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Diploma · national qualification
Diploma of Building and Construction (Building)
This diploma prepares you to run building projects rather than work on the tools: estimating costs, preparing and administering contracts, choosing contractors, and supervising the work through to completion.
- How long it takes
- 10 to 24 months
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $12,986
- Subsidised at The Gordon, full fee up to $33,220
- How you can study
- Online or on campus
- Main job
- Construction Manager
- $195,100 median pay, In demand
- Taught by
- 28 providers
- Every state and territory
Is this course right for you?
What the Diploma of Building and Construction (Building) asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in how buildings go together
- a careful approach to contracts and paperwork
- confidence with numbers for estimating costs
- good communication skills for coordinating trades on site
Before you start
There are no entry requirements for this qualification.
Where this course can take you
Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.
Jobs you can do with it
Construction Estimator
Construction estimators work out what a building project will cost before it is built, so a builder can price a tender and a client can plan a budget.
What else you need
Employers usually also look for construction industry experience. The diploma alone does not confer a builder licence; check state licensing requirements if licensing applies.
Median pay$98,800 (estimate)
Construction Manager
Construction managers run a building project from planning through to handover, and answer for its budget, schedule and safety.
What else you need
Managing building work commonly needs builder licensing, which has separate state requirements beyond this diploma. Check with your state licensing authority and the provider.
Median pay$195,100
In demand
If you study further
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.
What it costs
Subsidised place
From $12,986
at The Gordon. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$12,150 to $33,220
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Full fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chisholm Institute | VIC | $14,445 | $30,495 |
| Holmesglen Institute | VIC | $15,510 | $33,220 |
| The Gordon | VIC | $12,986 | $29,562 |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | $12,150 |
Chisholm InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $14,445
- Full fee
- $30,495
Holmesglen InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $15,510
- Full fee
- $33,220
The GordonVIC
- Subsidised
- $12,986
- Full fee
- $29,562
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Full fee
- $12,150
Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, read 20 September 2026. Private providers set their own fees.
Where you can study this course
There are 28 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 Melbourne Polytechnic (opens in a new tab)
Melbourne Polytechnic
13 campuses, VIC
3.7from 485 Google reviews
What students like
- Some teachers are supportive and go out of their way
- Student services offer understanding and compassion
What to weigh up
- Messages to staff can go unanswered
- Enrolment mistakes can take time to fix
- Course page for TAFE NSW (opens in a new tab)
TAFE NSW
5 campuses, NSW
4.0from 2,410 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
- How long
- 10 to 24 months
What students like
- Teachers are supportive and ready to help
- Staff are helpful and friendly
- Course content is practical and industry relevant
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Some find front desk staff less helpful
- Website for Victoria University (opens in a new tab)
Victoria University
11 campuses, NSW, QLD, VIC
3.9from 1,562 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are friendly, supportive and approachable
- Studying one subject at a time through the block model
- Staff are welcoming and ready to help
What to weigh up
- Admin can be hard to reach after you finish
- Website for Swinburne University of Technology (opens in a new tab)
Swinburne University of Technology
8 campuses, VIC
4.0from 1,190 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers and tutors are supportive and want students to succeed
- Student HQ and support staff are helpful and responsive
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- You may be passed between departments
What students like
- Lecturers are approachable and care about learning
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Course page for TAFE Queensland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Queensland
30 campuses, QLD
4.1from 2,040 Google reviews
- How you study
- Online or on campus
What students like
- Teachers are helpful and supportive
What to weigh up
- Poor communication from admin
- Website for TAFE SA (opens in a new tab)
TAFE SA
26 campuses, SA
4.4from 1,339 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are nice and helpful
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Course information can be unclear
- Website for Box Hill Institute (opens in a new tab)
Box Hill Institute
4 campuses, VIC
3.0from 372 Google reviews
What students like
- Teachers are friendly and supportive
- Course content is practical and relevant
What to weigh up
- Admin replies can be slow
- Course organisation can be inconsistent
What you’ll learn
27 units: 24 that everyone takes and 3 you choose.
- reading plans and specifications
- estimating project costs
- managing contracts and tenders
- applying building codes
- work health and safety
- supervising site work
See all 24 core units
Core units
Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.
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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
Who is this qualification for?
It prepares you to run building projects rather than work on the tools: estimating costs, preparing and administering contracts, choosing contractors, and supervising the work through to completion. It covers residential work up to 3 storeys and commercial buildings in Type B and Type C classes, and it leads to roles such as Builder, General Foreperson, Building Inspector and Construction Manager.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
There are no entry requirements for this qualification. However, individual providers can set their own conditions, so check with the provider you choose.
Is a licence, registration or check required to work in this area?
General construction induction training, the White Card, is required before you carry out construction work, and builder licensing differs between states and territories, so check what your local regulator asks for.