A guide to upskilling & microcredentials at UNSW
Your next career leap could be a short course away.
Thinking about upskilling but not quite sure where to begin? With hundreds of upskilling courses available across UNSW, it’s not always easy to know exactly where to start or which path is right for you.
This guide is designed to help you make sense of your options, with practical guidance on choosing an upskilling course or microcredential that suits your goals, experiences and interests. You’ll also find information on funding options and where to go if you’d like to talk through your options with a staff member.
What’s the difference between a short course and a microcredential?
UNSW uses specific terms to describe different types of learning. If you’re new to upskilling, these distinctions can feel a little unclear, so here’s a simple translation.
Microcredentials
A course that includes a formal assessment, such as an exam or applied project. Many microcredentials are stackable, meaning that completing a series of them may allow you to count credits towards a postgraduate qualification, such as a Master’s degree. This model is part of the National Microcredentials Framework, designed to support flexible, skills-focused learning.
Short courses
Learning experiences designed for immediate impact. You gain practical knowledge and typically receive a certificate of attendance, but usually no academic credit. Short courses are ideal for filling a specific skills gap or updating your knowledge without committing to formal study.
What are you hoping to get out of upskilling?
When exploring upskilling courses, it helps to start by thinking about the outcome you’re aiming for. Do you want to build leadership capability, respond to change in your industry, develop technical skills, or broaden your personal or professional knowledge?
You don’t need to have all the answers, just a sense of direction. Starting with a goal in mind can help you narrow down the upskilling courses that are most relevant to you. Choose a goal below to explore related course options.
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If you’re stepping into leadership or managing teams, look out for courses that focus on decision-making, strategy and leading people effectively. These often explore how to build confidence, manage performance and lead through complexity.
Example courses include:
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If your organisation is navigating change, such as through growth, technology, regulation or workforce shifts, you might want to explore courses that focus on leading people through uncertainty and supporting sustainable change.
Example courses include:
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As data and artificial intelligence become part of more roles, check out courses that focus on using data effectively, understanding AI’s implications, and making informed, ethical decisions.
Example courses include:
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If technology or cybersecurity is becoming part of your role, look for courses that build understanding of digital systems, cyber risk and technology leadership.
Example courses include:
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Strong communication underpins effective leadership, collaboration and influence. You may want to explore courses that focus on presence, persuasion, negotiation and professional writing.
Example courses include:
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If you’re building broader commercial awareness or deepening your understanding of how organisations operate, look out for courses that focus on business fundamentals, strategy and applied problem-solving.
Example courses include:
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Project management skills are in demand across industries. You may want to explore courses that cover planning, governance, delivery frameworks and formal project management qualifications.
Example courses include:
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If your work intersects with legal, regulatory or policy frameworks, explore courses that build understanding of legal principles, compliance and decision-making in regulated environments.
Example courses include:
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Health and clinical professionals may want to explore courses that support evidence-based practice, professional credentials and emerging areas of care.
Example courses include:
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Do you work in education, sustainability or social impact, or are you looking to contribute to positive societal change? Explore courses focusing on inclusive and special education, sustainability and climate adaptation or equity, diversity and social justice.
Example courses include:
- Graduate Certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (Online)
- Master of Human Resource Management (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) (Online)
- Understanding Poverty, Inequality and Social Disadvantage in Australia
- Microcredential Unit in Gifted Education: Key Concepts and Issues
- Microcredential Unit in Special and Inclusive Education: Students on the Autism Spectrum
Other popular short courses and upskilling opportunities at UNSW
If you’re still exploring your options, looking at popular courses can be a useful way to get a sense of what’s available. The examples below highlight some of the short courses and microcredentials learners often choose at UNSW.
Certificate in Executive Management & Development (CEMD)
School: Business and Leadership (AGSM)
Why it stands out: The CEMD allows you to build executive capability without committing to a full Master’s degree upfront. You complete individual executive short courses over a period of up to four years. Once you accumulate 12 points, you’re awarded the certificate.
If you decide to continue studying, the CEMD can count as credit towards an AGSM MBA.
Why learners choose it: You can upskill while working full-time, selecting short courses that fit your schedule and career priorities.
Learn more
Cyber Security Fundamentals
School: Engineering and Technology (AGSE)
Why it stands out: This offering follows a tiered learning approach. You can begin with a five-day Cyber Security Bootcamp (no technical background required) and progress to a microcredential covering Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC).
Why learners choose it: Courses are delivered by experts from the UNSW Institute for Cyber Security, combining current research with practical, industry-relevant insight.
Learn more
Practice Management Course (PMC) Plus
School: Law and Justice (UNSW Edge)
Why it stands out: PMC Plus is the mandatory course for lawyers seeking to become Principals or remove Condition 3 from their practising certificate.
Why learners choose it: Beyond compliance, the course includes leadership and business strategy modules to support the practical realities of running a firm.
Learn more
Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre (MWAC)
School: Science and Medicine (Technical)
Why it stands out: MWAC offers specialist training in advanced analytical techniques, including electron microscopy and high-performance computing (HPC), for researchers and external industry partners.
Why learners choose it: Participants gain the skills to independently operate world-class equipment, supporting advanced research and development projects.
Learn more
The Authentic Communicator
School: Arts, Design and Architecture
Why it stands out: This course is co-delivered with the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), combining performance techniques with professional communication skills.
Why learners choose it: Participants learn voice control, physical presence and improvisation techniques to communicate with confidence in high-stakes settings.
Learn more
Explore the full list of UNSW short courses and microcredentials.
"I am on an international student visa. Can I take these courses?"
Most short courses are not CRICOS-registered and cannot be used to obtain a student visa. However, if you already hold a valid visa and the course does not breach your visa conditions, or if you’re studying fully online from overseas, you can generally enrol. Always check with the course convenor before registering.
Not sure what to do next? Try career coaching
If you’re feeling unsure about your next step, you don’t have to work it out on your own. A UNSW Career Coach can offer personalised support to help you reflect, clarify your options and plan what comes next. Sessions are available to all UNSW students and recent alumni, up to two years after graduation.
General coaching sessions run for 20 minutes and can cover a range of topics, including career planning, building or refining your resume, preparing for interviews and navigating your job search. Specialised sessions are also available for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and Higher Degree Research (HDR) candidates.
Appointments can be booked up to 14 days in advance, with sessions available online via Microsoft Teams or in person at the John Goodsell Building (Ground Floor). There is a strict limit of one booking per week.
If you’d value a sounding board or a fresh perspective, a career coaching session can be a helpful place to start.
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