Graduate Certificates and Diplomas in Australia for Indian Students: Short AQF Level 8 Courses and Bridges Into a Master's
A graduate certificate (usually six months) and a graduate diploma (usually a year) are postgraduate qualifications at AQF level 8. Indian students meet them mostly as bridges: UNSW, for example, admits graduates of any discipline to its Master of Information Technology through a graduate certificate.
By Leonid Kurza · co-founder of Edumapple · checked
AQF 8level
6–12 monthslength
Bridgeinto a master's in a new field
92 weeksstill needed for a 485
How Indian students use them
The common route is a package: a graduate certificate followed by a master's on one Confirmation of Enrolment for each course, which the visa treats as a single plan with the master's as the main course. A non-IT graduate entering UNSW's Master of Information Technology takes this route. Standalone graduate diplomas suit Australian graduates who want to add a specialism before applying for the 485.
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Courses your marks and degree qualify for
Tuition and the visa living funds, counted in rupees
That credit from the certificate carries into the master's; that the total package reaches the 92 weeks the 485 requires; and that the visa application explains the package as one study plan in the Genuine Student answers.
Questions from Indian students: Graduate certificates and diplomas in Australia
What is a graduate certificate in Australia?
A postgraduate course of about six months full time at AQF level 8, often the first part of a master's in the same subject.
Does a graduate diploma give a 485 visa?
On its own, no: it is shorter than the two academic years the 485 requires. Home Affairs counts a graduate diploma towards the 485 when it is completed in the same or the next academic year as a related degree.
Why take a graduate certificate instead of a master's?
To enter a field your bachelor's does not cover, to lift a low average before a master's, or to test a subject before paying for two years. Credit usually carries into the master's.
Can I get a student visa for a graduate certificate alone?
Yes, it is a CRICOS course, but six months of study is a weak basis for a Genuine Student statement unless it is packaged with the master's that follows.
How much does a graduate certificate cost?
Usually half a year's master's fee at the same university, since it is half a year of the same subjects.
