Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education

VU course code: EGEC | CRICOS: 0101340, 113431D | Level of study: Postgraduate
1 year full time or longer for part time
In Person
VU Sydney, City Tower, VU Brisbane
24 February 2025
16 February 2025
Overview

Overview

Launch a rewarding and in-demand pre-school teaching career, with VU's one-year Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education.

Our graduate diploma allows graduates of degree programs to become early-childhood teachers. With the current 3-year-old kindergarten expansion in Victoria, this course places you in an excellent position to apply for work as a kinder teacher.

If you're a domestic student or you won’t be studying at VU on a student visa, you can study this course online.

This course is tailored to applicants with an undergraduate qualification in a discipline other than early childhood. If you hold an early childhood teaching degree and you're looking to advance your career, we recommend upskilling to a four year degree by applying for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Leadership.

You'll study units focused on children from birth to five years, learning how teaching practice can include children and families as capable participants in education.

You'll also gain hands-on work experience in a range of settings, including childcare and kindergartens, graduating with expertise in early-childhood learning built on a strong sense of social justice.

Gain insight into the early years by studying these fascinating areas:

  • child development
  • teaching practice that includes Aboriginal perspectives
  • education and curriculum studies focused on childhood and relationships
  • family and community contexts
  • advocacy and activism in early-childhood settings
  • history and philosophy of early childhood
  • ethical early-childhood professional practice.

The Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education is recognised as the equivalent of a four-year degree.

Entry requirements

When assessing your application, we consider your education, work experience, current skills and personal attributes (where relevant).

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a different course. We call this a ‘pathway’.

For PhD applicants, we offer a related ‘Integrated PhD’ which allows you to establish relevant skills before beginning your research.

You may also be eligible for course ‘credits’, where you are granted a unit or units towards your qualification for equivalent previous study or work experience, so you can graduate sooner.

Entry criteria

Credit & Entry pathways into this course


Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency. Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Fees & scholarships

University fees vary, depending on how much the government contributes towards course costs (if anything).

Read below to find out about the fee ‘type’, the estimated yearly tuition costs for this course, and the financial support on offer (including our generous scholarship program).

10% discount for alumni

If you’ve previously completed a qualification with us, and you’re paying full fees for this course, you may be eligible for a 10% discount.

Find out how

Fees

Scholarships

Early Childhood Scholarships & Incentives Program

Careers

Childcare job openings are expecting massive growth (ACECQA).

Thanks to the essential experience you’ll get from teaching early-childhood settings during your placement, you’ll be work-ready when you graduate.

With an ACECQA approved early-childhood teacher qualification, our graduates can find employment in:

  • public or private kindergartens (preschool)
  • long-day-care centres
  • early-childhood centres.

Interstate applicants should check with their state’s relevant teaching registration board or authority to see if there are additional requirements to work as an early-childhood teacher in their state.

Salaries

Visit Jobs and Skills Australia to find the average salary for early-childhood teachers.

FURTHER STUDIES (PATHWAYS)

Professional accreditation/Industry recognition

Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

This course is ACECQA accredited.