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.

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.

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 in the state of Victoria, Australia.

Interstate applicants should check with their state’s relevant teaching registration board or authority to see if their state requires early-childhood teacher registration and accepts this qualification.

Completion of an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in a similar discipline OR Applicants with a minimum five (5) years approved work experience will be considered for admission to th

IELTS (or equivalent): Overall score of 6.5 (with no band less than 6.0 in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking)

TOEFL Internet: Test score of 79

Pearson Test of English (PTE): Overall score of 58-64 (with no section score less than 50)

University of Cambridge - Advanced (CAE): Overall score of 176. No individual band less than 169.

VU English - English for Academic Purposes (EAP) (Level 6): Achieved.