Diploma of Sustainable Living (Z1K)

Overview  2021

Entry Requirements

See entry requirements

Duration

Minimum 1 Years, up to a maximum of 3 Years

Duration

Duration refers to the minimum and maximum amounts of time in which this course can be completed. It will be affected by whether you choose to study full or part time, noting that some programs are only available part time.

Location

Distance Hobart
Semester 1, Semester 2, Winter school (late)

Commonwealth Supported and Full Fee Paying places available (check your Letter of Offer for details)

This course may not be available to international students. Please see the International Online Course Guide (PDF 809KB) for courses that are offered to international students

The Diploma is not accepting new applications in 2021. For students wishing to commence their Sustainable Living study journey, please visit the Undergraduate Certificate in Sustainable Living. The certificate articulates into the Diploma with full credit for those who wish to continue their studies.

The climate is changing, and we all have a role to play in creating a more sustainable future. The online Diploma of Sustainable Living will help you learn about sustainability on a local, national and international level, and align your studies with what sustainable living means for you.

Throughout this course, you’ll learn practical knowledge about sustainability, and how to apply it to in your home, community, business or social enterprise.

The Diploma is aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and provides four engaging themes to focus your studies:

  • Environment, Ecology and Planet
  • Resource Use and Design for Living
  • Well-being and Health to Promote Sustainable Living
  • Social Justice, Equity, and Diversity

Upon graduation, you’ll have a better understanding of your connection to sustainability as an individual, consumer and citizen.

The Diploma of Sustainable Living aims to link participants’ lived experience as an individual, consumer and citizen with learning for sustainability at a range of scales; regional, nationally and globally.

The curriculum is structured around five narratives that are linked with selected UN Sustainable Development goals and include: sustainability at home; sustainability in the environment; sustainability as a social enterprise; sustainability to empower transformative change; sustainability and justice; and, sustainability and human health.

These themes come to life through a wide range of engaging and informative units that are grouped in four specialisations, of which students choose two as part of their studies. The objectives of the course vary based on the specialisations that you choose to study.

Environment, Ecology and Planet

Through everyday actions, plus maintaining global perspectives, you can promote environmentally sustainable practices to support life on land and below water.

Resource Use and Design for Living

Design responsible and innovative use of resources and infrastructure to support sustainable living, from your own backyard, to your community, and beyond.

Well-being and Health to Promote Sustainable Living

Promote sustainable living to improve health and well-being for all.

Social Justice, Equity, and Diversity

Identify opportunity and challenges related to sociocultural sustainability in communities. Change begins at home, and your awareness and impact in your own community can contribute to positive, global improvements.

On completion of the Diploma of Sustainable Living graduates will:

CLO1 Identify opportunities to contribute to sustainable living by reflecting on the choices you make in your life.

CLO2 Design pathways to a sustainable future for communities with networks of social practice around sustainable living

CLO3 Explain the impact your day-to-day activities and decisions have on contributing to the global agenda of the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Specialisation Learning Outcomes

On completion of the Diploma of Sustainable Living, graduates will also achieve two of the following, based on their choice of specialisation:

  1. Promote environmentally sustainable practices to support life on land and below water
  2. Design responsible and innovative use of resources and infrastructure to support sustainable living
  3. Promote sustainable living to improve health and wellbeing for all
  4. Identify opportunities and challenges relating to sociocultural sustainability in your community

The practical experiences of this Diploma are what you make it through your choice of units, and as you take your sustainable living knowledge out into the world and make a difference.

While the Diploma of Sustainable Living is offered 100% online, depending on what you choose to study you could be:

  • growing a bigger, healthier and more productive garden thanks to your understanding of the Science of Gardening,
  • using the principles of Sustainable Design for Houses to inform your house renovations with a focus on improving impact on the environment and your health,
  • Helping maintain a healthy local ecosystem through your own Backyard Biodiversity,
  • Engaging in your community, exploring your local environment, and much more!

Career outcomes

As a graduate of the Diploma of Sustainable Living you will possess new skills, outlooks on living, and a deeper understanding of sustainability in an ever changing world which will complement your existing career direction.

Where to from here? Further study options for those interested in sustainability.

Completing a Diploma in Sustainable Living and looking for your next step? Develop the skills to build a better future and continue your passion for sustainability with further study in one of these suggested courses:

Bachelor of Arts

  • Major or elective units in Geography and Environment

Bachelor of Business

  • Major in Tourism Management, and include a second major or elective units in Geography and Environment

Bachelor of Natural Environment and Wilderness

  • Major in Natural Environment Management

Bachelor of Science

  • A science major of your choice, and include suggested business elective unit: Contemporary Business Environments
  • A science major of your choice, and include suggested geography elective unit: Global Geographies of Change

Course structure

Completion of the Diploma of Sustainable Living requires 100 credit points including:

  • A core (25 credit points)
  • Specialisation 1 (37.5 credit points)
  • Specialisation 2 (37.5 credit points)

CORE UNITS: the two following units are compulsory in the Diploma of Sustainable Living
* HEJ111 Communicating Sustainability must be among the FIRST 4 units studied
* KGA107 Local Lives for a Sustainable Planet must be among the LAST 4 units studied

Core units

Both units are compulsory. HEJ111 should be completed first, and KGA107 is intended as a final capstone unit. 

Sustainability is a central concept for communities pursuing social and economic goals within ecological limits. Yet the different ways sustainability is defined, communicated and enacted reflects the wide range of underlying values, perspectives and priorities at stake. In this unit,…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartWinter school
Hobart11 Week Session Oct

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

This unit involves both critical reflection on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and critical reflection on lives lived in the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Students will learn and apply Theory of Change techniques to identify, plan, implement…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
Hobart11 Week Session Apr
Hobart11 Week Session Oct

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Electives

Choose six units from the following list. 

Pulling together the disciplines of sociology, law and complementary medicine this unit is designed for students who want to develop their knowledge in order to understand, debate and critically analyse the use and place of complementary medicines in the modern…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Become better prepared to deal with the variety of culturally challenging situations you will encounter in whichever part of the world you live and work. Develop an appreciation of the personal and professional benefits which come from being more culturally…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

This unit explores Indigenous lived realities through an Indigenous lens. Using the theoretical concept of the lifeworld, the focus is the Palawa/Aboriginal People of Lutruwita/Tasmania but includes a comparative study of Noongar (WA) and Navajo (US) Peoples to demonstrate the…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Contemporary media is saturated with images of extreme weather events, hunger,poverty, conflict, pollution, austerity, and financial crisis. Mounting evidence suggeststhe 21st century will be defined by unprecedented challenges related to environmentalinstability, economic inequality and risks to social well-being on a…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
LauncestonSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

This unit aims to develop an awareness of environmental and human health impacts of housing in order to inform critical and creative decision-making in the design and renovation of houses. You will explore how housing affects our own health and…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
Launceston11 Week Session Apr
Launceston11 Week Session Oct

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

This unit will build on your practical knowledge of sustainable design for houses, expanding your thinking to houses within landscapes - both natural and constructed - and interacting with climate, biodiversity, human health and urban and regional food systems. You…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
LauncestonSemester 2
Launceston11 Week Session Feb

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Human-induced climate change is the most serious problem currently facing our planet - a global problem with increasingly obvious local impacts. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said that the next 10 years will be critical to averting…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

The course of climate change can be altered, and science tells us the next decade will be crucial. Averting a climate catastrophe depends on rapid action to reduce greenhouse gases, as well as widespread adaptation to minimise the impact of…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

In this unit, we are going to explore the science underlying what you do in your garden, why your plants respond to your gardening, and how plants grow and reproduce. What we hope that you will gain, is a much…

Credit Points: 12.5

This unit is currently unavailable.

This unit aims to develop your awareness of the ecological processes operating in your garden, to assist informed decision making about garden design and management. You will explore the environmental parameters of your garden (e.g. macro and microclimate, geology, and…

Credit Points: 12.5

This unit is currently unavailable.

Backyard Biodiversity 1 is an elective unit offered as part of the Diploma of Sustainable Living. Biodiversity is a critical component of sustainable living and is central to several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. At a local scale,…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartWinter school (late)
HobartSpring school (extended)
Hobart11 Week Session Feb
Hobart11 Week Session Oct

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Living with Fire is a level-100 unit offered as part of the Diploma of Sustainable Living. Fire has shaped the evolution of the world we see around us and is fundamental to life. Yet wildfire can also be devastating to…

Credit Points: 12.5

This unit is currently unavailable.

In this unit you will not only learn about the science behind fishing techniques and how these interact with the biology and behaviour of a species, but also how recreational fisheries are sustainably managed and how you can be a…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

In this unit you will learn about the importance of making informed decisions to fish responsibly and sustainably. This will include improving your knowledge on both releasing and harvesting fish. You will learn how to apply best practice fish handling…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Do you want to make a difference to something in the world you care about? Would you like some time and space to consider, develop and test your approaches in a safe environment, supported by experts in the field? Following…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

The challenge of ensuring adequate and sustainable food production and equitable access to food for a diverse human population in the 21st century is crucial and profoundly complex. This unit helps you contribute to meeting this challenge. The interdisciplinary skills…

Credit Points: 12.5

This unit is currently unavailable.

Earth is a lively and dynamic planet that is undergoing rapid changes wrought by the activities of humans. In what ways are these changes impacting on us and other species? Are we precipitating another mass extinction; the 6th major mass…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

This unit will explore the interlinked scientific, technical, environmental, economic, social and political factors that have shaped society's energy usage and which will impact on future energy policy and decision making.Energy science, technology, usage and energy policy affect almost all…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

This unit provides a multidisciplinary introduction to the nature of science and scientific knowledge, the methods of science, and the communication of science. You will encounter perspectives on the nature and role of science in society and examine what science…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
LauncestonSemester 1
Cradle CoastSemester 1

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

In this unit, you will learn approaches to make a difference in the workplace, community or at home by drawing on a framework that assembles the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into 6 organised groups. The framework is in…

Credit Points: 12.5

LocationStudy periodAttendance optionsAvailable to
HobartSemester 1
HobartSemester 2
LauncestonSemester 1
LauncestonSemester 2
Cradle CoastSemester 1
Cradle CoastSemester 2

Key: On-campus    Off-Campus    International students    Domestic students

Need help choosing your first year units? Try the Unit Selection Guide.

Entry requirements

We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you’re not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, the UTAS admissions team will work with you to find the best pathway option.

DOMESTIC APPLICANTS

Domestic Applicants who have recently completed secondary education
- Completed the TCE (or equivalent)

Domestic Applicants with higher education study
- Completed at least one undergraduate unit (equivalent to 12.5 UTAS credit points).

Domestic Applicants with VET / TAFE study
- A completed VET Certificate III or higher,

Domestic Applicants with work and life experience:
If you have not successfully completed senior secondary, tertiary or TAFE/VET study, but have relevant work and life experience you can complete a personal competency statement. You may be eligible for an offer if you have work and life experiences that demonstrate a capacity to succeed in this course.

Prerequisites
Nil

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION
If your ability to access or participate in education has been affected by circumstances beyond your control, you can apply for special consideration as part of your application. We will consider a range of factors for special consideration, including economic hardship, a serious medical condition or disability.


We can only approve applications for special consideration where we are confident that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in your studies. If your application is not approved, the UTAS admissions team will work with you to find the best alternative pathway to your chosen course. Special consideration is not available for international applicants.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
this course is currently not offered to international students

Articulation into the Diploma of Sustainable Living course from other courses will be done in line with the University's standard application for credit process. Please see the Articulation/ Credit webpage for more information. Applications for credit can be made upon application to the Diploma of Sustainable Living

Students wishing to articulate from the Diploma of Sustainable Living into other University of Tasmania courses may gain credit, subject to the receiving College's discretion.

Detailed admissions information and advice for all undergraduate courses, including comprehensive, course-level student profiles, is available from UTAS Admissions.

Fees & scholarships

Domestic students

Domestic students enrolled in a full fee paying place are charged the Student Services and Amenities Fee but this fee is incorporated in the fees you pay for each unit you enrol in. Full fee paying domestic students do not have to make any additional SSAF payments.

Detailed tuition fee information for domestic students is available at the Domestic Student Fees website, including additional information in relation to a compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).

International students

International students should refer to the International Students course fees page to get an indicative course cost.

Scholarships

For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.

How can we help?

Do you have any questions about choosing a course or applying? Get in touch.

Domestic
1300 363 864
International
+61 3 6226 6200
Email
Course.Info@utas.edu.au
Online
Online enquiries

Next steps