Postgraduate Certificate in River Restoration and Management

What is this course about?

The Postgraduate Certificate in River Restoration and Management is aimed at professionals already involved in river management (e.g. state and local government, catchment management) and people with tertiary environmental science qualifications wishing to move into a career in river management.

The course aims to provide natural resource managers with a sound theoretical background and practical experience in river hydrology, ecology, restoration and water policy. The development of this course was initiated by Land and Water Australia after the identification of an urgent need for improved education and training programs for professionals involved in river management and restoration projects. The Course Advisory Committee established to oversee development of the course curriculum includes representatives from government, industry, community and academic staff.

Graduates possess skills in the prioritisation, design, implementation and evaluation of river restoration projects by undertaking subjects covering river hydrology, ecology, restoration and water policy.

Upon completion of the course, graduates will be able to:

• apply knowledge about physical, chemical and ecological processes in aquatic ecosystems to Australian rivers and their floodplains
• understand the basic principles of river hydrology and hydraulic processes
• sample and identify biota from communities in aquatic environments
• understand the conceptual and practical framework that underpins restoration of riverine environments following disturbance by humans
• explain the current status of water policy in Australia from the farm to the catchment scale.

Residential School

All subjects have a compulsory residential school requirement.

Admission requirements

Applicants must hold an undergraduate environmental science degree or equivalent from an accredited tertiary institution.

English language proficiency

Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they:

• have completed all their formal studies in one or more of the following countries; or
• were born in one of the following countries and have completed at least one qualification in one of those countries; or
• have completed senior secondary study or at least one year of full-time University study in one of the following countries: American Samoa, Australia, Canada, Fiji, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, United Kingdom, USA, Zambia
  or
• have successfully completed one year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) post-secondary study at an affiliate institution of the University, with English as the medium of instruction and assessment.

All other applicants must explicitly demonstrate proficiency.

Acceptable tests for English proficiency

Any of the following results, attained within the last two years, can be used to demonstrate English proficiency:

• an Academic IELTS (International English Language Testing System) overall score of at least 6.0, and with no score below 5.5;
• a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) paper-based score of 550 and TWE of 5.0;
• a TOEFL computer-based score of 213 and Essay Rating of 5;
• a TOEFL internet-based score of 80 for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs, and 90 for postgraduate research candidates with a minimum score of 25 in the writing section.
• a Combined Universities Admission Test (CULT) overall score of at least 65;
• a C pass in English at the GCE 'A' level examinations in either Singapore or the United Kingdom;
• completion of the International Baccalaureate diploma with English A2 at higher or sub. Level;
• a C pass in 'Use of English' in the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE);
• completion of the UNSW Foundation Studies Certificate with a C pass in 'Use of English';
• completion of an AQF Certificate IV (including English for Academic Purposes);
• successful completion of at least one year of study in a course at Associate Diploma or Diploma level on the Register of Australian Tertiary Education;
• a score of 155 in the verbal component of the STAT test;
• a Pass grade in the Uniworld English College English for Tertiary Entrance course; or
• IRI Diploma of English.

An applicant who does not otherwise meet the University's requirements may be admitted on the recommendation of the Dean of the appropriate faculty.

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2