Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management

The Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management is a two-year qualification delivered by the National Institute of Education and Technology. It sits at the diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework and is registered on CRICOS (course code 114945C), which means it is open to international students studying in Australia on a Student visa. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, so check there and on the institute's official page for current fees and intake dates.

What you study

An advanced diploma at this level is built from units of study, each carrying credit points. You accumulate credit points across the units and complete the qualification once you have met the total required. The course is usually delivered over four semesters across two years, though some providers run trimesters, so confirm the structure with the institute. The content covers the operational and managerial sides of hospitality: food and beverage service, front office and accommodation, kitchen operations, food safety, rostering and staff supervision, budgeting and financial control, marketing, and the legal and compliance side of running a venue, responsible service of alcohol, work health and safety, and licensing rules.

Practical work and placement

Hospitality is a hands-on field, so expect a large practical component. Training restaurants, simulated front desks and commercial kitchens are common, and many advanced diplomas include a work placement or industry-based hours where you work in a real venue under supervision. This is where you learn to handle a busy Friday night service, deal with a difficult guest, or balance a till at the end of a shift. Assessment mixes written tasks with observed practical work and, often, a capstone-style project where you plan or manage an event or venue operation from start to finish.

Who it suits

This qualification suits people who want to move into supervisory or management roles in hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, event companies or catering operations, and those already working in hospitality who want formal recognition of their skills. It also works as a pathway: graduates sometimes use it to enter a bachelor degree in hospitality, tourism or business with credit for prior study. International students should note that a Student visa usually allows 48 hours of work per fortnight while the course is in session, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English requirements are set by the institute and by the Department of Home Affairs for the visa itself, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 is the common standard for courses at this level, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the institute's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. Confirm all details, including entry requirements and credit arrangements, on the official page.

• Duty manager or shift supervisor, hotels, resorts, pubs, clubs and restaurants across Australia.
• Food and beverage supervisor, restaurants, cafes, function centres and hotel outlets.
• Front office supervisor, accommodation providers, from motels to city hotels.
• Events and functions coordinator, event companies, venues, conference centres and catering businesses.
• Restaurant or venue manager, independent venues and hospitality groups.
• Catering or banqueting coordinator, airlines, hospitals, aged care and corporate caterers.
• Small business owner, running a cafe, restaurant or catering operation.