Diploma of Business

The Diploma of Business at the West Australian Institute of Further Studies is a one-year qualification for people who want a grounding in how organisations run, without committing to a full degree straight away. You study the basics of business administration: how to plan and monitor work, manage finances, support a team, deal with customers and suppliers, and put together the documents and reports that keep an office moving. It is practical, classroom-based study with assessment through assignments, projects and tests rather than exams alone. The course sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it is a recognised qualification in its own right and also a pathway, many students use it to enter a bachelor degree with credit for the units they have completed.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are usually delivered over two semesters or three trimesters across a single year, and you enrol in units of study rather than subjects chosen one at a time. Each unit carries credit points, and you need to pass the required number of units to graduate. The Diploma of Business is made up of core units covering business communication, financial administration, workplace safety, team effectiveness and customer service, plus elective units that let you lean towards administration, marketing or management depending on what the institute offers in that intake. The exact unit list changes from time to time, so confirm the current structure with the institute before you enrol.

Skills you build

By the end you can read a budget and explain what it means, write a business report someone will actually use, run a small project from planning to review, and handle the day-to-day administration of a team or office. You also practise the softer side: giving instructions, resolving complaints, working with people from different backgrounds, and keeping records that stand up to scrutiny. These are the skills employers ask for in almost every entry-level office role, and they transfer between industries.

Who it suits

This diploma suits school leavers who want a taste of business before starting a degree, people already working in administration who want a formal qualification to move up, and international students looking for a shorter, lower-cost entry point into Australian study. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, depending on your circumstances. English proficiency is required, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the institute's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs also sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register. Check the official course page for current units, entry requirements and intake dates.

• Administration officer, local government, health services, education and private firms
• Accounts clerk or payroll assistant, accounting practices, small business and corporate finance teams
• Customer service officer, banks, insurers, utilities and retail head offices
• Team leader or supervisor, hospitality, retail, logistics and contact centres
• Executive assistant, professional services, mining and resources companies
• Small business owner or operator, trades, retail and online businesses
• Sales support or marketing assistant, agencies, real estate and wholesale suppliers