Overview

Course Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Research (GCR) will provide you the opportunity to acquire advanced research skills which can be applied in a range of disciplinary contexts.

This course is aimed at professionals in a range of industry, government and community settings, and the course content is able to be tailored to suit your current employment context and/or areas of research interest.

The qualification can be taken in full or part time mode. Domestic students may study from any campus location or by distance education. International students may study at any campus or in off-shore distance mode.

To complete the course, a candidate will compile a series of research portfolio activities during a minimum period of six-months full-time, or the equivalent part-time.

New applicants may apply at any time of the year and continuing candidates will be re-enrolled at the beginning of each academic year. The coursework in which GCR candidates enrol are graded.

Successful completion of the GCR will provide you with an entry pathway into a masters by research, and possibly a doctoral degree, subject to achieving a minimum 6.0 GPA. 

Career Information

Graduates of the Graduate Certificate in Research will have advanced theoretical and specialist knowledge in the principles and methods that exist within research. This will equip graduates with the research training and skills for further learning within a research higher degree (GPA 6.0), or for application of foundation research skills within workplace contexts. Graduates will obtain sufficient knowledge to independently conduct research in a specific discipline.

Course Details
Duration 0.5 years full-time or 2 years part-time
Credit Points that Must be Earned 24
Number of Units Required CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in postgraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24).
Expected Hours of Study One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term.
Course Type Postgraduate Award
Qualification (post nominal) GradCertResearch
AQF Level Level 8: Graduate Certificate
Course Fees
Indicative Year - 2026
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $2,369
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $13,344
Indicative Year - 2025
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $2,313
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $12,288
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $12,288
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $12,288
Indicative Year - 2024
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $2,222
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $11,712
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $11,712
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $11,712
Indicative Year - 2023
  • Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee - $2,062
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $11,260
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $11,260
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $11,260
Indicative Year - 2022
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $11,260
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $11,260
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $11,260

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS Codes
Where and when can I start?

Domestic Availability

  • Term 3 - 2027
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2027
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton City Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2027
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton City Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2026
    Adelaide Bundaberg Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Cairns Gladstone Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Online Rockhampton Rockhampton Sydney Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2026
    Adelaide Adelaide Bundaberg Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton City Rockhampton Sydney Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2026
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Online Rockhampton City Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2025
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2025
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2025
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2024
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2024
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2024
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2023
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2023
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2023
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2022
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2022
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2022
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2021
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2021
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2021
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2020
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Online Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2020
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2020
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2019
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Online Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2019
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Online Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2019
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Online Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville

International Availability

  • Term 3 - 2027
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton City Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2027
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2027
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2026
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Mackay Online Rockhampton City Rockhampton Sydney Townsville Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2026
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Melbourne Mackay Mackay Rockhampton Rockhampton Sydney Townsville Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2026
    Adelaide Bundaberg Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Cairns Gladstone Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Mackay Online Rockhampton Rockhampton Sydney Townsville Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2025
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2025
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2025
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2024
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2024
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2024
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2023
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2023
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2023
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2022
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2022
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2022
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2021
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2021
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2021
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Online Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2020
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Online Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2020
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Online Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2020
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 3 - 2019
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Online Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 2 - 2019
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Online Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
  • Term 1 - 2019
    Adelaide Bundaberg Brisbane Cairns Emerald Gladstone Melbourne Mackay Noosa Online Perth Rockhampton Sydney Townsville
For any problems regarding admissions availability for the selected course please contact 13 CQUni (13 27 86) or send us an email at https://contactus.cqu.edu.au/
Entry Requirements - What do I need to start?
Academic Requirements

To be eligible for entry to this course, a student will be required to demonstrate

- a completed bachelor degree in any discipline from an Australian university or college, or equivalent; or

- a recognised diploma (or equivalent vocational training qualifications) together with a minimum three years relevant professional experience; or

- a minimum of five years relevant professional experience AND formal skills or training to satisfy the Research Higher Degrees Committee of their capacity to undertake the qualification.

Students applying on the basis of experience may be required to provide evidence of writing skills.

English Requirements

IELTS Academic average 6.5 with no band less than 6.

Assumed Knowledge

An individual learning plan will be created for each student in the GCR, post-admission. 

Security Requirements
There are no special security requirements set by the University. However, if you are working in an industry setting, additional security considerations may be necessary.
Health Requirements
There are no special health requirements set by the University. However, if you are working in an industry setting, additional health considerations may be necessary.
Course Features

Awards and Accreditation

Interim Awards Not applicable
Exit Awards Not applicable
Accreditation
  • Core

    Not applicable

Residential School Requirements

No Residential School for this course.

Practicum/Work Placement

Not applicable

Previous and Current Enrolments

Year Number of Students
2025 82
2024 43
2023 21
2022 22
2021 45
Inherent Requirements
Core Learning Outcomes Learning Outcomes
  • 1. Conduct research ethically and according to the ideals that underpin the Australian research context, illustrating a high level of autonomy and accountability.
  • 2. Evaluate, assess and articulate contemporary research, research methodologies and research concepts.
  • 3. Formulate defensible research questions relevant to a specific discipline and design an approach to investigate research questions.
  • 4. Analyse and interpret results from a research project.
  • 5. Present research and communicate specialised knowledge coherently and creatively.
  Course Learning Outcomes
Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors 1 2 3 4 5
1. KNOWLEDGE Have specialised knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review,analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems
3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas
4. SKILLS Have specialised technical and creative skills in a field of highly skilled and/or professional practice
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concepts
6. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to make high level, independent judgements in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised contexts
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate broad functions within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or function of others within broad parameters
10. FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE sufficient to undertake qualifications
11. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of knowledge in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units
12. FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS sufficient to undertake qualifications
13. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of skills in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units
14. Course content drawn from higher education units
Course Requirements
Core Learning Outcomes Major View Full Course Structure
Number of units: 1 Total credit points: 24

This research qualification is time-based. This means the courses structure relies on study time and overall progress towards portfolio activities, rather than credit point accrual.

For all candidates, the core requirements are:

A minimum enrolment of 0.5 EFTSL (six months full time, or the part-time equivalent) in the core unit, RSXXYYYYY Research Portfolio. Students must complete EITHER the Research Portfolio Part Time Unit OR the Research Portfolio Full Time Unit. This unit must be repeatedly taken until the candidate has met the minimum ETFSL period.

The Graduate Certificate in Research requires that students complete EITHER the Research Portfolio Part Time Unit OR the Research Portfolio Full Time Unit. The course content is identical in both.

Available units
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
RSCH20004 Revisions and Extensions
Available units
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
RSCH20003 Graduate Certificate in Research
More Details