Home » Business » Business Management » Best Leadership and Management Diploma Online

Best Leadership and Management Diploma Online

Let's look at the best options in Australia for studying to be a manager and leader.

Business meeting in a healthcare setting

Course Overview

The Diploma of Leadership and Management is a vocational qualification for current and future leaders and managers. Students gain essential skills to effectively lead and manage in different types of organisations. It's an ideal choice for those looking to enhance their leadership capabilities or to step into managerial roles.

The course covers key areas such as leadership theory and practice, effective communication, conflict resolution, and financial management. You'll also explore project management and risk management. These subjects provide a high-level understanding of business administration.

Offered by TAFEs, colleges and universities, the diploma can be completed in 12-18 months. It's available in different formats, including online and in-class. The entry requirements vary, with some providers asking for a Certificate IV or relevant work experience, while others have more open enrolment policies. Completing the diploma can open pathways for further studies at university level.

What Does this Qualificaton Do?

A Diploma of Leadership and Management can help advance your career in many ways. A key advantage is skill development and on-the-job productivity. You'll come away with insights, strategies and practical skills to perform at a higher level.

This kind of certification is important to qualify you for senior roles. Credentials gives you a clear advantage – or neutralise any disadvantage – compared to the competition. It shows employers that you're thinking about how to be a manager and know relevant strategies and techniques.

Graduates have learned how to approach organisational and director tasks in a structured way. The knowledge gained is especially handy for job interviews. You'll be more fluent in talking about how to lead and what your experiences and approaches are.

Related: Why Study Leadership and Management?

Online Courses in Australia

Good leadership courses are engaging. They make smart use of technology and connect theory to what managers do on a daily basis. We've chosen the best online courses based on features, flexibility and cost. These are also nationally recognised qualifications.

Edmund Barton College

The Diploma of Leadership and Management (BSB50420) from Edmund Barton College is a self-paced course that really delivers. You can construct your own course, with a good selection of elective units to choose from. There are no entry requirements and you can start any time. Graduates earn a nationally recognised qualification. Topics include planning, emotional intelligence, relationship building, performance management, budgeting and workplace safety.

Australian College of Commerce and Management

The Australian College of Commerce and Management has online courses in Leadership and Management at the Certificate IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma levels. Students gain access to an exceptional range of elective subjects. By studying with ACCM, you get strong student support services to help you succeed. These include a dedicated student adviser, the ability to study anytime, and choice about how you receive course content. Tuition fees are also competitive.

Related: Best Business Courses Online in Australia

Study Online

Casually dressed man using laptop

Studying online is the easiest way to gain a management and leadership diploma or similar award. You can complete a course 100% online from anywhere you like, such as home or work.

Learning about planning and strategy is the essence of management training. You can do this effectively on a digital platform. Online courses cover the same topics as you would in a physical classroom. The programs are usually self-paced, meaning you work through content independently.

The courses are ideal for busy people who may be working full-time. Most people who study how to lead don't have time to waste attending classes. Distance learning has become the preferred way to do management training in Australia.

Related: Online Study in Australia

What You'll Study (Course Units)

Female executive meeting with professional man in office

As of 27 December 2023, BSB50420 is the latest training qualification for Australia that we call a "Diploma of Leadership and Management" in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector. The qualification is 12 units long, the same as existing versions.

For this diploma, your college may have a fixed set of units or allow you to choose from a wider selection. In total, the course consists of 6 core units and you have 26 electives to choose from.

The 6 core units for BSB50420 are:

  • BSBCMM511 Communicate with influence
  • BSBCRT511 Develop critical thinking in others
  • BSBLDR523 Lead and manage effective workplace relationships
  • BSBOPS502 Manage business operational plans
  • BSBPEF502 Develop and use emotional intelligence
  • BSBTWK502 Manage team effectiveness

Another 26 elective units are available:

  1. BSBCMM412 Lead difficult conversations
  2. BSBCRT512 Originate and develop concepts
  3. BSBFIN501 Manage budgets and financial plans
  4. BSBFIN502 Manage financial compliance
  5. BSBHRM522 Manage employee and industrial relations
  6. BSBHRM524 Coordinate workforce plan implementation
  7. BSBHRM531 Coordinate health and wellness programs
  8. BSBLDR521 Lead the development of diverse workforces
  9. BSBLDR522 Manage people performance
  10. BSBOPS501 Manage business resources
  11. BSBOPS503 Develop administrative systems
  12. BSBOPS504 Manage business risk
  13. BSBOPS505 Manage organisational customer service
  14. BSBPEF501 Manage personal and professional development
  15. BSBSTR501 Establish innovative work environments
  16. BSBSTR502 Facilitate continuous improvement
  17. BSBSTR503 Develop organisational policy
  18. BSBSUS511 Develop workplace policies and procedures for sustainability
  19. BSBTWK501 Lead diversity and inclusion
  20. BSBTWK503 Manage meetings
  21. BSBWHS521 Ensure a safe workplace for a work area
  22. BSBXBD501 Develop big data strategy
  23. BSBXCM501 Lead communication in the workplace
  24. BSBXDB501 Support staff members with disability in the workplace
  25. BSBXDB502 Adapt organisations to enhance accessibility for people with disability
  26. SIRXOSM007 Manage risk to organisational reputation in an online setting.

Career Opportunities

Man working at desk in thought

Management is a potential career path for many people. You're a potential candidate if you have good professional knowledge, work well with people, and have administration skills. Training will prepare you for roles such as:

  • analysis and research activity (Head of Research)
  • budget development (Finance Manager)
  • customer services (Sales Team Leader)
  • handling large projects (Project Leader)
  • managing individual or team performance (Supervisor, Team Leader)
  • marketing (Marketing Manager)
  • plant and equipment (Facilities Manager)
  • recruitment (HR Manager)
  • workplace safety (Safety Manager).

Studying the management discipline only enhances your prospects. You'll learn the best management approaches from a diploma course, which can be invaluable early in your career.

Thinking like a manager is how you develop your skills in the workplace. The training helps you communicate strategies when going for jobs. You also can hit the ground running when moving up to a higher level.

Related: Top 10 Business Management Careers

† Online courses are available in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Gold Coast, Newcastle. Australia-wide.