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Diploma in Business
Course information for - 2026 entry
- Duration
- 1 year full-time or equivalent part-time
- ATAR
- 50.00 for ACU Online
- Fees (first year)*
- Start dates
- ACU Term 1, ACU Term 3
Note: International applicants residing inside or outside Australia may undertake this course online, and should apply as domestic students.
This course is NOT open to international students who require a student visa to study in Australia.
Overview
The Diploma in Business (Online) is a flexible and accessible pathway designed to help you achieve your career and study goals no matter where you are located or what your schedule looks like. Delivered fully online, this program allows you to study from anywhere while balancing work, family, or other commitments.
Students who complete the Diploma in Business may receive credit for up to the first year of study and articulate into the second year of ACU’s assosiated bachelor’s degrees.
Alternatively, the Diploma can be completed as a standalone qualification.
With lower entry requirements than bachelor’s degrees, this online diploma is ideal for those seeking an alternative entry point to university. It equips you with foundational skills in business while preparing you for further tertiary study.
Domestic students are eligible for Commonwealth supported places (CSP).
ACU Online is committed to your success. Whether you are a recent school leaver or returning to study after time away, you'll benefit from dedicated academic support and a suite of online student services designed to help you thrive in your studies.
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Diploma in Business, a student must complete 80 credit points (cp).
Course map
Graduate statement
AQF framework
Entry requirements
An applicant must comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
International students must also meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
For students to be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed:
- Equivalent of year 12 level with the ACU minimum eligibility rank for Diploma programs; OR
- Entry via an alternative pathway as approved by ACU.
International applicants need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in Schedule 4 of the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
The entry requirements are as follows:
IELTS: Overall score: 6.0 individual score of: 5.5 in all tests
PTE: 50 with a minimum of 42 in all four communicative skills
TOEFL: Internet based total of 60: minimum 18 in writing, 8 in reading, 16 in speaking and 7 in listening
ACU English Language Test: C (60-64%)
C1 Advanced: Overall: 169 Individual score of at least 162 in all tests.
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2026 Admission.
Adjustment factors
If you’re currently completing Year 12 you may be eligible for adjustment factors that can boost your rank and help you get into your desired course.
Adjustment factors may be applied to your TAC application if you study particular subjects, attend schools geographically close to our campuses or in certain regional areas, apply as an elite athlete or performer or meet certain other criteria.
Inherent requirement
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.
Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you
Pathways
Further study
Students who complete the Diploma in Business may apply for entry into the Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Accounting and Finance, Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Global Studies, Bachelor of Information Technology/Bachelor of Business , Bachelor of Nutrition Science/Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Global Studies, Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Exercise Science/Bachelor of Business Administration.
Fees
Course costs
*This is an indicative first-year fee based on the tuition fee rates for a full-time student, using unit enrolment data from domestic students who studied the course in the previous year.
A student’s annual fee will vary depending on factors including:
- Number of units studied per year
- Choice of major or specialisation
- Elective units
The University reviews fees annually.
You can view current course costs and domestic tuition fee rates by unit.
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support.
Scholarships
You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.
Apply for this course
ACU Online Applicants
Deferment
Deferment is available for one year. Find out more about deferment: Deferment Information.
Staff Profile
Dr Wendy James
Associate Professor, Peter Faber Business School
Dr Wendy James is a fully Certified Management Accountant (CMA) as well as a Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA) and a Chartered Accountant (CA). Dr James was the National Head of the Accounting Discipline at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) and has been at a number of universities including Charles Darwin University (CDU) and before that Torrens University Australia (TUA), part of the international Laureate group of universities. Dr James has also spent time with the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia where she was a senior lecturer with Open Universities Australia.
Dr Victoria Obeng
Lecturer, Peter Faber Business School
Dr Obeng is a lecturer with Peter Faber Business School. She has worked in industry as teaching consultant for finance and a board member of a finance company. She has teaching experiences from different parts of the world. She has taught in Latrobe University, University of Ghana, and Ghana Technology University College in the areas of financial accounting, auditing and management accounting. Her research interests include corporate governance, board diversity, earnings management, corporate financial reporting and disclosure and the accounting regulatory environment. She has published several research papers in her early academic career and refereed journal articles in her research areas. She is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana.