Why Do This Course?
A Graduate Diploma in Project Management is useful if you are a professional looking to move into project manager roles. Whether aiming to become a project manager or already working in this capacity, the course will strengthen and round out your skill set.
The qualification is highly regarded, placed above a bachelor degree in the AQF. In terms of how it compares to related courses, the graduate diploma:
- provides a more comprehensive education than a Graduate Certificate in Project Management;
- imparts most of the core learning benefits of a Master of Project Management; and
- is better than a project management diploma as it is a tertiary rather than vocational qualification.
Project managers in Australia are highly paid, with average salaries ranging from $130k to $150k annually. Numerous job openings for project managers are available at any given time. Specialised roles like IT Project Managers typically earn between $135k and $155k.
Related: What Is a Graduate Diploma?
How Hard Is This Course?
A Graduate Diploma of Project Management is not an especially hard university course, particularly for those with relevant experience. The program covers familiar concepts for aspiring project managers, such as project initiation, planning, quality control, risk management, team leadership, agile methodologies, and financial management.
With a university degree, students typically find the coursework manageable. You can hopefully draw on good work and study habits developed previously. The typical GradDipPM cost is around $30k, which can be funded by a FEE-HELP loan.
For those without a degree, entry is usually through the graduate certificate part of the program, based on professional experience. The initial four subjects are often introductory, catering to professionals from diverse backgrounds. After completing these, you can choose to exit with a graduate certificate, continue towards a graduate diploma, or go beyond that for a master's degree.