Graduate Certificate in Evaluation
Course code: GC-EVALO
January, April, July, October
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available
January, April, July, October
AUD $18,992 (2026 indicative first year fee)
IELTS 6.5: with no band less than 6.0
Course structure
Overview
What you will learn
Advanced knowledge of evaluation theory and practice
You’ll work independently and in groups to learn the fundamentals of evaluation including the nature and purpose of evaluation, types of evaluation, and the logic of evaluation.
The ability to apply evaluation methods to a range of professional settings
You will develop a comprehensive understanding of the tools and methods required for good evaluation practice including planning, engagement strategies and reporting.
The responsibilities and ethical principles that characterise good evaluation leaders
You will learn the philosophical backgrounds and influences on social research, epistemological and ontological perspectives, the ethics of social research and how to maintain professional standards.
Course structure
To gain a Graduate Certificate in Evaluation you must complete 50 points comprising:
- Two core subjects
- Two elective subjects.
Workload
The estimated hours required for each subject is between 15 -19 hours per week and includes independent study, but this varies for each student and depends on your task management and planning, familiarity with the material, reading style and speed.
Sample course plan
View some sample course plans to help you select subjects that will meet the requirements for this certificate.
A full-time study load is two standard subjects (25 credit points) per term
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
Six Months Commencing in Term 1 or Term 350 pts |
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| First Term · 25 pts |
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| Second Term · 25 pts |
|
A full-time study load is two standard subjects (25 credit points) per term
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
Six Months Commencing in Term 2 or Term 450 pts |
|
| First Term · 25 pts |
|
| Second Term · 25 pts |
|
A part-time study load is one standard subject (12.5 credit points) per term
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
One Year Commencing in Term 1 or Term 350 pts |
|
| First Term · 12.5 pts |
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| Second Term · 12.5 pts |
|
| Third Term · 12.5 pts |
|
| Four Term · 12.5 pts |
|
A part-time study load is one standard subject (12.5 credit points) per term
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
One Year Commencing in Term 2 or Term 450 pts |
|
| First Term · 12.5 pts |
|
| Second Term · 12.5 pts |
|
| Third Term · 12.5 pts |
|
| Fourth Term · 12.5 pts |
|
Explore this course
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this certificate.
Complete the following two subjects
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Applied Research Methodology · 12.5 pts |
This subject equips students with practical skills to select appropriate research methodologies for conducting evaluation research across diverse contexts. Students will learn to match evaluation questions and purposes with suitable methodological approaches, considering stakeholder needs, resources, and other contextual factors. Through hands-on activities, students will develop competencies in designing applied studies to suit different contexts and evaluative purposes. The subject emphasises the complexities of methodological decision-making within real-world evaluation contexts and prepares students to critically appraise the quality of existing evaluations. Ethical considerations are integrated throughout the subject. |
| Foundations of Evaluation · 12.5 pts |
This subject provides students with an introduction to evaluation fundamentals, including: the nature and purposes of evaluation, the logic of evaluation, types of evaluations, values, and professional standards. |
Choose two of the following
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Developing Evaluation Capacity · 12.5 pts |
Evaluation Capacity Building is explicit and implicit in most evaluation work. Explicitly, organisations across sectors seek to develop their people, systems, and structures to integrate evaluation into their day-to-day work to improve performance. Implicitly, conducting any evaluation usually involves helping clients and stakeholders better understand evaluation to get the most out of their investment in it. In this subject, students will explore the fundamentals of evaluation capacity building and learn to think evaluatively about how to effectively target and develop evaluation capabilities and capacities in individuals, groups and organisations. |
| Qualitative Methods for Evaluation · 12.5 pts |
This subject provides students with an introduction to the theory and application of qualitative inquiry. Topics that will be examined include: orientations to, and debates surrounding, qualitative approaches; the collection, display and analysis of qualitative data; the use of systematic methods of data reduction, display and analysis and how qualitative research methods are commonly used in evaluation studies. |
| Mixed Methods Research & Evaluation · 12.5 pts |
This course provides an introduction to the theory and practice of mixed methods research and evaluation. Topics that will be covered include: the emergence of mixed methods approaches; nature and purposes of mixed methods studies; choosing mixed methods designs; synthesis of mixed methods data; strengths and limitations of mixed methods research and evaluation projects. Practical aspects of the course will involve the design of a mixed methods study incorporating qualitative and quantitative data sources. |
| Debates in Evaluation · 12.5 pts |
This subject examines the origins and evolution of evaluation theories, models and approaches. Topics covered include: the nature and role of evaluation theory; pioneering figures and major debates in evaluation’s short but rich history; approaches to classifying evaluation theories; and, the relationship between evaluation theory and contemporary practice. Classes will involve examining and critiquing evaluation theorists and theories through key readings, class debates and interactive role plays. |
| Practice of Evaluation · 12.5 pts |
This subject focuses on connecting theory to evaluation practice. Topics include: evaluation-specific tools and methods; planning, conducting and managing evaluations; stakeholder engagement strategies; and evaluation reporting. |
| Impact Evaluation · 12.5 pts |
This subject analyses design options for establishing the impact of social interventions. Topics include: causation; dealing with issues of attribution; conceptual and technical considerations associated with experimental and quasi-experimental design; and alternative strategies for causal analysis. |
| Evaluation and Value for Money · 12.5 pts |
Analysing and comparing costs with results involves a particular set of thinking and tasks – including economic methods of evaluation as well as wider considerations. In this subject, students will focus on developing the basic skills and knowledge needed to engage with evaluation in this area appropriately and effectively in their own practice. |
| Evaluation in Education · 12.5 pts |
This subject will introduce students entering, or already in, the education sector to the many ways that evaluation is used in education. The subject will begin with an introduction to the origins and the political and social contexts of evaluation as well as the nature and logic of evaluation. Subsequent weeks will focus on the applied fields of evaluation set in the context of education. There are six applied fields of evaluation that will be covered: 1) performance evaluation (student assessment; teacher reflective practice); 2) product evaluation (curriculum effectiveness); 3) program evaluation (school accreditation; organisational/systems-level evaluation); 4) personnel evaluation (teacher performance appraisal; principal performance appraisal); 5) policy evaluation (policy to practice and practice to policy studies); 6) proposal evaluation (assessing grant-making applications for funding). The subject will culminate with a look at meta-evaluation (evaluating evaluations). |
| Quantitative Methods for Evaluation · 12.5 pts |
This subject provides students with the knowledge and skills to conduct quantitative analysis and interpret statistical data in research and evaluation contexts. Students will learn to select appropriate quantitative approaches based on evaluation questions, data types, and analytical purposes. Through hands-on activities, students will develop competencies in sampling strategies, survey analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics, and data visualisation. The subject emphasises exploratory and confirmatory data analysis, interpretation of statistical results, and effective communication of quantitative findings to diverse audiences. Students will work with statistical software to conduct analyses and prepare professional reports. |