What is an Advanced Diploma? Is it Postgraduate? : Complete Guide

An Advanced Diploma is not a postgraduate qualification. It sits at AQF Level 6 — one level above a standard Diploma and one level below a Bachelor’s degree — and most students enrol straight after Year 12, with no prior degree required. It typically takes 12 to 24 months of full-time study and is the highest qualification available in Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) sector.

Searches for “advanced diploma vs degree” and “is advanced diploma postgraduate” are among the most common queries on this topic — a sign that the confusion is widespread, even among students already partway through their course research. This guide clears that up in full, and also shows you exactly where to study one: Austra College delivers two CRICOS-approved Advanced Diploma qualifications across our campuses in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth.

What Is an Advanced Diploma?

An Advanced Diploma is a nationally recognised qualification, regulated under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), that sits at Level 6. It is designed to build advanced, applied skills for complex technical or paraprofessional work — often with a leadership or supervisory component built into the curriculum.

Unlike a degree, an Advanced Diploma is competency-based rather than research-based. In my experience advising students through this decision, the clearest way to think about it is this: a Bachelor’s degree asks you to understand why something works; an Advanced Diploma asks you to demonstrate that you can do it, reliably, at an advanced level.

Which Advanced Diploma Courses Does Austra College Offer?

At Austra College, you can study either of the following CRICOS-approved Advanced Diplomas:

• ICT60220 – Advanced Diploma of Information Technology — built for students who want advanced, hands-on skills in networking, systems, and technology leadership, taught in our IT labs using current industry software and digital learning resources.
• SIT60322 – Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management — designed for students aiming for senior hospitality and management roles, with hands-on training in our commercial-grade kitchens.

Both courses run over roughly 18–24 months full-time, combining structured class or workshop time with independent study, and are delivered by experienced industry trainers who bring practical, real-world training alongside the theory. If you’d like a deeper breakdown of the time commitment.

Is an Advanced Diploma a postgraduate qualification?

No. Postgraduate qualifications — Graduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas, and Master’s degrees — sit at AQF Levels 8 and 9, and all of them require a completed Bachelor’s degree (or substantial recognised experience) as an entry condition.

This qualification sits two full levels below that, at AQF Level 6, alongside the Associate Degree. Entry generally requires only:

• Completion of Year 12 (or equivalent), or
• A completed Certificate IV or Diploma in a related field, or
• Relevant industry experience assessed via recognition of prior learning (RPL)

So if your goal is genuinely postgraduate study, this course won’t get you there directly. If that’s your longer-term aim, Austra College’s BSB80120 – Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) is a postgraduate-level option worth exploring instead.

What AQF Level Is an Advanced Diploma?

The Australian Qualifications Framework is the national policy — administered by the Australian Government Department of Education — that ranks every education qualification in the country on a single 10-level scale, from Certificate I through to a Doctoral Degree. An Advanced Diploma sits at Level 6.

According to the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), AQF Levels 5 through 10 fall under the higher education standards framework when delivered by higher education providers such as universities. Advanced Diplomas delivered through the VET sector — including both of Austra College’s Advanced Diploma courses — are instead regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA), Austra College’s own regulator (RTO Code: 40336). Either way, learning outcomes are held to the same AQF Level 6 benchmark, just under a different regulator depending on who delivers it.

How Does an Advanced Diploma Compare to a Bachelor’s Degree?

The two qualifications differ across five practical dimensions:

• Focus: A Bachelor’s degree blends theory, research skills, and broad general education. An Advanced Diploma concentrates almost entirely on applied, job-ready capability in one field.
• Duration: Advanced Diplomas run 18–24 months full-time; Bachelor’s degrees typically run 3–4 years.
• Provider: TAFEs and RTOs like Austra College deliver most Advanced Diplomas; universities deliver Bachelor’s degrees.
• Career entry speed: Because the course is shorter and skills-focused, Advanced Diploma graduates typically reach the workforce well before a Bachelor’s degree student in a comparable field would graduate.
• Upgrade pathway: Many Advanced Diplomas carry credit transfer or advanced standing into the second, or sometimes final, year of a related Bachelor’s degree — check the specific university’s articulation agreement, as these vary by institution and course.

Neither path is universally “better.” If your goal is fast, practical entry into hospitality management or IT, an Advanced Diploma from Austra College often gets you there sooner and at lower cost than a university degree. For a fuller cost-and-outcome comparison, see our guide on Advanced Diploma vs Bachelor Degree.

How Does an Advanced Diploma Compare to a Certificate?

Certificates and diplomas both sit inside the VET system, but they represent very different depths of skill:

• Certificate III (AQF 3) — broad, foundational workplace skills; often delivered via apprenticeship; 1–2 years.
• Certificate IV (AQF 4) — more specialised; prepares graduates for supervisory or technical work; 0.5–2 years.
• Diploma (AQF 5) — advanced paraprofessional skills; a common pathway into the second year of a related Bachelor’s degree.
• Advanced Diploma (AQF 6) — the deepest VET qualification available; built for complex technical work and leadership-track roles.

In short qualification sits two full levels above a Certificate IV. If you’re building toward an Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management, Austra College also offers the stepping-stone courses along the way: Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, Certificate IV in Kitchen Management, and Diploma of Hospitality Management.

Why Study Your Advanced Diploma at Austra College?

Choosing where to study matters as much as choosing what to study. Here’s what sets Austra College apart:

• Experienced trainers — learn from industry experts who mentor and guide you through every step, not just lecture from a textbook.
• Modern facilities — hands-on training in our commercial-grade kitchens and IT labs, using current industry software and digital learning resources.
• Flexible payment options — Austra College doesn’t offer government-funded places, but we do offer weekly, fortnightly, or monthly instalment plans to make study more manageable.
• Four campus locations — study in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, or Perth.
• Global, multicultural community — join a vibrant student community with dedicated academic, career, and personal support.
• Real student outcomes — Austra College holds a 4.5-star rating from 42 Google reviews, including students who’ve completed our hospitality qualifications and gone on to management roles.

Who Should Consider an Advanced Diploma?

An Advanced Diploma is generally the stronger fit if you:

• Want practical, job-ready skills without a 3–4 year time commitment
• Need a faster, more affordable entry into hospitality management or IT
• Want the flexibility to transfer into a Bachelor’s degree later with credit
• Are aiming for supervisory, technical, or paraprofessional roles rather than research-oriented careers

If your target profession has a statutory licensing requirement for a degree, or your long-term goal includes postgraduate study, a Bachelor’s degree (or Austra College’s Graduate Diploma of Management) may be the better starting point.