Skip to Main Content
Male student outside happy

Diploma of Educational Studies

The Diploma of Educational Studies is a game changer for anyone who needs to meet additional entry requirements for a teaching degree.

Key Information

Duration

3 trimesters (12 months)

 

Intake

Trimester 1

CRICOS 103070G

Location

Brisbane City Campus
Gold Coast Campus*

*Study on the Gold Coast Campus is available for Domestic students only.

Diploma of Educational Studies

The Diploma of Educational Studies is a game changer for anyone who needs to meet additional entry requirements for a teaching degree.

Designed in partnership with Griffith University, the Diploma of Educational Studies transitions seamlessly into the highly-regarded Bachelor of Education. This puts you in a strong position for a wide range of teaching careers, across the public and private sectors. It can lead to senior positions, like department head or principal.

Griffith University has the highest education graduate success rates in Australia. Our graduates are in demand and find employment in the independent, Catholic and state education systems in Queensland as well as overseas.

An education qualification is also a good general qualification for many areas of work. Rather than teaching in schools, you could choose to follow a different pathway. Options include training settings in industry and government, outdoor education, adult literacy, libraries, educational research, education policy, or consultancy.

If you need additional English, Maths or Science qualifications to be eligible for a teaching degree, this new diploma is perfect for you. Rather than needing to complete extra study, including bridging and enabling subjects, you can meet the requirements while studying this one-year diploma.

Page Section

Program Fees

Domestic students

2024 Tuition Fees: A$29,500

Non-Tuition Fees: Refer to Incidental Fees.

2025 Tuition Fees: A$24,500

Non-Tuition Fees: Refer to Incidental Fees.

More details about fees and payment options

International students

2024 Tuition Fees: A$34,600

Non-Tuition Fees: Refer to Incidental Fees.

2025 Tuition Fees: A$29,900

Non-Tuition Fees: Refer to Incidental Fees.

More details about fees and payment options

Note: International students can apply to study on campus at Brisbane City only.

Page Section

Pathways to a Griffith University Education Degree

Domestic students (QTAC codes included)

WordPress Table

Progression:
Students will progress to their bachelor degree upon completion of their Griffith College diploma with a GPA equivalent to Griffith University’s admission rank requirement for entry to the bachelor program. Contact Griffith College for GPA to rank equivalencies. Diploma students who do not meet the progression requirements for their pathway to Griffith University can apply for a place in their preferred degree via QTAC, and be considered along with other external applicants subject to QTAC admissions requirements and processes.

*Students who choose to go into Primary Education will receive 60 Credit points, students who choose to go into Secondary Education with receive 70 credit points. 80 credit points is equivalent to one year of full-time study. Completion of degrees where students obtain less than 80 credit points of advanced standing in the degree, may take additional time.

†NARTE: To meet non-academic entry requirements for progression to the Bachelor of Education, diploma graduates must demonstrate they have the key competencies outlined by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL); competencies that are considered reflective of the attributes and motivations common to effective teachers. To demonstrate this, students will complete an online questionnaire towards the end of your diploma. Your study and experiences within the Diploma of Educational Studies will enable you to reflect upon the personal and professional attributes and competencies necessary for a career in teaching, and your Program Convenor will provide you with all the guidance you need to complete the questionnaire.

International students

WordPress Table

*Students must successfully complete the Diploma of Educational Studies to progress to the Bachelor of Education (Primary) with 60 credit points or Bachelor of Education (Secondary) with 70 credit points. 80 credit points is equivalent to one year of full-time study. Completion of degrees where students obtain less than 80 credit points of advanced standing in the degree, may take additional time.

†NARTE: To meet non-academic entry requirements for progression to the Bachelor of Education, Diploma of Educational Studies graduates must demonstrate they have the key competencies outlined by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL); competencies that are considered reflective of the attributes and motivations common to effective teachers. To demonstrate this, you will complete an online questionnaire towards the end of your diploma. Your study and experiences within the Diploma of Educational Studies will enable you to reflect upon the personal and professional attributes and competencies necessary for a career in teaching, and your Program Convenor will provide you with all the guidance you need to complete the questionnaire.

Meet your Program Convenor

Say hello to Mary-Anne! Mary-Anne is our Deputy Academic Director and Program Convenor for the Diploma of Educational Studies.

Meet Mary-Anne! Diploma of Educational Studies Program Convenor

Page Section

2025 Sample Program Structure

Note: This structure is a sample only. Please refer to Current Program Structure and Course Outlines for your trimester of study. This sample program structure is pending program changes approval for the 2025 intake.

First Trimester

The Diploma of Educational Studies is designed to transition seamlessly into the highly-regarded Bachelor of Education at Griffith University, majoring in either Primary or Secondary Education.

Academic & Professional Skills Development (1201QBT)

The course offers students a broad introduction to the skills involved in acquiring information and in displaying knowledge to others. It includes the basic knowledge and skills required to successfully participate in an undergraduate degree program and to operate effectively in a professional context.

Understanding Lifelong Learner (1499EDN)

The course places the learning and developmental needs of pre-service teachers in primary and secondary education settings within the broader frame of lifelong learning which promotes self-directed learning across the lifespan, including the self-directed learning of pre-service teachers.

Assessment plan:

  1. Online quiz (5%)
  2. Assignment – written assignment (35%)
  3. Exam – selected and constructed responses (60%)

Communication for Teaching and Learning (1199EDN)

This is a core first year course and has no pre-requisite, co-requisite or prior-assumed course requirements. This course enables students to examine, understand and develop theoretical perspectives and practical applications of professional and personal communication in educational environments.

Page Section

Second Trimester

Foundations of Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment (1799EDN)

Students will identify, examine, apply and evaluate the principles and practices of curriculum design, programming and the selection of pedagogical strategies for quality teaching and learning. The course emphasises theory/practice connections and balances internationally recognised theoretical principles with practical, constructive applications.

Educational Technologies for Teaching and Learning (1299EDN)

Teaching and learning in the digital age demands that all teachers have more than a casual familiarity of the relationships between their content area knowledge, pedagogical (teaching skills) knowledge, and their technological knowledge. This course focuses on introducing a variety of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools and strategies that teachers can utilise to effectively engage students and diversify their learning opportunities across subject areas. Lectures, in conjunction with 1:1 computer activities, will provide opportunities for you as a pre-service teacher to develop and demonstrate your technical skills as well as time to investigate contemporary issues mandated by employing bodies.

General Mathematics (FND114)

This course is designed for students who require a general mathematics background suitable for studies in business, health sciences, IT and engineering. It includes basic arithmetic, algebra, functions and their graphs, logarithms, growth and decay, finance and trigonometry.

Page Section

Third Trimester

Education and Society (1399EDN)

Education and the work of teachers is shaped by historical and cultural contexts. Over time, beliefs about what it means to be a ‘good student’ and ‘good teacher’ change and evolve. This course examines the ways in which social beliefs and attitudes influence the design and delivery of different forms of education, and the way these beliefs shape students’ educational experiences and outcomes. We study issues relating to the education of Australia’s diverse student population. We emphasise the importance of educators having a detailed and informed knowledge base relating to diversity and social justice which they can draw upon when responding to their students’ needs and emphasis the crucial role that reflective practice plays in helping educators understand their own attitudes.

Philosophy and Ethics in Education (1699EDN)

This course introduces philosophy generally and the philosophy of education in particular. Content is examined through the lens of practical applications to ethical and critical reasoning in and about education.

Program Rules (2024)

Depending on your choice to pursue a major in Primary or secondary schooling will influence the total credit you will receive for the Bachelor of Education. This is due to the Primary major requiring English, Maths and Science as pre-requisites for entry whereas the Secondary major requires English and Maths.

The award of Diploma of Educational Studies requires successful completion of 100 Credit Points (CP): or ten (10) courses made up of 9 core and 1 elective. (For students commencing in 2024 and prior).

Students wishing to take full advantage of available credit on articulation to a Bachelor of Education major should follow the recommendations below in choosing the program elective:

FND001 Biology OR FND002 Chemistry is recommended for a Bachelor of Education (Primary) pathway.

The Diploma of Educational Studies opened the door to a Bachelor of Education for Tennessee.

Diploma of Educational Studies - Hear from Tennessee

Back to Top