Graduate Diploma in Education (Early Childhood)

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Gain a globally recognized qualification to teach children in their most critical years of development and growth.

RMIT’s Graduate Diploma in Education (Early Childhood Education) will develop your understanding of how young children learn the skills they need for life.

This program is designed for those who have an undergraduate degree and now wish to teach in the early childhood field.

What you will gain through this program

Graduates of this program will have a professional teaching qualification, allowing them to teach in all early childhood settings.

This degree will give you the confidence to link theories with practice and build on children’s creativity, problem-solving and innovation by using emerging technologies in curriculum design.

Why a Graduate Diploma in Education (Early Childhood Education) at RMIT?

By choosing RMIT, you’ll be studying at an institution that has over 50 years of experience and a reputation for excellence in the area of teacher education. Graduates are qualified to teach in all early childhood settings both in Australia and overseas.

Online study and flexibility

You can complete this entire program online, allowing you to study while managing other personal and professional commitments.

Details

How you will learn

We offer a blend of face-to-face and online classes to match your learning style.

Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to take part in industry placements so you can experience your future profession in early childhood settings, including early childhood centres.

We encourage you to become a life-long learner so reflections and discussion inform part of your assessment.

Industry connections

You'll participate in a professional practice placement each semester, totalling 60 days of supervised teaching practice in a range of early childhood settings.

You can choose a rural or overseas placement. There's one placement available with children aged birth to 2 years, and two placements with children aged 3 to 5 years.

RMIT University is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal learning with professional or vocational practice.

International opportunities

Teaching is a globally transferable qualification that will always be in demand.

RMIT’s Global Mobility Office supports students to undertake an exchange or short term mobility activity with over 165 partner universities worldwide.

Duration

Full-time 1 year

OR

Part-time 2 years

Midyear places may be available for local students.

Electives and program structure

You will learn how to plan for the education of children from birth to eight years in a range of early childhood settings.

You will complete the following 8 courses including 4 supervised professional practice placements including 10 days with Birth-2 students, and 50 days with students aged 3-6.

• Children, Education Settings and Society

• Comparative Issues and Contexts in Early Childhood

• Educational Leadership and Management in Early Childhood

• Inclusive Education in Early Childhood

• Language and Literacies in Early Childhood

• Learning Across the Early Childhood Curriculum

• Theory and Practice: Birth to Two

• Theory and Practice: Two to Eight

Most courses are run during normal business hours. Some courses can be completed in intensive mode.

Career

You'll be qualified to work as a teacher in kindergartens, early learning, and childcare centers and in other less-traditional educational settings.

You'll have the skills, knowledge, and experience to work in private enterprise, government agencies and community services organizations.

A degree in education doesn't just place you inside a classroom; it's a pathway into many industries. Find out more in the Beyond the Classroom video.

Possible job titles:

• early childhood teacher

• childcare worker

• educational officer

• trainer

• educational policy officer.

Selection tasks

If you did not complete your initial tertiary qualification in English at an approved institution in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States of America you must complete an IELTS test. You must achieve a minimum:
- IELTS (Academic) overall score of 7.0 with no band score less than 6.5 or
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT) overall score of 100 with a minimum 22 in speaking, reading and listening and 24 in writing.

Working with children check (WWC): You will be required to hold a valid Working with Children Check prior to undertaking professional placements.

Fees

Entry for this program is primarily through Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs).

Government financial assistance is available to eligible students regardless of the type of place you enrol in.

2019 indicative fees

• Commonwealth supported places (CSP) range from AU$6,566 to AU$10,958*

• Full-fee places: AU$20,160*

* Amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum, and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.

Additional expenses

Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$303 maximum fee for 2019.

Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.

Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.