Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education

VU course code: EGEC | CRICOS: 0101340, 113431D | Level of study: Postgraduate

Duration

1 year

Delivery mode

In person, Online Self-Paced

Fees

Tuition: per semester AU$16,900

Location

City Campus, Sydney Campus, Brisbane Campus

All start dates

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.

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.

This course is ACECQA accredited and is recognised by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) for teaching registration in Victoria, by the Education Standards Authority (NESA) in New South Wales and by the Queensland College of Teachers in Queensland.

If you're an international student on a non-student visa, you can study this course online within Australia. You cannot study this course overseas.

: On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Initiate teaching and learning practices that foster learner engagement in complex contexts and foreground Aboriginal standpoints in early childhood education;

Critically review different ways of knowing, being, and doing founded on the view of children and families as capable contributors to conceptual and pedagogical decision-making in learning and teaching;

Design teaching practices that reflect an ability to contextualise, question, resist, rethink, and act towards equity and the public good;

Exhibit a broad and coherent body of knowledge of early childhood pedagogy, curriculum and assessment in relation to the changing nature of education in a rapidly-evolving global context;

Appraise, adapt, and exemplify a range of oral and written communication techniques to engage and connect with learners, their parents/carers and the wider community;

Create learning opportunities that embrace a rich and varied curriculum, reflecting culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds ensuring that learning and teaching approaches are based on sound ethical principles and foster reciprocal relationships in early childhood settings.
: You'll complete 60 days of supervised professional experience, including:
15 days with children aged birth – 35 months
15 days with 3–5 year olds
5 days community playspace, with children aged birth – 8 years
25 days in a 3–4-year-old, or 4–5-year-old, kindergarten program (preschool).
We have many exciting projects, partnerships and initiatives to help you learn from experience working with young children. VU will find you a placement, or you can also organise your own placement, if this is your preference.
: This course has been approved by Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), which oversees national quality frameworks in early-childhood education.
This means that you'll graduate with the latest early-childhood teaching methods and knowledge.
Potential students outside Victoria should check the early childhood teacher registration requirements with the teacher registration body in their own state.

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

To be considered for postgraduate study, you will need to have specific academic qualifications, as outlined below. We also consider non-academic research and work experience for our research candidates.

Admission criteria

Completion of an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent). Applicants with a Bachelor’s degree from countries other than Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada or the Republic of Ireland will be required to complete IELTS: Overall 7.0 with Listening 7.5, Reading 6.5, Writing 6.5, Speaking 7.5. OR the following scores that serve as equivalent scores for the IELTS: • ISPLR: Overall (3+) L (4), R (3+), W (3+), S (4) • TOEFL: Overall (94), L (27), R (21), W (24), S (24) • PTE: Overall (65-72), L (73), R (58), W (58), S (73) Applicants with a minimum of a 3 year Bachelor’s degree from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada or the Republic of Ireland will not be required to complete IELTS.

Additional information

Working with Children Check: Applicants must complete a Working with Children Check prior to undertaking placement. This course is ACECQA accredited and is recognised by the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) for teaching registration in Victoria, by the Education Standards Authority (NESA) in New South Wales and by the Queensland College of Teachers in Queensland. Graduates of Early Childhood Education programs in NSW are required to register with NESA. In Victoria, the VIT advises that “those who wish to teach in an early childhood setting must hold an early childhood education qualification approved or recognised by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).” Refer to VIT Registration information https://www.vit.vic.edu.au/registering-as-a-teacher/how-do-i-register-as-a-teacher/early-childhood-teacher.

Special entry programs

If you are from a disadvantaged or underrepresented social, economic or cultural background, you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. These programs are designed to help you access education more easily.

Learn more about special admission programs

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the abilities, attributes, skills and behaviours needed to meet the learning outcomes of the course.

You should carefully consider the inherent requirement statement as a:

guide for your learning during the course
way for you to identify challenges you may have in studying this course.

Learn more about inherent requirements

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.

Course structure

To attain the Graduate Diploma in Early Childhood Education students will be required to complete:

96 credit points of Core units and
the '0' credit point unit ECE 6013 Professional Practice 2.

Units

Course delivery plan

You are required to study these units in a specific order. Please view the course delivery plan relevant to your intake.

Find your course delivery plan

Fees & scholarships

As an international student at Victoria University, you will be required to pay your tuition fees up front each semester.

There may be additional materials fees throughout your studies, depending on your chosen course, as well as an administrative fee as part of your course.

Victoria University is proud to support our international scholarship recipients and sponsored students.

Save up to 30% off your fees!

The VU Block Model® International Scholarship offers eligible international students up to 30% off tuition fees for their entire first year of study. Study well and you’ll have the chance to increase or extend the scholarship for the whole duration of your course.

Find out more

Fees

Scholarships

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)

Start dates

Melbourne

On campus – Melbourne City Campus

Course starts 27 April 2026

Course starts 27 July 2026

Course starts 28 September 2026

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information on this page, please note that dates are subject to change. Some courses may close early due to an earlier start date or there being limited places available.