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Key details
Duration
Locations
Entry requirements
View full entry requirementsCredit points required
40Course code
Overview
From Semester 2 2025 delivery of this course will move from Casuarina campus to Danala | Education and Community Precinct in Darwin City. Depending on your selected subject areas (specialisations/majors), some discipline units may be offered at Casuarina campus.
Be a change maker and help shape social, environmental, and economic policy in Australia.
Our Graduate Certificate of Public Policy will give you the in-demand knowledge and skills to engage in effective and ethical research, analysis and writing for policy development in government or private companies.
You will explore a variety of political, cultural and social theory approaches to public policy and gain a solid understanding of evidence-based policy development, evaluation, and practical research theories and methodologies.
Study with us:
- to get a unique perspective on the challenges and characteristics of policy development in Northern Australia including the policy issues in the region's remote contexts, the significance of First Nations people and cultures, and its proximity to South-East Asia.
- to receive one-on-one supervision and support from university research, public policy researchers, policy developers and evaluators, and teaching staff.
- for flexible study options; part-time or full-time, either 100% online or on campus.
Specialist elective units can be chosen from the postgraduate offerings at Charles Darwin University in a variety of discipline areas including education, emergency and disaster, environment, health, Indigenous knowledges, management and governance, safety and security.
Career opportunities
Graduating with a Graduate Certificate of Public Policy may lead to career opportunities in government and private companies as a policy researcher.
Credit transfers and advanced standing
Pathways
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
Credit transfer
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
Credit transfers and advanced standing
Credit transfer
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
Fees
Non-Commonwealth supported places
Full fee paying places are available in this course.
Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
Why study business at CDU?
Learn from internationally-recognised academics when you study business at CDU. Future-proof your career with accredited courses built on sustainable business practices and innovation. You'll graduate ready to make an impact on the global market.
- #2 Australian university for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
- Choose to study online, on campus, part-time or full-time as it suits you
- Industry experts with experience in Australia, the Asia Pacific and beyond
Why study business at CDU?
Learn from internationally-recognised academics when you study Business at CDU. Future-proof your career with accredited courses built on sustainable business practices and innovation. You'll graduate ready to make an impact on the global market.
- #2 Australian university for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
- Industry experts with experience in Australia, the Asia Pacific and beyond
Why study business at CDU?
Learn from internationally-recognised academics when you study business at CDU. Future-proof your career with accredited courses built on sustainable business practices and innovation. You'll graduate ready to make an impact on the global market.
- #2 Australian university for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
- Choose to study online, on campus, part-time or full-time as it suits you
- Industry experts with experience in Australia, the Asia Pacific and beyond
Why study business at CDU?
Learn from internationally-recognised academics when you study Business at CDU. Future-proof your career with accredited courses built on sustainable business practices and innovation. You'll graduate ready to make an impact on the global market.
- #2 Australian university for postgraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
- Industry experts with experience in Australia, the Asia Pacific and beyond
What will I study?
This course requires a total of 40 credit points, involving completion of two (2) core units that provide a background and context to the study. Students then select two (2) units from a variety of specialist streams relevant to their field of employment and/or interest.
Course structure
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 40 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless otherwise indicated.
| Unit type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
| Core Units (2 units) | 20cp | Compulsory Core units totalling 20 credit points as detailed below. MPP501 Theoretical Approaches to Public Policy |
| Specialist Elective (1-2 units) | 10-20cp | Units totalling up to 20 credit points selected from the list of available units detailed below. The specialist elective units can be taken from one stream or spread across streams. EMG505 Research Methodologies in Education Indigenous Contexts ENV517 Natural Resources and Indigenous Livelihoods Education EMG502 Philosophies and Ethics in Education (not offered 2025) Public Management and Governance BUS504 Sustainable Enterprise Health PHM516 Indigenous Health Secure and Safe Communities DEM511 Emergency and Disaster Management in Context Environment and Livelihoods ENG519 Sustainability |
| Electives (0-1 unit) | 0-10cp | Unit totalling 10 credit points may be selected from postgraduate units offered by the University. Students may select a unit from any of the approved specialisations (as above) as an elective or by cross institutional enrolment that is approved by the course coordinator. |
| 40cp | Total Credit Points |
Course Rules (unless otherwise indicated in the above course structure)
- See the Higher Education Course Rules (Award Requirements) in the Units and Courses Policy.
Study plan
STUDENTS COMMENCING IN SEMESTER 1
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student enrolling in a part-time study load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
- maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
- check the prerequisite and assumed knowledge for each unit as some units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the unit area at a lower level.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | E = General Elective |
Part-Time Study Plan
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| MPP501 Theoretical Approaches to Public Policy in Northern Contexts | CO | MPP506 Public Policy Practice | CO |
| Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective OR Elective | SE/E |
_____________________________________
STUDENTS COMMENCING IN SEMESTER 2
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student enrolling in a part-time study load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
When designing an individual study plan:
- maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
- check the prerequisite and assumed knowledge for each unit as some units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the unit area at a lower level.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | E = General Elective |
Part-Time Study Plan
Entry requirements
Admission criteria
Successful completion of a recognised bachelor's degree or equivalent international qualification.
Applicants who have at least five years of full-time experience in supervisory roles in business, arts or law will also be considered. Applicants must provide further documentation in the form of a curriculum vitae (CV) tailored to the opportunity, along with their application.
Essential requirements
English language requirements
DOMESTIC STUDENTS
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. From 2025 all applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
The minimum English language requirement for this course can be met by evidencing of one of the following:
| Year 12 | Successful completion of Year 12 within Australia, or an equivalent qualification from an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below). |
| 0.5 FTE Higher Education Study | Successful completion of at least 0.5FTE of higher education study from Australia or an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below). If studies were completed from a country on the extended list, they must have been completed within the past five (5) years. |
| CDU Enabling Course | Successful completion of a Charles Darwin University enabling program of at least 0.5FTE (40 credit points). |
| TAFE Qualification | Successful completion of a recognised TAFE qualification at a Certificate III level or higher from Australia. |
| AHPRA Registration | Current AHPRA registration as a Division 1 or Division 2 nurse. Registration must be current at the time of course commencement. |
| English Test^ | Completion of an approved English test within two years of commencement, meeting the minimum scores outlined in the table below. |
^ Minimum Requirements for English Tests:
| Postgraduate requirements | Undergraduate requirements | |
| CDU ELICOS - English for Academic Purposes | Successful completion of EAP004 | Successful completion of EAP003 |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test | Overall minimum: 6.5 No band below: 6.0 | Overall minimum: 6.0 No band below 6.0 |
| Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) | Overall minimum: 176 No skill below: 169 | Overall minimum: 169 No skill below 169 |
| Pearson Tests of English (PTE) Academic | Overall minimum: 58 No score below 50 | Overall minimum: 50 No score below: 50 |
| Test of English as a Foreign language | Overall minimum: 79 Minimum writing score: 21 | Overall minimum: 60 Minimum writing score: 21 |
IELTS One Skill Retake is accepted, allowing candidates to retake a single skill within 60 days of sitting their initial test. One Skill Retake results are valid for two years from the date of the first test (not from the date of the Retake test) to the date of commencement at CDU.
CDU accepts combined results from two test sittings of IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, or TOEFL, taken within a six-month period, if:
- Both tests were under the same testing system; and
- The overall score in both tests meets the overall minimum; and
- The applicant achieved the section minimum for each section in at least one test.
Recognised English-speaking countries:
| Standard List | Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America. |
| Extended List | Bermuda, Botswana, Cayman Islands, Ethiopia, Fiji, Kenya, Malawi, Malta, Mauritius, Seychelles, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe. |
For further details on the English requirements for CDU courses, please refer to the CDU English Language Proficiency Policy.
Most of my lecturers also had industry experience working for multinational companies, giving us insight into real-world scenarios.
Sachin
CDU student
I genuinely believe Darwin is the land of opportunities if you leverage your strengths, abilities and skills.
Ellie
CDU student
Most of my lecturers also had industry experience working for multinational companies, giving us insight into real-world scenarios.
Sachin
CDU student
I genuinely believe Darwin is the land of opportunities if you leverage your strengths, abilities and skills.
Ellie
CDU student
Course details
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
Inherent Requirements
There are inherent requirements for this course. Students must read and understand the requirements for this course.
Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8.
Additional information
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
You make CDU
Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.
Learn about business at CDU
Sushan is from Nepal studying a Master of Business Administration (Professional Practice) at CDU. Hear more about his experience of studying, living, working and playing in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
You make CDU
Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.
Learn about business at CDU
Sushan is from Nepal studying a Master of Business Administration (Professional Practice) at CDU. Hear more about his experience of studying, living, working and playing in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
How to apply
There are many ways to apply to CDU. The method you use depends on your course type, where you live and whether you are a new or returning student to CDU.
Remember to apply early for your best chance at securing an offer to study with us.
SATAC
SATAC is the application channel for residents of NT, ACT, SA, WA, QLD, VIC, NSW or TAS.
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