University of Queensland

Graduate Certificate in Economic Studies

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

Gain the economic and quantitative foundations to interpret markets, policy and business decisions, with a pathway to advanced economics study and potential professional membership.

Course overview

Economic decisions influence businesses, governments and communities. The University of Queensland’s Graduate Certificate in Economic Studies gives graduates and experienced professionals without previous economics training an accessible foundation for understanding these decisions and exploring further study in the field.

You will examine how individuals, organisations and economies make choices through microeconomics and macroeconomics, supported by mathematical techniques and statistics. Together, these areas strengthen the analytical reasoning, critical thinking and quantitative understanding used to interpret economic issues. Learning takes place through lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops informed by current economic research.

Delivered in person at UQ’s St Lucia campus, the course can be completed in six months of full-time study or the part-time equivalent. It can provide a foundation for further study, including UQ’s Master of Economics, subject to applicable entry requirements. Graduates may also be eligible for membership with the Economic Society of Australia, subject to the organisation’s membership requirements.

Key facts

Delivery
Face to Face
Course Type
Graduate Certificate
Duration
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Can be studied part time
6 months (Full time)
Price Per Unit
From $5,543
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The estimated fee is determined by individual units of study and the year the course was commenced.
Campus
St Lucia
Intake
22nd February, 2027
26th July, 2027
Units
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You may be required to complete 0 credit point units throughout your course. The university will confirm this as part of your enrolment.

The unit total reflects the number of units required for course completion, not the total credit point weight. Some units may be double- or triple-weighted, so the number of units you complete may be lower.
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Fees
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FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
FEE-HELP

What you will study

At UQ, a unit represents the value of individual courses that contribute to the total unit requirements of a program. Most UQ courses have a value of two units, though some may vary depending on the program or course structure.

To earn the Graduate Certificate in Economic Studies, you must complete eight units or four courses, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth two units.

Core units

  • Foundations in Microeconomics
  • Foundations in Macroeconomics
  • Mathematical Techniques for Economics
  • Statistics for Business and Economics

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

To be eligible for this course, applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline.
  • Have completed post-secondary studies and at least five years of full-time equivalent work experience in business or economics.
  • Have at least seven years of full-time equivalent work experience in business or economics.

Applicants applying with a previous qualification must have achieved a minimum GPA of 4.0 on UQ’s seven-point scale. Applications based on post-secondary study or professional experience are assessed individually.

Supporting documents

Applicants seeking admission based on professional experience must submit a current CV detailing:

  • Their complete employment history.
  • The major activities and responsibilities undertaken in their roles.

English language requirements

Applicants must provide evidence of at least one of the following:

  • IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no individual band score below 6.0.
  • TOEFL iBT overall score of 87, including at least 19 in listening, 19 in reading, 21 in writing and 19 in speaking.
  • Pearson Test of English Academic overall score of 64, with no communicative skill score below 60.
  • Cambridge English Scale overall score of 176, with no individual skill score below 169.
  • Another form of English language evidence accepted by the university.

The Occupational English Test is not accepted for this course.

Contact the university for further 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 to reduce the number of units that you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Career outcomes

Career directions can include roles that require economic analysis across health, government, policy, finance and private business.

Fees and FEE-HELP

Indicative annual fee in 2026: $22,172 (Full-fee paying place)

Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

  • The number of units studied.
  • 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.