Graduate Diploma of Business

The Graduate Diploma of Business at King's Own Institute is a one-year postgraduate qualification for people who want a grounding in business and management without committing to a full master's degree. You study core areas such as management, marketing, accounting, economics and organisational behaviour, then use electives to follow what interests you. It suits career changers, people returning to study, and graduates from other fields who need business knowledge for the job they want next.

How the course is structured

Australian graduate diplomas sit at AQF Level 8, between a bachelor degree and a master's. This one runs for one year full time. Teaching is organised into trimesters, and you enrol in units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You need to pass the required number of credit points to graduate. If you later decide to continue studying, the credit points you earn here can often be counted towards a master's degree, though you should confirm the exact arrangements with the institute.

What you actually study

Expect a mix of lectures, tutorials and group work. Assessment is usually a combination of essays, reports, presentations, case studies and exams. Core units cover how organisations work, how to read financial statements, how markets behave and how to manage people and projects. Electives let you go deeper into areas like international business, human resource management or entrepreneurship. Some units include a work-integrated learning component, such as a project with an industry partner or a placement, which gives you Australian workplace experience before you finish.

Skills you come away with

You learn to analyse business problems, interpret financial and market data, write clear reports and present to a group. You also build teamwork and project management skills, which matter in almost every Australian industry. The course is taught in Sydney, so you study in one of Australia's main business centres, with access to professional networks and industry events.

Who it suits and what to check

This diploma suits you if you want a postgraduate qualification quickly, if you are changing careers, or if you are an international student looking for a pathway into further study. International students should check the English language requirements: IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common standard for coursework postgraduate courses, with higher scores needed for teaching, nursing, medicine, law and social work. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the institute's own English programmes are accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. While studying, a student visa generally allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight during term. After graduating, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register. Always confirm fees, intake dates, unit lists and English requirements on the official page before you apply.

Graduates work in a range of business roles across Australian industries. Typical jobs include:

• Business analyst
• Management consultant
• Project officer or coordinator
• Marketing coordinator
• Human resources officer
• Operations supervisor
• Account manager
• Small business owner or manager

These roles are found in banking and finance, professional services, retail, health administration, government, education, manufacturing and technology. The diploma also gives you a pathway into further study, such as a master's degree, if you want to specialise or move into senior management.