Diploma of Hospitality Management

The Diploma of Hospitality Management is a practical qualification for people who want to run the floor, the bar, the kitchen service or the front desk, not just work it. It's a 1.5-year course at the Institute of Business and Management in Victoria, and it sits at the diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework. That places it below a bachelor degree but above a certificate III or IV, and it's built around doing the job rather than writing essays about it.

You'll study how a hospitality business actually operates: rostering and supervising staff, managing stock and suppliers, controlling costs, handling food safety and responsible service of alcohol requirements, planning functions and events, and dealing with customers when things go wrong. Assessment is mostly competency-based, you demonstrate you can perform a task to industry standard, often in a simulated service environment or a real venue. The course is delivered over roughly three or four study periods depending on how the institute structures its calendar, and you accumulate units of study and credit points as you go. If you complete the diploma and want to keep going, many Australian institutions give credit towards a bachelor degree in hospitality, tourism or business, so you don't start from zero.

Work-integrated learning is central to hospitality training in Australia, and you should expect a placement or practical component in a hotel, restaurant, events venue or similar setting. That's where the theory sticks. You'll also pick up the things employers actually look for: leading a shift, resolving complaints without escalating them, reading a profit and loss statement for a food and beverage outlet, and understanding the legal side of serving alcohol and managing a venue in Victoria.

This diploma suits a few types of people. Maybe you've worked in hospitality for a couple of years and want to move into supervision or management. Maybe you're changing careers and want a qualification that gets you into the industry quickly. Or maybe you're an international student who wants a shorter, job-focused course rather than a three-year degree. International applicants need to meet the institute's English requirement, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the usual coursework 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 its own English threshold for the Student visa, which is separate from the institute's requirement. On a Student visa 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. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 110662B. Confirm the current structure, intake dates and fees on the official page before you apply.

• Duty manager or shift supervisor, hotels, motels, resorts and serviced apartments across Australia
• Food and beverage supervisor, restaurants, pubs, clubs, cafes and catering companies
• Front office supervisor, reception and guest services in accommodation properties
• Events or functions coordinator, conference centres, wineries, wedding venues and corporate caterers
• Restaurant or venue manager, small to medium hospitality businesses, often after a few years on the floor
• Bar or gaming supervisor, licensed venues in Victoria and other states, subject to state licensing requirements
• Housekeeping or operations supervisor, larger hotels and hotel groups
• Hospitality business owner or operator, many graduates eventually run their own cafe, restaurant or catering operation