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Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education (E5M)

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Overview (2027)

Key Information

Duration

Minimum 1 Year, up to a maximum of 3 years.

This course is available to study only on a part-time basis
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

Online
Semester 1

The Graduate Certificate of Early Childhood Education will prepare you to lead early learning experiences for children from birth to 8 years of age.

Your studies will embed indigenous worldviews, education for sustainability, and health and wellbeing. You’ll learn to recognise how relationships with self, others, cultures, and places are critical to teaching and learning with children. Graduates are inclusive education practitioners with specific capacities to lead with play-based pedagogies, and to work with complex communities.

The Graduate Certificate aims to develop informed practitioners who are equipped to respond to opportunities and challenges in a range of formal and informal early learning context . It is underpinned by a strong research-practice nexus and is guided by our commitment to social justice as a core value for the work educators do.

The Graduate Certificate of Early Childhood Education is a professional nationally accredited qualification. It prepares graduates for recruitment in local, interstate, and international school systems, as well as in early childhood and care settings.

By experiencing a curriculum that aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework and the standards of the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Framework, and that embeds indigenous worldviews, education for sustainability, and health and wellbeing, our students come to recognise that relationships with self, others, cultures, and place are critical to teaching and learning with children.

Our aim is to graduate inclusive education practitioners with specific capacities to lead with play-based pedagogies, and to work with complex communities characterised by geographical isolation, social inequality, and a high incidence of trauma.

If you don't meet the eligibility requirements, the combined early education option may be for you. Complete the Bachelor Of Education (Primary) together with the Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood, explore your options.

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  • 1 Critically appraise the principles and practice of early childhood education and the way in which they inform and facilitate development in educational practices.
  • 2 Synthesise and critique scholarly literature to deepen understanding and evaluation of early learning practice.
  • 3 Plan and reflect on practice, to implement a theoretical investigation, or professional enquiry initiative.
  • 4 Communicate complex theoretical concepts in relation to early childhood education practice, policy, and literature to diverse audiences.

Throughout your studies, you’ll take part in applied learning that connects theory with real-world practice. This includes developing teaching resources, responding to case studies, and completing tasks that build your confidence and capability as an early childhood educator. These experiences support your growth as a thoughtful and responsive teacher, preparing you for the realities of working with children from birth to eight years.

An integral part of your learning in the Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education is professional experience, giving you the opportunity to apply theory in real early childhood and school settings. These placements are designed to help you build confidence and develop your teaching practice with children from birth to eight years.

Across three placements in Birth to 2 years, 3 to 5 years, and 6 to 8 years settings, you’ll engage in active observation, participation, and increased responsibility in teaching and learning activities. Each placement includes maintaining a professional planning file with lesson planning, policy documents, resources, and reflections. By the end of your placements, you’ll have demonstrated the ability to take on substantial teaching responsibilities and contribute meaningfully across key early learning areas.

The Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education is an externally accredited degree.

The course is accredited by Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).

Graduates may meet the requirements for registration with ACECQA . There may be additional requirements for registration beyond the completion of the course.

For further registration requirements, please visit the ACECQA website.

If you have any queries about the accreditation process, please contact us for further information.

Career outcomes

This course prepares you to lead early learning experiences for children from birth to eight years of age. It is ideal for graduates from any discipline looking to enter the early childhood sector, as well as qualified teachers seeking to expand their teaching range. With this qualification, you may gain employment as an early childhood teacher in government, independent and Catholic schools, or in a variety of childcare and early learning settings.

Course structure

The Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education requires the completion of:

  • 50 credit points of Core units and;
  • 60 days of Professional Experience.

You will normally complete your first Professional Experience placement in your first semester, and your remaining two in subsequent semesters. Your Professional Experience is completed in three units:

  • EDP702 Professional Experience 6 - 8 years
  • EDP703 Professional Experience 3 - 5 years
  • EDP704 Professional Experience Birth - 2 years

You can find out more information about the requirements and processes for Professional Experience placements on the Professional Experience website.

Entry requirements

Applicants with higher education study

To be eligible for an offer, you must have completed:

  • An Initial Teacher’s Education (ITE) degree at Bachelor’s level or equivalent qualification such as a Master of Teaching

Graduated students will be eligible for direct entry to E6J Graduate Diploma of Education or Master of Education (E7H) with credit.

Fees & scholarships

Domestic students

Commonwealth supported places (CSP) are available for this course. For eligible domestic students, this means your fees will be subsidised by the Australian Government. You’ll only need to pay the student contribution amount for each unit you study within the course.

We are unable to provide an indicative fee based on previous enrolments as the current structure of this course is being delivered for the first time in 2027.

Your tuition fees will depend on specific unit enrolment, and are subject to annual increases each year. You can find the complete fee details for each unit of study on the individual unit pages. The units for this course are found in the course structure section of this page.

Detailed information for domestic students, including the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF), is available at Scholarships, fees and costs.

HECS-HELP loans

You may be able to defer payment of the student contribution amount by accessing a HECS-HELP loan from the Government. If eligible, you’ll only have to pay your tuition fees once you start earning above a specific amount.

Further information on student loans and a CSP eligibility checker can be found at Australian Government Study Assist.

Domestic scholarships

Tasmanian Education Sector HECS Scholarship

The Graduate Certificate of Early Childhood Education is available with a 100% HECS tuition fee scholarship for eligible domestic students working in the Tasmanian education sector.

This means your tuition fees may be fully covered. You can study full-time or part-time, with scholarships available for students commencing between 2022 and 2026.

If you are employed by the Department for Education, Children and Young People (DECYP), TasTAFE, Catholic Education or an Independent School, you may be eligible.

Find out more about eligibility and how to apply.

TAFE Queensland Educator Program

The Graduate Certificate of Early Childhood Education is available through the TAFE Queensland Educator Program, offering a 20% HECS tuition fee scholarship for eligible domestic students.

Designed for TAFE Queensland staff, it supports you to build your teaching capability while studying full-time or part-time. The scholarship applies to units studied in 2026.

If you are employed by TAFE Queensland and meet the eligibility criteria, you may be able to apply.

Check your eligibility and learn how to apply.

General  Scholarships

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

Course year 2027

View 2026 course information

View 2025 course information

View previous years course information

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

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13 8827 (13 UTAS)

International

+61 3 6226 6200

Email

Course.Info@utas.edu.au

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