Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)

The Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) is a two-year qualification for people who want to run building projects, residential, commercial or industrial. You learn how to plan and supervise construction work, read and interpret plans and specifications, estimate costs, prepare tender documents, manage contracts, and keep a site compliant with the National Construction Code, work health and safety law and environmental rules. There is plenty of Australian-specific content: how state and territory building regulators operate, how to apply for permits, and what a builder is legally responsible for once work starts.

Australian diplomas sit at Level 5 on the Australian Qualifications Framework, below a bachelor degree and above a certificate IV. They are made up of units of study, each carrying credit points, delivered across semesters or trimesters. Assessment is practical, case studies, site-based tasks, cost estimates, project documentation and presentations, rather than long written exams. Where a course includes a work placement or industry project, it is arranged with a building company or registered builder so you spend time on a real site or in a real office, not just a classroom.

You come out knowing how to schedule trades, order materials, manage subcontractors, control a budget and deal with clients when something changes. Those are the skills builders use every day. The course suits people already working in trades who want to move into supervision or run their own building business, school leavers who want a practical route into construction management, and international students looking for an Australian qualification in a field with steady demand. It can also be a stepping stone to a bachelor degree in construction management, with credit for units you have already completed.

Check the official CRICOS entry for this course (code 106653D) for the current tuition figure, campus locations, entry requirements and intake dates. International students should also confirm the Student visa English requirement set by the Department of Home Affairs, which is separate from the college's own English entry standard. While studying, a Student visa generally allows 48 hours of work per fortnight, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Building licensing is state-based, so ask the college how the diploma maps to registration in the state or territory where you plan to work.

• Builder or building supervisor, running residential and commercial projects for construction companies or your own business.
• Site manager or construction manager, coordinating trades, schedules and safety on site.
• Estimator, pricing jobs and preparing tenders for builders and subcontractors.
• Contract administrator, managing contracts, progress claims and variations.
• Project coordinator, supporting delivery of building projects in government, property and infrastructure organisations.
• Building surveyor's assistant or compliance officer, checking work against the National Construction Code and local regulations.

Hiring industries in Australia include residential and commercial construction, civil infrastructure, property development, government building and planning departments, and insurance and remedial building firms. Licensing or registration as a builder is handled by state and territory authorities, so requirements vary depending on where you work.