How long is a diploma? The length of your diploma depends on whether you're studying full time, part time or online. Generally, most diploma courses take between one and two years to complete. Some could even be considered short courses, with accelerated study modes reducing their duration to as little as six months.
The duration of a diploma is 1-2 years.
Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma
These qualifications are much like Certificates and Diplomas but must be completed by someone with a Bachelor degree or higher. Certificates typically take 6 months to complete, while Diplomas take 12 months.
A diploma in Australia (generally a one-year qualification) is perfect if you would like to start your studies with a bite-sized portion. It's more detailed than a certificate but less comprehensive than an associate degree or a bachelor.
So if you're studying a three-year degree full time and do Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer Semester every year, you could actually complete your degree in just two years! Most students, however, prefer to use Summer Semester to spread out their study load over a full year.
Accelerated online degree programs are the fastest route to a bachelor's degree. Students who choose the right accelerated degree can enter the job market for their chosen field in as little as two years. An accelerated online degree saves students time, money, and opportunity costs.
Studying Associate Degree (Associate Degree)
It can be typically achieved after a 2-year study. Many colleges offer a so-called 2+2 programme where students receive the Associate Degree after the first two years and a Bachelor Degree after another two years of studies.
Completing a diploma in Australia can open the doors to many opportunities. It equips you with the knowledge and skills and how to apply them. Once you graduate with a diploma, you can either pursue higher studies by progressing to a bachelor's degree or apply for a job to begin working.
Find out what the average Diploma salary is
The average diploma salary in Australia is $65,325 per year or $33.50 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $60,000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $90,503 per year.
Not only will your diploma help you qualify for entry into a bachelor—it can also count as 8 subjects' worth of academic credit! That's equivalent to one full year of study that you won't need to re-do.
Courses at Diploma, Advanced Diploma and Associate degree level take between one and three years to complete, and are generally considered to be equivalent to one to two years of study at degree level.
The primary difference between a certificate vs. a diploma is that certificates are short courses a person can complete that familiarise them with a specific topic, with diplomas offering more advanced instruction on a topic.
A Diploma or Advanced Diploma is essentially one step up from Certificate IV and involves more in-depth studies and assessments. In some cases, you may need to complete a Certificate IV before you can take on a Diploma. In other cases, you may be able to gain direct entry into a Diploma course.
Diplomas make you job-ready, faster
Vocational education gives you the opportunity to understand the skills you need while allowing you to put these skills into practice while you study. Once you are qualified, you will feel confident to apply your knowledge and capabilities in an interview and on the job.
Visa Eligibility: A degree is eligible for all visa categories, including the post-study work visa, which allows graduates to work in Australia for up to 4 years after completing their studies. Higher Pay: Graduates with a degree generally earn higher salaries than those with a diploma.
You can normally convert your Higher Education Diploma to a full degree with an extra year of study if the subjects are closely related, meaning you simply join the degree programme at the start of its third year.
A wide variety of jobs and work environments await professionals with a Diploma of Business. From team leader and program coordinator to office manager and business owner, plan your career in business with the right qualification.
Diplomas are at level 5 of the AQF. This means they're a step above certificates. The main differences are that diplomas: can lead to more complex, skilled work, rather than more routine work.
A Higher National Diploma (HND) is a level 5 qualification and is equal to the second year of a bachelor's degree program. You can receive an HND with two years of full-time study or four years of part-time study. To apply for an HND course, you require at least two A-Levels.
Although a graduate diploma (Grad Dip) sounds similar to a diploma, they are different. You can only study a graduate diploma if you have previously studied a bachelor degree or have relevant work experience. Head over to our Master Degree page for more information if this sounds like you.
The main difference between a graduate certificate vs graduate diploma is the time it takes to complete each. Compared to the four-five months it takes to finish a graduate certificate, it takes up to 12 months of full-time study to complete the eight units required in a graduate diploma.