Graduate Diploma of Music (Performance)

The Graduate Diploma of Music (Performance) is a one-year full-time course for musicians who already hold a degree or equivalent professional experience and want to sharpen their performance skills at a higher level. It sits at graduate diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, one step below a master's degree. At the Academy of Music and Performing Arts, you spend most of your time in the practice room and on stage, not in a lecture theatre. Expect individual lessons with a specialist teacher on your instrument or voice, ensemble rehearsals, performance workshops, and regular recitals. The course is built around units of study, each carrying a set number of credit points. You need to pass the required units to graduate. A typical full-time load is four units per semester, though the exact structure is confirmed by the academy.

How the course is structured

The academy runs its academic year across two main semesters, with some intensives or summer schools depending on the stream. Your core units cover performance practice, repertoire studies, and technical development. You also choose electives that can include chamber music, orchestral excerpts, contemporary styles, or music technology. Assessment is mostly through practical exams, public recitals, and portfolio submissions rather than written essays. There is usually a final capstone performance project in the last semester, where you prepare and present a full recital program. That recital is your chance to show what you have learned and to build a professional showreel.

Work-integrated learning and performance opportunities

Music performance is a field where work-integrated learning happens on stage. The academy arranges performance opportunities with partner venues, festivals, and community organisations. Some students take part in professional placements with orchestras, opera companies, or music theatre productions. Others teach in schools or run workshops as part of their course. These experiences count towards your credit points and give you a taste of the Australian music industry. You will also learn how to manage your own career: how to pitch for gigs, negotiate fees, and handle contracts. The course is small enough that teachers know your name and your strengths.

Who it suits and what you need

This diploma suits three groups of people. First, graduates with a music degree who want a focused year of performance training before applying for a master's or a professional gig. Second, working musicians who need a formal Australian qualification to teach, tour, or apply for visas. Third, international students who want to study in Australia and build a network here. Entry is by audition and interview. You need to demonstrate technical ability on your instrument or voice and show that you can handle the workload. International applicants must meet English requirements. The academy accepts IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall for this course, or equivalent TOEFL, PTE, or Cambridge scores. The Department of Home Affairs also sets its own English threshold for the Student visa. While you study, your visa lets you work up to 48 hours per fortnight. After you graduate, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), which gives you time to work in Australia. Confirm all details, including tuition and intake dates, on the official CRICOS register and the academy's website.

• Professional musician – orchestral, chamber, solo, or session work with ensembles, opera companies, and recording studios across Australia.
• Music teacher – private studio teaching, school instrumental programmes, and community music schools. Further study may be needed for school registration.
• Music theatre performer – audition for musicals, cabarets, and live productions in Australian cities and touring companies.
• Arts administrator – roles in concert management, festival programming, and artist liaison with arts organisations and councils.
• Composer or arranger – writing for film, television, games, and contemporary ensembles, often as a freelancer.
• Community music facilitator – leading workshops and programmes in schools, aged care, and community centres.
• Session and touring musician – backing bands, cruise ships, and corporate events, both in Australia and overseas.