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Graduate Certificate in Research Management and Communication

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Course snapshot

Domestic snapshot

  • Start Date

    January, July

  • Duration

    1 year full-time; 2 years part-time

  • Location

    Online

  • Placement

    Yes  Learn more

  • ATAR

    Not applicable

  • Inherent Requirements

    No Learn more

  • Language Requirements

    IELTS Overall Score 6.5

  • Entry Requirements

    View full entry requirements

  • Course abbreviation

    HDR Grad Cert

  • Course code

    1008490

  • Credit points

    48

  • Equivalent units

    4

  • Scholarships

    Learn more

  • Indicative fee

    Research Training Program

Please note, some locations may not have all intake periods available. See the full availability details for further information.

International snapshot

  • Start Date

  • Duration

    2 years full-time; 1 year part-time

  • Location

  • Placement

    Yes  Learn more

  • ATAR

    Not applicable

  • Inherent Requirements

    No Learn more

  • Language Requirements

    IELTS Overall Score 6.5

  • Entry Requirements

    View full entry requirements

  • Course abbreviation

    HDR Grad Cert

  • Course code

    1008490

  • Credit points

    48

  • Equivalent units

    4

  • Scholarships

    Learn more

  • Indicative fee

    View in availability and fee details

  • CRICOS

    View in availability

Please note, some locations may not have all intake periods available. See the full availability details for further information.

  • Overview
  • Career outcomes
  • Requirements
  • Course structure
  • Fees and scholarships
  • Apply

Overview

Undertaking Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) develops unique and transferable skills such as the capacity to design and lead a complex project, advanced communications skills and the ability to identify both commercial and entrepreneurship opportunities.

This qualification is ideal for HDR candidates looking to formalise the knowledge and capabilities they develop during their HDR degree to become more employable across a range of industries in research, project management, compliance, education and more.

This course is designed to recognise those transferrable skills you acquire throughout your research candidature, making these skills attractive to employers both in Academia and Industry. It is designed to showcase these skills and, in turn, will improve your employability in the workplace.

Each Graduate Certificate in Research Management and Communication unit is designed to recognise the transferable skills and knowledge that research students acquire throughout their candidature. Successful completion of this award will be based solely on recognised prior learning from a Southern Cross University Higher Degree Research award after submitting your research thesis.

Please Note:

From the commencement of your enrolment into your Higher Degree Research (HDR) degree, you will need to compile and collate the documentation necessary throughout your HDR candidature to verify that you have satisfied the requirements of your chosen four units on completion of your HDR degree.

It is essential that you identify your four chosen units from the beginning of your HDR candidature and ensure that you are familiar with the requirements of those four units. This will be necessary to qualify for the award of a Graduate Certificate in Research Management and Communication.

It is expected that candidates will submit their completed portfolios once their thesis has been submitted for examination.

Student smiling at camera in library

"The skills I gained from my studies include time management and writing for different audiences. I can write for community level with work, or I can write research papers, grant papers, and academic writing."

Kristie Harris Bachelor of Arts (Create Writing) graduate, author and Community Engagement Data Officer at the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health

The Southern Cross Model is a game-changer in higher education study.

Our students now engage in shorter, six-week unit structures designed around immersive and interactive learning experiences. The shorter unit structure gives students a greater sense of momentum as they achieve milestones quickly, resulting in increased student success rates, and course and teacher satisfaction. Lectures are a thing of the past - students will be engaged in active, interactive and discussion-based learning.

On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes.

Our online study option is highly interactive and may include a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes.

The method of teaching and assessment may vary from unit to unit.

Learn more

Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes (GA).

Course Learning Outcome

GA1: Intellectual rigour

Analyse critically issues and problems in research contexts and generate approaches to examine them appropriately

GA2: Creativity

Demonstrate specialist skills in critical analysis and synthesis of complex ideas in research contexts.

GA3: Ethical practice

Apply the knowledge and skills required of higher degree researcher to demonstrate autonomy, judgement, adaptability and ethical behaviours and responsibility in research contexts.

GA4: Knowledge of a discipline

Identify the principles and processes of research project management and apply in an industry context.

GA5: Lifelong learning

Apply the knowledge and skills required of higher degree researcher to demonstrate autonomy, judgement, adaptability and ethical behaviours and responsibility in research contexts.

GA6: Communication and social skills

Employ a range of oral and written communication strategies required of higher degree researchers to be able to critique, develop and conduct research in industry and scholarly contexts.

GA7: Cultural competence

Demonstrate specialist knowledge of contemporary research methodologies and traditions; apply this knowledge to the critique and conduct of research in a range of contexts.

The course includes single and double-weighted elective units in workplace engaged learning where students may apply their research skills with an extended placement in a professional setting such as industry, government, non-government organisations or academia.

Students complete two core units:

  • Research Project Management
  • Communication and Outreach,

and choose two equivalent elective units from the following:

  • Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship
  • Leadership and Governance
  • Ethical Research and Oversight
  • Workplace Engaged Learning 
  • Extended Workplace Engaged Learning (double-weighted unit).

Location Teaching period
OnlineResearch Semester  1, Research Semester  2

Career Outcomes

Graduates have a demonstrable and transferable skill set with opportunities across industries in project design and management, communication, education, research, governance and commercialisation.

Requirements

We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.

Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.

Entry requirements

Applicants must be enrolled in a Higher Degree Research award at Southern Cross University.  Admission to the course will be provided on the basis of Recognised Prior Learning from a Southern Cross University Research award, in accordance with the University’s Advanced Standing and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy, as recommended by the Course Coordinator and approved by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Quality).

Language requirements

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows. Don’t meet the English language requirements? View our English language programs.

CategoryScore
Overall6.5
Listeningminimum 6.0
Speakingminimum 6.0
Readingminimum 6.0
Writingminimum 6.0

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Graduate Certificate in Research Management and Communication, students must complete the equivalent of 48 credit points comprising:

  • 2 core units (24 credit points); and
  • 2 equivalent elective units (24 credit points); and
  • must have successfully completed their research thesis.

Other things to consider

Credit for Prior Learning, also referred to as ‘Advanced Standing’ or Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL), is the process of looking at your prior study and/or experience to assess if you can be awarded academic credit or gain entry to a course on the basis of your existing knowledge and skills.

Learn more


Course structure

Note 1:

This is a double weighted unit.

Note 2:

If you complete this unit you will not be able to enrol into (Unit Code) Extended workplace engaged learning.

Unit CodeUnit TitleNotes

Core Units

EDUC7009Research Project Management
EDUC7013Communication and Outreach

Electives

EDUC7010Ethical Research and Oversight
EDUC7011Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship
EDUC7012Leadership and Governance
EDUC7014Workplace Engaged Learning Note 2
EDUC7015Extended Workplace Engaged Learning Note 1

Why Arts and Humanities at SCU

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5-star rating

Overall experience, skills development and full-time employment in Humanities and Social Sciences

(GUG 2023)

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Choose a major to suit your interests and a study pattern to suit your lifestyle

Fees and Scholarships

Domestic students

You are a domestic student if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, New Zealand citizen, or Australian humanitarian visa holder. Your course will either be a Commonwealth Supported Place or a full fee-paying place. This is noted in the course snapshot.

Commonwealth Supported Places:

In a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), the Government pays some of your fees and you pay the rest as the Student Contribution Amount (SCA).

SCA is calculated per unit, not per course. Eligible students can defer the SCA through a HECS-HELP loan.

Full Fee-Paying Places:

A full fee-paying place is where you pay the full (unsubsidised) tuition fee for your course. Eligible students can defer the payment of their tuition fees through the FEE-HELP scheme (including employer-reserved places for The Hotel School courses).

Also known as SSAF, the Student Services and Amenities Fee is a compulsory fee for most students used to provide important services and amenities to students both on and off campus. It’s charged per unit, based on the unit’s credit point value. Eligible domestic students have the option of deferring this fee through the SA-HELP loan scheme. More about SSAF

Depending on your course, your costs could also include computer equipment and software, books, stationery, field trips, uniforms or other course-specific expenses such as art materials, musical equipment or travel for practicums, internships, vaccinations or industry experience.

Scholarships vary in amount, from a few hundred to several thousand dollars each year. Eligibility isn't limited to top-performing students or those facing financial challenges; there are opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds and with different accomplishments. This ensures that education remains accessible to all, changing lives and helping individuals achieve their goals for a brighter future.

More about scholarships

Further fee information

Fees and Scholarships

International Students

If you're an international student, you can find the annual course cost in Australian dollars (AUD$) on our International Courses and Fees page or on the web page for your course under fees.

Also known as SSAF, the Student Services and Amenities Fee is a compulsory fee for most students used to provide important services and amenities to students both on and off campus. It’s charged per unit, based on the unit’s credit point value. Eligible domestic students have the option of deferring this fee through the SA-HELP loan scheme. More about SSAF

Depending on your course, your costs could also include computer equipment and software, books, stationery, field trips, uniforms or other course-specific expenses such as art materials, musical equipment or travel for practicums, internships, vaccinations or industry experience.

Southern Cross University offers a range of scholarships designed to support you while you study, available for a variety of backgrounds and achievements. Scholarships range from a few hundred dollars a year to several thousand dollars a year. Southern Cross has also introduced Access, an initiative created to deliver a quality education combined with a straightforward tuition model, ensuring every international student has equal access.

More about scholarships

Further fee information

Apply now

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  1. Check requirements
  2. Get supporting documents ready
  3. Choose where and when from the available options

Click the Apply button to start your application in our Application Portal.

Choose where you want to study

Online

  • Research Semester 1 January 2026
    Apply
  • Research Semester 2 July 2026
    Apply

Dates for the diary

Our shorter, more focused six-week unit structure gives students a greater sense of momentum and motivation as they achieve milestones quickly. Application dates per Term are shown on each course page however refer to our key dates and teaching calendar for detail on when enrolment opens, studies commence and when grades are published. There are also Dual Term and Tri Term calendars for those who have specific subjects.

See key dates

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How can we help?

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Credit Transfer

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We believe in equal access to further education, so we offer a range of pathways to university.

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To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

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