Send me a PDF copyDevelop and diversity your leadership skills
Designed for passionate professionals working with young children, this course builds your leadership skills and deepens your expertise in creating meaningful learning experiences, shaping strong futures, and driving change in communities.
Highlights
- Ideal if you are an educator working in prior to school and school settings with children, aged birth to eight years, who want to expand their knowledge of working with young children, families and communities.
- Prepares you to extend your career in early childhood or leadership roles.
- Make an even bigger impact by studying a course that aligns with your career path, whether you're leading in an early childhood setting or driving change beyond it.
- If you're a qualified teacher, fast-track your career by completing this course in just one year, provided you meet our entry requirements.
Highlights
- Ideal if you are an educator working in prior to school and school settings with children, aged birth to eight years, who want to expand their knowledge of working with young children, families and communities.
- Prepares you to extend your career in early childhood or leadership roles./li>
- Make an even bigger impact by studying a course that aligns with your career path, whether you're leading in an early childhood setting or driving change beyond it.
- If you're a qualified teacher, fast-track your career by completing this course in just one year, provided you meet our entry requirements.
Why choose this course?
The Graduate Certificate in Education (Leading Early Childhood Education) is ideal for professionals working in prior to school and school settings, with children aged birth to eight years, who want to expand their knowledge of working with young children, families and communities.
Research evidence has consistently proven that the experiences and environments of children in the early years are important for strong social-emotional development and positive learning outcomes through school and into adulthood, and influence children's health and wellbeing across their lives. At QUT, professionals working in early education and care settings are challenged to learn about how to plan, create and implement evidence-based learning environments that will provide the best possible outcomes for children, families, and the communities in which they live.
Be inspired by postgraduate students putting their learnings into action. Read their stories on our Education insights blog.
Subsidised fees available
This course is one of many Commonwealth Supported Places that QUT has secured to make postgraduate study more affordable and accessible.
Why choose this course?
The Graduate Certificate in Education (Leading Early Childhood Education) is ideal for professionals working in prior to school and school settings, with children aged birth to eight years, who want to expand their knowledge of working with young children, families and communities.
Research evidence has consistently proven that the experiences and environments of children in the early years are important for strong social-emotional development and positive learning outcomes through school and into adulthood, and influence children’s health and wellbeing across their lives. At QUT, professionals working in early education and care settings are challenged to learn about how to plan, create and implement evidence-based learning environments that will provide the best possible outcomes for children, families, and the communities in which they live.
Be inspired by postgraduate students putting their learnings into action. Read their stories on our Education insights blog.
Learn from the best
The expert teaching staff at QUT collectively represent a diverse range of knowledge, and this major is backed by the latest evidence-based research from the QUT-led Australian Research Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, working to ensure children growing up in the digital age are healthy, educated, and connected.
Explore this course
The Graduate Certificate in Education (Leading Early Childhood Education) will develop your skills in critically analysing, designing and implementing curriculum and pedagogy in the early years of a child's education. You will:
- deepen your knowledge and ability to work with culturally diverse learners and contexts
- consider what it means to provide access to high-quality early education that supports engaged learning and positive outcomes for all young children
- develop a strong understanding of current early childhood issues, policy and debates and how to influence these.
Alternatively, you can study a fully customisable Graduate Certificate in Education by choosing units tailored to your interests and needs.
Flexible delivery
You may study the course full-time or part-time. You can study on campus, online, or select a blended approach to suit you. QUT provides a variety of online learning environments to enable you to participate fully, receive expert guidance and support, and be in regular contact with expert teaching staff. Gain specialist knowledge, while being able to work, with our flexible course options.
Careers and outcomes
Graduate Certificate in Education (Leading Early Childhood Education) graduates have highly developed specialist knowledge and skills enabling them to lead effective education programs and practices. They are prepared to lead and mentor colleagues working in prior to school and school settings with children aged birth to eight years.
Course articulation
You have the option to keep learning and build towards a Master of Education.
Professional recognition
The Graduate Certificate in Education does not lead to teacher registration. If you are seeking a teaching qualification, the Bachelor of Education, or Master of Teaching may be suitable for you. Explore course options.
To graduate with the Graduate Certificate in Education (Leading Early Childhood Education) you will need to complete all units in the Leading Early Childhood Education major. You may only study the Leading Early Childhood Education major part time.
The Graduate Certificate in Education (Leading Early Childhood Education) is only available to non-student visa holders. This course is available 1 year part-time. To graduate with the Graduate Certificate in Education (Leading Early Childhood Education) you will need to complete all units in the Leading Early Childhood Education major.
International students studying on a student visa may only study full time. If that's you, you will need to refer to Graduate Certificate in Education - Choice of Units to create a full-time course structure.
- Course code
- EU60
-
- Online
- Kelvin Grove
-
- Kelvin Grove
- 1 years part-time
- 1 years part-time
- February and July
- February and July
Entry requirements
You must have one of the following:
- A recognised bachelor degree (or higher qualification) in any discipline; or
- A recognised diploma in any discipline followed by at least four years full-time (or equivalent) professional work experience involving learning, training, teaching or tutoring, or in an educational setting, Education department or related statutory authority; or
- Seven years full-time (or equivalent) professional work experience involving learning, training, teaching or tutoring, or in an educational setting, Education department or related statutory authority
Relevant work experience examples
- Childcare group leader, director etc
- Dance, music, etc teacher
- Educational administration
- Educational psychologist
- Education department and related statutory authorities
- Health care or social work professional working in an educational setting
- School, college, university administrator
- School chaplain, police officer
- Teacher
- TESOL, TEFL teacher
- Tutor
- University or TAFE lecturer
Minimum academic requirements
Entry requirement
You must have a completed recognised bachelor degree (or higher qualification) in any discipline.
Minimum English language requirements
Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.
Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.
If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.
We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests undertaken in a secure test centre. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.
| English Test | Overall | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IELTS Academic / One Skill Retake | 6.5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
|
Cambridge C1 Advanced
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website. |
176 | 169 | 169 | 169 | 169 |
| PTE Academic | 58 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| TOEFL iBT Australia Test (120 scale) | 79 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 18 |
Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!
We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.
When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.
2027 fees
2027: Fee available from October
2027 fees
2027: Fee available from July
2026 fees
2026: CSP $2,400 per year part-time (48 credit points)
2026 fees
2026: $18,900 per year part-time (48 credit points)
FEE-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a FEE-HELP loan.
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
International Merit Scholarship
A high achievement scholarship for future international undergraduate and postgraduate students.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
International Talent Scholarship
A new scholarship for 2026 that covers tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.
- Scholarship eligibility
- Academic performance
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