom Higher Education Academy (UKHEA).
For more information visit: Deakin Higher Education Academy (HEA) Fellowships or UK Higher Education Academy.
What to expect while studying
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes |
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| Acquire and apply advanced and specialised knowledge of the theories and practices of contemporary curriculum design, pedagogy and methods of assessment and feedback for learning and teaching in higher education context |
| Employ a range of oral and written communication skills to select and apply methods and technologies to convey complex knowledge and concepts to diverse audiences as required of a teacher and scholar in higher education |
| Select and employ a range of digital technologies and data sources to search, analyse, report, evaluate and communicate within the practice and scholarship of learning and teaching in higher education |
| Critically evaluate, analyse and synthesise complex ideas and make informed judgements to improve learning and teaching in higher education |
| Use specialist knowledge and cognitive skills to analyse and review key drivers, challenges and trends impacting higher education, identify implications for teaching, professional practice and scholarship by drawing on relevant theories of learning and recommend a range of approaches and solutions |
| Apply inquiry-based approach to critical self-reflection of professional and academic practice in higher education, learning and teaching, and commit to continued critical evaluation and transformation of professional practice in higher education |
| Apply ethical and professional standards to engage with key challenges in teaching and learning globally and inclusively, within diverse socioeconomic, cultural and faith-based contexts |
Approved at Faculty Board 2019
- Award granted
- Graduate Certificate of Higher Education (Learning and Teaching)
- Year
2027 course information
- Deakin code
- E510
- 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
Fees
Estimated tuition fee
$12,700
- Full-fee paying place
The estimated tuition fee above is based on a typical enrolment of 4 credit points undertaken within the same academic year and is provided as a guide only. Your tuition fees are determined by your course and unit enrolment. Your tuition fees will vary depending on your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning. You may also be eligible for a FEE-HELP loan to defer payment of all or part of your tuition fees.
Scholarships
We want to help you excel at Deakin. Our scholarships recognise your dedication and achievements, providing financial support that can ease the cost of living and studying. With less pressure, you'll have more freedom to focus on what matters most – your education and future success.
Applications for 2027 are open
Ready to take the next step? Apply now to start your journey at Deakin and get ready for what’s next.
Key dates
Direct applications
Trimester 1 2027 applications close 7 February 2027
Apply now
Apply direct
Simply create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal and educational details, upload your supporting documents and submit your application.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.