Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care

Note

This course is not offered to international students.

All subjects in the course are delivered by distance (online).

This course is not offered to international students.

The Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care is designed for registered health professionals with substantial clinical, policy or educational health experience who are looking to extend their palliative care capabilities to become future palliative care experts in their field.

This course delivers sustainable, high-quality interdisciplinary education, developed and delivered in collaboration with leading contemporary experts in the field. Each of the eight subjects comprises a mix of theory, evidence-based and clinical practice, and can be completed in part-time mode. Subjects include a range of current healthcare contexts (including complex communication, social justice, law and ethics, and public health) so students can practise safely and proficiently to provide person-centred health care and contribute to quality outcomes for those in their care.

The course prepares students for advanced practice as registered health professionals with skills in palliative care clinical performance capabilities, and critical decision-making and leadership skills.

This diploma has strong links to industry and is firmly grounded in contemporary and best evidence-based, person-centred healthcare practices. The course closely integrates theory and practice-based learning and assessment in a combination of online learning, classroom, state-of-the-art simulation laboratories and authentic clinical settings. Guest presenters include industry-based health practitioners and other experts from a range of clinical settings to ensure that knowledge and skills are evidence-based and clearly reflect advanced practice as it is today. Presenters adopt a range of teaching and learning strategies to enhance the student experience, such as participatory online and real-time learning activities, communities of practice, media resources, podcasts and case-based scenarios. These course features ensure that graduates are practice-ready, able to work in dynamic and changeable healthcare environments, and prepared to make significant contributions to positive patient outcomes.

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Course aims

The overall aim of the course is to prepare graduates to become palliative care clinical leaders.

Study plan

The following example shows a typical part-time program.

First year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Communicating and Collaborating for Optimal Person Centred Care	96801	6
Delivering Best Palliative Care Any Place Every Time	96802	6

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Complex Symptom Management	96803	6
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Electives	cbk91756	12

Second year

Autumn session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Immersive Palliative Care Futures	96804	6
Select 6 credit points from the following:		6
Electives	cbk91756	12

Spring session	Subject Code	Credit PointsA credit point is the unit of measure of workload for individual subjects.
Ethical Dimensions of Palliative Care	96828	3
Translating Evidence into Change	96806	6
Legal Dimensions of Palliative Care	96829	3

Course fees

For relevant fee information, please choose from the following:

Local student

In most cases, UTS offers domestic students entry to postgraduate courses on a fee paying basis.

Tuition fees are charged:

based on the particular course in which you are enrolled
based on the number of credit points in which you are enrolled
at the rates set for the current year and revised annually

Fees for future year(s) published in the online calculator, whilst unlikely to change, are estimates only. UTS makes every effort to provide up to date future year(s) fee estimates and to limit any changes, however, UTS reserves the right to vary fees for future year(s) at any time.

Tuition fees can be found in the online calculator.

A small number of postgraduate courses offer government subsidised Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). Find out whether there are CSPs available in this course by visiting our postgraduate fees page.

In addition to tuition fees, students are required to pay a Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). The purchase of textbooks and other course materials may also result in additional costs.

UTS Alumni save 10%: alumni.uts.edu.au/advantage

International student

Tuition fees for international postgraduate coursework students can be found using fees search.

Tuition fees must be paid in advance each session and are subject to annual increase. Fees for future year(s) published in fees search, whilst unlikely to change, are estimates only. UTS makes every effort to provide up to date future year(s) fee estimates and to limit any changes, however, UTS reserves the right to vary fees for future year(s) at any time.

For this course, the cost per credit point for 2025 is $899. The total credit points are 48.

All international students should familiarise themselves with the following documents:

Protocol on refund of fees for international students - contains the refund of fees information for international students.
Tuition Protection Service - designed to ensure that students receive the tuition they have paid for

In addition to tuition fees, students may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). Textbooks and other course materials will also result in additional costs.

UTS Alumni save 10%: alumni.uts.edu.au/advantage

For further information on costs related to your study at UTS, visit the international students' fees information page.

Careers

The course is ideally suited to health professionals who envisage a future in palliative care and are committed to driving international, national and local palliative carer reforms designed to improve patients' and families' end-of-life care experiences. The interdisciplinary course is nested with the Master of Palliative Care (C04365) and equips health professionals with the necessary clinical capabilities to assess and manage within their scope of practice palliative care patients' and families' complex needs. Bringing together the nursing, medical and allied health disciplines, this course focuses on the effective management of interdisciplinary care in the context of prescribing and referral practices, diagnostic investigations and developing comprehensive treatment plans.

Career options include working in palliative care policy at a state or national level, and providing palliative care in a variety of clinical areas such as emergency, critical care, surgical and medical specialties, community-based care, mental health, specialist palliative care, paediatrics, aged care, chronic disease management and primary health care.

Course structure

Course structure explained

Students must complete 48 credit points made up of 36 credit points of core subjects and 12 credit points of electives offered by UTS: Health.

Course completion requirements

Requirement	Credit Points
STM91273 Core - Level 1	18
STM91272 Core - Level 2	18
Select 12 credit points from the following:	12
CBK91756 Electives	12
Total	48

Additional information

Course duration

This course is offered on a two-year, part-time basis.

Part time, distance (online)

Admission requirements

Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.

Applicants must have one of the following:

Completed Australian bachelor's degree or higher qualification, or overseas equivalent AND Current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA) as a health professional in Australia AND Concurrent employment in or access to the clinical area of study AND A minimum of 1 year full-time, or equivalent part-time, post registration clinical experience

A minimum of 1 year full-time, or equivalent part-time, recent relevant post registration clinical work experience within the last 5 years AND A general capacity to undertake tertiary education, demonstrated by successful completion of hospital or college certificates and professional or staff development

Applicants’ current nursing registration is confirmed via the National Register of Practitioners. Applicants should ensure that details of their registration are up to date on this register.

Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application

Curriculum Vitae AND Statement of Service in one of the following formats:
- A 'Statement of Service' provided by the employer
- A completed 'UTS statement of service’ signed by the employer
- A statutory declaration confirming work experience (for Australian Residents only)
- An official letter from the applicant’s accountant or solicitor on their company letterhead confirming the applicant’s work experience or engagement with the business, duration of operations, and the nature of the business
- A business certificate of registration in original language and English (e.g. provision of ASIC documentation or ABN or similar documentation for Australian Businesses)

The English proficiency requirement for local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL iBT: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.

If you don't meet the admission requirements for this course, there may be alternative pathways to help you gain admission.

Articulation with UTS courses

This course is part of an articulated program made up of the Graduate Certificate in Palliative Care (C11268), the Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care, and the Master of Palliative Care (C04365).

Scholarships and prizes

Scholarships

For Health students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For Health students

UTS: Handbook

See the Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care in the UTS: Handbook for comprehensive course details.

Information for international students

Find out about support services, the Australian education system, accommodation and more to help you get the most out of your study at UTS.

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Domestic students

Before you apply

Here are a few important things for you to check out before you apply:

session dates
admission requirements for postgraduate coursework at UTS
required levels of English proficiency for the course you’re interested in.
recognition of prior learning guidelines if you’ve undertaken previous study that might be credited towards your course at UTS.

How to apply

Domestic applicants can apply via My Student Portal.

Intake

Autumn Session 2025
Spring Session 2025

Important dates

JANUARY 2025
26	Postgraduate applications close for Main Calendar Autumn Session 2025

FEBRUARY 2025
3	Postgraduate applications open for Spring and Summer Session 2025
3 - 14	Orientation for Main Calendar Autumn Session
17	Main Calendar Autumn Session 2025 commences

MARCH 2025
3	Last day to be admitted to a course or enrol in (add) subjects for Main Calendar, Health UG Calendar, Education UG + PG Calendar Health Extended Teaching Calendar Autumn Session 2025

JUNE 2025
29	Postgraduate applications close for Spring Session 2025

JULY 2025
21 - 25	Orientation for Main Calendar Spring Session
28	Main Calendar Spring Session 2025 commences

AUGUST 2025
11	Last day to be admitted to a course or enrol in (add) subjects for Main Calendar, Health UG Calendar, Health Extended Teaching Calendar Spring Session 2025

OCTOBER 2025
TBC	Postgraduate applications close for Summer Session 2025

DECEMBER 2025
1 - 5	Orientation for Main Calendar Summer Session 2025

JANUARY 2026
TBC	Postgraduate applications close for Main Calendar Autumn Session 2026

Need more information?

Ask UTS

Scholarships, prizes and awards

Scholarships

For Health students

Only for international students

For all domestic students

Only for Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander students

Prizes and awards

For Health students

International students

Before you apply

Here are a few important things for you to check out before you apply:

session dates
admission requirements for postgraduate coursework at UTS
required levels of English proficiency for the course you’re interested in.
recognition of prior learning guidelines if you’ve undertaken previous study that might be credited towards your course at UTS.

You can meet an international student advisor at one of our events worldwide to ask questions and submit an application.

Important dates

Visit the UTS Handbook for full academic dates. Visit essential information for international students for the application closing dates.

How to apply

This course is not available to international applicants. UTS International has information on all courses available to international applicants wishing to study at UTS.