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What’s the difference between a Griffith College diploma and a TAFE certificate?
TAFE and other private providers teach certificates through to diplomas under the Vocational Education and Training (VET) framework. They are designed to provide practical skills for employment.
Griffith College offer higher education or undergraduate diplomas that mirror the first year of a bachelor’s degree. With Griffith College, you study the same subjects as you would in the first year of the degree, so when you progress to university you will be prepared academically for the level of study.
You also get the support to learn how to be a uni student with us – how to research, study and write at a university level.
Your resulting rank will be higher with us than with a VET qualification.
Finally, you know exactly what credit you will gain into the degree with us, and can package an offer to move straight in.
Study: At Griffith College, your peers are all studying a diploma. Rather than big lecture halls followed by tutorials, we offer learning experiences that are capped at 30 students, allowing for a focus on interaction with teaching staff and peers.
Griffith University’s undergraduate diploma students sit in larger lectures and tutorials, together with students in their first year of the bachelor’s degree.
Griffith College also offers two extra subjects –- Academic Skills Development and Core Maths Skills –- both designed to improve student’s skills throughout their studies.
Experience in support: Griffith College has been offering pathway study for 25 years and through our expertise and experience, we have excelled in helping students to improve their academic skills and successfully progress onto university.
Griffith College students have access to a variety of support services. Our support staff are dedicated to helping students to navigate their study and are aware of the unique needs of students entering pathway study.
Student Learning Advisors offer study skills workshops and assessment consultations, so you’ll have all the support you need to reach your goals. Student Counsellors with experience in specific aspects of emotional wellbeing are available to offer guidance on any aspect of life that might be causing stress or concern.
Our university-designed, one-year diplomas are structured to provide the same amount of credit points as a first-year degree at Griffith University.
A three-year degree requires students to earn 240 credit points. Our diplomas are worth up to 80 credit points towards this total. That means most Griffith College students can progress directly to the second year of their degree at Griffith University.
With our diploma programs, you study first year bachelor subjects. These subjects are often common in many programs in the same faculty.
You can apply for a diploma/bachelor pathway and if during your studies you want to change bachelor program, you can request a change. You might talk to a teacher and discuss their career journey, really enjoy (or not enjoy!) a particular subject, have a discussion in class or get interested in some research that leads you to change. It’s ok to change your mind!
If you applied for the stand-alone diploma, you may be able to add the bachelor in or you can use your completed diploma to apply for the bachelor.
How many intake dates are there each year?
Three. March, June and October. You can view our important dates for each trimester.
If English is not my first language, am I required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS result?
If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you meet the English entry requirements into the course. TOEFL and IELTS are tests often used by students.
My academic qualifications are not in English, do I need to provide English translations?
Yes, official translations are required for all qualifications that are not in English. The translation must be made by an accredited translator. In Australia, translations must be prepared by a person accredited by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters Ltd.
I am not applying through an agent, can I still lodge my application with Griffith College?
You are not required to use an agent for your application to Griffith College. However, we strongly recommend seeking the assistance of your local agent as they can provide you with all the support and information required for your application and visa process.
As an example, your agent can assist you with lodging your student visa and liaise with the college on your behalf. Locate your closest agent.
Do I have to have Overseas Health Care Cover? (OSHC)?
All international students must have Overseas Health Care Cover. OSHC is health insurance to assist international students to afford the costs of unplanned medical and hospital care while they study in Australia. It is a Department of Home Affairs requirement that you must have OSHC and that you maintain this throughout your studies in Australia.
OSHC covers you for visits to the doctor, some hospital treatments, ambulance cover and limited pharmaceuticals (medicines). To find out more about OSHC, visit the Department of Home Affairs’ website or privatehealth.gov.au for more info.
Allianz Care is our preferred OSHC provider. It is not compulsory to accept Allianz Care via Griffith College, you can arrange your own OSHC. If you arrange your own OSHC you will need to provide the college with a copy of your OSHC cover which must cover the duration of your student visa.
A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is only issued to international students who require a student visa. To obtain a CoE, you must accept your offer at the College, pay your fees and OSHC, and provide a copy of your passport to Griffith College. In addition, you must ensure that you have met any outstanding conditions of offer.
Can I study at Griffith College if I am not 18 years old yet?
Yes, however you will need to ensure that appropriate care and living arrangements are in place before you arrive in Australia. Accommodation and welfare arrangements may be organised by parents or guardians; however, the College must approve these arrangements before final documentation can be issued. A local carer or guardian must be over the age of 21.
Griffith College can provide you with the relevant forms and information if you intend to study with us as a minor.
Fees are due before you can enrol*. To do this, go to My Apps > Finance > Payment Options, either use “Pay Now” with a credit card or any of the options listed.
Alternatively, you can pay via credit card at the end of the enrolment process.
*Continuing students must pay before the specified deadline to avoid late payment fees.
Yes, please speak to our finance team for further information
Are there any scholarships available?
Please check our scholarships page to find out which scholarships you may be eligible for
What is a full-time study load?
This is a study load of three or four courses in a trimester. Full-time study is a mandatory requirement if you are an international student.
Can I complete my studies online?
As per government requirements, all international students must complete their studies face-to-face from Trimester 2, 2023 onwards. Live classes are an important part of our teaching approach, allowing you to engage with your teachers and peers in a meaningful way.
If you are unable to attend class for an unexpected reason, we may offer the option for you to join the class via zoom (depending on the course; lab-based courses are excluded). Please note: this is designed for an occasional missed class and not as a replacement to participating in live classes. We do not offer self-paced online study.
Can I choose class times to suit my personal schedule?
Early enrolment opens approximately 4 weeks prior to class commencement. This gives you the opportunity to log on to your student portal and choose your classes. You will have some options of different times, but please be aware that classes will generally run between 9am and 6pm Monday to Friday.
As our classes are much smaller than a university lecture (usually capped to 30), each class does fill up quickly, but more are released as needed.
All of our classes are designed to attend live to give you the best learning experience including interaction with teaching staff and peers.
When can I see my timetable? How many hours per week?
Each trimester the timetable looks a little different depending on the programs and student numbers. We open early enrolment approximately 3 weeks prior to the commencement of classes, then you can choose your subjects and timetable.
In terms of hours per week, you would be looking at approximately 4 hours of contact time per subject per week – so a full-time load of 4 subjects would mean 16 hours contact time (lectures, tutorials, workshops) plus additional study and assignment time.
Once you receive information regarding logging in and accessing the Digital Campus, you can start familiarising yourself with the platform. Study toolkits and course information will be populated in the weeks leading up to the start of the course and this can help you get ready for study.
Does Griffith College have accommodation?
There are a number of on-campus and off-campus accommodation options available. Please note accommodation can often book out quickly, we recommend making arrangements as soon as possible.
Where can I meet other students studying at Griffith College?
You can meet students from Griffith College prior to arrival by joining our Facebook or Instagram communities. Visit our YouTube Channel to see what students and staff have to say about Griffith College. You can also chat to current and past students via our website.
What if I need help with my studies while at Griffith College?
With thousands of students passing through our campuses, we’ve developed valuable insights into the challenges you might face during your time with us. It has enabled us to tailor a comprehensive range of support services to help you tackle any barriers.
Our support services include academic support, counselling and wellbeing support, health and medical services.
What are my working rights while studying?
After the 26th of April 2008, student visas are automatically issued with work rights. While studying in Australia, students may work on a part-time or a casual basis for up to 40 hours per fortnight during the trimester, and on a full-time basis during trimester breaks.
Orientation will be held the week prior to the first week of classes. Further information about exact days and times you are expected to attend will be sent out to you closer to the start of each trimester. View our key dates page for all the important dates and download the academic calendar.
Your orientation day is a chance to make new friends, get a feel for our campuses (including the Digital Campus) and ask any questions you might have. It’s a fun, friendly introduction to campus life!
Griffith College hosts a series of activities and presentations where you will:
Do I have to attend orientation?
It is extremely important that you attend orientation as you will hear critical information about your course and studies. If you are not able to attend due to exceptional circumstances, we will record the online orientation sessions. You will be able to access the recordings via the Digital Campus main page.
Note: Students who arrive late have less chance of selecting classes in courses that they wish to take during the trimester.
Does Griffith College hold graduation ceremonies?
Yes. Griffith College organises graduation ceremonies for students who have successfully completed their study. Family and friends are encouraged to attend. An invitation to the Graduation Ceremony will be sent to graduands via mail approximately 4-6 weeks prior to the ceremony.
What should I wear to graduation?
We do not have a formal dress code; however we recommend dressing for a special occasion! Graduation is a time to celebrate your fantastic achievements. We will have gowns and mortar boards available for you to borrow, to take a photo in official graduate dress.
