Diploma of Project Management
BSB - Business Services
Project management diploma covering scope, schedule, cost, quality, risk and stakeholder management. Widely accepted by Australian Government and ASX-listed employers.
Entry requirements
- Demonstrated workplace experience preferred
What you will learn
The BSB50820 covers the project management knowledge areas aligned with the PMBOK Guide and PRINCE2 frameworks. Core units include managing project scope, managing project time, managing project cost, managing project quality, managing project resources, managing project risk, managing project information and communication, managing project procurement, managing project stakeholders, and managing project integration. You also study agile and hybrid delivery approaches, change management, and the role of the Project Management Office (PMO). The qualification is widely respected in Australian Government and ASX-listed organisations.
Skills you build
- Project scope and requirements management
- Schedule planning with Microsoft Project or Smartsheet
- Cost estimation, budgeting and earned value reporting
- Risk register and issue management
- Stakeholder engagement and communications planning
- Agile/Scrum and hybrid project delivery
- Project closure and lessons learned facilitation
How the course runs
Most students study online over 12 months on a self-paced model, or blended on campus over 6 to 12 months. Around 500 to 700 hours of formal training, with theory and applied case study work split roughly 60/40. Many students complete capstone project simulations or workplace improvement projects. No mandatory work placement. Most providers align units with PMI's PMP or AIPM Certified Practising Project Manager certification pathways.
How you will be assessed
- Project plan development assignments
- Risk register and stakeholder map exercises
- Written knowledge tests per unit of competency
- Workplace project case studies
- Project closure and lessons learned reports
Workplace and placement
No mandatory work placement. Most students work concurrently as a project coordinator, project officer or business analyst. Wages follow the Clerks - Private Sector Award or relevant industry instrument. Many Australian Government agencies use the Diploma as the minimum benchmark for project officer recruitment. The qualification supports applications for AIPM Certified Practising Project Practitioner.
Typical employers
- Australian Government agencies (DTA, Defence, Services Australia)
- State government project teams (Transport NSW, Major Roads Vic)
- Big Four consulting (Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, EY)
- ASX-listed construction, infrastructure and energy projects
- IT and digital transformation programs
- Engineering consultancies (AECOM, GHD, Aurecon)
Pay after this qualification
$85,000 - $130,000 per year
Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/explore-careers/occupation/project-builders. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
Is this the right course for you?
You probably thrive here if
- You can stay organised across many moving parts
- You can manage conflict between stakeholders
- You can document decisions clearly in writing
- You can balance scope, time and cost trade-offs
- You can take and give critical feedback
It is probably not for you if
- You avoid difficult conversations with stakeholders
- You struggle with detailed documentation
- You cannot read and present financial reports
- You react badly to project changes and scope creep
After you finish
After the Diploma you can pursue the Advanced Diploma of Program Management (BSB60720) for portfolio and program management roles. PMI Project Management Professional (PMP) and AIPM Certified Practising Project Manager (CPPM) certifications complement the qualification. Bachelor of Project Management at Bond, Edith Cowan and Federation, and Master of Project Management at UNSW, USyd, Bond and Curtin offer postgraduate progression.