The Certificate of Masonic Studies is conducted by the Victorian Lodge of Research, No. 218, under the auspices of the Grand Superintendent of Education. It is designed to provide a platform between the Master Mason “Walk Through” courses of the United Grand Lodge of Victoria's Education Committee and the more advanced Diploma of Masonic Studies, also conducted by the Victorian Lodge of Research.

Both the Certificate and Diploma courses aim to provide a solid understanding of the history of Freemasonry and to establish a sound basis for the understanding of the Philosophy of Freemasonry. The courses are conducted in part through Socratic class structure and in part by individual student research guided by a course supervisor.