Key facts
Duration
Locations
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course overview
In an ever-evolving technological landscape, leadership and adaptability are essential for career progression. The Graduate Certificate of Technology offers you foundational knowledge and essential skills to navigate the complexities of technology-driven industries. Designed for professionals seeking to upskill or diversify their expertise, this program will prepare you to approach challenges with a strategic and interdisciplinary mindset.
This course is designed to equip innovators and entrepreneurs with the specialised knowledge to push the boundaries of technology. Through three core units and one course elective, you will bolster your industry experience with a recognised academic qualification, enhancing your ability to make high-level, independent decisions and lead in specialised technical or management roles.
Is it time to advance your technical skills and take the next step in your career?
Gain in-depth knowledge of leadership theories and future IT trends through core units, before exploring a topic that interests you most via an elective. Choose from topics like machine learning, climate change adaptation and mitigation, spatial analysis and GIS, infrastructure engineering, and engineering sustainability, to name a few. You will also gain practical experience through real-world projects, ensuring you graduate ready to apply your skills in diverse professional settings.
Read MoreCourse information
- Award granted
- Graduate Certificate of Technology
- Year
2025 course information
- Deakin code
- S517
- Level
- Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Course structure
To qualify for the Graduate Certificate of Technology, students must pass 4 credit points from the following:
- DAI001Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit point compulsory unit)
- STP710 Career Tools for Employability (0 credit point compulsory unit)
- 3 core units (3 credit points)
- 1 course elective unit (1 credit point).
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
3
Core units
1
Course elective units
4
Total
Core
+ available from 2026
Course elective units
Plus 1 course elective unit from the list below (subject to meeting unit requirements).
Note - students intending to articulate into either S716 Master of Technology and Innovation Leadership or S717 Master of Technology and Innovation Leadership (Professional) will be required to choose a pathway option from Advanced Discipline Coursework, Industry Practice or Professional Research.
For students planning to take the Industry Practice pathway it is recommended to choose SLE767 Industry Practice Planning as the course elective or SLE761 Professional Research Practice if planning to undertake the Research pathway.
Please refer to the articulated course structure (S716 or S717) for additional prerequisite and WAM requirements.
Pathway units
Applications of Computational Science
Environmental Sustainability
Intelligent IoT Systems
Infrastructure Project Management
Sustainable Engineering Design
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
Trimester 2 - July
- Start date: July
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Online
This is a new course commencing from Trimester 2, 2025. Students can only study part-time for 2025 due to the offering of core units.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS – Please note that due to Australian Government regulations, student visas to enter Australia cannot be issued to students who enrol in Deakin online.
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Participation requirements
It is important to note that some elective units may include compulsory placement, study tours, work-based training or collaborative research training arrangements.
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements or higher to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.
Academic requirements
To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:
- completion of a bachelor degree or higher
- at least two years' relevant work experience* (or part-time equivalent)
*Examples of relevant work experience include but not limited to: Computational Science, Environmental Sustainability, Project Management, Engineering.
English language proficiency requirements
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- bachelor degree from a recognised English-speaking country
- IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
- other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)
Admissions information
Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.
Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn't have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you're able to commit to your study.
Recognition of prior learning
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater. In the case of certificates, including graduate certificates, a minimum of two credit points within the course must be completed at Deakin.
You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.
Recognition of prior learning may be granted to applicants based on prior studies and/or equivalent industry experience.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Learn more about fees.
The available fee places for this course are detailed above. Not all courses at Deakin have Commonwealth supported places available.
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical tuition fees for students completing this course within the same year they started. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together four credit points of study. Four credit points is used as it represents a typical enrolment load for a Graduate Certificate.
Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together four credit points of a typical combination of units for your course.
You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook.
Learn more about fees and available payment options.
Scholarship options
A Deakin scholarship could help you pay for your course fees, living costs and study materials. If you've got something special to offer Deakin - or maybe you just need a bit of extra support - we've got a scholarship opportunity for you. Search or browse through our scholarships
Postgraduate bursary
If you’re a Deakin alumnus commencing a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible to receive a 10% reduction per unit on your enrolment fees.
Apply now
To apply, create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal details and education experience, upload supporting documents and submit. Need help? Play this video, or contact one of our friendly future student advisers on 1800 693 888 or submit an online enquiry.
For more information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply webpage. If you're still having problems, please contact us for assistance.
Pathways
Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate of Technology you could use the credit points you’ve earned to enter into further study, including:
Master of Technology and Innovation Leadership (S716)
Master of Technology and Innovation Leadership (Professional) (S717)
Contact information
Our friendly advisers are available to speak to you one-on-one about your study options, support services and how we can help you further your career.
- Call us: 1800 693 888 Monday – Friday, 9am–5pm
- Live Chat: Monday - Friday
- Submit an online enquiry
- Help hub find common and trending questions and answers
Careers
Career outcomes
Boost your earning potential – Deakin postgraduate IT graduates earn 17% above the national median.*
Get ready to enter into leadership roles across a range of industries, such as:
- construction management and planning
- sustainable engineering design
- intelligent IoT systems
- computational science
- environmental sustainability.
* Graduate Outcomes Survey 2023, Median graduate income one year out, information systems.
Course learning outcomes
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Identify, assess and utilise some examples of emerging technologies within a diverse technology landscape in the context of modern organisation and society to add or generate scientific, commercial, and social values. |
| Communication | Convey information using a range of verbal, graphical and written forms, customised for diverse audiences including specialist and non-specialist clients, colleagues and industry personnel. |
| Digital literacy | Use digital technologies to locate, collect and evaluate information from technical channels and apply information to identify approaches and solutions associated with emerging technologies. |
| Critical thinking | Participate in the evaluation, role analysis, and generation of innovative applications of emerging technologies in organisational and societal contexts for reliability, usefulness and the value and impact they add to those contexts. |
| Problem solving | Work autonomously and responsibly to contribute to the creation of emerging technology solutions to new situations and actively apply knowledge of theoretical constructs and methodologies to make informed decisions. |
| Self-management | Take personal, professional and social responsibility within changing national and international professional contexts to develop autonomy as a leader and evaluate own performance for continuing professional development. |
| Global citizenship | Engage with societal, health, safety, legal, and cultural issues to identify consequential responsibilities relevant to the application, implementation, and deployment of emerging technology solutions. |