University of Sydney

Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations

  • Delivery: Face to Face
  • Study Level: Postgraduate
  • Duration: 6 months
  • Course Type: Graduate Certificate

Understand key employment issues and respond to rapid changes reshaping local and international work practices.

Course overview

The Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations is specifically designed for those who have an undergraduate degree in another discipline or for applicants with no undergraduate degree but extensive practical experience in their specialist area, who are looking for a career in human resource management and industrial relations.

This course can advance your career in people management and enable you to progress to a graduate diploma or master’s qualification.

CSP Subsidised Fees Available

This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.

Key facts

Delivery
Face to Face
Course Type
Graduate Certificate
Duration
More Information
Can be studied part time
6 months (Full time)
Price Per Unit
From $4,888
More Information
Indicative tuition fee is an estimate and is calculated based on completing the first 48 credit points which equates to one year of full-time study (1 EFTSL).

From $2,124 (CSP)
More Information
You may be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) where the government pays part of your fees. Tuition fees shown are indicative and are based on normal course length and progression.
Campus
Camperdown/Darlington
Intake
New start dates announced soon
Units
4
Fees
More Information
FEE-HELP loans and HECS loans are available to assist domestic students.
FEE-HELP, HECS, CSP

What you will study

To qualify for the award, a candidate must complete 24 credit points (CP) or four units. Each unit is valued at six CP.

  • Six CP of foundation core unit of study.
  • A minimum of six CP of advanced core units of study.
  • Any additional advanced core or elective units of study required to make 24 CP in total.

Foundation unit

  • Foundations of HRM and IR

Advanced core units

  • Emerging Challenges in Industrial Relations
  • Human Resource Strategies
  • HR Data Insights

Electives

  • Cross-Cultural Management
  • Ethical International Business Decisions
  • Management Decision Making
  • Organisational Analysis and Behaviour
  • Industrial Relations Policy
  • Comparative Industrial Relations
  • Organisational Change and Development
  • Performance and Rewards
  • International Dimensions of HRM
  • Managing Diversity and Inclusion at Work
  • Employment and the Law
  • Managing Communication in Organisations
  • Research Essay
  • Leadership in Organisations

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

To be eligible for admission, an applicant is required to have:

  • An Australian bachelor's degree or higher (or equivalent qualification) or appropriate qualifications and professional work experience in a relevant field (typically three years).

English language requirements

You may need to provide evidence of your English proficiency to study this course.

If English is your first language you may be able to meet the requirements if you have:

  • Citizenship or permanent long-term residency (minimum 10 years).
  • Completed secondary or higher education (tertiary) studies recognised by the university in an approved English-speaking country.

If English is not your first language you may be able to prove English proficiency with an approved English skills test taken within two years of commencing the course.

  • IELTS score: a minimum result of 7.0 overall and a minimum result of 6.0 in each band.
  • TOEFL - IBT score: a minimum result of 96 overall including a minimum result of 17 in Reading, Listening and Speaking and 19 in Writing.
  • Pearson Test of English: a minimum result of 68 overall and a minimum result of 54 in each band.

The university may also consider factors such as previous studies in English. Contact them for more information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Related study may be credited towards your degree. This may also include relevant work experience for some postgraduate courses. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Career outcomes

There are many employment opportunities for graduates, including:

  • Human resource manager
  • Workplace relations manager
  • Diversity consultant
  • Policy analyst
  • Organisation change and development specialist
  • Industrial relations advisor
  • People and culture manager
  • Industrial relations advocate

Learning outcomes

  • Apply key concepts, specialised knowledge and techniques in human resource management and industrial relations (HRM&IR) to explain diverse business scenarios.
  • Critically assess issues and solution strategies within HRM&IR theory and practice guided by research evidence.
  • Effectively communicate ideas and insights to peers and other audiences, orally and in written form, when addressing novel HRM&IR issues.
  • Collect and analyse data using appropriate tools and techniques to generate insights on HRM&IR challenges.
  • Work collaboratively in diverse teams when addressing complex problems, drawing on evidence-based practice and considering various stakeholder needs.
  • Generate ethical and responsible decisions on issues related to HRM&IR.
  • Work collaboratively in work-related contexts to address complex and unfamiliar problems within HRM&IR.

Fees and CSP

Indicative Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) fee in 2025: $8,496 (CSP paying place)

Indicative first year fee in 2025: $19,550 (domestic full-fee paying place)

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) are available for this course.

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.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

  • Calculated per unit you're enrolled in.
  • Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
  • Reviewed and adjusted each year.

HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.