Quick summary
If you know exactly which skill or tool you need to learn, a professional certification is usually the faster, lower-cost option. If you want a formal qualification without committing to a full masters, a graduate certificate or graduate diploma sits in the middle. If you're after broader, in-depth knowledge or you're aiming to change careers or move into senior leadership, postgraduate study is the stronger long-term investment.
Deciding how you can further your career will often lead you to a few study options, likely a professional certification or postgraduate study. While both are beneficial, they serve different purposes and will have varying outcomes.
It helps to think of these options as a scale, rather than one option over the other. At one end, professional certifications confirm a specific skill or professional standard. At the other, a masters degree builds deep expertise across a field. Graduate certificates and graduate diplomas sit in between, giving you a university qualification in less time than a masters.
Professional certification
A professional certification is awarded by a third-party organisation such as an industry body or authoritative provider rather than a university. It is not an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification. Its main purpose is to verify that you meet a recognised professional standard rather than to provide a broad education. Professional certifications vary across each industry. Some may be more valuable for your career progression than others depending on what field of work you’re in, and the direction you’re wanting to take your career.
Earning this certification depends on the awarding organisation, and most fall into one of three eligibility methods:
Assessment
You prove your knowledge or skills through an exam, task or practical exercise. Some organisations expect you to complete training first, but the certification confirms your abilities. An example of an assessment-based certification is a software certification such as an Adobe or Microsoft tool certification. These will provide an exam to earn the credential, with optional training.
Experience
The organisation reviews your qualifications, work history and references to decide if you meet its criteria. There is not always an exam associated with this type of certification. An example of an experience-based certification is a Certified Practising Marketer (CPM) certification. This is awarded by the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) who will review your experience and education and ensure you meet the assessment criteria using a points system. This also needs to be maintained each year.
Course
You complete a structured training program run by the organisation or an approved provider, and the certification is awarded upon completion of the course. This is most likely to teach you a specific tool, platform or method. A course-based certification could be a short course, for example the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) offer single or 2-day courses across topics such as Cybersecurity, AI, Data Analytics and UX. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive an industry-recognised certificate of attainment.
Some certifications are a combination of these, such as course-based study, an exam and experience in the field.
For example, the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter requires you to pass a series of exams and have relevant work experience. Some certifications also need to be renewed through ongoing professional development.
Who should choose a professional certification?
Professional certification is a good fit if you want formal recognition of skills or experience you already have, or if you're looking to build a specific, applied skill within your current role. areas you need to strengthen, and you're looking to learn a specific skill or tool rather than a broad field of study.
If a certification only covers part of what you need, or you want a qualification recognised under the AQF, a graduate certificate is often the next step up. It might take a bit longer than a certification, but it’s a formal university qualification that can count towards further study.
Postgraduate study
Postgraduate study ranges from a six-month graduate certificate to a two-year masters degree. All postgraduate qualifications are formal AQF qualifications delivered by a university. Compared to a professional certification, they build broader knowledge of a subject area rather than a single skill but differ in how deep they go and how long they take.
You also don’t have to commit to a full masters straight away. Many graduate certificates count towards a graduate diploma or masters in the same field, so you can start with a shorter course and keep going later if you want to.
RMIT domestic graduates with a postgraduate qualification have a full-time employment rate that is 20.2% higher than graduates with only an undergraduate qualification*.
*2025 QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey
Types of postgraduate study
Coursework postgraduate study usually comes in three options: graduate certificates, graduate diplomas, and masters degrees. The table below compares them with professional certifications, from shortest to longest in duration.
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Graduate diploma |
Masters |
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Graduate certificate
A graduate certificate is a short postgraduate course developing specialised knowledge and skills in a specific area, over 6-12 months with full-time or part-time options. It’s the closest step up from a professional certification. It’s shorter and lower cost than a masters, but still a formal AQF qualification.
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Graduate Certificate in Business Administration
February, July
On campus
Melbourne City
Full-time 6 months, Part-time 1 year
Graduate Certificate in Commerce
- February, July
- On campus
- Melbourne City
- Full-time 6 months, Part-time 1 year
Graduate Certificate in Foundation of Artificial Intelligence
- February, July
- On campus
- Melbourne City
- Full-time 6 months, Part-time 1 year
Graduate diploma
A graduate diploma provides advanced knowledge and skills in a specific field, offering a deeper study option than a graduate certificate, without the full commitment of a masters degree. A graduate diploma is typically undertaken over a 12 month period of full-time study.
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Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing
- February, July
- On campus
- Online
- Full-time 1 year, Part-time 2 years
Graduate Diploma in Project Management
- February, July, October
- On campus
- Melbourne City
- Full-time 1 year, Part-time 2 years
Graduate Diploma in Translating and Interpreting
- February, July
- On campus or online
- Melbourne City
- Full-time 1 year, Part-time 2 years
Masters
A masters degree is an advanced postgraduate qualification delivering specialised, professional education in a specific discipline or field of study, undertaken over one to two years of full time study.
Because of this depth, a masters is particularly valuable if you’re looking to change careers, since it can provide the foundational knowledge and credibility needed to move into a new field. It’s also often expected and sometimes required for senior leadership roles, where employers look for evidence of advanced, sustained study.
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Master of Artificial Intelligence
- February, July
- On campus
- Melbourne City
- Full-time 2 years, Part-time 4 years, Eligible for advanced standing
Master of Cyber Security
- February, July
- On campus
- Melbourne City
- Full-time 2 years, Part-time 4 years
Master of International Business
- February, July
- On campus
- Melbourne City
- Full-time 2 years, Part-time 4 years, Reduced duration available
Which type of study is right for you?
Ultimately, there is no wrong choice. Research your options to decide which one is best suited to your situation and career goals.
If you already have skills or experience and want formal recognition of them, or you want to build a specific, practical skill quickly, a professional certification may be the right fit. Check how each one is awarded first, as some assess what you already know, some review your work history, and some teach you the skill as part of the program.
If you want a university qualification but aren’t ready to commit to a full masters, a graduate certificate or graduate diploma gives you formal recognition in less time. You may also be able to use it as a pathway into a masters later on.
If you're looking for a longer commitment and investment in your knowledge and career trajectory, particularly if you're changing fields or aiming for leadership, a masters degree offers the depth and breadth to support that move.
