Diploma of Hospitality Management

The Diploma of Hospitality Management is a two-year qualification that sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework. It's built for people who want to run the floor, the roster, the budget and the guest experience, not just work a shift. You'll study how hospitality businesses actually operate: rostering and labour cost control, food and beverage service management, stock and purchasing, licensing and responsible service of alcohol, workplace health and safety, and the financial paperwork that keeps a venue open. There's also a strong people side, leading teams, handling complaints, dealing with suppliers, and managing the mix of casual, part-time and full-time staff that every Australian venue relies on.

How the qualification is structured

Australian diplomas are made up of units of study, each carrying credit points. At this level you'll typically complete a set of core units plus electives, usually delivered across semesters or trimesters. Assessment is practical as much as written, you'll be observed on service tasks, build rosters and budgets, and work through case studies set in real hospitality settings. Many providers include a work placement or industry-based component, because hospitality is a field where you learn by doing. Check the official CRICOS listing and the institute's course page for the exact unit list, delivery mode and any placement hours.

What you'll be able to do afterwards

You'll come out able to write a roster that meets a wage budget, cost a menu, manage a bar or restaurant section during service, run a stocktake, and lead a small team through a busy Friday night. You'll understand the compliance side too, liquor licensing, food safety, and the record-keeping that regulators and owners expect. Those skills transfer across hotels, pubs, clubs, cafes, restaurants, event venues and catering operations.

Who it suits

This suits people already working in hospitality who want to move into supervision or management, career changers who want a practical qualification with clear job pathways, and international students looking for a course tied to an industry that hires steadily across Australia. If you're an international applicant, you'll need to meet the institute's English requirement, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the usual coursework standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the institute's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs also sets its own English threshold for the Student visa, which is separate. While studying, a Student visa generally allows 48 hours of work per fortnight, and after completing your qualification you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, so confirm current fees, intake dates and entry requirements on the official page before you apply.

• Duty manager or shift supervisor, running service in hotels, pubs, clubs and restaurants.
• Food and beverage supervisor, coordinating sections, functions and events.
• Restaurant or cafe manager, rostering, ordering, cost control and staff training.
• Front office supervisor, in hotels, motels and serviced apartments.
• Events and functions coordinator, weddings, conferences and corporate catering.
• Bar or gaming supervisor, licensed venues across Australia.
• Catering coordinator, aged care, hospitals, airlines and contract catering.
• Small business operator, running your own cafe, food truck or catering business.

Australian employers in these roles include hotel groups, pub and club operators, restaurant groups, event and catering companies, and tourism businesses in city and regional areas.