Graduate Certificate in Education

School of Education

Are you passionate about educating children with special needs in an inclusive school setting? If you are an experienced 4-year trained teacher, The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Graduate Certificate in Education (Special and Inclusive Education) is your ideal qualification. This program is available face-to-face and online with flexible part-time and full-time study options. Get in touch today to enrol.

  • Why study this degree?

    If you are devoted to including children with special learning needs in mainstream classrooms, this postgraduate program will build on your existing knowledge and experience.  Our program will provide you with the skills and qualifications to become a specialist teacher or leader in special education.

    Throughout your studies, you must complete four courses from a range that includes Educating Children with Special Needs, Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Behaviour Management and Social Skills Instruction and more.

    Contact us today to be supported by academic staff who are specialists in their field and rigorous in-depth mentoring.

    Graduates of this program may choose to enrol for a Master of Education at Notre Dame.

  • Program summary

    Students must complete four of the following courses:

    • Instructional Strategies for Students with Learning Disabilities
    • Educating Children with Special Needs
    • Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
    • Adaptive Education for the Inclusive Classroom
    • Behaviour Management and Social Skills Instruction
    • Children of High Ability: Gifted and Talented
    • Assistive Technology for Inclusion

    Students may commence their studies in the Summer Term (January), in Semester 1 (February) or April Intensive, in Winter Term (July), in Semester 2 (July) or October Intensive, subject to the availability of each course.

    Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

    More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions pages Fremantle Sydney.

  • Entry requirements

    To be eligible for admission applicants must be eligible for teacher registration in Australia.

    Specific Program Requirements for Admission

    To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Education applicants must also meet the following specific requirements.

    • Hold a recognised four-year bachelor-level teaching qualification or equivalent, or
    • recognised postgraduate teaching qualification, and
    • Have at least one year of relevant professional experience

    Applicants who have not successfully completed their secondary education in an English-speaking country will be required to sit the IELTS Academic Test and achieve a minimum overall score of 7.5 in IELTS Academic, with no score lower than 8.0 in speaking and listening and no score lower than 7.0 in reading and writing.

  • Learning outcomes

    Upon successful completion of The Graduate Certificate in Education graduates will be able to:

    1. Lead teaching, learning and assessment in a range of educational environments
    2. Apply evidence-based solutions to school practices and systems
    3. Interpret student data to design and implement pedagogy that promotes innovation and risk taking, and responds to a diverse range of learners
    4. Critically analyse new instructional methods and technologies that enhance learning outcomes
  • Career opportunities

    A Graduate Certificate in Education (Special and Inclusive Education) will provide qualified and experienced teachers with the skills and knowledge to become leaders in the field of inclusive education in Government, independent and Catholic primary and high schools. Careers include special education  teachers and curriculum leaders.

  • Real world experience

    You will learn from our academics, who are leaders in their field. There are no practicum requirements for this program.

  • Fees and costs

    This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:


    Domestic Fee-Paying
    A domestic fee-paying place is a place at university where the student is responsible for the full cost the program.

    Eligible domestic fee-paying students may apply for the FEE-HELP loan scheme which assists eligible fee-paying students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your FEE-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.


    For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page.

  • More information

    Considering your uni options?

    Talk to one of our career advisors for a personalised advice session. Our advisors provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process. Book my session.


    For more information, please contact our Prospective Students Office.

    Fremantle and Broome
    Phone: +61 8 9433 0533
    Email: future@nd.edu.au
    Sydney and Melbourne
    Phone: +61 2 8204 4404
    Email: sydney@nd.edu.au

    For more information, please email studyonline@nd.edu.au.

Our students give us top marks

  • No.1 in WA Overall Satisfaction*

  • No.1 in WA Full-time Employment*

  • No.1 in WA Overall Employment*

  • No.1 uni in Australia Overall Employment**

  • No.1 uni in WA
    Skills Development ***

  • No.1 uni in NSW & WA
    Learner Engagement ****

*2021 Graduate Outcomes Survey, undergraduate and postgraduate coursework categories, **2021 Graduate Outcomes Survey-Longitudinal (medium term outcome), undergraduate category, ***2021 Student Experience Survey, postgraduate category and ****2021 Student Experience Survey, postgraduate category - qilt.edu.au

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