Advanced Diploma of Business (International Hotel Management)

The Advanced Diploma of Business (International Hotel Management) is a two-year qualification delivered by Le Cordon Bleu Australia. It sits at the diploma/advanced diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework, so it is shorter and more applied than a bachelor degree. You spend most of your time on hotel and hospitality operations: front office, housekeeping, food and beverage service, and the business side of running a property. Expect a mix of classroom units and practical training in service settings, because hotel management is a field where you learn by doing.

How the course is structured

Australian vocational qualifications are built from units of study, each with a set credit value. At this level, you complete a defined sequence of core and elective units rather than choosing a major. The two-year full-time pattern usually runs across semesters or trimesters, and your enrolment is managed by the provider. Assessment is a combination of written tasks, practical service assessments, and projects based on real hotel scenarios. There is no research thesis at this level, that belongs to honours and postgraduate study. Instead, your final stage may include a capstone-style project or a supervised industry placement, depending on the units you take. Work-integrated learning is common in hotel management, so you should check the official course page for the exact placement requirements and unit list.

What you actually learn

You cover the daily mechanics of a hotel: checking guests in and out, managing reservations, coordinating housekeeping, running a restaurant or bar service, and handling complaints. Alongside that, you study business subjects such as accounting, marketing, human resources, and hospitality law. The point is to make you useful on a roster from day one and give you enough business knowledge to move into supervisory roles later. Communication, teamwork, and problem-solving under pressure are built into the practical assessments. English proficiency matters here, international applicants usually need 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 also sets its own English threshold for the Student visa, which is separate from the provider's entry requirement. Confirm the current entry rules on the official page.

Who it suits and what to know

This course suits school leavers who want a fast, practical route into hotels, and career changers who want to work in hospitality without committing to a three-year bachelor degree. It also works as a stepping stone: after completing the advanced diploma, you may be able to articulate into a related bachelor programme with credit for your units, depending on the receiving institution's rules. While you study in Australia on a Student visa, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight, which is useful in a field where paid hotel shifts count as experience. After you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available if you meet the requirements. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, check there and on the official course page for fees, intake dates, and the exact units. CRICOS course code: 075349F.

• Front office supervisor or duty manager in hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments
• Food and beverage supervisor or restaurant manager in hotels, clubs, and catering companies
• Housekeeping supervisor or rooms division coordinator
• Reservations or revenue coordinator in hotel groups and online travel agencies
• Events and conference coordinator in venues and hotel conference centres
• Guest relations or concierge roles in luxury and boutique properties
• Shift leader or team leader in hospitality groups across Australia's cities and tourism regions

Australian employers in these roles include hotel chains, independent resorts, hospitality groups, event venues, and tourism operators. The advanced diploma also gives you credit towards further study if you decide to move into a bachelor degree later.