Diploma of Information Technology

The Diploma of Information Technology is a one-year qualification for people who want a working grounding in IT without committing to a full degree. It sits at diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, below the bachelor degree but above certificates III and IV. Courses like this are usually delivered over two semesters, sometimes three trimesters, and are made up of units of study, each carrying a set number of credit points. You complete the required units, pass them, and you graduate with the diploma. Because it is a nested qualification, credit from the diploma often counts towards a bachelor degree if you decide to keep going, you would confirm the exact credit arrangements with the receiving institution.

What you actually study

Expect core units in the areas that underpin most IT work: programming fundamentals, networking basics, database design and SQL, web development, systems analysis, and the security and professional practice units that sit alongside them. Depending on the provider, you may also take units in cloud platforms, IT support, or project work. Assessment is typically a mix of practical tasks, labs, written work and exams rather than one final test. The Australian Academy of Business and Technology delivers this course to international students, and the published course details, including tuition, are on the CRICOS register under course code 110119C.

Skills you come out with

By the end you should be able to write and debug basic code, set up and troubleshoot networks, query and design relational databases, build a simple web application, and explain how IT systems fit into an organisation. You also pick up the habits employers care about: documenting your work, working in a team on a technical task, and explaining technical problems to non-technical people. Some providers include a work-integrated learning component, such as an industry project or placement, where the course is structured that way, check the official course page for whether this applies.

Who it suits

This diploma suits three groups: school leavers who want a shorter, practical entry point into IT; career changers moving in from another field; and international students who want an Australian qualification that can lead into further study. If you plan to continue to a bachelor degree, ask about credit transfer before you enrol. International applicants need to evidence English proficiency, IELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5 overall is the common standard for courses at this level, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge C1 Advanced accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets its own English threshold for the Student visa, separate from the provider's requirement. While studying, a student visa generally allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight during term. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream is available to eligible graduates. Confirm all of this, including fees and intake dates, on the official CRICOS listing and the provider's page.

• IT support officer or help desk analyst, first-line and second-line support in banks, hospitals, government agencies and managed service providers
• Junior developer or programmer, building and maintaining applications in software houses, consultancies and in-house IT teams
• Network support technician, configuring and troubleshooting networks for telcos, universities and large employers
• Database or systems administrator (entry level), looking after databases and servers in retail, logistics and public sector organisations
• Web developer, front-end and back-end work for digital agencies, startups and marketing teams
• IT project coordinator, supporting project delivery in consulting firms, government and enterprise IT departments
• Further study pathway, credit towards a bachelor degree in information technology, computer science or information systems