Diploma of Hospitality Management

The Diploma of Hospitality Management is a practical qualification for people who want to run hospitality operations, restaurants, hotels, bars, event venues, catering companies. At Academia of Trade Pty Ltd, the course runs 1.5 years and is registered on CRICOS (course code 116039K), so it is available to international students on a Student visa. You will study how venues make money, how to roster and lead staff, how to manage stock and suppliers, and how to keep customers coming back.

What you actually study

Expect a mix of core management subjects and hospitality-specific units. Typical areas include food and beverage operations, accommodation services, financial performance, rostering, workplace health and safety, and marketing. Assessment is usually a combination of written tasks, practical service scenarios and a work placement. Because this is a diploma, the focus is on applied skills rather than theory for its own sake, you learn by doing, often in a simulated or real hospitality setting.

Delivery is structured into study periods across the 1.5 years. Each unit carries a set number of credit points, and you need to pass all required units to graduate. Some diplomas include a capstone-style project where you plan and pitch a hospitality concept, but confirm the exact structure with the provider. Work-integrated learning is common in this field: many students complete a placement in a hotel, restaurant or event business as part of the course.

Where it fits in the Australian system

This diploma sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). It is a stand-alone qualification, but it also provides a pathway into a bachelor degree, often with credit for some units, meaning you may finish a degree faster. A bachelor degree normally takes three years, an honours year adds one more, and a master's is one to two years. The diploma is a shorter, more hands-on entry point.

International students on a Student visa can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and after graduating may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Always check current visa rules with the Department of Home Affairs. English requirements for entry are typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, or an accepted equivalent such as TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic or Cambridge C1 Advanced. The Student visa itself has a separate English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs.

Who it suits

This course suits people who enjoy fast-paced environments and want to move into supervisory or management roles without committing to a full degree. It also works for career changers who have some customer service experience and want a formal qualification. If you are already working in hospitality, the diploma can help you step up to duty manager, venue supervisor or department head. The skills you gain, leading a team, controlling costs, handling complaints, planning events, transfer across hotels, restaurants, clubs, resorts and catering.

For exact unit lists, tuition fees and intake dates, check the official CRICOS register and the provider's page. Entry requirements can vary, so confirm what you need before you apply.

• Duty manager or venue supervisor, leading shifts in restaurants, pubs, clubs and hotels across Australia.
• Food and beverage manager, overseeing service, stock and staff in hotels, resorts and function centres.
• Front office supervisor, managing reception, reservations and guest services in accommodation businesses.
• Events coordinator, planning and running conferences, weddings and corporate functions.
• Catering supervisor, managing kitchen and service teams for airlines, hospitals, schools and event companies.
• Restaurant or café manager, running day-to-day operations, rostering and budgets.
• Club or gaming venue supervisor, supervising floor operations in registered clubs and pubs.

These roles exist in every Australian city and regional town, and the diploma also gives you a pathway into further study, such as a bachelor degree in hospitality, business or tourism.