Diploma of Hospitality Management

The Diploma of Hospitality Management is a two-year qualification delivered by the Australian National Academy of Education and Ridge International College. It is registered on CRICOS (course code 110926E), which means it is approved for international students studying in Australia on a Student visa. The course teaches you how hospitality businesses actually run, food and beverage service, front office and accommodation operations, kitchen coordination, rostering and staff supervision, budgeting and stock control, and the legal side of serving alcohol and managing safety. You also cover marketing, customer service and the basics of running a small venue.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are made up of units of study, each carrying credit points, and are usually delivered across semesters or trimesters. Your timetable will combine classroom theory with practical service sessions in a training restaurant or simulated front desk, plus a work placement in a hotel, restaurant, café or events venue. Placement is standard in hospitality because employers want to see that you can handle a Friday night rush, not just pass a written test. Assessment is a mix of practical observation, written tasks, projects and logbooks from your placement. You need to complete every required unit to graduate.

What you will learn

By the end you should be able to supervise a shift, manage a roster, handle a customer complaint without escalating it, cost a menu, control stock, and keep a venue compliant with liquor and food safety rules. You will also learn how to lead a small team, which is the step most people need before they move from waiting tables or working reception into a supervisor or duty manager role. The course sits at diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, so it is practical and job-focused rather than academic. If you later want a bachelor degree, many Australian universities give credit for diploma study, but you must check each institution's articulation arrangements yourself.

Who it suits

This diploma suits people already working in hospitality who want a formal qualification to move into supervision, and international students who want an Australian qualification in a field where part-time work is easy to find while you study. On a Student visa you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during your course, which fits well with hospitality shifts. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available depending on your circumstances and the current rules. English entry is typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall or an accepted equivalent, though the Department of Home Affairs sets its own English threshold for the visa. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register. Confirm all details, including unit lists and placement requirements, on the official page before you apply.

• Duty manager or shift supervisor in a hotel, motel or resort
• Food and beverage supervisor or restaurant manager
• Front office supervisor or reservations coordinator
• Banquet or events coordinator
• Café or bar manager
• Housekeeping supervisor
• Kitchen supervisor or kitchen manager
• Small business owner in hospitality

These roles are found across Australia in hotels and resorts, pubs and bars, restaurants and cafés, clubs, catering companies, aged care and hospital food services, event venues, airlines and tourism operators. Hospitality is one of the largest employers in the country, and supervisory staff are needed in every city and regional town.