Advanced Diploma of Business

The Advanced Diploma of Business is a practical, one-and-a-half-year qualification for people who want to work in business administration and management. It sits above a certificate IV and below a bachelor degree on the Australian Qualifications Framework. You will study how organisations run: managing budgets and financial plans, leading teams, developing marketing plans, managing recruitment, and building business relationships. Assessment is usually a mix of assignments, case studies, projects and practical tasks rather than exams alone.

Because this is a vocational qualification, it is built around units of competency. Each unit has a set number of credit points, and you need to complete all required units to graduate. The course is delivered over several study periods across the 1.5 years, with intakes at different times of the year. Delivery may be face-to-face, online or a blend, depending on the provider. Work-integrated learning is common in this field: many providers arrange a placement or industry project so you can apply what you learn in a real workplace. Confirm the exact unit list, delivery mode and placement requirements on the official CRICOS page and with the provider.

You will pick up skills that employers ask for every day: writing clear business documents, analysing financial information, planning and monitoring work, dealing with customers and stakeholders, and using business software. The course also covers workplace safety, risk management and continuous improvement. These are the skills that let you step into a supervisory or administrative role and hit the ground running.

This qualification suits school leavers who want a faster route into business than a three-year degree, people already working in administration who want formal recognition, and career changers who need practical business skills. It also gives you a pathway: on completion, you may get credit towards a bachelor degree in business at some Australian universities. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream after you finish. English requirements for international applicants are typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, or an accepted equivalent such as TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic or Cambridge C1 Advanced. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register; check there for the current figure.

• Administration officer
• Business development officer
• Executive assistant
• Office manager
• Project coordinator
• Sales team leader
• Customer service manager
• Small business operator

These roles are found across Australian industries including professional services, government, retail, health administration, education, construction and manufacturing. Many graduates use the qualification to move into supervisory or management positions, or to start their own business.