Graduate Diploma of Engineering

The Graduate Diploma of Engineering at The Lions Institute is a one-year qualification for people who already hold an engineering degree or a related technical background and want to deepen their knowledge in industrial engineering. You will study how systems, processes and people fit together in manufacturing, logistics, service operations and supply chains. Expect units on operations management, production planning, quality systems, engineering economics, and the analysis and design of industrial systems. The exact unit list is set by the institute, so check the official page for the current structure.

This is a graduate diploma, which sits at Level 8 on the Australian Qualifications Framework. It is a shorter, more focused qualification than a master's degree, usually made up of eight units of study taken over two semesters of full-time study. Each unit carries a set credit point value, and you need to pass all of them to graduate. Some graduate diplomas include a small research or design project; if this one does, it will be listed in the course structure. There is no honours year attached to a graduate diploma, that is a separate pathway within bachelor degrees.

Industrial engineering is a field where work-integrated learning matters. Many Australian engineering programmes build in a professional placement or industry project, and this is where you apply what you have learned to a real organisation. Placements are arranged by the institute or found by you, depending on the arrangement. The skills you gain are practical: process mapping, data analysis, scheduling, cost estimation, quality control, and the ability to work with people from production, finance and management to improve how things run. You will also sharpen your technical writing and project reporting.

Who is this for? Someone with an engineering degree who wants to specialise in industrial engineering without committing to a two-year master's. Or a graduate from a related field, science, technology, mathematics, who needs formal engineering knowledge to move into operations or production roles. It also suits people already working in manufacturing or logistics who want a recognised Australian qualification to support a promotion or a move into a new role. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream after you finish. English proficiency is required: IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common standard for coursework postgraduate programmes, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the institute's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register, confirm all details, including fees, intake dates and unit offerings, on the official page.

• Industrial engineer, manufacturing plants, food processing, automotive and aerospace suppliers, mining and resources.
• Production planner or scheduler, factories, logistics companies, distribution centres.
• Operations analyst, transport, warehousing, retail supply chains, health services.
• Quality assurance officer, pharmaceutical, food, defence and general manufacturing.
• Process improvement specialist, consulting firms, public utilities, large service organisations.
• Supply chain coordinator, importers, exporters, e-commerce businesses, freight forwarders.
• Project officer, engineering consultancies, infrastructure contractors, government agencies.

Australian industries that hire industrial engineering graduates include manufacturing, mining and resources, logistics and transport, defence, food and beverage processing, healthcare operations, and management consulting. Some roles may require membership of a professional body such as Engineers Australia; check with the institute about accreditation status and what registration or membership the qualification supports.