Graduate Certificate in Research Studies in Business

The Graduate Certificate in Research Studies in Business is a 40 credit point program that provides training in modern social science research methods. Upon successful completion of the program, students may be able to progress to the Graduate Diploma of Research Studies in Business.

The Griffith Business School will be responsible for the overall supervision of the student and monitoring their progress throughout the program.

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Research Studies in Business, a student must:

• hold a related undergraduate degree from a recognised University (or another tertiary education institution of equivalent standing) with a minimum GPA of 5.0 (using a 7.0 point scale) over the last two years of the Bachelor degree*, OR
• hold a related Masters degree from a recognised University (or another tertiary education institution of equivalent standing) with a minimum GPA of 5.0 (using a 7.0 point scale)*

* A student's two most recent years of study will be used to calculate the admission GPA.

From 2025, the following admission requirements will apply.

To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Research Studies in Business, you must have one of:

Any Bachelor/Graduate Diploma/Masters (a Graduate Certificate is not sufficient on its own) OR 5 Years Related Professional Experience*.

*Professional Experience including but not restricted to: Business Owner, Manager, Team Leader or any work within the field of proposed Research.

The program will conform to the English language requirements for Higher Degree Research (HDR) programs.

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English.

All Higher Degree Research (HDR) applicants are expected to have reached an appropriate level of proficiency in English. International applicants must provide documentary evidence of their English Language Proficiency (ELP). Further, there may be occasions when a Head of Element or Dean feels it is appropriate to seek confirmation of ELP from applicants for whom there is no formal requirement to provide evidence of ELP (for example, Australian citizens or applicants with permanent resident status whose tertiary studies were not conducted in English or International applicants who have undertaken some studies in English). Full documentary evidence in support of English proficiency must be submitted with applications for candidature.

The minimum English Language proficiency requirements for applicants to Higher Degree Research (HDR) programs are as follows:

• A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS (Academic) with no band score less than 6.0
• OR a minimum score of 575 on the paper-based TOEFL including a score of no less than 5.0 on the TWE
• OR a score of 79 on the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL with no sub-score less than 19
• OR a score of no less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
• OR a minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.

An applicant may be exempted from the requirement to provide an ELP test score if the applicant's tertiary level studies were completed within the specified timeframe and in one of the countries listed in the University's Admission Schedule: English Language Proficiency.

An applicant may also be exempted from the requirement to provide an ELP test score if the applicant has completed at least two years full-time work experience in an English speaking professional work environment or has successfully completed the Griffith English Language Institute (GELI) Direct Entry Program (DEP) in accordance with the requirements as specified in the University's Admission Schedule: English Language Proficiency.

The Direct Entry Program (DEP) is not available for Domestic students.

Graduates of this program will have advanced theoretical and specialist knowledge in the principals and methods that underpin research within this field of business, equipping students with the research training and skills for further learning.