Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning)

The Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) is a two-year postgraduate qualification for people who want to lead learning and development inside organisations. It sits at graduate diploma level on the Australian Qualifications Framework, which means it is a focused, practical qualification that sits above a bachelor degree and below a master's. Students study how adults learn, how to design and evaluate training programs, how to manage a learning function, and how to build a culture where people keep developing their skills. The course is delivered by Skills Australia Institute in partnership with Western Australia College International, and it is registered on CRICOS (course code 105327D), so it is available to international students studying in Australia.

How the course is structured

Australian graduate diplomas are usually made up of units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You complete a sequence of core units and then choose electives that match where you want to work, corporate training, vocational education, or organisational development. Because this is a two-year course, it typically runs across four or six study periods depending on whether the provider uses semesters or trimesters. Assessment is a mix of written work, projects, presentations and practical tasks rather than exams alone. Some providers include a capstone unit where you pull everything together into a workplace project, and many graduate diplomas in this field include a work placement or industry project so you spend time in a real learning and development team before you graduate. Confirm the exact unit list, study periods and placement requirements on the official page.

What you actually learn

You learn to analyse what skills an organisation needs, design training that closes those gaps, and measure whether the training worked. That means writing learning outcomes, choosing delivery methods, building assessment tools, managing a training budget, and reporting to senior managers. You also cover the compliance side, how the Australian vocational education and training system is regulated, how to meet quality standards, and how to keep records that stand up to audit. Group work is common because learning and development is a team function, and you will practise presenting to managers and facilitating sessions yourself.

Who it suits

This course suits people who already work in training, teaching, human resources or management and want a formal postgraduate qualification without committing to a full master's degree. It also suits career changers who have a bachelor degree in another field and want to move into learning and development. 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, which lets you stay and work in Australia. English proficiency is required, IELTS Academic 6.0 to 6.5 overall is the common coursework-postgraduate standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the provider's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs also sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa itself. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register. Check the official page for current entry requirements, unit details and fees before you apply.

• Learning and development manager, leading the training function in banks, insurers, retailers, government departments and large employers.
• Training coordinator or training officer, organising and delivering workplace training programs across Australia.
• Instructional designer, building e-learning and face-to-face courses for corporate, government and not-for-profit organisations.
• Vocational education and training (VET) trainer or assessor, teaching in registered training organisations and TAFE-style providers.
• Human resources officer or HR advisor, with a focus on capability building, onboarding and staff development.
• Organisational development consultant, helping organisations plan for skills gaps and change.
• Compliance or quality officer in education, keeping training providers aligned with Australian VET quality standards.
• Team leader or operations manager, where coaching and developing staff is part of the role.