Diploma of Business

The Diploma of Business at Perth Institute of Australia is a one-year qualification for people who want a grounding in how organisations run, and a credential they can use straight away or build on. You study the basics of business: how to manage people and teams, how marketing and customer service work, how to keep financial records and read a budget, how to plan and deliver a project, and how to write and present business information clearly. The course is practical and applied. You work through case studies and workplace-style tasks rather than sitting through pure theory, and assessment is generally a mix of assignments, presentations, group work and tests.

How the course is structured

Australian diplomas are made up of units of study, each carrying credit points. A full-time load for a diploma is usually eight units across a year, delivered over two semesters or three trimesters depending on the timetable. Each unit has its own assessment schedule, and you need to pass every required unit to graduate. Some providers build in a work placement or industry project unit, which is where you get to apply what you have learned in a real business setting. Check the official course page for the exact unit list, credit points and delivery mode.

What you get out of it

By the end you can read a profit and loss statement, draft a simple marketing plan, run a small project from start to finish, and communicate with colleagues, clients and managers in a professional way. Those are the skills employers actually ask for in entry-level business roles. The diploma also counts as a pathway: many Australian universities give credit towards a bachelor degree for completed diploma units, so you can start work and keep studying if you want to.

Who it suits

This course fits school leavers who want a practical start, people already working in administration or retail who want a formal qualification, and international students looking for an Australian credential at diploma level. English requirements for international applicants are typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall for courses at this level, though some fields ask for higher. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. While studying, a student visa generally allows work of up to 48 hours per fortnight during term. After graduating, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be available if you meet the requirements, confirm your eligibility with the Department of Home Affairs. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 110921K. Check the official page for current fees, intake dates and unit details.

• Administration officer, handling records, schedules and correspondence in government, health, education or private firms.
• Business support officer, assisting managers with reporting, budgets and day-to-day operations.
• Customer service team leader, supervising front-line staff in retail, banking, insurance or call centres.
• Marketing assistant, helping run campaigns, social media and customer research for agencies or in-house teams.
• Project support officer, tracking tasks, budgets and documentation on construction, IT or events projects.
• Small business owner or operator, running your own venture with a better grasp of finance, marketing and planning.

These roles exist across most Australian industries, with particular demand in professional services, retail, healthcare administration, government and not-for-profit organisations.