How can you turn a diploma into a degree

The job you want is on your screen right now. You’ve got the experience, you’ve got the diploma, and then you hit the line that says, “bachelor’s degree or equivalent”. Can you turn a diploma into a degree without starting from scratch? You can and the study you’ve already done can count towards it.

Is a diploma a degree?

No. A diploma and a degree are two different qualifications. Under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), a diploma sits at level 5, and a bachelor’s degree sits at level 7.

The diploma is a shorter, narrower qualification when compared to a bachelor’s degree. It takes 1 to 2 years of full-time study, and it focuses on teaching you the skills for a specific job. A bachelor’s degree runs for 3 to 4 years and adds theory, research and independent work.

There are also 2-year undergraduate qualifications. It’s the associate degree, sitting at AQF level 6, one rung below the bachelor’s. It takes a year less, and it carries a level less.

At Torrens University, a 3-year degree comprises 24 subjects (8 subjects a year if you are studying full-time).

Our different types of university degree levels guide covers every qualification in detail.

Pathways to turn a diploma into a degree

The way you enter a degree depends on where you’re starting from. For those who hold a diploma or are in the process of completing one, the process is easier than you might expect.

The study you’ve already completed is one of the university entry pathways that Torrens University uses to admit people into a bachelor’s degree. This pathway has two benefits:

• Having a diploma can get you an offer
• It takes eligible subjects off your bachelor’s degree.

Torrens University publishes block credit agreements that set out in advance how many subjects a qualification is worth, so you can look up your diploma before you apply. For example, a Diploma of Nursing is credited to 8 of the 24 subjects in the Bachelor of Nursing, which is a full-time year.

Credit reaches your record through one of two processes. They both shorten your course and reduce what you pay:

• Credit transfer recognises formal study you’ve already completed. Your previous subjects are assessed against the subjects in your Torrens course, and where they match, you skip them.
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) recognises learning from work, life experience, self-tuition or non-accredited courses. Each application is assessed against the learning outcomes of your course.

Both types of course credit are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and your prior learning must meet the criteria. Course credits aren’t guaranteed, it is possible that part or all your prior learning is not recognised. If you are unsure, talk to our Future Student Advisors to confirm the agreement for your diploma.

Step-by-step guide on how to upgrade your qualification

1. Check the credit agreement: Find your diploma on the Torrens University course credit list. The course credit page lists the degrees each qualification maps and the subjects credited. If you’re partway through a diploma and want to change to a bachelor’s degree, your completed subjects can still be assessed.
2. Apply for the degree: Applying directly takes a few minutes (there are no application fees). You submit documents after you receive an offer.
3. Request your course credit: After you receive an offer, send a Credit Transfer Request Form with certified evidence by the deadline. The Program Director decides the outcome, and you may be asked to complete an assessment.
4. Apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (Optional): You’ll need to have your offer of enrolment and have submitted your application for course credits before you apply. Useful evidence includes job descriptions, employer references on letterhead, work portfolios, and performance reviews.
5. Sort out your fees: Domestic students studying at the diploma level or above may be eligible for FEE-HELP. You’ll need a Unique Student Identifier and a tax file number, and the form is due by the census date (the 20% FEE-HELP loan fee does not apply to Torrens University’s undergraduate courses). You repay through the tax system once you earn above the compulsory repayment threshold.

Throughout each step, our Future Student Advisors are on hand to guide and support you.

Choose your study load. In general, each subject requires an investment of 10 hours per week. A full-time study load (2-3 subjects) requires 20 to 30 hours of study and part-time starts at 10 (1 subject). Torrens University runs 3 trimesters a year.

Depending on availability and scheduling, you may choose to accelerate your degree by taking on a fourth subject to finish your course sooner. It requires more commitment because of the increased study load, but it means that you could finish a bachelor’s degree in as little as 2 years.

The benefits of getting a degree

Three years of study give you more time to work out what you want to do or specialise in. Our undergraduate courses include electives and majors, so you can choose the subjects that interest you or align with your career goals.

A bachelor’s degree consists of 24 subjects (excluding the Bachelor of Health Science in Naturopathy, which has 32 subjects), 16 more than a diploma. These extra 16 are where you get to discover the interests you may never have gone looking for.

It doesn’t matter what age you’re starting from. If you’re 25, 35 or 50 and feeling hesitant, know that you’re not too old to get a degree. In 2024, school leavers make up only 48% of domestic undergraduate students.

Everyone in the room is starting somewhere, but you’re starting further in.