Diploma of Hospitality Management

The Diploma of Hospitality Management is a practical qualification for people who want to work in hotels, restaurants, events, clubs or resorts, and who want to move into supervisory or management roles rather than stay on the floor. It runs for 1.5 years. At Harvard International College Pty Ltd, the course is registered on CRICOS (course code 114403M), which means it is open to international students on a Student visa.

The diploma sits at the diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework. It is made up of units of study, each carrying credit points, delivered across semesters or trimesters depending on how the college timetables its intake. You will cover the operational side of hospitality, food and beverage service, front office, housekeeping, food safety, responsible service of alcohol, rostering and stock control, alongside the management side: leading teams, managing finances, planning and monitoring work, and dealing with customers and complaints. Assessment is competency-based, meaning you are judged on whether you can actually do the tasks, not just answer exam questions. Most diploma programmes in this field build in a work placement or practical service component, because hospitality is learned by doing shifts. Confirm the exact unit list, placement hours and delivery schedule on the official course page.

What you gain is a mix of hands-on skill and supervisory judgement. You learn to run a section during a busy service, write a roster that actually works, cost a menu, handle a difficult guest without escalating things, and keep a venue compliant with health and safety rules. Those are the things employers in Australian hospitality ask for when they promote someone from casual staff to duty manager. The qualification also gives you a pathway: many students use a diploma as credit towards a bachelor degree in hospitality, tourism or business, usually with a semester or more of advanced standing, depending on the receiving institution.

This course suits school leavers who want a fast route into hospitality management, career changers who have worked in another industry and want a formal qualification, and international students who want Australian training and a qualification recognised here. If you are on a Student visa, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, which is how many students get their first Australian hospitality job. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available depending on your circumstances, check the Department of Home Affairs for current rules. English entry is typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall or an accepted equivalent, though the college and the Department of Home Affairs each set their own thresholds. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register; check the official page for the current figure and intake dates.

• Duty manager or shift supervisor in a hotel, motel or resort
• Food and beverage supervisor or restaurant manager
• Front office supervisor or guest services coordinator
• Housekeeping supervisor
• Events or functions coordinator
• Bar or gaming venue supervisor
• Cafe or small business manager
• Conference and banqueting team leader
• Australian industries that hire: hotels and resorts, restaurants and cafes, pubs and clubs, event and catering companies, aged care and hospital catering, airlines and airports, cruise and tourism operators, and hospitality groups running multiple venues.