Specialist Certificate in Ageing
Critically review current and key challenges in ageing from a global perspective
3 months full time, 6 months part time | Online | Domestic and international students | No visa required
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Respond to the complex and evolving needs of ageing populations worldwide.
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Course overview
| Full-time duration | Part-time duration | Elective Subjects | Next term starts | Applications close | Total course fee |
| 3 months | 6 months | 2 |
2 October 2017 (Term 4) Upcoming terms | 11 September | A$6,288 |
Ageing is our greatest common denominator, yet our knowledge of it is still very limited. As populations around the world grow older, we need to understand the economic, social and political implications of ageing.
The Specialist Certificate in Ageing at the University of Melbourne is an exciting interdisciplinary course that is designed to provide students with key competencies in the ageing field to meet the rapidly increasing market demand.
This is the first course of its kind that brings together academics from multiple disciplines, including public health, medicine, architecture and design, engineering, business and economics, government, and the arts. Academics collaborate with leading experts from Australia and around the world.
By successfully completing this course you may be eligible for credit toward the Graduate Certificate in Ageing, Graduate Diploma in Ageing or Master of Ageing.
Course aims
We’ve designed this course to produce leaders in the field of ageing who will be able to develop new approaches and policies that help shift the focus to a more positive and holistic view of ageing. This course will provide opportunities to gain practical skills and undertake high-order analysis, using interdisciplinary strategies and cross-cultural comparisons.
Students will learn how national and global politics, economics, ethics and social equity influence the way society plans for and meets infrastructure and service delivery requirements of ageing populations in Australia and around the world. Hear expert perspectives on the trends, issues and challenges faced by communities, organisations, businesses and governments. Investigate how an ageing population drives workforce and retirement trends, and how recent technological advances can revolutionise the ageing experience. Develop the capacity to identify market needs, negotiate with government and shape policy. Identify and analyse the multiple determinants of healthy ageing and develop integrative approaches to managing them.
Who the course is for
This program is for those looking to build a career specialising in this fast-growing sector and will be particularly relevant if you are a policy and planning professional, entrepreneur, manager, healthcare professional, or someone already working with ageing populations and workforces. At the completion of this course, students will be well placed for leadership advocacy and managerial roles.
Career outcomes
The greater integration of technology into everyday life continues to revolutionise areas such as healthcare provision, product design, productivity and transportation, and attention to the needs of older people in each of these areas is increasing. Product development associated with the field of gerontechnology is beginning to have an effect on many other industries. Urban design, immigration policy, consumer policy, consumer protection, insurance and financial education are all being affected by the global ageing phenomenon. Notions of retirement are evolving and plans for longer working lives are influencing the approaches that large organisations and financial advisors are taking with ageing populations.
The Specialist Certificate in Ageing is designed to increase your leadership and career potential to meet the accelerating market demand for a skilled workforce. The course provides both a contextual overview and specialist skills along with knowledge of the key issues around ageing. Local, state and federal governments along with NGOs and private sector organisations are keen to employ skilled graduates.
In the Australian aged-care sector alone, there are currently over 350,000 paid employees and the Productivity Commission on Caring for Older Australians expects this workforce to quadruple in size over the next forty years (Productivity Commission on Caring for Older Australians, 2011). Half of these employers report skill shortages due to a lack of specialist knowledge required to meet service delivery demands.
Access career opportunities through our extensive Industry Network. Network members range from prominent private consulting companies and the Victorian government, to large service delivery organisations, consultancies, financial institutions, technology firms, retirement villages and peak bodies.
What you will learn
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Develop solutions to complex ageing issues
Develop solutions to
complex ageing issuesYou’ll be able to apply comprehensive knowledge of the ageing experience from conceptual and practical dimensions of the course to develop solutions to complex ageing issues.
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Appraise ageing-related systems
Appraise ageing-related
systemsYou’ll learn to describe and appraise systems, structures and policies in Australia and other countries that address ageing.
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Assess strategies aimed at promoting healthy living
Assess strategies aimed at promoting
healthy livingYou’ll be able to critically assess strategies aimed at promoting healthy and productive ageing across the lifespan (ie legislation, policy and community development).
Who you will learn from
Your online learning experience is enriched by interaction with lecturers, tutors and your fellow classmates. You can expect input and feedback from your lecturers and tutors as well as regular real-time sessions where you speak with the instructor and fellow students.
Find out more about the University of Melbourne online learning experience.
Associate Professor Louisa Remedios, Director of Teaching and Learning, School of Health Science
Professor Ian McDonald, Emeritus Professor in Economics
Associate Professor Briony Dow, Clinical Associate Professor
Ruth Williams, Academic Convenor (Ageing Research Initiative) & Research Fellow
Lena Gan, Program Director, Master of Ageing
Next: see what subjects you'll be studying
Contact student support
Talk with a dedicated online Student Support Consultant via the chat function at the bottom right of this page, via phone or by filling out the enquiry form to understand more about this program, including:
- Entry requirements
- Time commitment for subjects
- Fees and payment options.
Phone: + 61 3 8344 0149
Email: study-online@unimelb.edu.au
Opening hours: Weekdays: 9am - 5pm AEST
Course structure
To gain the Specialist Certificate in Ageing you must complete 25 points comprising of:
- Two elective subjects.
Workload
The estimated hours required for each subject is between 15 -19 hours per week, but this varies for each student and depends on your task management and planning, familiarity with the material, reading style and speed.
Discuss your subjects
Talk with a dedicated online Student Support Consultant to understand:
- Subject choice and electives from other masters programs
- Possible recognition of prior learning
- Time commitment for various subjects
- Exit pathways.
Phone: + 61 3 8344 0149
Email: study-online@unimelb.edu.au
Opening hours: Weekdays: 9am - 5pm AEST/AEDT
Entry requirements
To apply for the Specialist Certificate in Ageing, you are required to have:
- An undergraduate degree in any discipline, or equivalent
- Documented evidence of at least two years' professional work experience.
Meeting these requirements makes you eligible for selection but does not guarantee selection.
In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
- Prior academic performance; and
- Professional work experience.
All applicants are required to provide a current curriculum vitae describing their work experience and tertiary and other qualifications, as a supplement to transcripts.
The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Student Application and Selection Procedure.
Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 6.5 is required.
Students taking the course from overseas are not required to have an international student visa.
Most courses have multiple intakes per year. Check the dates of upcoming terms.
Discuss your eligibility
Talk with a dedicated online Student Support Consultant to clarify any questions about entry requirements including the academic performance and work experience expected.
Phone: + 61 3 8344 0149
Email: study-online@unimelb.edu.au
Opening hours: Weekdays: 9am - 5pm AEST/AEDT
Fees and scholarships
| Course | Points | Cost |
|---|---|---|
Specialist Certificate in Ageing | 25 point program | A$6,288 |
Course fees are the same for both domestic and international students.
Your course is equivalent in quality and accreditation to an on-campus qualification. Each subject is designed by academics, subject coordinators and learning designers to deliver an interactive and enriching experience, with regular contact from lecturers, tutors and a dedicated online Student Support team.
The indicative course fee for the course is based on one year of full-time study. In cases of part-time study, the fee is based on the study load that the student is taking. Fees are paid on a per subject basis each term, and total course fees are not required to be paid up-front.
The fees listed are the indicative costs for 2017. The University reviews fees annually. The indicative total course fee is based on typical subject enrolments, and includes an indexation of 5 per cent per annum.
Learn more about tuition fees.
Financial assistance and scholarships
The fees you pay for graduate study will vary depending on the type of enrolment or place you are offered.
If you are an Australian Citizen or Permanent Humanitarian Visa holder, you may be eligible for financial assistance from the Australian Government.
There are many bursaries and scholarships awarded by the University and specific faculties, based on a variety of criteria. Online students are encouraged to apply.
- FEE-HELP
FEE-HELP is a loan available to eligible students in domestic fee-paying places to help pay for all or part of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government sets limits on how much you can borrow. FEE-HELP loans are repaid through the taxation system. No loan fee applies to loans for postgraduate studies. Detailed information about eligibility for FEE-HELP is available from the Study Assist website.
- Domestic scholarships
The Melbourne Scholarships Program is one of the most generous and comprehensive in Australia – supporting approximately 3000 students at the University. The scholarships program serves to both reward outstanding academic achievement and provide access for students who might otherwise be prevented from undertaking further study. For full details of all domestic graduate scholarships, visit the Future Students website.
Further information regarding financial aid options for current students is available on the Student Services website.
- International scholarships
There are no scholarships available for overseas online students from the University of Melbourne. Companies, home universities, professional organisations and charities may provide scholarships.
Discuss your payment options
Talk with a dedicated online Student Support Consultant to clarify the best way to finance your study and to discuss scholarship opportunities.
Phone: + 61 3 8344 0149
Email: study-online@unimelb.edu.au
Opening hours: Weekdays: 9am - 5pm AEST/AEDT
Next intakes
View Key Dates for further important dates and deadlines.
| Term | Applications close | Term dates |
|---|---|---|
| Term 4, 2017 | 11 September, 2017 | 2 Oct - 3 Dec |
| Term 1, 2018 | 8 January, 2018 | 29 Jan - 1 Apr |
Apply online
It takes about 20 minutes to complete the form using the online application system.
You can save your work in progress and complete the application at a later date.
To complete your application you will require:
- Course code SC-AGEING
- Evidence of meeting the English Language Requirements as determined by the University
- A detailed CV, including work history if applicable and specifying if the positions were part time or full time and the number of years/months employed
- Transcripts for ALL courses completed including an explanation of the grading system used. Students who have studied at the University of Melbourne do not need to provide this information
- Digital files of these documents. Limit of 6MB per document. Supported file types: TXT, DOC, DOCX, PDF, JPG, JPEG, XLS, XLSX, TIFF).
Help with application preparation and submission
A dedicated online Student Support Consultant can help you prepare and submit your application.
Contact one of our friendly consultants to talk through:
- The selection process
- Preparing your documentation
- Using the online application system.
Phone: + 61 3 8344 0149
Email: study-online@unimelb.edu.au
Opening hours: Weekdays: 9am - 5pm AEST/AEDT