This article was written byNewstars Sydney education consultant Jessica(Registered Education Agent QEAC NO:O782). Scan the QR code at the end of this article for any enquiries.

“No Extra Time or Fees Required” 

When studying in Australia, the Group of Eight (Go8) universities always attract significant attention. Most Go8 postgraduate programmes requirea minimum Australian undergraduate GPA of at least 65%, which can lock out students whose grades fall short of this requirement. However, Australian universities also offerGraduate Certificate (GC) and Graduate Diploma (GD) programmes,which are suitable for students whose academic background does not meet direct master’s entry requirements.

More importantly, in most cases,upon successfully completing most GC/GD programmes and meeting the required grades, students can progress directly into a master’s programme with all credits fully recognised,resulting in the same total study duration as direct master’s entry,with no additional time or tuition fees required.This is ideal for students aiming for the Go8 who are confident in their academic abilities. Many universities also issue a packaged offer covering both the GC or GD and the master’s programme.

“What Are GC and GD Programmes?”” 

Since there are no equivalent qualifications in China, most applicants are unfamiliar with these qualifications. In fact, they are very common in Australia — upon successful completion, students can progress to a master’s programme. 

GC = Graduate Certificate — a postgraduate certificate programme, typically 0.5 years in duration

GD = Graduate Diploma — a postgraduate diploma programme, typically 1 year in duration

In simple terms, both qualifications sit within the AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework) asbridging programmes between a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree, designed for students whose GPA, disciplinary background, or qualifications do not directly meet master’s entry requirements.

Note: Most GC and GD programmes carry the same English language requirements as the corresponding master’s programme, though some universities set slightly lower English requirements for GC entry than for direct master’s admission.

 

Unlike the UK’s Pre-master’s programme,Australia’s GC and GD programmes are credit-bearing. A full master’s degree in Australia typically spans 1.5–2 years, or 3–4 semesters.The GC therefore represents the first semester of the master’s programme, and the GD covers the first and second semesters. Academically, there is no difference. Furthermore, GC and GD students attend classes alongside enrolled master’s students, with the same teaching staff, assignments, and assessments as regular master’s students. 

Below, we provide detailed recommendations forGroup of Eight (Go8)GC/GD programmes!

QS Ranking: No.1 in Australia · No. 31 in the world

Graduate Certificate of Management

Entry requirement: Australian undergraduate GPA 4/7 = 50%

Progression requirement: complete GC and achieve 5/7 = 65%

Eligible to progress to the following ANU master’s programmes:

Master of Business Administration

Master of Business Information Systems

Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Master of International Management

Master of Marketing Management

Master of Project Management

Graduate Certificate of Accounting

Entry requirement: Australian undergraduate GPA 4.5/7 = 60%

Progression requirement: complete GC and achieve 4.5/7 = 60%

Eligible to progress to the following ANU master’s programmes

Master of Accounting

Master of Professional Accounting

Progression requirement: complete GC and achieve 5/7 = 65%

Eligible to progress to the following ANU master’s programmes:

Master of Applied Accounting

Graduate Certificate of Finance and Actuarial Statistic

Entry requirement: Australian undergraduate GPA 4.5/7 = 60%

Progression requirement: complete GC and achieve 4.5/7 = 60%

Eligible to progress to the following ANU master’s programmes

Master of Finance

Master of Applied Finance

Master of Statistics

Master of Actuarial Studies

Master of Actuarial Practice

Note: ANU’s GC programmes cannot be issued as a packaged offer together with the master’s programme.

QS Ranking: No.4 in Australia · No.44 in the world

Graduate Certificate in Commerce

Entry requirement: Australian undergraduate GPA 60%

Progression requirement: complete GC and achieve 65%

Eligible to progress to the following UNSW master’s programmes

Master of Commerce / Master of Commerce (Extension)

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1. GraduateCertificate in Business

Entry requirement: Australian undergraduate GPA 50%

Progression requirement: complete GC and achieve 4.5/7

Eligible to progress to: Master of Business 

2. Graduate Certificate in Commerce

Entry requirement: Australian undergraduate GPA 50%

Progression requirement: complete GC and achieve 4.5/7

Eligible to progress to: Master of Commerce 

3. Graduate Certificate in Tourism, Hotel and Event Management

Entry requirement: Australian undergraduate GPA 50%

Progression requirement: complete GC and achieve 4.5/7

Eligible to progress to: Master of Tourism, Hotel and Event Management 

4. Graduate Certificate in Economics

Entry requirement: Australian undergraduate GPA 50%

Progression requirement: complete GC and achieve 4.5/7

Eligible to progress to the following master’s programme

Master of Economics

Master of International Economics and Finance 

5. Graduate Certificate in Communication

Entry requirement: Australian undergraduate GPA 60%

Progression requirement: complete GC and achieve 65%

Eligible to progress to: Master of Communication 

6. Graduate Certificate in Computer Science

Entry requirement: Australian undergraduate GPA 50%

Progression requirement: complete GC and achieve 65%

Eligible to progress to: Master of Computer Science 

7.  GraduateCertificate in Engineering Science

Entry requirement: Australian undergraduate GPA 50%

Progression requirement: complete GC and achieve 4.5/7

Eligible to progress to: Master of Engineering Science 

8. Graduate Certificate in Applied Linguistics

Entry requirement: Australian undergraduate GPA 50%

Progression requirement: complete GC and achieve 4.5/7

Eligible to progress to: Master of Applied Linguistics 

Note: UQ’s GC programmes can be issued as a packaged offer together with the master’s programme.

QS Ranking: No.6 in Australia · No.55 in the world

1. Graduate Certificate in Business

Entry requirement: Australian undergraduate GPA 55%

Progression requirement: complete GC and achieve 60%

Eligible to progress to: Master of Business 

2. Graduate Certificate in Education Studies

Entry requirement: Australian undergraduate GPA 50%

Progression requirement: complete GC and achieve 60%

Eligible to progress to: Master of Education

Note: Monash University’s GC programmes can be issued as a packaged offer together with the master’s programme