University of Southern Queensland
Graduate Certificate of Business (People and Culture)
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 6 months
- Course Type: Graduate Certificate
Build and lead sustainable workforces by learning to cultivate employee engagement, build staff capability and develop ethical solutions for emerging challenges through this online course.
Course overview
- Effective employees are essential to an organisation’s success—learn how to cultivate employee engagement in real‑world scenarios to strengthen an organisation’s ability to respond to change and challenges.
- Explore topics and external factors that shape HR strategy. Be equipped to manage staff, foster positive and engaged work environments, ensure legal compliance and align workforce strategies with business goals.
- Learn about building an engaged workforce, from job design, satisfaction and burnout, and the effect disengaged workers have on organisational productivity.
- Create and lead sustainable workforces by developing essential research and problem‑solving skills. Learn to acquire new insights, forecast potential impacts and develop ethical solutions and plans to address emerging challenges and opportunities.
This postgraduate qualification is designed to help students advance in their workplaces and can be a stepping stone if they want to go on to study degrees such as the Master of Business and the Master of Information Systems.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
14th September, 2026
What you will study
To complete this degree students must fulfil four units.
- People and Culture
- Building an Engaged Workforce
- Contemporary HR Issues for Managers
- Select one course from the ‘Human Resource Leadership’ advanced specialisation in the Master of Business.
Entry requirements
To be considered for admission into this course, you will need to have one of the following qualifications:
- Completion of an Australian university bachelor's degree in any area, or equivalent.
- A minimum of five years of professional work experience, or equivalent.
English language requirements
You'll need to meet the applicable English language requirements, and this degree requires:
- IELTS (Academic) - Minimum overall score of 6.5 and a minimum score of 6.0 in each of the four components - listening, reading, writing and speaking.
Alternative English language proficiency tests may also be accepted.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:
- Evaluate available digital technologies and automation relevant in the domain of specialist expertise.
- Communicate knowledge to audiences to build professional credibility.
- Design solutions to dynamic issues by applying established theories in an area of expertise.
- Interpret informational inputs to ensure that the interests of others (including organisational, cultural/societal, and environmental) are considered.
- Cultivate a professional identity and career trajectory by exhibiting the human capabilities and knowledge demanded by modern organisations.
Career outcomes
Graduates may find a career path in:
- Employee Relations Coordinator or Manager
- Talent Acquisition Specialist
- Training and Development Lead or Manager
- HR Administrator or Coordinator
- People and Culture Manager
- Payroll Specialist
- Organisational Development Consultant
- Change Manager
Fees and CSP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $8,696 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of four units (normally four courses) per semester or year.
Student annual fees may vary in accordance with:
- The number of courses studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of courses.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate programs.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per the course you're enrolled in.
- Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.