Diploma of Business (Marketing)

The Diploma of Business (Marketing) is a one-year qualification that gets you straight into the practical side of marketing. You study how businesses find customers, how brands are built, and how campaigns actually run. Expect units in consumer behaviour, digital marketing, market research, advertising, and professional communication. Assessment is usually a mix of exams, reports, group projects, and presentations, the kind of work you would do in a marketing team.

This diploma sits at the diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework. It is typically delivered over two or three trimesters within the one-year duration, depending on the provider's calendar. You complete a set number of units of study, each worth credit points, and the total credit points make up the qualification. Some providers build in a work-integrated learning component, such as an industry project or placement with a local business, which gives you something concrete for your resume. If you later want to continue to a bachelor degree, many Australian institutions offer credit for diploma studies, meaning you may start with advanced standing. Always confirm the exact credit arrangement with the receiving university.

You will finish with skills employers ask for: writing a marketing plan, reading analytics dashboards, running social media accounts, doing basic market research, and pitching ideas to a team. The course suits school leavers who want a fast route into marketing, career changers who need a qualification without a three-year commitment, and international students who want to test the Australian study environment before committing to a degree. It also works if you are already working in a small business and want to handle your own marketing better.

English requirements for international applicants are usually IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, or an accepted equivalent like TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, or the provider's own English programme. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. While you study, the visa allows up to 48 hours of work per fortnight during term. After you finish, you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, check the official page for the exact amount, intake dates, and unit details.

• Marketing assistant or coordinator
• Digital marketing assistant
• Social media coordinator
• Sales support officer
• Customer relationship officer
• Events assistant
• Advertising assistant
• Market research assistant

These roles sit in advertising agencies, digital marketing firms, retail groups, property companies, event businesses, not-for-profits, and the marketing departments of larger organisations across Australia.