Graduate Certificate of Business

Course summary for international students

Year	2026 course information
Award granted	Graduate Certificate of Business
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Online
Length	0.5 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Fee paying annual fee - commencing 2026	$24,028 AUD
CRICOS code	117004B Burwood (Melbourne)
Level	Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
Deakin course code	M556
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
• Online studies
• Fees and charges
• Career opportunities
• Course learning outcomes
• Course rules
• Course structure
• Admission criteria
• Academic requirements
• English language proficiency requirements
• Admissions information
• Credit for prior learning - general
• Further study
• Workload
• Work experience
• Participation requirements
• Mandatory student checks

Course overview

Online studies

Deakin offers many courses which can be studied by distance education overseas.

However, international students living in Australia on a student visa, in each compulsory trimester (that is, Trimesters 1 and 2), must enrol in at least one unit that is offered as a Campus located unit and can, in addition enrol in units offered online. International students may undertake a maximum of up to one third (or equivalent) of their study as online study. Please note enrolment in one face to face unit in compulsory study periods is only allowed if the student is completing their final unit of study and will not exceed maximum one third (or equivalent) online requirement.

Fees and charges

The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing this course within the same year in which 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. 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 tuition fees.

Career opportunities

Course learning outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Develop core knowledge of fundamental business principles and concepts and apply this in contemporary business contexts.
Communication	Demonstrate business communication techniques to convey complex business concepts.
Digital literacy	Not explicitly assessed as a learning outcome in this award.
Critical thinking	Critically analyse a range of complex business related information to make informed business decisions.
Problem solving	Apply problem solving skills and techniques to analyse solutions and develop informed recommendations to real-world business problems.
Self-management	Not explicitly assessed as a learning outcome in this award.
Teamwork	Not explicitly assessed as a learning outcome in this award.
Global citizenship	Not explicitly assessed as a learning outcome in this award.

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Certificate of Business, 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
• 3 credit points of course elective units
• 1 credit point of open 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

Compulsory 0-credit point module

To be completed in the first trimester of study:-

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin

Course electives

Students must complete a minimum of three (3) credit points of course electives from the following:

MPP710

Environmental Sustainability for Business

MPE701

Information Technology, Markets and Business Strategy

MAA702

Accounts, Accountability and Governance

MMM760

Small Business Management

Open electives

One (1) credit point of open elective which may be chosen from:

• A unit that has not been attempted from the list above
• Other postgraduate units offered by the University (subject to eligibility)
• Up to two (2) Deakin stackable short courses equal to 1 credit point (0.5cp microcredentials)

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)

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.

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.

Further study

M756 Master of Business

Workload

You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Work experience

This course does not require students to complete compulsory work integrated learning units.

Participation requirements

Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.