Diploma of Information Technology

The Diploma of Information Technology at The Imperial College of Australia is a one-and-a-half-year qualification for people who want practical IT skills without committing to a full three-year bachelor degree. You study the basics of information systems: how organisations use hardware, software, networks and data to get work done. Expect units on programming fundamentals, database design, networking, web development, and supporting users in a business setting. Assessment is usually a mix of assignments, lab work, and exams rather than one big final test.

How the qualification is structured

Australian diplomas sit at Level 5 on the Australian Qualifications Framework, below a bachelor degree but above a certificate IV. The course runs for 1.5 years, typically split into semesters or trimesters. You enrol in units of study, each worth credit points, and you need to pass the required number to graduate. Some diplomas include a work-integrated learning component, a placement or industry project, where the field expects it, so check the official course page for whether this one does. If you later want to continue to a bachelor degree, credit transfer may be available for units you have already completed, but that depends on the receiving institution's rules.

What you actually learn

You come out able to write simple programs, build and query a database, set up and troubleshoot a small network, and explain technical ideas to non-technical colleagues. Those are the skills help desks, small IT teams, and software support roles ask for every day. The course suits school leavers who want a faster path into work, career changers with no IT background, and international students who want an Australian qualification that can lead into further study.

Studying in Australia as an international student

If you hold a Student visa, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may let you stay and work, check the Department of Home Affairs for current rules. English requirements for entry are set by the college; the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate threshold for the visa itself. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 109126C. Confirm entry requirements, unit lists, and fees on the official page before you apply.

• ICT support technician, help desk and desktop support roles in banks, hospitals, government agencies, and managed service providers.
• Network support officer, maintaining local area networks and assisting with connectivity in small to mid-sized organisations.
• Database support assistant, helping maintain and query databases in retail, logistics, or professional services firms.
• Junior web developer, building and updating websites for agencies, startups, or in-house digital teams.
• Systems administrator (entry level), looking after servers, user accounts, and backups under supervision.
• IT sales or customer support, explaining technical products to business customers in the technology retail and services sector.

These roles appear across most Australian industries because every organisation runs on information systems. The diploma can also be a stepping stone to a bachelor degree in information technology or computer science, with credit for units already completed.