Postgraduate qualifications
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
More about postgraduate qualifications
Postgraduate qualifications are part of a whole framework of accredited qualifications in Australia, which runs across three education sectors: the secondary sector, VET sector and higher education sector. The last two sectors include postgraduate qualifications.
An accredited course is one that has undergone a government administered process of review, either directly through relevant state and territory authorities or indirectly through universities which are appointed 'self-accrediting' entities.
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) provides a comprehensive, nationally consistent framework for all qualifications in post-compulsory education and training.
The accredited postgraduate qualifications are shown below, grouped according to the sector in which they are issued.
Vocational and Technical Education sector (VET)
Vocational Graduate Certificate
Vocational Graduate Diploma
Higher Education sector
Graduate Certificate
Graduate Diploma
Master Degree
Doctoral Degree
More about postgraduate qualifications
Research vs. coursework programs
There is another way to divide up the qualification menu and that is into research and coursework programs.
The majority of postgraduate students undertake coursework degrees. In these programs the majority of the work is formally structured and is delivered in lectures and seminars, with assessment by means of assignments (essays or reports, for example) and / or examinations.
By contrast, in research degrees, the study is more self-directed, and its focus is on a particular area of interest. It normally involves minimal coursework (units on research methods being the most common) and requires you to write a substantial thesis for assessment.
Coursework degrees
The different types of coursework degrees are most easily understood as rungs upon a cumulative qualifications ladder. It is cumulative because you can usually take credit from a qualification completed at one level into the qualification at the next level up, which will cut down the time and the expense spent on gaining this higher qualification.
The qualifications ladder includes (from the highest to the lowest rung):
- Professional doctorate (coursework)
- Masters (coursework)
- Graduate diploma (also postgraduate diploma)
- Graduate certificate (also postgraduate certificate)
Graduate certificate: These are often designed for professional upgrade purposes, but can also be done in an area that is completely new to the student or one in which you have studied before but need a refresher.
They will usually take around six months of full-time study. Entry to this level is usually based on a pass degree and/or work experience. In some cases you’ll notice programs called postgraduate certificates; these are essentially the same but are usually open only to those with an undergraduate degree in the same field.
Graduate diploma: These serve the same purpose as graduate certificates but offer a more in-depth look at a subject area over one year of full-time study. They are a good option for students who are studying to broaden their knowledge in their own field, but are also long enough to provide skills and knowledge sufficient for a career change.
More often than not, entry requires a degree and sometimes some work experience. Although postgraduate diplomas are almost always an exception, many graduate diplomas are open to students without any background in the field. Entry can also be gained via the qualifications ladder, usually with credit: you start with a graduate certificate and then build on it with just six months of full-time study in order to complete the graduate diploma. Then if you’re hungry for more, you move onto the next rung, the masters degree by coursework.
Masters degrees: Masters degrees provide advanced skills and knowledge in a particular area and are often used for career enhancement rather than a total change of direction. They are usually between one and two years full-time study.
There are a number of ways to enter a masters degree. For those climbing the qualification ladder from a graduate diploma, a masters often requires only another six months to a year of study. However, an honours degree is often seen as an alternative to a graduate diploma (i.e. a fourth year of study), especially if it was undertaken in the same field.
In addition, the combination of a degree and work experience will be sufficient for entry in some fields (particularly in specialised areas — the nursing profession, for example).
Doctoral degree: The final and newest rung on the postgraduate qualifications ladder is the professional doctorate. It is the ultimate qualification for a professional wanting advanced theoretical and practical knowledge in their field, without the extensive research commitment of a PhD (the research doctorate). Different universities often prescribe different combinations of elements in these programs, but in most cases there is around are two-thirds coursework and a third research.
Further information
Visit the AQF website at www.aqf.edu.au
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