University of Queensland

Graduate Certificate in International Relations

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

Examine international security, political economy and the evolution of global systems while learning to analyse contemporary policy, diplomacy and governance challenges from multiple perspectives.

Course overview

Make sense of the political, economic and historical forces shaping international affairs. The University of Queensland’s Graduate Certificate in International Relations introduces the ideas and issues influencing governments, international organisations, businesses and communities worldwide.

Study alongside people from different countries and backgrounds while learning from teachers and researchers connected with industry partners. You will explore international relations theory, the evolution of the international system, global political economy and international security. Depending on your selected study option, you can establish foundational knowledge or examine specialised areas such as diplomacy, environmental change, crisis management, strategic studies and geopolitics. Discussion-based learning, policy analysis and guided research connect academic perspectives with contemporary global challenges.

Delivered face-to-face at UQ’s St Lucia campus, the course can be completed in half a year of full-time study or the part-time equivalent. Graduates may pursue opportunities across government, diplomacy, international organisations, non-government organisations, media and policy or consider further study through UQ’s Master of International Relations.

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 $4,314
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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 International Relations, you must complete eight units, comprising two or four courses depending on your selected study option, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth two units.

You must complete one of the following study options.

Option 1 – Foundational units

Complete both of the following four-unit courses:

  • Writing Politics (four units)
  • Foundations in Politics, Policy and International Relations (four units)

Students without a degree in the same discipline are advised to select the Foundational option. These courses can only be credited towards the 32-unit, two-year Master of International Relations.

Option 2 – Core units

Complete all eight units from the following:

  • Globalisation, International Political Economy and Development
  • International Security
  • Evolution of the International System
  • Theories in International Relations

Option 3 – Core and elective units

Complete four units by selecting two of the Core units listed under Option 2.

You must also complete four units by selecting two of the following Elective units:

  • Politics of Environmental Change
  • Indigenous Politics within and beyond the State
  • International Relations of the Asia-Pacific
  • Foreign Policy and Diplomacy
  • New Security Challenges*
  • Strategic Studies
  • International Crisis Management
  • Diplomacy and Development*
  • International Politics in Practice
  • Technologies, Geopolitics and Governance
  • Postcolonial and Decolonial Thought and Politics

*New Security Challenges and Diplomacy and Development are only available to students enrolled in specific externally funded postgraduate programs.

Students should consult the Program Convenor about course selection before enrolling.

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements

To be eligible for this course, applicants must meet both of the following requirements:

  • Meet at least one of the following:
    • Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline.
    • Have completed post-secondary studies and have at least two years of relevant full-time equivalent work experience.
  • Have achieved a minimum Grade Point Average of 4.5 on UQ’s seven-point scale in the previous qualification.

Applications based on post-secondary study and professional experience are individually assessed.

Relevant work experience may be paid or voluntary and can include planning, managing or implementing international policy or governance initiatives through international organisations, non-government organisations, government agencies, social movements or the international business community.

Applicants relying on professional experience must also demonstrate basic computer literacy, research and writing skills and the ability to work collaboratively.

Supporting documents

Applicants relying on professional experience must provide an employer or organisational letter confirming:

  • Their employment or voluntary engagement with the organisation.
  • Their relevant duties and responsibilities.
  • The duration of the relevant role.
  • Whether the work was full-time, part-time or casual.
  • For part-time or casual roles, the average number of hours worked per week.

English language requirements

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

  • An IELTS overall score of 6.5, with no individual band score below 6.0.
  • A TOEFL internet-based score of 87, including at least 19 in listening, 19 in reading, 21 in writing and 19 in speaking.
  • A PTE Academic overall score of 64, with no communicative skill score below 60.
  • Another form of English language evidence accepted by the university.

OET 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

Potential career outcomes include:

  • International Aid Coordinator
  • Asia-Pacific International Relations Adviser
  • Policy and Advocacy Adviser
  • Policy Officer
  • Ministerial Officer
  • External Affairs Officer
  • Senior Compliance Officer
  • Overseas Development Manager
  • Human Rights Advocate

Fees and FEE-HELP

Indicative annual fee in 2026: $17,256 (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.