Course overview

Description

The Graduate Certificate in Public Policy is designed to give graduate students a multidisciplinary understanding of the role of the government in economic activity, public policy decision making and law. It focuses on how the government interacts with the economy and society, through for example, economic growth, stability, taxation, infrastructure provision, regulation, sociolegal issues, health, defence, education and social security.

Course title
Graduate Certificate in Public Policy
Award abbreviation
GradCertPP
Course code
42280
Course type
Postgraduate certificate
Status
Current / 2025
Administered by
UWA Business School
CRICOS code
095760G

Course details

Intake periods
Beginning of year and mid-year
Attendance type
Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
Credit points required
24
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester.
Standard course duration
0.5 years
Time limit
2 years
Delivery mode
Internal
Locations offered
UWA (Perth)
Domestic fee type
Postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
Available to international students
Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
Course Coordinator(s)
Dr Tushar Bharati and Associate Professor Paul Maginn and Professor Erika Techera
Fees
Visit the fees calculator.

Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.

No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.

Course structure

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
NS
non-standard teaching period

All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.

Take 24 points from this group.

Group A
AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1ECON5514Economic Research and Evaluation Methods
Incompatibility
ECON2271 Introductory Econometrics
seminars: 3 hours per week
S2ECON5515Economic Growth and InstitutionsNoneseminars: 3 hours per week
S1ECON5516The Economics of Public PolicyNoneseminars: 3 hours per week
NSLAWS4227Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions
Incompatibility
Successful completion of
20820 Juris Doctor
or 21190 Bachelor of Laws
Six intensive days
S1LAWS5215Risk Regulation
Prerequisites
For JD students:
Successful completion of
LAWS4101 Foundations of Law and Lawyering LAWS4102 Criminal Law LAWS4103 Contract LAWS4104 Property Law LAWS4106 Torts LAWS4107 Land Law LAWS4108 Foundations of Public Law
and LAWS4110 Legal Interpretation
or LAWS4109 Legal Theory and Ethics For non-JD students without a legal background:
Successful completion of
LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions No prerequisites for non-JD students with a legal background
3 hours per week
NSLAWS5223Theories for Contemporary Criminal Justice
Prerequisites
For Master of Public Policy
or Graduate Certificate of Public Policy students without a recognised Law degree: LAWS4227 Foundations of Law and Legal Institutions.
Students must attend all sessions on 30 July, 6, 20 and 27 August 2025. Attendance is compulsory. Refer to the timetable website for further information.
NSLAWS5260Intersections of Law, Policy and Governance
Incompatibility
Enrolment in
Unit(s) LAWS6260 Intersections of Law, Policy and Government
Enrolment in
Unit(s) LAWS4260 Intersections of Law, Policy and Governance
The on campus session for this unit will run in the mid semester break in semester 2, with the online pre-recorded modules to be completed beforehand.
NSPOLS5501The Politics of Public Policy
Incompatibility
LAWS5214 Public Policy
18 hours per semester.
NSPOLS5503Public AdministrationNone6 x 3 hour format to align with intensive teaching period
NSPOLS5505Regulation and GovernanceNoneseminar classes: 6 X 3 hour weekly interactive workshops

See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.

Rules

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.

(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules

2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).

(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.

English Language competency requirements

3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.

Admission requirements

4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—

(a) a Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; and either:

(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent;

or

(c) at least two years professional experience in a relevant occupation; or

(2) significant work experience including at least 5 years with a material level of responsibility.

Admission ranking and selection

5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.

Articulations and exit awards

6. The following courses form part of an articulated sequence:

  • 42280 Graduate Certificate in Public Policy (24 points)
  • 42580 Master of Public Policy (96 points)
Course structure

7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 24 points.

(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.

Satisfactory progress

8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.

9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.

Progress status

10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.

(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—

(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';

(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';

(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.

11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.

Award with distinction

12. This rule is not applicable to this course.

Deferrals

13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).