Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management

Modern business success is often talked of in terms of leadership, workplace culture and the health and wellbeing of employees.

Human Resource Management (HRM) plays a leading role in all of these.

This graduate certificate will give you the knowledge and skills to help you move into the HR sector.

If you’re already working in HR, it will help with your career progression.

You will gain the skills and knowledge to problem-solve, think critically and analytically, and communicate effectively across the field of HRM.

Entry requirements

Entrants to the program shall normally hold one of the following:

• A completed Bachelor degree from a recognised higher education institution or equivalent; or
• A completed Advanced Diploma (or Associate Degree) plus 2 years relevant work experience; or
• A completed Diploma and 4 years relevant work experience; or
• 5 years relevant work experience.

You will study three courses that give a structured introduction to operational HRM practice, and one elective. The three courses are:

• Introduction to Human Resource Management
• Workplace Health and Safety Management
• Workplace Learning and Development

For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects and contribute to online discussion forums. So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12 – 26 hours of study when at university and 14 – 28 hours of independent study per week.

Your studies at UniSA will incorporate both practical, professionally-focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:

Have you ever considered having a business mentor? As part of your studies, you can apply for our Executive Partners Program.

This is a unique opportunity for you to engage with highly successful industry executives to enhance your studies and career. Our Executive Partners are either active, semi-retired or recently retired business professionals who have a wealth of knowledge and want to help you achieve your goals.

Your career

Between now and 2020, employment in human resources in Australia is expected to grow. The availability of roles is expected to increase by:

• 3,200 jobs for human resource and training professionals (or 3.7 per cent)
• 3,200 jobs for human resource professionals (or 5.4 per cent)
• 6,000 jobs for human resource managers (or 12.6 per cent)1

Careers to consider:

• Human resources administrator: recruiting, training and developing staff; approving job descriptions and advertisements; advising on employment law and organisational policies and procedures; negotiating salaries, contracts, working conditions or redundancy packages
• Human resources adviser: recruiting, training and developing staff; approving job descriptions and advertisements; advising on employment law and organisational policies and procedures; negotiating salaries, contracts, working conditions or redundancy packages
• Learning and development officer: liaising with managers and interviewing employees to identify and assess training and development needs; delivering and overseeing training; monitoring progress made through training programs; designing training programs
• Occupational health, safety and welfare officer: supporting the development of OHS policies and programs; advising and instructing on various safety-related topics; conducting risk assessment and enforcing preventative measures; reviewing existing policies and updating according to legislation; organising WHS training
• People and culture coordinator: completing day to day people and culture activities; assisting with execution of strategic employee engagement initiatives
• Recruitment consultant: working on behalf of companies to source candidates for job vacancies; analysing and understanding job specifications; conducting keyword searches on internal recruitment databases, assessing CVs online using various job websites, or actively ‘headhunting’ senior professionals through independent research
• Training and development coordinator/consultant: liaising with managers and interviewing employees to identify and assess training and development needs; delivering and overseeing training; monitoring progress made through training programs; designing training programs

1Australian Government Department of Employment, Occupational Employment Projections 2015

Applying to study with us:

• go to the top of this page and make note of the SATAC code, then click Apply
• you will be redirected through to the SATAC website to continue your application

Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, tech zones, and areas that simulate real work environments. You’ll also find student gyms and campus sport activities to keep you active. We also offer flexible study options, with online resources available for accessing lecture recordings, virtual classrooms, library resources and learning support.

Adelaide has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation or private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages for plenty of options. If you need somewhere to live, our new student accommodation by urbanest is on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, a perfect location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.

The Business Student Hub is a convenient, central support service for business students, from first year through to graduation. The team provides expert advice on study options, elective choices and any academic difficulties. It also helps with referrals to support services across the University. The Business Student Hub is there to facilitate your life at university, so you get the most out of your UniSA experience.

Our student support services will make your life at university easier. We want you to be successful, and if you need help, we're here to assist. We provide a full range of support services, including:

We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with advanced facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, laboratories, and areas that simulate real work environments.