Key facts
Domestic students course information.
Entry is based on a bachelor qualification or overseas equivalent.
Entry is based on a bachelor qualification or overseas equivalent. English language requirements must also be met.
- 1.5 years full-time
- Up to 6 years part-time
| Start Dates and Campus | Trimester 1 – February 2026 | Trimester 2 – June 2026 | Trimester 3 – October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online | Offered | Offered | Offered |
| Armidale Campus | Not Offered | Not Offered | Not Offered |
| Sydney Campus | Not Offered | Not Offered | Not Offered |
| Online | Offered | Offered | Offered |
| Armidale Campus | Not Offered | Not Offered | Not Offered |
| Sydney Campus | Not Offered | Not Offered | Not Offered |
Course information
Download course brochure
Have you traced your family tree and been bitten by the history bug? Or perhaps you are a graduate looking to add new skills to your CV, to help future proof your career? With so many online resources now available, interest in local and family research has exploded. With the Graduate Diploma in Local, Family and Applied History, you can add a formal history qualification to your CV.
In this course, you will have the opportunity to acquire the specific skills and knowledge required to investigate, interpret and present histories to a professional standard, utilise different sources and media, and engage a variety of different audiences.
Why study the Graduate Diploma in Local, Family and Applied History with UNE?
In our Graduate Diploma in Local, Family and Applied History, you will receive a solid foundation in the origins, current state, and future of history as one of the oldest academic and popular disciplines. You will examine the foundations of history in the ancient world; the development of medieval and early modern conceptions of history; and history in its many modern forms.
You will also learn about the evolution of local, family and applied history and have the opportunity to develop skills required to investigate and interpret heritage sites, memorials, material culture, museums and oral history interviews.
UNE is Australia's oldest regional university and a pioneer in the delivery of distance (now online) education. Year after year, our students award us the maximum 5 stars for Overall Experience and Student Support in The Good Universities Guide, so when you study with us, you are in very good hands.
What makes our course different?
This course gives you the opportunity to complete a research project on a topic of your choosing, working with a member of staff to design, conduct and present the findings. In addition, this course offers:
- Work experience. You have the opportunity to choose to undertake work experience as a professional historian with our Work Integrated Learning unit.
- Research opportunities. Explore a topic of personal interest under the guidance of a supervisor, developing advanced research, critical thinking and communication skills.
- Credit for further study. Get advanced standing into a Master of Arts, Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Historical Inquiry and Practice on successful completion, if you wish to pursue further studies.
- Flexibility. Study online, part-time or full-time, moving your study load up and down according to your changing needs.
Study online
Most of our students choose to study online across three study periods with 24/7 tutor support* and fit study around work and family commitments. Uniquely, our online students are mostly over 30 and bring valuable experience with them. They form a community of adults juggling the same challenges and priorities and who bring their life and work experience together at UNE in order to become future-fit and better respond to a rapidly changing world.
* 24/7 tutor support includes: essay feedback (within 24 hours); live chat 24/7 for generic feedback on academic writing; and subject-specific help at a foundation or first-year level for subjects including mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, business, accounting, microeconomics, macroeconomics and statistics. There are also a wide range of workshops, resources and courses available in academic skills support to assist you and help you to succeed.
Entry requirements
Select the option that best describes you.
This course is not currently available for this mode of study.
Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.
When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.
International applicants, please note: You may also need to show evidence of your English language proficiency to the Department of Home Affairs if you are applying for a Student Visa.
These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.
Mandatory intensive schools on campus may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. Please see the UNE Course Handbook for the specific requirements of each unit.
On-Campus study
If you would like to study full-time in Australia at one of UNE's campuses, you will need to have a visa that allows you to study. For most international students this visa will need to be a Student Visa. The Australian Department of Home Affairs has further information about visa eligibility and conditions.
If you are an international applicant who wants to study online (overseas or in Australia):
You will need to meet both the Academic and English Language Requirements to gain admission into this course. Meeting academic requirements means we review what you have already studied to see if you have the results needed for admission to your preferred course.
This course is offered under two admission rules, each with its own Course Structure (Program of Study).
Rule A: You have completed a Bachelor qualification (AQF Level 7 or overseas equivalent) in any discipline.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule A. Please see the Rule A Course Structure (Program of Study).
Rule B: You have completed a Bachelor qualification (AQF Level 7 or overseas equivalent) in a relevant discipline.*
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule B. Please see the Rule B Course Structure (Program of Study).
* Relevant disciplines include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Ancient History
- Archaeology
- English
- History
- Indigenous Studies
- International Studies
- Political Science
Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.
When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.
International applicants, please note: You may also need to show evidence of your English language proficiency to the Department of Home Affairs if you are applying for a Student Visa.
These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.
Mandatory intensive schools on campus may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. Please see the UNE Course Handbook for the specific requirements of each unit.
Online study in your own country
If you would like to study online with UNE while you reside outside of Australia you do not need a Student Visa. If your course requires you to visit Australia to attend any mandatory study requirements, you would need to explore Visitor Visa options for a short-term stay.
Some courses require you to provide documentary evidence, or interviews to support your application. The following documents are required to support your application:
- A certified academic transcript of your completed qualification.
- Proof of identity and citizenship. This can be a certified/notarised copy of the photo page of your passport, or another form of official photo identification that lists your full personal details including name and date of birth; for example, a foreign government identity card.
- Evidence of English Language Requirements satisfied. If you have completed a UNE-approved formal English test within the last two years, you must provide a copy of the test results with your application. Please see UNE’s English Language Requirements above for further information.
Advanced Standing is credit or recognition of your previous study, work and/or life experience. This can reduce the cost and length of your studies.
Course Entry Advanced Standing
Some entry rules come with Advanced Standing or Articulation Programs that are assessed automatically without the need for you to fill in an additional application. Simply apply for your course and we’ll look after the rest.
If you are admitted under Rule B you will be granted 24 credit points of Block Advanced Standing.
Individual Unit Advanced Standing
If you are admitted into this course and believe you have already completed the equivalent of one or more of the units in your Course Structure (Program of Study) within the last ten years, you can apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing.
- If you are admitted under Rule A you can apply for up to 36 credit points of Advanced Standing.
- If you are admitted under Rule B you can apply for up to a further 12 credit points of Advanced Standing.
This course is offered under two admission rules, each with its own Course Structure (Program of Study).
Rule A: You have completed a Bachelor qualification (AQF Level 7 or overseas equivalent) in any discipline.
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule A. Please see the Rule A Course Structure (Program of Study).
Rule B: You have completed a Bachelor qualification (AQF Level 7 or overseas equivalent) in a relevant discipline.*
If you are admitted on this basis, you will be eligible for admission under Rule B. Please see the Rule B Course Structure (Program of Study).
* Relevant disciplines include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Ancient History
- Archaeology
- English
- History
- Indigenous Studies
- International Studies
- Political Science
Please note: all admissions are subject to UNE’s Admission, Credit and Enrolment Policy. Please read and familiarise yourself with the details of the policy. See our Glossary for help with university terms.
These requirements are in addition to the entry requirements above.
When applying you may be required to show how you satisfy the English Language Requirements for this course.
Mandatory intensive schools on campus may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. Please see the UNE Course Handbook for the specific requirements of each unit.
Some courses require you to provide documentary evidence, or interviews to support your application. The following documents are required to support your application:
A certified academic transcript of your completed qualification.
Advanced Standing is credit or recognition of your previous study, work and/or life experience. This can reduce the cost and length of your studies.
Course Entry Advanced Standing
Some entry rules come with Advanced Standing or Articulation Programs that are assessed automatically without the need for you to fill in an additional application. Simply apply for your course and we’ll look after the rest.
If you are admitted under Rule B you will be granted 24 credit points of Block Advanced Standing.
Individual Unit Advanced Standing
If you are admitted into this course and believe you have already completed the equivalent of one or more of the units in your Course Structure (Program of Study) within the last ten years, you can apply for Individual Unit Advanced Standing.
- If you are admitted under Rule A you can apply for up to 36 credit points of Advanced Standing.
- If you are admitted under Rule B you can apply for up to a further 12 credit points of Advanced Standing.
Course structure
To qualify for the award a candidate must pass units to the value of 72 credit points with a minimum of 30 credit points at 400 level or above.
72 credit points
For candidates admitted under Rule (a)30 credit points
Complete the following units:- What is History? (HINQ100) – 6 credit points
- The Historian (HINQ101) – 6 credit points
- Researching and Applying History (HINQ500) – 6 credit points
- Colonial Australia (HIST150) – 6 credit points
- Modern Australia (HIST151) – 6 credit points
- Reading Unit (HASS505) – 6 credit points
- Research Project (HASS506) – 6 credit points
- History: Uses and Abuses (HINQ200) – 6 credit points
- Researching the Past in the Digital Age (HINQ302) – 6 credit points
- Making Museums Digital (HINQ303) – 6 credit points
- Making Museums Digital (HINQ503) – 6 credit points
- Local and Community History (HIST330) – 6 credit points
- Local and Community History (HIST530) – 6 credit points
- War and Australian Society in the 20th Century (HIST331) – 6 credit points
- War and Australian Society in the 20th Century (HIST531) – 6 credit points
- Waking the Dead: Death, Burials and Memorials (HIST333) – 6 credit points
- Waking the Dead: Death, Burials and Memorials (HIST533) – 6 credit points
- Heritage Conservation (HIST335) – 6 credit points
- Heritage Conservation (HIST535) – 6 credit points
- History and Museums (HIST337) – 6 credit points
- History and Museums (HIST537) – 6 credit points
- Australian Frontiers: Rural and Regional Histories (HIST338) – 6 credit points
- Australian Frontiers: Rural and Regional Histories (HIST438) – 6 credit points
- The Family in History (HIST339) – 6 credit points
- The Family in History (HIST539) – 6 credit points
- Convict Australia (HIST351) – 6 credit points
- Aboriginal History Since the Late 18th Century (HIST354) – 6 credit points
- Australian Architecture, Buildings and Lifestyles, 1788-1988 (HIST373) – 6 credit points
- Australian Architecture, Buildings and Lifestyles, 1788-1988 (HIST573) – 6 credit points
- Oral History (HIST376) – 6 credit points
- Oral History (HIST576) – 6 credit points
- Public History (HIST556) – 6 credit points
72 credit points
For candidates admitted under Rule (b)24 credit points
24 credit points block advanced standing granted for completion of an AQF Level 7 Bachelor degree in a relevant discipline.6 credit points
Complete the following unit:- Researching and Applying History (HINQ500) – 6 credit points
- Reading Unit (HASS505) – 6 credit points
- Research Project (HASS506) – 6 credit points
- Local and Community History (HIST530) – 6 credit points
- Australian Frontiers: Rural and Regional Histories (HIST438) – 6 credit points
- War and Australian Society in the 20th Century (HIST531) – 6 credit points
- Waking the Dead: Death, Burials and Memorials (HIST533) – 6 credit points
- Heritage Conservation (HIST535) – 6 credit points
- History and Museums (HIST537) – 6 credit points
- The Family in History (HIST539) – 6 credit points
- Public History (HIST556) – 6 credit points
- Australian Architecture, Buildings and Lifestyles, 1788-1988 (HIST573) – 6 credit points
- Oral History (HIST576) – 6 credit points
See UNE Handbook for more details. The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course plans, exit awards, intensive schools, and work placement requirements.
Fees and scholarships
Understanding Your Course Fees
Your total course fees are based on the number of units you complete, not the length of time you study. This gives you flexibility to tailor your study journey to suit your circumstances.
Here's how it works:
- Unit-based pricing - Each unit has its own fee. Visit our Fees and Costs section for detailed unit pricing information
- Advanced standing - If you're eligible for credit for previous study, you'll complete fewer units and pay less overall
- Study pace - Choose part-time or full-time study to fit your schedule without affecting unit costs
- Trimester 3 option - Students who choose to accelerate their progress by studying during Trimester 3 can do so without increasing overall costs
The table below shows estimated fees for a typical full-time year of study (48 credit points which typically equates to 8 units)
How much will it cost?
Estimated fees for your first year of study in this course are:
| Fee type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Full Fee (no government subsidy) | $29,040* |
| International | $32,016* |
| Commonwealth Supported Place (quotas apply) | $17,376* |
| Estimated amenities fee per year if studying full-time | $373 |
* Annual course fees only cover the cost of tuition. They do not include other expenses associated with university study such as text books, accommodation and living expenses. If you are successful in gaining admission to study at UNE, the Offer of Admission will list the exact tuition fees you need to pay for your course. Fees quoted cover full-time tuition for two full-time trimesters only. For more information, please see fees and costs.
What are the course fee payment options?
Full Fee places are mostly in postgraduate coursework degrees. In a full fee place you pay the tuition fee set for your course, however you may be eligible for a FEE-HELP Loan to defer payment of your fees until you are earning above the threshold.
If you are enrolled in a Full Fee place and there is a direct connection between your work and your study, you may be able to claim your tuition fees as a tax deduction.
A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is a government subsidised place in a university course. The government pays part of your tuition fees, and you pay the remainder.
If you have a CSP in either an undergraduate or postgraduate (coursework) degree, you may be eligible for a HECS-HELP Loan, which allows you to defer payment of your fees until you are earning above the threshold.
UNE scholarships are open for all to apply and offer financial help while you are studying. There are scholarships for students with high academic achievement, from rural areas, studying specific degrees, in disadvantaged groups, experiencing financial hardship, who excel at sport or want to live in a UNE residential college.
UNE offers bursaries and scholarships that can help you with the costs of studying and living in Australia.
The UNE International Bursary reduces the published annual tuition fees for international students by up to 20%. These bursaries are available for international students commencing coursework studies at UNE in 2025. View detailed Bursary information.
UNE also offers a number of substantial research scholarships to postgraduate students studying research-based degrees.
Your career
Whether your choice to study local, family and applied history is initially personal or professional, there are many career paths to explore upon completion, including:
- cultural and heritage tourism
- family and history organisations
- family history and genealogy
- history and heritage consultancies
- local government planning and heritage
- museum curator/archivist/public relations coordinator/guide/volunteer.
The Australian Government’s Job Outlook website states there is very strong future growth for historians and other social professionals. The very high skill level acquired in the Graduate Diploma in Local, Family and Applied History can be applied to a range of positions and industries.
Course outcomes
- demonstrate advanced knowledge of the development and nature of local, family and applied history as a specific area of historical inquiry and practice;
- employ various methodologies to pursue historical research and inquiry, including methods of evidence location, evaluation, interpretation and application;
- apply and communicate the results of historical research effectively in a variety of media and forms, and for different audiences;
- demonstrate an understanding of the ethical and social responsibilities of local, family and applied historians to the communities with whom they work and to the discipline of history more broadly; and
- demonstrate of advanced knowledge the ways in which local, family and applied history is practised in community, professional and academic settings.
- Knowledge of a Discipline
Graduates will have advanced knowledge of history as a discipline, and an in-depth understanding of key principles, concepts and methods of local, family and applied history. This will include an appreciation of the processes through which historical knowledge has evolved. They will also understand the need to adopt transnational and multicultural approaches to the understanding of historical issues. These will be taught through unit materials, online discussions, guided readings, and directed learning activities. They will be assessed through different forms of assessment appropriate to the area of local, family or applied history being studied.
- Communication Skills
Graduates will have the skills to communicate their historical research and understanding in a variety of formats and to a variety of audiences. These skills will be taught through unit materials, written and oral feedback on assessment tasks and online discussions, and assessed through the variety of assignment provided throughout the course.
- Problem Solving
Graduates will have advanced understanding of key problem-solving strategies used in history and will be able to develop their own responses to particular problems in different environments, topics and issues. The teaching, practise and assessment of these skills will occur primarily through unit materials and resources, online discussions and written and multi-media assessment tasks.
- Information Literacy
Graduates will have advanced research skills in locating, collecting, referencing and evaluating relevant evidence, including the skills to critically assess the utility of information, identify the most useful sources and examine the evidence they offer. They will also have advanced skills to work with a variety of media and learning how to document and interpret it.
- Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility
Graduates will have in-depth understanding of their professional responsibilities as researchers to provide balanced and accurate research; their social responsibility to question and challenge some 'facts'; and their ethical responsibilities towards the members of the communities, families and organisations whose histories they are researching and presenting. Their awareness of these responsibilities will be taught and assessed through the unit materials and resources, the activities assigned for assessment and discussions in online postings.
- Lifelong Learning
Graduates will have advanced skills to research, evaluate, discuss and present historical issues. In particular, they will understand the importance of historical imagination, intellectual curiosity and critical thinking as central tenets of good historical practice.
- Independence and Collaboration
Graduates will develop skills in independent study, in particular through autonomously researching and executing their assessment tasks. Graduates will also have in-depth understanding of local, family and applied history as a collaborative enterprise that involves working with and for communities, families, government and private organisations. This involves combining an understanding of social responsibility with the skills of teamwork. With this in mind, throughout the course students will practise working collaboratively and networking effectively to solve problems and present results. This will be achieved through the online discussions and the sharing of information and findings. In this environment students will be required to take the initiative as well as assert their own values and opinions while respecting the values and contributions of others.
Excellence in experience, equity and employability
Five Stars,
20 Years in a Row
UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 20 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience.
Good Universities Guide 2007-2026
Five Stars for
Social Equity
UNE rates among the top 20% of universities nationally and is #1 in NSW for Social Equity.
Good Universities Guide 2026
Five Stars for
Graduate Employment
UNE rates among the top 20% of universities for Graduate Full-Time Employment and Starting Salary.
Good Universities Guide 2026 (Undergraduate)
Diamond-Rated Digital Learning
UNE’s leadership in digital learning earned the highest ‘Diamond’ rating in a peer review.
ASCILITE TELAS 2025
Studying online
At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian university.
We understand the challenges faced by busy adults studying at home. We know that a vital part of online study is your engagement with the learning community. Communication with your classmates, teaching staff and university support staff will enhance your study experience and ensure that your skills extend beyond the subject matter. UNE’s teaching staff are experts in their field which is why UNE consistently receives five stars from students for teaching quality, support and overall experience.*
*The Good Universities Guide
Excellence in experience, equity and employability
Five Stars,
20 Years in a Row
UNE is the only public uni in Australia awarded 20 straight years of five stars for Overall Experience.
Good Universities Guide 2007-2026 Five Stars for
Social Equity
UNE rates among the top 20% of universities nationally and is #1 in NSW for Social Equity.
Good Universities Guide 2026 Five Stars for
Graduate Employment
UNE rates among the top 20% of universities for Graduate Full-Time Employment and Starting Salary.
Good Universities Guide 2026 (Undergraduate) Diamond-Rated Digital Learning
UNE’s leadership in digital learning earned the highest ‘Diamond’ rating in a peer review.
ASCILITE TELAS 2025 Studying online
At UNE we know it takes more than just being online to be a great online university. It takes time and experience. We pioneered distance education for working adults back in the 1950s, so we’ve been doing this longer than any other Australian University.
As an international student you can take advantage of flexible online study from overseas or while you are studying in Australia on a visa other than a student visa. You can’t study fully online on a Student Visa.
To study online from overseas you need to consider that you may need to travel to Australia to attend a UNE campus for some mandatory intensive schools.
Studying on Campus
Whether you are an undergraduate student coming to study in Australia for the first time, a PhD student coming to live here with your family, or you only need short-stay accommodation whilst in Armidale for Intensive Schools, we have the perfect accommodation option for you.
Stay connected
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- •Course updates and important changes as they happen
- •Key dates for intakes, deadlines, and enrolment steps
- •Application guidance, including supporting documentation requirements
- •Next steps and what to expect after you apply or enquire
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Why study with us?
I've always been interested in the human history of my local region.
Why study with us?
UNE has a great academic environment, access to unlimited learning resources, exposure to leading academic staff in a university of international reputation.
How to apply
Preparing to apply
You should always provide the details of past or current studies in your application. You may also need to include documents to support your application.
The kind of documents you need will depend on:
- Your preferred course/s
- Your personal circumstances
Preparing to apply
You should always provide the details of past or current studies in your application. You may also need to include documents to support your application.
The kind of documents you need will depend on:
- Your preferred course/s
- Your personal circumstances
Important Dates
Different application methods and courses can have different closing dates. To find your correct application method click the Apply Now button below. Please check the appropriate application website for opening and closing dates.
If you are applying online direct to UNE please see below for application dates.
| Intake | Application Closing Date | Trimester Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| Trimester 1 | 24 February 2026 | 23 February 2026 |
| Trimester 2 | 23 June 2026 | 22 June 2026 |
| Trimester 3 | 9 October 2026 | 19 October 2026 |
