Overview
As a Graduate Diploma - Instructional Design student, you will get:
- state-of-the-art knowledge and research in instructional design
- hands-on experience with various distance education technologies
- individualized student support
As Graduate Diploma - Instructional Design courses are part of the Master of Education - Open, Digital, and Distance Education (MEd) program, you will take your courses with MEd students.
Why take the Graduate Diploma - Instructional Design?
As distance education and web-based learning grows and evolves, so too does instructional design. Professional instructional designers and educators with instructional design skills are in demand.
The Graduate Diploma - Instructional Design is an 18-credit online graduate program. You must complete at least 9 credits through Athabasca University. All courses are online grouped study, with defined start and end dates.
Application deadlines and start dates
| Application deadline | Start date |
| Jan. 15 | spring |
| May 15 | fall |
| Sep. 15 | winter |
Routes and options
Ladder to a degree
Once you have completed the Graduate Diploma - Instructional Design, you may apply to the MEd program. If you're admitted, your Graduate Diploma - Instructional Design credits may be applied towards the MEd degree.
Completion times
You can take up to 3 years to complete all requirements.
Tuition and fees
A non-refundable convenience charge will be charged when using Visa or Mastercard to pay student fees. American Express is no longer an accepted method of payment. For more information on the convenience charge, please visit the Financial Services website.
The following fees are effective for courses starting Sep. 1, 2024 to Aug. 31, 2025. All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change. Academic-related fees are exempt from the Federal Goods and Services Tax (G.S.T.). G.S.T. is added to all other goods and services, for example, workshops, some publications, self-help seminars, and Athabasca University promotional sales items.
program application and admission fees | Program application fee (non-refundable) required each time a person applies: | $197 |
| Program admission fee (payable upon acceptance into the program and non-refundable): | $255 |
| Non-program application fee (non-refundable) required only once and waived if previously an AU student: | $124 |
Course tuition fees (includes all required materials)
fees in canada and out | Students living in Canada: | $1,9751 |
| Students living outside Canada: | $2,220 |
1 Graduate Diploma – Instructional Design (GDID) Course Tuition fees now include the Course Administration and Technology fee of $167 and Course Materials fee of $37 per course, plus the Athabasca University Graduate Students Association (AUGSA) fee of $13 per credit is included.
Estimated program tuition cost (2024-2025)
The total tuition cost for a student living in Canada who takes all courses from Athabasca University, would be $11,850 ($1,975 x 6, three-credit course equivalents). AUGSA fees, the Course Administration and Technology fee, and Course Materials fee are included in the above calculation. Application and admission fees are not included.
Other fees
other fees | Transfer credit evaluation fee (one time): | $348 |
| Transfer credit evaluation fee (international)(one time): | $348 |
| Letter of Permission fee: | $100 |
| Western Deans' Agreement administration fee (non-AU visiting students) | $250/course |
| Course extension fee: | $334 |
| Course withdrawal processing fee1: | $453 |
| Continuation (program extension) fee. Same as course tuition fees (see above). | |
| AU Graduate Student Association Fee (per credit) | $14 |
1The course withdrawal processing fee is a mandatory administrative fee charged when a student withdraws from a course. For early withdrawal only, the student will be refunded the full course tuition fees (see above) less the course withdrawal processing fee. Refer to Course Withdrawal.
Continuation fees
Continuation fees are the same as course fees. Continuation fees are normally assessed when program students do not register in the required six credits per academic year of course work. Continuation fees may be charged to students that exceed the maximum completion time limit.
Fee information effective Sep. 1, 2024 to Aug. 31, 2025.
Courses
The Graduate Diploma - Instructional Design at Athabasca University equips you with a strong foundation in instructional systems, learning theory, and program evaluation, while offering electives that cover trends in educational technology, online teaching, and project management. Designed to be completed in a maximum of three years, this online program provides the flexibility and support to help you master the skills needed for today's digital learning environments.
To complete the program you will need to fulfill all the general requirements of the Graduate Diploma - Instructional Design.
Our program regulations can give you an idea of what courses you need to finish this program, and how to plan the order you'll take them in.
Program regulations
Courses to explore
Below are some of the courses that our students take in this program. Please consult an advisor to confirm any course planning, as some of these courses may not apply to you.
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Career options
With a Graduate Diploma - Instructional Design from Athabasca University, you'll be well-prepared for careers in designing and implementing educational programs across various platforms and industries, from corporate training to e-learning development. This credential opens doors to roles such as instructional designer, e-learning specialist, and educational consultant, among others.
Some careers you could pursue with this credential may include:
- instructional designer
- e-learning developer
- curriculum developer
- training manager
- learning and development coordinator
- educational technology specialist
- online course developer
- corporate trainer
- educational consultant
- learning experience designer