Social Impact
Overview
Designed for change-makers in the social purpose sector, the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact will equip you with practical skills, deep knowledge, and real-world insights to create meaningful, lasting impact.
Whether you're in not-for-profit, government, philanthropy, or for-purpose business, this course will build your leadership capabilities and empower you to drive positive social change in your organisation and beyond.
What sets Flinders’ Graduate Certificate in Social Impact apart? A practical, pragmatic teaching approach grounded in theory but brought to life through the voices and experiences of social impact practitioners from around the world.
Up to 80% off fees due to Government subsidies*.
*Government subsidies enable Flinders to offer Domestic applicants a reduction of up to 80% off full course fees through Commonwealth Supported Places. Offer subject to change.
Scholarship opportunity
Flinders University has received $30,000 in scholarship funding through the National Centre for Social Impact, supporting programs such as the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact.
Applications for the 2026 scholarship will open in late October 2025.
Stay tuned for more details and get ready to take the next step in your impact-driven career.
I am an
International Student
Australia or New Zealand.
I am a
Domestic Student
I'm an Australian Permanent Resident
(including Humanitarian Visa holders).
Courses
Graduate Certificate in Social Impact*
Duration: 0.5 years
Delivery mode:
In person
Online
Location:
City
Availability:
Part-time
Full-time
Start dates:
March
July
October
SATAC code:
2GC810 (City, Commonwealth supported place)
2GC910 (City, Full fee paying)
Annual indicative fees (2025)
$8,496 (Commonwealth supported)
$17,820 (Full fee paying)
Apply via SATAC
(CSP): Commonwealth Supported Place
(FFP): Full fee paying
Graduate Diploma in Business Administration
Duration: 6 months
Delivery mode:
In person
Online
Location:
City
Availability:
Full-time
Part-time
Start dates:
March
July
October
SATAC code: 2GD901
Annual indicative fees (2025):
$35,640 (Full fee paying)
Apply via SATAC
Master in Business Administration (Social Impact)
Duration: 2 years
Delivery mode:
In person
Online
Location:
City
Availability:
Part-time
Full-time
Start dates:
March
July
October
SATAC code:
2CM924 (City)
2CM616 (Online)
Annual indicative fees (2025):
$35,640 (Full fee paying)
Apply via SATAC
Graduate Certificate in Social Impact
Duration: 6 months
Delivery mode:
In person
Location:
City
Start dates:
February, July, Ocotober
CRICOS code:
111906A (Full fee paying)
Annual indicative fees:
2025: $20,650
Master in Business Administration (Social Impact)
Duration: 2 years
Delivery mode:
In person
Location:
City
Start dates:
February/October - commencing from 2024
CRICOS code:
107691A (Full fee paying)
Annual indicative fees:
2025: $41,300
Stand out from the crowd
Study a combined Master of Accounting / Graduate Certificate in Social Impact.
Students that study this course will learn accounting skills plus be able to arrive at sustainable and ethical solutions. You can also study now and pay later with a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) because this course receives funding from the Australian Government. Plus, you can become an accountant with a social impact focus in just two years of study.
Why study Social Impact at Flinders?
- Learn how to apply the principles of social impact to social innovation, service and system design, people-centred solutions, community place-based approaches, social entrepreneurship and governance.
- You will access both Australia-wide and international examples plus extensive social impact work happening in South Australia.
- Take part in real-life industry projects and meet your future colleagues with industry partners from across the for purpose and government spectrum.
- Build capabilities in leadership in the context of social impact, with a focus on collaboration, equality and diversity, design thinking and technology for social impact, and how to deliver strategic solutions to complex social issues.
- The course is offered in person in the Adelaide CBD and online featuring intensive workshops to immerse students into the world of social impact.
- Complete four subjects and you receive a Graduate Certificate, and after finishing a further eight subjects, you will be awarded a Master of Business Administration (Social Impact).
Your career
The course aims to provide current and future leaders and professionals with the fundamental understanding and skills they need to achieve positive social impact.
The program of study is designed specifically to enhance the skills of people working or seeking to work in the social purpose or for-purpose landscape, including leaders and professionals within not-for-profits, for-purpose commercial organisations, the philanthropic sector, universities, or governments.
Potential occupations include:
- program director
- general manager
- relationship manager
- social impact specialist
- business analyst
- social impact & stakeholder engagement specialist
- community development planner
- policy advisor.
Potential employers include:
- community services & development
- consulting businesses
- international development organisations
- environment and sustainability businesses
- community development
- community health organisations
- for purpose sector.
Professional accreditation/recognition
These courses count towards professional learning.
Practical experience
Each topic includes industry guest speakers, opportunities for laboratory sessions with social impact leaders and exposure to social impact research, policy and practice through the team of active social impact researchers both at Flinders and nationally.
What you will study
Graduate Certificate in Social Impact
In the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact you will study four core topics. These topics equip students providing in depth knowledge about positive social impact and social change and how to apply these principles in the workplace. Core topics include:
- Social Impact in Context
- Leadership for Social Impact
- Innovation for Social Impact
- Demonstrating Social Impact
The Graduate Certificate in Social Impact is delivered in an intensive format. Each topic runs over 5 weeks and includes 5 modules plus assessments, supported by a weekly 3-hour tutorial which you are expected to attend in person or online. If you are working full-time, we strongly recommend enrolling in one topic at a time to ensure you can fully engage with the course content and learning activities.
The Graduate Certificate in Social Impact (GCSI) offers a flexible and powerful way to advance your career in the social purpose sector. It can be completed as a stand-alone qualification or nested within Flinders University’s Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Accounting (MA). This dual focus prepares you to lead sustainable change across corporate, government, and for-purpose sectors.
Whether you start with the GCSI or begin your MBA or MA first, you can seamlessly integrate GCSI topics into your study plan and have them credited toward your master’s degree.
By combining the GCSI with the MBA (Social Impact), you'll explore leadership, innovation, and social impact measurement, alongside core business areas such as finance, marketing, and strategy. Alternatively, pairing the GCSI with the Master of Accounting equips you with comprehensive accounting expertise enriched by a strong foundation in ethical and impact-driven practice.
GCSI topics are also available as electives in many other Flinders courses, making it easier than ever to develop your capability in social innovation and systems change.
With the added benefit of Commonwealth Supported Places for eligible domestic students, this flexible and integrated approach offers a cost-effective pathway to achieving your goals while making a meaningful difference in your field.
“The thing I enjoyed most about the course was the interactions with the whole team. It was always good to have discussions with people who are in the same field ... it's not a lot of times when you do studies that you can actually relate it to real-world experience.
Entry requirements
Graduate Certificate
Applicants must either:
- hold a degree or equivalent qualification OR
- have at least one years’ experience in a related context or two years’ experience in a non-related field.
Graduate Diploma
Applicants must either:
- hold a degree or equivalent qualification OR
- hold the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.
Master
Applicants must either hold a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification; or hold the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact or Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Flinders University or equivalent qualification.
Select your preferred course.
Check entry requirements.
Check individual course entries on SATAC for information on important dates.
Apply online at SATAC.
Flinders students can apply to transfer to this course internally. Visit: www.flinders.edu.au/internaltransfer for more information.
Select your preferred course and apply directly through the MySATAC application portal.
Applicants are recommended to preference CSP as a higher preference and FFP as a lower preference.
Graduate Diploma in Business Administration
Master of Business Administration (Social Impact)
(CSP): Commonwealth Supported Place
(FFP): Full fee paying
Entry requirements
Graduate Certificate
Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution.
Admission may also be granted based on prior work experience. This will usually include 1 year of relevant work experience in a related field or 2 years of relevant work experience in a non-related field.
Admission will be based on the extent to which work experience has enabled the applicant to develop a foundation understanding of either one of the five areas – Marketing, Accounting, Economics, Finance or Management.
Applicants who wish to be admitted on this basis need to provide:
- A curriculum vitae
- A description of job roles, skills and abilities that demonstrate the work experience requirement
- Name(s) of two referee(s) who can verify work experience.
Graduate Diploma
Applicants must either:
- hold a degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution OR
- hold the Flinders University Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.
Master
Applicants must either hold a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification; or hold the Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Flinders University or equivalent qualification.
Select your course.
Check entry requirements.
Check your eligibility for credit.
Obtain certified documents.
Submit your application and documents.
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CRICOS Provider: 00114A TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12097 TEQSA category: Australian University