Your guide to the RMIT Diploma of Leadership and Management/Diploma of Business partnership with the Essendon Football Club.
RMIT has partnered with Essendon Football Club (EFC) to deliver a dual diploma that combines business and leadership study within an elite sporting environment.
This dual diploma model has been specifically developed for sports enthusiasts with little or no vocational experience, who want to develop sports-related business knowledge and skills to create further educational and employment opportunities.
In this unique one-year full-time course, you will explore key topics in leadership, strategic planning, business and marketing through the lens of the sports industry. You'll be fully immersed in the industry environment, with most classes conducted on site at the NEC Hangar (EFC training facility and headquarters) in Tullamarine.
You'll also undertake 100 hours of work-based placement across EFC and its partner network, giving you valuable hands-on experience.
When you complete your studies, you will graduate with both the Diploma of Leadership and Management and the Diploma of Business. In addition, each year 2 graduates from the course will be offered employment positions at EFC.
Undertake 100 hours of industry work experience in an elite sporting environment.
Build valuable connections with key industry experts and expand your professional network across the AFL landscape.
This unique model means you'll graduate with 2 diplomas, along with the knowledge and practical skills relevant to the needs of industry.
This unique qualification combines business and leadership, equipping you with skills necessary in dynamic business environments as well as capabilities required in operational planning and change management. Learn more about each diploma below.
Designed to build on your existing knowledge, the Diploma of Business is tailored to ensure relevance to contemporary work environments.
You will cover personal and team effectiveness, communication with customers, business continuity for sustainability and risk, and business success through planning.
You will undertake work-related projects to develop practical skills and apply knowledge, demonstrating your abilities to function effectively in a business role.
Offered exclusively as part of the dual diploma with the Diploma of Business, the Diploma of Leadership and Management has been designed to equip you with important and highly transferrable career skills, spanning:
Co-created in partnership between RMIT University and Essendon Football Club, the Essendon Education Academy provides a unique education offering that integrates students into a high-performing sporting organisation, allowing them to learn hands-on leadership and business skills in an inspiring learning environment, with access to employment and pathway options.
Your learning in this dual diploma includes interactive classes that engage you in teamwork and leadership, independent research, and presentations, all designed to help you build broad, foundational skills.
Classes are held face-to-face at the NEC Hangar in Tullamarine, and at RMIT’s Melbourne city campus. Throughout your studies, you will be supported by industry experts and Essendon Football Club staff who will provide an intimate perspective on working in elite sport.
Your assessment in this diploma will take various forms depending on the subjects you undertake. These may include written work, practical demonstrations, presentations, self-directed research and work placement activities.
With direct access to the Essendon Football Club (EFC) staff and industry mentors, you will be immersed in the day-to-day operations of a professional AFL club.
Through placement hours at EFC and its partner network, you'll gain exclusive insights into football, events, member growth and engagement, community programs, facility operations, and match-day operations.
Throughout the year, the Essendon Education Academy organises exclusive networking events and industry engagement opportunities, connecting you with like-minded peers and experienced sports industry professionals to support your career development and growth.
The types of classes you have will depend on the course you’re studying. Classes are offered in various formats designed to provide meaningful engagement with staff, industry and peers and provide for access and use of spaces where learning can be applied and active, including an array of specialised equipment.
Most RMIT courses do not include passive large-scale classes such as lectures, instead the content traditionally provided in lectures is made available online. This may be in the form of readings, videos or other on-demand learning materials. This content will also support the basis of interactive learning that takes place in on-campus classes.
The world is constantly changing, and there are universal skills that can help you adapt to the evolving nature of work and global engagement.
As part of your study experience at RMIT, we provide 6 future-focused RMIT Capabilities:
RMIT Capabilities are built into your course as well as some of our extracurricular experiences. They inform the design and delivery of your learning activities and assessments, so by the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to apply these capabilities in your life and work.
It was a privilege to participate in a program that provided valuable insights into the inner workings of an AFL club. The experience broadened my understanding of different departments and also allowed me to learn from exceptional individuals. It was a fantastic opportunity that contributed to my professional growth.
- Emily Knox, Diploma of Business and Diploma of Leadership and Management
As a graduate of this dual diploma, you will have the enhanced leadership skills to facilitate initiative and judgement in planning and organising, when implementing and monitoring your own workload and the workload of others.
You will develop enhanced communication skills to be able to support individuals and teams to meet organisational or enterprise requirements. These skills are applicable both sporting and non-sporting roles.
Each year, 2 students from the course will have the opportunity to be selected for graduate job roles within the Essendon Football Club. Potential job roles for graduates include:
You need to satisfy all of the following academic (entry) requirements to be considered for entry into this course.
You must have:
There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.
A selection task is not required for entry into this qualification.
A pathway is an alternative way to get into a course. RMIT's pathways can help you move through different levels of study to reach the qualification you're aiming for, even if you don't meet the requirements for your destination course.
Unfortunately we are currently unable to offer formal pathways into this course. Contact Study@RMIT to discuss your options.
The Diploma of Business and the Diploma of Leadership and Management provide credit and guaranteed entry into further study.
Credit, recognition of prior learning, professional experience and accreditation from a professional body can reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant experience.
Credit and exemptions will be assessed consistent with the principles of the RMIT Credit Policy.
Credit may reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant study experience.
When you are submitting an application, please indicate that you want to be considered for credit and provide detailed course syllabus (also known as course outline), outlining volume of learning, course content and weekly topics, learning objectives/outcomes, assessment types and their weightings, and reference to the learning resources such as prescribed textbooks and recommended readings.
The tuition fees you will pay depends on your eligibility for government subsidies.
Not sure which fee type applies to you? Learn more and check your eligibility.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
You may be eligible for a fee concession if you hold a valid Commonwealth Health Care Card, Pensioner Card, or Veteran's Gold Card, or are enrolled in the Asylum Seeker VET program. Find out more about fee concessions.
| Item Cost (AUD) | Description | Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
|
Tuition fee student pays
$20,764.00
Tuition fees after government subsidy
|
Tuition fees after government subsidy
|
$20,764.00 |
|
Student services and amenities fee (SSAF)
$386.00
Based on 2027 cap of $386 per calendar year
|
Based on 2027 cap of $386 per calendar year
|
$386.00 |
|
Material fees
N/A
Total cost of material fees associated with this course
|
Total cost of material fees associated with this course
|
N/A
|
|
Estimated total cost to you
$21,150.00
Includes all fees listed above
|
$21,150.00 |
The tuition fees shown include the Victorian Government contribution. This amount is reflected in your fees and is paid directly to RMIT by the Government: $3.85 per nominal hour ($2,810.50 total).
| Item Cost (AUD) | Description | Cost (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
|
Tuition fee student pays
$22,678.00
The total tuition fee you will be charged for a full-fee place
|
The total tuition fee you will be charged for a full-fee place
|
$22,678.00 |
|
Student services and amenities fee (SSAF)
$386.00
Based on 2027 cap of $386 per calendar year
|
Based on 2027 cap of $386 per calendar year
|
$386.00 |
|
Material fees
N/A
Total cost of material fees associated with this course
|
Total cost of material fees associated with this course
|
N/A
|
|
Estimated total cost to you
$23,064.00
Includes all fees listed above
|
$23,064.00 |
The tuition fees shown include the Victorian Government contribution. This amount is reflected in your fees and is paid directly to RMIT by the Government: $ per nominal hour ($ total).
Generated on 13 October 2026 | RMIT University's Registered Training Organisation (RTO) Code is 3046 | Payment and refund information
VET Student Loan cap for Diploma of Leadership and Management/Diploma of Business (Essendon Football Club dual diplomas) (C5406EFC/C5407EFC): $13320
Any tuition fees above the cap must be paid upfront to RMIT by their due date. Caps are indexed annually by the Commonwealth Government. Eligibility applies.
Learn about eligibility for VSL|
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$ per nominal hour ($ total).
Choose the specific course plan to see relevant fee information:
VET Student Loan cap for (): $
Any tuition fees above the cap must be paid upfront to RMIT by their due date. Caps are indexed annually by the Commonwealth Government. Eligibility applies.
Learn about eligibility for VSLAny tuition fees above the caps must be paid upfront to RMIT by their due date. Caps are indexed annually by the Commonwealth Government. Eligibility applies.
Please note that the VSL Student loan cap listed above is applied separately to each course in the dual Diploma of Business (C5406EFC / C5406MCE) / Diploma of Leadership and Management (C5407EFC / C5407MCE). It is not a combined cap.
What you will study
You will complete 2 qualifications:
What you will pay
For Essendon Education Academy students undertaking the dual Diploma of Business with the Diploma of Leadership and Management who love sport and can demonstrate circumstances which impact their study; worth 100% of tuition fees paid.
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