Graduate certificate

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A graduate certificate is an educational credential representing completion of specialized training at the college or university level. A graduate certificate can be awarded by universities upon completion of certain coursework indicating mastering of a specific subject area. Graduate certificates represent training at different levels in different countries, for example a graduate certificate is at master's degree level in Ireland, but is at a bachelor's degree level in the United Kingdom. In both cases, the graduate certificate represents less work than a degree at the same level.

Contents

Variations

Australia

In Australia, a Graduate Certificate is a Level 8 qualification alongside the Bachelor (Honours) degree. Entry to a Graduate Certificate typically requires completion of a bachelor's degree or higher. In some cases, admission may be on the basis of significant work experience. Graduate Certificates typically take six months of full-time study to complete.

These courses are usually delivered by universities and private providers.

Canada

In Canada, a graduate certificate is a university or college credential usually offered to students who have completed an average of 15 credits of graduate course work[ clarification needed ].[ citation needed ] Admission requirements vary tremendously among Canadian universities and colleges, but in general both graduate students, as well as undergraduate students having completed a Bachelor's degree, can apply to such a program. The graduate certificate can represent part of the coursework required for obtaining a Master's degree. [1]

Ireland

A graduate certificate is a master's-level qualification indicating the successful completion of a postgraduate programme of education. On the National Framework for Qualifications the qualification is at Level 9 or Level 7 on the European Qualifications Framework, normally with a size of 30 ECTS credits. The terms 'graduate certificate' and 'postgraduate certificate' are used interchangeably. [2]

United Kingdom

A graduate certificate [3] (GradCert, GCert, GradC) is a higher education qualification at the same level as a bachelor's degree but more limited in scope, taking less time to complete - normally between one third and two thirds of an academic year (or full-time equivalent). A longer period of work (but still less than required for a degree) would lead to a graduate diploma. [4]

The graduate certificate is positioned at Level 6 (bachelor's degree level) of The framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and at Level 9 or 10 (bachelor's degree at ordinary or honours level) of The framework for qualifications of higher education institutions in Scotland. In reference to the European Qualifications Framework, it is a 'first-cycle' qualification at the same level of knowledge and challenge as a first or bachelor's degree but without the same depth and breadth of study. Successful students will typically demonstrate some, but not all, of the kinds of skills, knowledge and capabilities that would be expected for a Bachelor's candidate. Hence this certificate is not considered to be an 'end-of-cycle' qualification (it demonstrates only some of the 'first-cycle' learning outcomes). [5]

Graduate certificates are available in a limited range of subjects that are typically work-related, for example psychology, management, counselling or law.

Graduate certificates are normally taken by those who have already graduated with a bachelor's degree in another discipline (hence the name). This qualification should not be confused with postgraduate certificates or postgraduate diplomas, [6] which are master's degree-level qualification, or with certificates of Higher Education, which are lower-level qualifications normally taken by those without previous HE qualification.

United States

In the United States, a graduate certificate (GCert, GCERT, or CGS.) is a higher education qualification that may be awarded by universities upon completion of a graduate-level[ clarification needed ] programme. [7] Graduate certificates are not equivalent to master's or doctoral degrees, typically focusing on a subset of the knowledge domain of such programmes. [8] Many graduate certificate programmes do not require admissions tests, such as the Graduate Record Examinations, for entry. [9] They generally consist of four to six courses, rather than the twelve courses that is standard for a master's degree. [10]

In teaching, holding a graduate certificate may satisfy programme-specific education requirements not met with some interdisciplinary degrees. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Postgraduate education</span> Phase of higher education

Postgraduate education, graduate education, or graduate school consists of academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications usually pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate (bachelor's) degree.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Master's degree</span> Postgraduate educational qualification

A master's degree is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. A master's degree normally requires previous study at the bachelor's level, either as a separate degree or as part of an integrated course. Within the area studied, master's graduates are expected to possess advanced knowledge of a specialized body of theoretical and applied topics; high order skills in analysis, critical evaluation, or professional application; and the ability to solve complex problems and think rigorously and independently.

A bachelor's degree or baccalaureate is an undergraduate degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six years. The two most common bachelor's degrees are the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Science. In some institutions and educational systems, certain bachelor's degrees can only be taken as graduate or postgraduate educations after a first degree has been completed, although more commonly the successful completion of a bachelor's degree is a prerequisite for further courses such as a master's or a doctorate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diploma</span> Educational document

A diploma is a document awarded by an educational institution testifying the recipient has graduated by successfully completing their courses of studies. Historically, it has also referred to a charter or official document of diplomacy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British undergraduate degree classification</span> Academic grading structure in the United Kingdom

The British undergraduate degree classification system is a grading structure used for undergraduate degrees or bachelor's degrees and integrated master's degrees in the United Kingdom. The system has been applied, sometimes with significant variation, in other countries and regions.

A graduate diploma is generally a qualification taken after completion of a first degree, although the level of study varies in different countries from being at the same level as the final year of a bachelor's degree to being at a level between a master's degree and a doctorate. In some countries the graduate diploma and postgraduate diploma are synonymous, while in others the postgraduate diploma is a higher qualification.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Postgraduate diploma</span> Type of postgraduate qualification

A postgraduate diploma is a postgraduate qualification at the level of a master's degree, awarded after a university degree, which supplements the original degree and awards them with a graduate diploma. The minimum requirement of completing a Bachelor's degree is necessary to start the Postgraduate course. The duration of a Postgraduate course can vary from 1 year to 2 years.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE/PGCertEd) is a one- or two-year higher education course in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and South Africa -where it can take up to three years- which provides training in order to allow graduates to become teachers within maintained schools. In England, there are two routes available to gaining a PGCE – either on a traditional university-led teacher training course or school-led teacher training. In South Africa the PGCE degree is one of only two ways to become a teacher, with the other being a Bachelor of Education degree.

A Certificate of Higher Education (Cert.H.E./CertHE) is a higher education qualification in the United Kingdom.

Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) is used by many universities in the United Kingdom to monitor, record and reward passage through a modular degree course and to facilitate movement between courses and institutions. One UK credit is equivalent to the learning outcomes of 10 notional hours of study, thus a university course of 150 notional study hours is worth 15 credits, and a university course of 300 notional study hours is worth 30 credits. A full academic year is worth 120 credits and a full calendar year 180 credits. CATS schemes in use in Higher Education in the UK include CATS, SCOTCAT (Scotland), the Credit and Qualifications Framework for Wales credit framework (Wales), the Learning and Skills Development Agency credit framework and Open College Network credits.

A postgraduate certificate (abbreviated as PGCert, PG Cert or PGC is a postgraduate qualification at the level of a master's degree.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Academic certificate</span> Document that certifies having received specific education

An academic certificate or tech certificate is a document that certifies that a person has received specific education or has passed a test or series of tests.

In the United Kingdom, an awarding body is an examination board which sets examinations and awards qualifications, such as GCSEs and A-levels. Additionally, these Awarding Bodies provide professional awards in the form of tertiary level Certificates, Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas, Graduate Diplomas, and Post Graduate Diplomas. There are seven main examination boards in the United Kingdom:

The Malaysian Qualifications Framework or the MQF is a unified system of post secondary qualifications offered on a national basis in Malaysia. It is administered by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), a statutory body under the purview of the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE).

In the UK education sector, there are a wide range of qualification types offered by the United Kingdom awarding bodies. Qualifications range in size and type, can be academic, vocational or skills-related, and are grouped together into different levels of difficulty. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, qualifications are divided into Higher Education qualifications, which are on the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) and are awarded by bodies with degree awarding powers, and Regulated qualifications, which are on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and are accredited by Ofqual in England, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment in Northern Ireland and Qualifications Wales in Wales. In Scotland, qualifications are divided into Higher Education qualifications, Scottish Qualifications Authority qualifications and Scottish Vocational Qualifications/Modern Apprenticeships, which are on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). Scottish Higher Education Qualifications are on both the SCQF and the FHEQ.

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) is the national credit transfer system for all levels of qualifications in Scotland. Awards are classified under the framework at levels, and study undertaken at that level is valued in credit points. The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework Partnership promotes lifelong learning in the country. Through the SCQF, learners can gain a better understanding of qualifications and plan their future learning.

Alternative pathways in education are alternative means of obtaining educational qualifications, other than the traditional means of gaining access to or completing the required study to obtain the educational qualifications.

Post-secondary qualifications are qualifications typically studied for after successful completion of secondary school. In Mauritius, this is usually after successful completion of the Higher School Certificate or its equivalent, although select qualifications may permit early school leaving or require additional study. A variety of different post-secondary qualifications are offered in Mauritius.

The national qualification frameworks in the United Kingdom are qualifications frameworks that define and link the levels and credit values of different qualifications.

Post-secondary qualifications are qualifications typically studied for after successful completion of secondary school. In Sri Lanka, this is usually after successful completion of the General Certificate of Education. A variety of different post-secondary qualifications are offered in Sri Lanka.

References

  1. ↑ Roy, Dave (2006-12-01). "MET – "What is this laddering thing?" And certificate admission standards". PDCE Online. Retrieved 2021-02-01.
  2. ↑ "Irish Register of Qualifications" . Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  3. ↑ Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, Glossary definition of 'graduate certificate', archived from the original on 2018-05-21, retrieved 2016-06-05,
    graduate certificate
    A higher education qualification at level 6 in The framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, at level 6 in the Credit and qualifications framework for Wales, and at levels 9-10 in the Scottish credit and qualifications framework (9 for ordinary, 10 with honours).
  4. ↑ Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (October 2015), The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies (PDF), p. 36, archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-05, retrieved 2016-06-05, Graduate diplomas and certificates are at the same level (6 on the FHEQ/SCQF level 10 on the FQHEIS) but are differentiated from each other by volume of study and learning outcomes. The title 'certificate' normally signifies learning outcomes which would imply study equivalent to at least one-third of a full-time academic year, and the title 'diploma' normally signifies study equivalent to at least two-thirds of a full-time academic year at the relevant level (and/or, where credit is awarded, the volume of credit specified by the relevant credit framework).
  5. ↑ Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (October 2015), The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies (PDF), pp. 17–18, archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-05, retrieved 2016-06-05, In addition to bachelor's degrees at this level are short courses and professional 'conversion' courses, based largely on undergraduate material, and taken usually by those who are already graduates in another discipline, leading to, for example, graduate certificates or graduate diplomas
  6. ↑ Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (October 2015), The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies (PDF), p. 35, archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-05, retrieved 2016-06-05, titles with the stem 'graduate' (for example, 'graduate diploma') are used for qualifications from programmes of study that typically require graduate entry, or its equivalent, and have learning outcomes that match relevant parts of the descriptor for a qualification at level 6 on the FHEQ or SCQF levels 9 or 10 on the FQHEIS
  7. ↑ Pugachevsky, Julia. "Graduate certificate programs can be cheaper, faster alternatives to grad school — here's how they compare to master's degrees and what you should consider before signing up for one". Business Insider. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  8. ↑ "What's the Difference Between a Graduate Certificate and a Master's Degree?". Coursera. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  9. ↑ Missman, Kayla (14 August 2023). "Graduate Certificate Vs. Degree: What's The Difference? – Forbes Advisor". Forbes. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  10. ↑ Gobel, Reyna (2013-03-20). "Consider Graduate Certificates to Save Time, Money". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2014-12-06.
  11. ↑ Polly, Drew; Putman, Michael; Petty, Teresa; Good, Amy (2017-12-15). Innovative Practices in Teacher Preparation and Graduate-Level Teacher Education Programs. IGI Global. pp. 350–357. ISBN   9781522530695.
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