Swinburne has launched an Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education Studies, in an Australian-first that offers a new formal qualification to those who complete tertiary education but fall short of a degree.
According to the latest Australian Government Department of Education data, a quarter of students fail to finish their degrees within nine years. “Leaving university for any reason often comes with a negative stigma, but it shouldn’t,” says Professor Laura-Anne Bull, Swinburne’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Education, Experience and Employability.
Professor Bull explains that the unique Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognised certificate will support students returning to study and building on their professional development. “Swinburne is proud to empower students to demonstrate their learning while providing a clear pathway to continue their education later without ‘starting over’, whether that’s in three months or three years,’’ says Professor Bull.
She adds that “encouraging lifelong learning has never been more important and is the key to securing Australia’s future workforce.”
This latest offering is a key initiative of Swinburne’s new Ad Astra strategy, helping every learner leave with an outcome that meets their needs.
What is the Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education Studies?
The new Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education Studies is a formal AQF-recognised undergraduate certificate awarded by Swinburne to students who have successfully completed four units, or six months, of bachelor studies. This provides a credential that can be used for employment and as a stepping stone to return and complete the degree later without starting over.
Who is eligible to receive the Undergraduate Certificate?
Core eligibility: Any Swinburne student who passes at least six months, or four units, of study at Swinburne is eligible for the new certificate, e.g., successfully completed units in Teaching Period 2, 2025.
Backdating for past students: Swinburne will backdate eligibility for up to 10 years, allowing former students to be awarded the certificate. Enquire about retroactively receiving your certificate.
Additional eligibility requirements for current and past students: To be eligible for the Undergraduate Certificate, you are also required to ensure that you do not have any overdue debts or sanctions, and that you have not previously received an exit award.
To find out if you are eligible, please contact help@swinburneonline.com.
What this means for you as a Swinburne student
If you are a prospective Swinburne student and you start a degree, this Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education Studies means that you can still receive a formal credential recognising completed study if you need to pause your degree. This will allow you to keep momentum in your career and enable a smoother return to study later down the line.
For current Swinburne students, this qualification allows you to gain and retain credit for completed units and provides a clear pathway to resume your degree when you are ready. Eligible students who completed units in Teaching Period 2, 2025 may qualify immediately.
As a past Swinburne student, you may be able to retroactively receive a formal qualification from Swinburne acknowledging your completed studies, which is useful for employment or as a bridge allowing you to finish your degree. The backdating window for past students is up to 10 years. Swinburne University aims to reach out to up to 1000 past students.
Ultimately, the introduction of this new certificate means that you can formalise your learning with recognised course credits when you return to Swinburne, reducing the time required to complete your bachelor’s degree.
“Our learners are diverse, and so are their needs. Being able to engage with foundation concepts and academic practices in an agile way helps students build confidence in applying learning to real-world contexts, laying the groundwork for future academic and career success,” says Professor Bull.
Whether you’re planning your first course, reassessing midcourse, or looking back on study you’ve already completed, Swinburne’s new Undergraduate Certificate of Higher Education Studies ensures your effort is recognised and your path forward is clear.
For personalised advice on eligibility, fees, documentation and next steps, speak with our Course Consultants.
