Graduate Diploma

A Graduate Diploma is generally a postgraduate qualification.

Australia

Postgraduate diplomas offered in Australia are typical of those offered in England, Wales, and Ireland. The diploma is normally taken following a Bachelor's degree and a successful award allows progression to a Masters Degree without having received Honours with the Bachelor's Degree.

England and Wales

On a similar note, postgraduate students can study various Graduate Diploma in England and Wales. For example, the law conversion course.

However, such courses may be referred to as either a Graduate Diploma or a Postgraduate Diploma. Different institutions offering exactly the same course appear inconsistent in which name they use. Perhaps an indication is given by the following example. In 2003, The College of Law renamed the official title for its law conversion course from "Postgraduate Diploma in Law", to "Graduate Diploma in Law". The reasons given were that although the law conversion course is studied postgraduately, the contents of the course are only undergraduate in nature, albeit condensed in time.

For information on 2008 GDL pass rates and the number of students awarded distinctions and commendations by the various providers see [http://www.qedlaw.co.uk/2008/08/28/pass-rates-for-gdl-lpc-and-bvc/ QED LAW]

Ireland, Republic of

The Graduate Diploma or Higher Diploma in Ireland is a postgraduate award taken after a Bachelor's degree. Usually of one years study, sometimes two years, full time study. A wide variety of courses are offered, it is also possible to progress to a Master's degree.

The diploma is generally in two forms:

:A reorientation type qualification to reskill a graduate with new specialised skills, for instance the "HDipStats - Higher Diploma in Statistics" is aimed at offering additional skills in statistics. See also Higher Diploma.

:A professional type qualification which is necessary to enter a profession, for instance the "HDipEd - Higher Diploma in Education" allows a person to register and practice teaching. See also Postgraduate Diploma.

The Graduate Diploma (GradDip) is offered by DIT, DCU, HETAC and UL. The Higher Diploma (HDip) is offered by HETAC, NUI institutions, Trinity College Dublin offers only the Higher Diploma in Education.