Australian residents
International students
Duration: 
1 year 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

Take an important role in community development with leadership skills gained in real-world settings, by studying the Graduate Diploma in International Community Development at Victoria University.

This unique and practical postgraduate course offers you personalised education, specialising in community development at a local or international level.

The program is open to graduates with a bachelor degree, who wish to further their career in community development.  

If you are already employed in community development and wish to advance your career, this program will give you the skills to achieve your goals.

You’ll gain expertise in key community development theories, building your knowledge and skills in these main areas:

  • community development theories and practices
  • project design
  • planning and management
  • social research and evaluation
  • understanding globalisation and its impacts on communities
  • peace and conflict resolution
  • building capacity and mobilising communities
  • advocacy of gender rights and human rights
  • leadership in community development
  • governance of international organisations.

This diploma is the second stage of three courses in our graduate program. Successful completion leads into our Master of International Community Development.

VU offers expertise and guidance in several specialised research areas. Progressing to our masters or higher research degree (doctorate) will bring you into contact with our vibrant and innovative research community.

Related research themes include community resilience, liveable and inclusive cities, cultural diversity and wellbeing, and community, identity and displacement.

The Community, Identity and Displacement Research Network (CIDRN) promotes research into displacement, identity, community and change, focused on Melbourne’s west.

 

Our partnerships with educational, business and community organisations offer important research opportunities. We have agreements with other universities and NGOs, such as the National University of Timor Leste (UNTL). These give you fantastic options to learn and travel.

Students studying international development at VU have completed placements in the following countries:

  • Timor Leste
  • Fiji
  • Cambodia
  • Thailand
  • Malaysia
  • India
  • Bangladesh
  • Mauritius
  • Kenya
  • Botswana.

If you’re aiming for a leadership, management or public-policy role, our Master of International Community Development will give you the qualifications and skills to get there.

VU offers flexible study options, with courses designed to lead into one another. Completing the Graduate Certificate in International Community Development gains you credit towards this diploma.

From there, you’ll gain entry with credit points to the Master of International Community Development – and you’ll already be halfway to completing the full masters degree.

This program critically engages with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), recognising and supporting Victoria University values.

These include respecting cultural diversity and supporting lifelong learning.

VU’s Strategic Plan includes ‘An unwavering commitment to progressive inclusivity’ and further states that:

It is our responsibility to respect and listen to Indigenous voices and standpoints, upholding and privileging self-determination, sovereignty and authority.

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 community development

Graduates of this course work in many related areas, including international humanitarian work and development aid.

Career possibilities include:

  • international and regional consultant in human rights, gender, poverty reduction and project evaluation
  • project manager with international, government and local organisations such as Australian Red Cross, Save the Children, Asylum Seekers Resource Centre
  • leaders and advisers in government
  • community development educator and trainer
  • journalist
  • activist
  • academic and researcher.

Salaries & job growth

Find the average salary for community workers on the government job-data site Labour Market Insights.

With further study or experience, you could become a policy or planning manager. Find salary and job growth information for these roles on Labour Market Insights.

Course structure

To complete the Graduate Diploma in International Community Development students will be required to complete 96 credit points consisting of the following:
-
72 credit points of Core Studies.
- 24 credit points of Elective Studies.

Core Units

Elective 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
Completion of an Australian Graduate Certificate (or equivalent) in a similar discipline
OR
Applicants with a minimum three (3) 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.