Five reasons to study a certificate or diploma at RMIT

Considering upskilling or reskilling? Here are five reasons why a TAFE course could be perfect for you.

As the largest dual-sector university in Australia, RMIT offers Technical and Further Education (TAFE) courses that can give you the skills to pursue a fulfilling career or embrace further study.

Also known as vocational study, TAFE courses are generally designed to help you start your career sooner. They give you the foundational knowledge and confidence to land many different career opportunities in technical and specialist areas, including accounting, mental health, cyber security, trades and project management.

Here are a few reasons why a TAFE course may be a perfect fit for you.

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Vocational study includes certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, apprenticeships and traineeships.   

Certificates I–IV – These technical courses allow you to pick up job-specific skills in as little as six months. They’re a great option for those wanting to gain practical knowledge in their field.

Diplomas and advanced diplomas – Diplomas give you the specialised knowledge that’s needed to work in skilled or paraprofessional areas. These programs normally take one to two years of full-time study.

Apprenticeships and traineeships - Apprenticeships and traineeships combine training and employment, normally over three to four years. They’re a study option that allows you to learn on the job and earn money while studying.

#1: You'll learn by gaining hands-on experience

Studying a TAFE course gives you the practical knowledge you need to find employment, start a business or change careers.

Vocational study also tends to suit those who enjoy learning by doing.

At RMIT, vocational learning involves gaining résumé-worthy experience in workshops, projects, internships and other face-to-face experiences. Many RMIT courses are also co-designed with industry, ensuring that the skills you graduate with meet the current needs of employers while being transferable for the future of work.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Vocational Education Mish Eastman said that this approach to learning ensures RMIT graduates are equipped to meet the rapidly changing needs of the workforce.

“By working with industry on specific codesign that solves for their workforce challenges – alongside a high bar of quality – we can create the flexibility and support Australians need to remain skilled across their working lives,” she said.

#2: You can fit study around your life

Learning new skills doesn’t have to take years.

Whether you’re wanting to test the waters in a field you’ve always been curious about, or you’re reskilling to change careers, there are TAFE courses that can be completed in just 6-12 months. If you’re looking to learn a trade, you could even do a Certificate II in just three months! 

Vocational study can also be completed part-time, making it easier to balance alongside work and other commitments.

#3: You’ll learn from practitioners with years of experience in the industry

Many certificates and diplomas at RMIT are designed with industry at the heart of how you’ll learn.

As a student, that could look like completing placement hours, working on real-world projects for industry partners, getting on-the-field experience, using industry-grade equipment and more.

RMIT courses are also led by industry practitioners with years of specialised expertise. You’ll learn from someone who’s had first-hand experience in the field you’re interested in, giving you a wealth of knowledge to draw upon when you study, and network of experts to stay connected to after you graduate.  

#4: You could use your certificate or diploma to transfer into a degree

Although certificate and diplomas are a perfect way to upskill or land a role within a new field, they can also pave the way to other RMIT courses.

RMIT’s pathways start you in a vocational course and allow you to progress into a bachelor or similar degree. These options recognise completed and partly completed vocational studies and can save you time and money by allowing you to skip parts of the degree you already covered in your certificate or diploma. 

You can use RMIT’s Pathway Finder tool to discover your options.

#5: Your ideal course might be a Free TAFE option

Free TAFE courses give more Victorians the chance to get the skills they need to land a job that’s in demand. These options are also priority areas across a number of industries, meaning they give you the skills that employers are looking for. 

Put simply, Free TAFE means students pay no tuition fees at all if their vocational course is eligible. 

RMIT alum Edwina Saines had been considering a career change into community services for years, but the cost of study had always held her back – until she explored Free TAFE options.

“Free TAFE really was a gamechanger for me. I was incredibly excited when I found out the Certificate IV in Community Services was on the list of courses and I was eligible.

“The certificate attracts such a variety of people with all types of life experiences that I had the privilege of hearing about throughout our study time together.”

The certificate led Edwina to study a Diploma of Community Services (Case Management) with RMIT, enabling her to solidify her new career direction.

“I’m hoping to use my next qualification to make a difference within the family violence sector,” she said.

Story: Pallavi Daniel and Jacob Johnston

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RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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Five reasons to study a certificate or diploma at RMIT