The Graduate Diploma in Nanotechnology is a 36-unit program offered by the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences, within the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

The course articulates with the 18-unit Graduate Certificate in Nanotechnology and the 72-unit Master of Nanotechnology, and the sequentially developed topics allow progression through the three awards.

Students who have completed the graduate certificate are awarded up to 18-units of credit towards the graduate diploma. Students who have completed the graduate diploma are awarded credit for related topics towards the masters.

Admission requirements

Applicants who do not hold the Graduate Certificate in Nanotechnology must normally hold a degree in any relevant discipline of science or engineering or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution. Examples of relevant disciplines include but are not limited to Chemistry, Physics, Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering or Biotechnology.

The Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Students who have completed the four-year undergraduate Nanotechnology course at Flinders cannot be admitted to the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma but may have 36 units of credit towards completion of the Masters program.

Course aims

The primary aim of this course is to facilitate skills transfer from another relevant area of engineering or science and technology to the study of nanotechnology. Students will develop the capacity to:

  • understand the basic scientific concepts underpinning nanoscience
  • understand the properties of materials and biomaterials at the atomic/molecular level and the scaling laws governing these properties
  • understand current frontier developments in nanotechnology nationally and internationally
  • recognise and develop novel and innovative ideas
  • demonstrate ability in a range of laboratory methods, specifically the fabrication and characterisation tools used in nanotechnology such as various microscopies, surface modifications and molecular level construction methods
  • embrace the multidisciplinary aspects of nanotechnology which is core to its understanding and engage positively with people and ideas in many disciplines
  • demonstrate communication, problem-based and critical thinking skills that will promote life long learning in their future careers
  • work independently and take responsibility for updating and adapting their knowledge and skills
  • appreciate the emerging role of nanotechnology in society, the regulatory framework within which it operates and the ethical issues it raises
  • work cooperatively and productively within a team

Learning outcomes

Upon successful graduation students will:

  • have a sound grounding and expert knowledge in multidisciplinary areas of nanoscience
  • have a sound grounding in and expert knowledge of the basic sciences relevant to employment or further study in the traditional sciences
  • have a grounding in economics and commerce relevant to the needs of high-technology companies
  • be prepared to work in a high tech work force or pursue a research higher degree in nanotechnology
  • analyse and critically evaluate ideas/information/data and apply relevant scientific principles to solve problems by, for example, creating hypotheses, testing theories and predictions, designing and carrying out experiments and analysing reported data
  • design and carry out experiments using both classical and novel science techniques and protocols
  • communicate their findings to a variety of audiences in written and spoken form through debates, posters, reports and oral presentations
  • appreciate that there are the relationships and connections across the sciences and non-science disciplines are core to nanotechnology and understand such relationships and connections
  • work and learn independently and appreciate the need for life-long learning
  • interact effectively as part of a team in order to achieve common goals

Program of study

To qualify for the Graduate Diploma in Nanotechnology, a student must complete 36 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.

Core - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

 NANO8701  Structure and Characterisation GE  (4.5 units)
 NANO8702  Frontiers of Nanotechnology GE  (4.5 units)
 NANO8710  Fundamentals of Nanotechnology GE  (4.5 units)
 DSGN8701  Innovation Management GE  (4.5 units)

Plus three of:

 BTEC9010 Medical Biotechnology GE (4.5 units)
 BTEC9012 Environmental Biotechnology GE (4.5 units)
 BUSN9023 Entrepreneurship and Small Business (4.5 units)
 CHEM8701 Applied Spectroscopy and Electrochemistry GE (4.5 units)
 CHEM8711 Organic Synthesis and Mechanism GE (4.5 units)
 MATH8701 Numerical Analysis GE (4.5 units)
 PHYS8711 Quantum Physics GE  (4.5 units)

Plus one of:

 PHYS8701  Nuclear and Statistical Physics GE (4.5 units)
 PHYS8702  Cosmology and Optoelectronics GE (4.5 units)
 CHEM8702 Inorganic and Organometallic Chemistry GE (4.5 units)
 CHEM8712 Introduction to Polymer Science GE (4.5 units)
 CTEC8702 Clean Technology 2 GE (4.5 units)
 MATH8702 Methods of Applied Mathematics GE (4.5 units)
 MATH8712 Partial Differential Equations GE (4.5 units)