Graduate Diploma in International Hospitality Management

The Graduate Diploma in International Hospitality Management is a one-year qualification for people who want to move into hospitality leadership or sharpen skills they already have. It sits at graduate diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it sits between a bachelor degree and a master's. You come in with a degree or relevant industry experience, and you leave with a credential that says you can run hospitality operations, not just work in them.

What you study

Coursework covers the business side of hospitality: managing food and beverage operations, revenue and pricing, service quality, people and rostering, and the commercial realities of hotels, restaurants and events. You look at international markets and how hospitality businesses operate across different countries and cultures. Assessment is a mix of exams, reports, group projects and practical work. Because this is a graduate diploma, the expectations are higher than undergraduate study, more analysis, more independent work, less hand-holding.

How the qualification works

Australian graduate diplomas are usually made up of units of study, each with a credit point value. A full-time load is typically four units per semester or trimester, and you need to pass a set number of credit points to graduate. Some institutions build in a capstone unit where you pull everything together, a major project, a business plan or a consultancy-style report for a real hospitality operator. Work-integrated learning is common in this field. Le Cordon Bleu Australia has strong industry connections, and placements or industry projects give you contact hours in a working kitchen, hotel or events business. Confirm the exact unit list, credit points and placement requirements on the official page, they can change.

Who it suits

This course suits three groups. First, people with a bachelor degree in something else, business, tourism, even arts, who want to switch into hospitality management. Second, hospitality workers with years on the floor or in the kitchen who want a formal qualification to move into supervisory or management roles. Third, international students who want an Australian qualification and post-study work rights. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while you study, and the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may let you stay and work after you finish. Check your eligibility with the Department of Home Affairs. English requirements for entry are typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, though the Student visa has its own English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 088612M.

• Hospitality manager, hotels, resorts, restaurants, clubs and pubs across Australia.
• Food and beverage manager, overseeing service, stock, pricing and staff rosters.
• Event or functions manager, conferences, weddings, corporate events.
• Revenue or reservations manager, pricing rooms and maximising occupancy.
• Operations supervisor, front office, housekeeping or venue management.
• Restaurant or café owner-operator, running your own small business.

Australian employers in this field include hotel groups, restaurant chains, catering companies, wineries, event venues and tourism operators. The qualification also opens doors in international hotel groups that recruit from Australia.