Diploma of Hospitality Management

The Diploma of Hospitality Management at Spencer College is a practical qualification for people who want to run the show in hotels, restaurants, events and resorts. It takes 1.5 years of full-time study, and the course is registered on CRICOS (code 111948B), which means it is available to international students on a Student visa. You will study how a hospitality business actually works: rostering and staffing, food and beverage service, front office operations, budgeting and cost control, marketing, and the legal and safety rules that apply to venues that serve alcohol and food. Assessment is mostly hands-on, so expect to spend time in a training kitchen, a simulated restaurant or bar, and on placement in a real venue rather than only sitting exams.

How the qualification is structured

Australian diplomas sit at Level 5 on the Australian Qualifications Framework. They are made up of units of competency, each carrying credit points, and delivered across semesters or trimesters. Your units will mix core business subjects with specialist hospitality ones, and you will usually complete a work placement or industry practicum as part of the course. Because the diploma is nested, you may be able to use the credit you earn towards a bachelor degree in hospitality, tourism or business at Spencer College or another Australian institution, provided you meet the entry requirements. Confirm the exact unit list, semester dates and placement hours on the official Spencer College page.

Skills you build

By the end of the diploma you should be able to write a roster that meets a wage budget, handle a customer complaint without losing the room, read a profit and loss statement for a restaurant, manage stock and suppliers, and lead a small team through a busy service. You will also learn how to comply with liquor licensing, food safety and workplace health and safety laws, which are enforced state by state in Australia. Those skills are what employers look for when they promote someone from the floor to a supervisor or duty manager role.

Who it suits

This course suits people already working in hospitality who want formal recognition and a step up, school leavers who want a fast route into a supervisory role without committing to a three-year degree, and international students who want an Australian qualification that leads to work in the visitor economy. While you study on a Student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight, which is a good way to get paid experience in the same industry. 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 website for current rules. English requirements for entry are set by the college, with IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 typically required for diploma and undergraduate courses, and a separate English threshold applies to the Student visa itself.

• Duty manager or shift supervisor, hotels, pubs, clubs, restaurants and resorts across Australia.
• Food and beverage supervisor, restaurants, catering companies, function centres and wineries.
• Front office supervisor, hotels, motels, serviced apartments and holiday parks.
• Events and functions coordinator, conference centres, wedding venues, stadiums and tourism operators.
• Restaurant or café manager, independent venues and hospitality groups.
• Housekeeping or rooms division supervisor, accommodation providers.
• Banquet and catering team leader, corporate caterers, airlines and event companies.

These roles are found in the accommodation and food services industry, which is one of the largest employers in Australia, as well as in tourism, events, clubs, casinos and aged care catering. Some graduates go on to further study, such as a bachelor degree in hospitality management or business, and use their diploma credit to shorten the degree.