Diploma · university
Diploma in Business
This diploma introduces the main areas of business, including accounting, finance, economics, marketing and human resources, plus skills for planning and strategy.
- How long it takes
- 1 year
- full time
- Entry ATAR
- From 41
- Lowest offered at Flinders University, 2026
- How you can study
- Online or on campus
- Taught by
- 8 providers
- NSW, QLD, SA
Is this course right for you?
What the Diploma in Business asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in how businesses operate
- a knack for organising tasks and information
- comfort working with numbers and written reports
- confidence speaking with people from different backgrounds
Before you start
Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.
Diploma or Undergraduate Certificate?
The Diploma in Business is at a higher level than the Undergraduate Certificate in Business, which is an Other Undergraduate Award Course. The Diploma is also higher than the Certificate IV in Business, but lower than the Bachelor of Business (Bachelor degree) and the Graduate Certificate in Business (Graduate certificate).
See the courseWhere this course can take you
No job needs this course on its own, but it can help with the work below.
Jobs a degree can help with
None of these jobs needs a set qualification.
Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant takes on the scheduling, correspondence and admin a business owner or manager would otherwise do themselves, usually working remotely from their own workspace.
Median pay$49,300 (estimate)
If you study further
A business degree in human resource management
Leads to work as a, median pay $102,400.
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.
Where you can study this course
There are 8 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.
- Website for Western Sydney University (opens in a new tab)
Western Sydney University
Bankstown, Parramatta City, NSW
4.2from 1,872 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
What students like
- Staff are friendly and supportive
- Good academic experience and learning
What to weigh up
- Admin can be slow to respond
- Website for Flinders University (opens in a new tab)
Flinders University
Bedford Park, City, SA
4.3from 1,059 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 41 lowest
- (50.4 median, 2026)
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Mar 2027
University of South Australia
City West, SA
4.3from 216 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 42.6 lowest
- (50.6 median, 2024)
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Website for Australian Catholic University (opens in a new tab)
Australian Catholic University
North Sydney (MacKillop), NSW
3.7from 436 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 41.5 lowest
- (51.05 median, 2025)
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Website for Queensland University of Technology (opens in a new tab)
Queensland University of Technology
Kelvin Grove, QLD
4.5from 896 Google reviews
- ATAR
- 58.15 lowest
- (60.15 median, 2026)
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Feb 2027
- Fee
- $17,400 a year
- (Government-supported place)
What students like
- Students are friendly and approachable
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Some find staff less helpful
- Website for The University of Newcastle (opens in a new tab)
The University of Newcastle
Central Coast - Ourimbah, Newcastle City Precinct, NSW
4.2from 494 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
What students like
- Friendly and supportive staff and students
- Welcoming and diverse community
What to weigh up
- Replies can be slow
- Admin processes can be slow
- Support services can be hard to access
- Course page for The University of Adelaide (opens in a new tab)
The University of Adelaide
Adelaide, SA
4.4from 869 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- (full or part time)
- Website for University of the Sunshine Coast (opens in a new tab)
University of the Sunshine Coast
Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, QLD
4.5from 591 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- (full or part time)
- Next intake
- Jul 2027
- Fee
- $17,400 a year
- (Government-supported place)
What you’ll learn
The main topics covered in the Diploma in Business.
- Accounting and finance
- Economics
- Marketing
- Human resource management
- Business planning and strategy
Questions to ask before you enrol
Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
Entry requirements are set by each provider, so check with the provider you choose.
How is it different from Undergraduate Certificate in Business?
The Diploma in Business is at a higher level than the Undergraduate Certificate in Business, which is an Other Undergraduate Award Course. The Diploma is also higher than the Certificate IV in Business, but lower than the Bachelor of Business (Bachelor degree) and the Graduate Certificate in Business (Graduate certificate).