Australian residents
International students
Duration: 
0.5 years full time or longer for part time
Location: 
City Campus
Footscray Park
Delivery mode: 
Hybrid
Start dates:
24 February 2025
28 July 2025
Application due dates:
Direct applications are due on 16 February 2025 for our next intake which starts on 24 February 2025.
Apply

Overview

Build a career with a positive impact, focusing on international humanitarian and development aid, with the Graduate Certificate in International Community Development at Victoria University.

This practical postgraduate program offers you a personalised education, including workplace training, for a career in community development in the local and international arena.

Key study areas include:

  • community development theories and practices
  • project design
  • planning and management
  • advocacy of gender rights and human right
  • conflict resolution in groups and communities.

The course critically engages with working towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Our graduate certificate is the first of three courses that make up VU’s Master of International Community Development. Upon graduation, you’ll be eligible to study our Graduate Diploma in International Community Development, which gains you credit towards our masters.

The Graduate Certificate in International Community Development is enriched by our agreements with other universities (including the National University of Timor Leste (UNTL)) and non-government organisations.

By choosing this course, you could benefit from a short or long-term study tour. These eye-opening tours are organised for the purposes of formal study, combined with experiential learning in a particular culture and society. You'll live, experience and engage in different real-life intercultural interactions and take part in seminars hosted or organised by agencies, institutions or organisations approved by the College of Arts, Business, Law, Education and IT.

Victoria University is one of the few universities in Australia that offers regional and contextual studies (e.g. Latin America, Africa and Asia) in community development.

Specialised areas of study include:

  • social action and change
  • advocacy and human rights
  • peace and conflict resolution
  • environmental sustainable development.

Other related studies can be selected from a long list of elective units.

Our campus libraries have photocopying, computing and printing facilities as well as electronic and print resources.

You'll also have access to a rich collection of online resources at any time of the day or night, including:

  • databases
  • e-learning content for courses
  • student email
  • student software packages
  • social networking tools.

On campus, we make sure that all of our students have access to digital resources. We offer:

As a postgraduate student you might want to take up one of many opportunities to further develop your academic language and study skills. VU’s Learning Hubs are welcoming spaces where you can improve your study and employability skills.

We offer maths, writing, careers and English-language advice, and show you effective ways to study and manage your time.

Our programs include:

  • workshops
  • drop-in sessions
  • peer mentoring
  • maths and writing resources
  • resume and career guidance.

We also have accessibility support services and counselling services available for all students.

Need some advice?

Request a call back from one of our experienced VUHQ course advisers to get your questions answered.

Request a call back

Careers in international community development

Graduates of this course can work in a diverse range of fields including international humanitarian and development aid.

Typical roles might include:

  • international consultant (within human rights, gender, poverty reduction or project evaluation)
  • international project manager (e.g. Australian Red Cross and World Vision)
  • government employee (e.g. local or federal government)
  • community development educator
  • international project manager
  • journalist
  • researcher.
From Vanuatu to VU

From Vanuatu to VU

After an eye-opening volunteer experience, Lucy Taylor chose VU to further her knowledge of international community development.

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Course structure

To complete the Graduate Certificate in International Community Development students will be required to complete 48 credit points of Core units

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Interpret community development theoretical concepts and related knowledge to think critically on appropriate approaches to address sociocultural problems in contemporary societies;  
  2. Utilise critical analytical skills to interrogate and interpret different schools of thought on globalisation and development and their impacts on communities, including through critical engagement with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals  
  3. Deconstruct the role of civil society and grassroots social movements in relation to international community development;  
  4. Critique global and regional political structures, and their impact upon community development;  
  5. Creatively employ advanced skills in research and project management in international community development contexts.  

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Fees & scholarships

Fee type for this course: Full-fee

Fee type definitions

The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a Commonwealth supported place (CSP) or a full fee-paying place.

Students who enrol in a:

In addition to your tuition fees, you may also be charged a Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF).

Scholarships & assistance

Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.

We can help with fee assistance and advice.

Admission & pathways

Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.

If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. We also encourage you to explore our study pathways to help you reach your goal.

Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Entry requirements

Completion of an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in any discipline
OR
Applicants with a minimum five (5) years approved work experience will be considered for admission to this course.

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.

Credit Calculator

Find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

CALCULATE YOUR CREDIT

How to apply

Available start dates:
  • 24 February 2025
  • 28 July 2025

Before you apply

Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:

  • Special admission programs: Depending on your life circumstances you may be eligible for special consideration of your application.
  • Advanced standing: If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.

Find out more about applying for our courses.

Apply direct to VU

Direct applications are due on 16 February 2025 for our next intake which starts on 24 February 2025.

Apply direct to VU

Already a VU student?

If you are already a VU student, apply direct to VU using our Admissions centre to transfer into this course. Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.

After you apply

  • It’s important to check for emails from us (which may go to your spam/junk folder).
  • Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered

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Get help

At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.