Charles Darwin University
Graduate Certificate of Public Policy
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
- Course Type: Graduate Certificate
Develop public policy knowledge through postgraduate study, combining policy theory, evidence-based policy development, policy practice and specialist electives tailored to professional interests and practice.
Course overview
The Graduate Certificate of Public Policy from Charles Darwin University is a postgraduate qualification that develops the knowledge and skills required for effective and ethical public policy research, analysis and writing. Delivered part-time through online study, the course explores evidence-based policy development while examining political, cultural and social approaches to public policy.
You will complete compulsory core units in public policy theory and practice before selecting specialist elective units aligned with your professional interests. Electives are available across a range of discipline areas including education, emergency and disaster, environment, health, Indigenous knowledges, management and governance, and safety and security. The curriculum also provides a distinctive perspective on policy development in Northern Australia, including remote contexts, First Nations peoples and cultures, and the region's proximity to South-East Asia, while offering one-on-one supervision from public policy researchers and teaching staff.
Graduating with the Graduate Certificate of Public Policy may lead to career opportunities in government and private companies as a policy researcher.
Key facts
1st March, 2027
What you will study
To earn the Graduate Certificate of Public Policy, you must successfully complete units totalling 40 credit points as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 10 credit points.
Compulsory Core units totalling 20 credit points as detailed below.
- Theoretical Approaches to Public Policy
- Public Policy Practice
Entry Requirements
Applicants for this course must meet all of the following:
- Successful completion of a recognised bachelor's degree or equivalent international qualification.
Applicants who have at least five years of full-time experience in supervisory roles in business, arts or law will also be considered. Applicants must provide further documentation in the form of a curriculum vitae (CV) tailored to the opportunity, along with their application.
English Language Requirements
The minimum English language requirement for this course can be met by evidence of one of the following:
- Successful completion of Year 12 within Australia or an equivalent qualification from an approved country where English is the official language.
- Successful completion of at least 0.5FTE of higher education study from Australia or an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below). If studies were completed from a country on the extended list, they must have been completed within the past five (5) years.
- Successful completion of a Charles Darwin University enabling program of at least 0.5 FTE (40 credit points).
- Successfully completing a recognised TAFE qualification at a Certificate III level or higher from Australia.
- Current AHPRA registration as a Division 1 or Division 2 nurse. Registration must be current at the time of course commencement.
- Completion of an approved English test within two years of commencement, meeting the minimum scores.
Contact the university or visit their website for more information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Career Outcomes
Graduating with a Graduate Certificate of Public Policy may lead to career opportunities in government and private companies as a policy researcher.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Estimated full fee in 2026: $11,536 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Estimated fees are determined by individual units of study and the year the course was commenced.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.