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Project management courses

Project management courses suit people who already coordinate work and want to run projects themselves. You can start with a diploma, or take a longer degree. Here's what each course covers and where it can take you.

Quickest way to start
6 months
Diploma, full time at TAFE NSW
TAFE cost from
$5,187
subsidised Diploma, Holmesglen Institute
What the jobs pay
$87,400 to $172,100
median pay across 9 jobs, some estimated
Demand
1 of 9 jobs
are on the national shortage list

Which course do you need?

None of these jobs needs a set qualification, but these courses teach what employers look for.

  • Illustration of a person working as a project coordinator

    Diploma of Project Management

    Coordinate projects and keep them on track

    Track schedules, budgets and tasks, keep the team and clients informed, and flag problems early.

    A job it helps withProject Coordinator

    Median pay$110,800

    Helps, not required. Employers hire on skills and experience as well as study.

    How long it takes
    6 to 12 months full time at TAFE NSW
    What it costs
    $5,187 at Holmesglen Institute if you're eligible for a subsidised place, or $7,952 full fee
    How you'll study
    Online or on campus
    See the Diploma and where to study it
  • Illustration of a person working as a project manager

    Graduate Certificate in Project Management

    Build on your experience to lead projects

    Plan the work, lead the team delivering it and report progress to the people paying for it.

    A job it helps withProject Manager

    Median pay$110,800

    Helps, not required. Employers hire on skills and experience as well as study.

    How long it takes
    6 months full time
    How you'll study
    Online or on campus
    See the Graduate certificate and where to study it
  • Illustration of a person working as a project administrator

    Bachelor of Project Management

    Start out in project support work

    Set up project documents, schedules and meetings, and keep records and reporting up to date.

    A job it helps withProject Administrator

    Median pay$110,800

    Helps, not required. Employers hire on skills and experience as well as study.

    How long it takes
    2 to 4 years full time
    How you'll study
    On campus
    See the Bachelor degree and where to study it

You don't have to do it all at once

You don't have to do all of this at once. Most people start in a support role, study while they work, and take on bigger projects as they go.

  1. Start in a project support roleWork as a coordinator or administrator, tracking schedules, budgets and reporting for someone else's project.
  2. Study the diploma while you workIt covers planning, budgets and leading a team, and you can start it without a qualification in the field.
  3. Run projects yourselfTake responsibility for delivering a project end to end, including the team, the budget and the client.
  4. Move up to programs and senior rolesManaging several projects at once is the usual next step, and further study can help you get there.

How much it costs at TAFE

If you're eligible for a government-subsidised place, you pay much less than the full fee, and in some states these courses can be free. Here's what each TAFE lists.

  • Chisholm InstituteVIC

    Diploma
    $5,586 subsidised
    $9,861 full fee

  • Holmesglen InstituteVIC

    Diploma
    $5,187 subsidised
    $7,952 full fee

  • TAFE QueenslandQLD

    Diploma
    Not listed
    $5,535 full fee

Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, checked 20 September 2026. “Not listed” means the TAFE doesn't show that fee online. Private colleges set their own fees.

Jobs this study can help with

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, not a starting salary.

“In demand” means the job is on the national skills shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure. Check the course and provider are approved for the work you want, as rules differ by state.

Still not sure which one fits you?

Answer a few quick questions about your time, state and budget, and we'll show the courses that suit you.

Find my course

Related study

Qualifications from training.gov.au, the national VET register, and Course Seeker, run by the Tertiary Admissions Centres and the Australian Government Department of Education. TAFE fees, lengths and study modes from each TAFE's own course pages. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia, except pay marked as an estimate. Providers are never ordered by who pays.