Graduate Diploma of Sustainability

Course summary for international students

Year	2026 course information
Award granted	Graduate Diploma of Sustainability
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Length	1 year full-time
Fee paying annual fee - commencing 2026	$43,600 for 1 yr full-time AUD
CRICOS code	108876F Burwood (Melbourne)
Level	Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
Deakin course code	S627
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Embark on a journey of discovery and impact with the Graduate Diploma of Sustainability. You will dive deep into the fascinating world of sustainability, environmental science, and global change, equipping yourself with essential tools to address pressing global challenges. It has never been more important to act on sustainability issues, and the need for skilled professionals who can develop appropriate, cost-effective and targeted solutions is crucial for nurturing a brighter future.

This course builds upon the foundation laid by the Graduate Certificate of Sustainability. Shape your learning experience by selecting from a range of elective study options, extending your knowledge in the key areas you are most passionate about – ensuring you build the skills for the career you want. From climate change to public health or the circular economy, be prepared with the specialist knowledge you need to make a tangible difference.

Want your passion for sustainability to translate into real-world impact?

The World Economic Forum expects the climate transition to generate 8 million new jobs by 2030 – driving growth in roles such as sustainability specialists and renewable energy technicians.*

Through hands-on activities and real-world projects, you will develop tools to measure and report on complex sustainability challenges. You will hone the skills required to identify, develop, and implement practical solutions to the complex problems facing increasingly resource-constrained societies.

Deakin's state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge equipment provide you with immersive learning experiences, including access to a geographic information systems lab, GPS wildlife tracking technology, and underwater vehicles for marine exploration.

You may also have the opportunity to articulate into either the Master of Sustainability or the Master of Sustainability (Professional), further expanding your expertise and career prospects.

Get ready to nurture a sustainable future and drive positive change in the world.

* World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report 2025.

Professional recognition

The Graduate Diploma of Sustainability is professionally accredited by the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ). As a student of this course, you are encouraged to apply for EIANZ student membership and connect with the professional network that can support your future career as an environmental professional.

Fees and charges

The tuition fees you pay are determined by the course you are enrolled in. 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. One year full-time study load is typically represented by eight credit points of study. Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value.

The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together eight 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.

Career opportunities

A career in sustainability is a chance to make a real impact – to solve some of the most complex challenges of our time, and to engage in something meaningful.

Businesses across all industries are looking to implement sustainable practices and are actively seeking professionals with the necessary skills to help drive action. Once you graduate, you will be well positioned to seek employment as a sustainability officer, analyst, manager, or consultant for government, non-government organisations, or in the private sector.

Course learning outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Demonstrate specialist knowledge of natural and social sciences related to sustainability, environmental management, health and environment and sustainable regional development.
Communication	Present a reasoned argument that highlights essential details of sustainability, environmental management and sustainable regional development, theory and application, key observations, results and conclusions of scientific research in a professional manner using appropriate style, language and references including local, national, and international contributions or contexts. Apply listening skills and effective communication skills to accommodate, encourage and answer questions from a range of audience and to defend research/project findings and sustainability implementation propositions. Interpret the boundaries or limits of social and scientific information, data, discuss error, probability, uncertainty, conclusions and arguments to justify theoretical propositions, methodologies, methods, techniques, conclusions and professional decisions.
Digital literacy	Use well-developed technical skills, judgement and responsibility to independently locate, analyse, evaluate the merits of, synthesise and disseminate sustainability data, information and literature in the planning and implementation of projects to a range of stakeholders in sustainability, environmental management and sustainable regional development. Reflect on information, data and results and develop strategies for disseminating research outcomes in a digital world.
Critical thinking	Appraise complex social, economic and scientific methodologies and information from a broad range of interdisciplinary sources using critical, analytical and logical reasoning from multiple perspectives for evaluating and providing solutions to sustainability issues that incorporate the holistic principles.
Problem solving	Demonstrate complex problem-solving skills by identifying and creating solutions to real world sustainability through social, economic and/or scientific inquiry.
Self-management	Take personal, professional and social responsibility within changing national and international professional contexts to develop autonomy as researchers and evaluate own performances. Work autonomously, responsibly and safely to solve unstructured problems and actively apply knowledge of social frameworks and scientific methodologies to make informed choices based on the triple-bottom line principles.
Teamwork	Work independently and collaboratively with advice from the supervisor towards achieving the outcomes of a project and thereby demonstrate interpersonal skills including the ability to brainstorm, negotiate, resolve conflicts, managing difficult and awkward conversations, provide constructive feedback and work in diverse professional, social and cultural contexts.
Global citizenship	Apply principles of sustainability and environmental management knowledge and skills with a high level of autonomy, judgement, responsibility and accountability in collaboration with the supervisor to articulate the place and importance of social and scientific inquiry in the local and global context.

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Diploma of Sustainability, you must pass 8 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.

An 8-credit point Graduate Diploma of Sustainability includes:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
STP710 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit-point compulsory unit)
3 credit points of core units
5 credit points of course elective units

Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.

All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Course structure

Core units

Year 1

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)

STP710

Career Tools for Employability (0 credit points)

SLE761

Professional Research Practice

SLE756

Sustainability in the Anthropocene

SLE757

Environmental Science and Global Change

Plus any five (5) course elective units from the list.

Course electives

Students intending to articulate into the Master of Sustainability are recommended to choose course elective units from within the same group of units, and choose either SLE763 Research Project Planning or SLE767 Industry Practice Planning if they wish to take the research pathway in S728 Master of Sustainability (Professional), or industry practice pathway in S728 Master of Sustainability (Professional) or S727 Master of Sustainability.

Environmental Management

SLE720

Risk Assessment and Control

SLE715

Circular Economy

SLE716

Environmental Protection

SLE725

Environmental Management Systems

Health and Environment

HSH701

Principles and Practice of Public Health

HSH703

Health Promotion

HMC703-OD Promoting Human and Planetary Health (0.5 credit points) ^ [No longer available for enrolment]

HSH736

Community Consultation and Participation

HSH728

Health Equity and Human Rights

MMC706-OD Change tools (0.5 credit points) ^
MMC705-OD Innovation and leadership (0.5 credit points) ^

Sustainable Regional Development

SLE740

Climate Change, Adaptation and Mitigation

SLE741

Regional Development Economics for Sustainability

SLE742

Systems Thinking for Sustainability and Resilience

SLE743

Spatial Analysis and Geographic Information Systems

Professional studies

SLE763

Research Project Planning

SLE767

Industry Practice Planning

^ Students complete these Deakin approved microcredentials (Stackable Short Courses) to count towards the Health and Environment specialisation. These fully online microcredentials suit professionals with busy lives and work commitments, allowing you to complete microcredentials anytime and anywhere. Please refer to Microcredential learner support for more information.

Admission criteria

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).

Examples of relevant work experience include, but not limited to: any aspect of environmental, social, and economic science, policy, and management.

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.

Pathways

Upon completion of the Graduate Diploma of Sustainability you could use the credit points you’ve earned to enter into further study, including:

Master of Sustainability (S727)

Master of Sustainability (Professional) (S728)

Credit for prior learning - general

If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for Recognition of prior learning. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your Recognition of prior learning.
Your Recognition of prior learning is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.

You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Sustainability (S527)

Course duration

You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.

Participation requirements

It is important to note that some elective units may include compulsory placement, study tours, work-based training or collaborative research training arrangements.