Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management is a two-year qualification for people who want to run teams, projects and business units. It sits at the diploma level of the Australian Qualifications Framework, which is a step below a bachelor degree and is built around practical management skills rather than academic theory. At New Cambridge College Sydney, you study on campus in Sydney, with the course registered on CRICOS (course code 105542H) for international students.

Australian diplomas are usually delivered over two to four semesters, or trimesters, and are made up of units of study. Each unit carries credit points, and you need to pass all required units to graduate. The course covers areas such as leading and managing teams, operational planning, managing budgets and financial plans, recruitment and induction, workplace relationships, risk management, and continuous improvement. Assessment is often a mix of practical tasks, case studies, projects and work-based assignments rather than exams alone. Many colleges build in a work placement or industry project so you can apply what you learn in a real workplace. You should confirm the exact units, credit points and placement arrangements on the official course page.

You will finish with skills in planning and monitoring work, managing performance, dealing with conflict, and communicating with staff and stakeholders. The qualification is not a degree, so it does not lead to professional registration like accounting or engineering. Instead, it prepares you for supervisory and middle-management roles, and it can be a pathway into a bachelor degree with credit for some units, depending on the receiving university. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Always check the current rules with the Department of Home Affairs.

This course suits people who are already working or want to move into a team leader or supervisor role, and those who want a practical management qualification without committing to a full degree. It also suits students who plan to use the diploma as a stepping stone to further study. If you are an international applicant, you will need to meet the college's English requirements, which are typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall for courses at this level, or an accepted equivalent such as TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic or Cambridge C1 Advanced. The Student visa has its own English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs, so check both. Tuition fees are published on the CRICOS register, and you should confirm all details on the official page before applying.

• Team leader or supervisor in retail, hospitality, or customer service
• Office manager or administration manager
• Project coordinator or project administrator
• Operations coordinator in logistics or manufacturing
• Frontline manager in health, community services, or government
• Small business owner or manager
• Sales team leader or account coordinator
• Human resources officer or recruitment coordinator