The International College of Hotel Management (ICHM) was the first Swiss Hotel Association school outside of Europe authorised to grant the industry standard, SHA Diploma in International Hotel Management.

By agreement with the Swiss Hotel Association ICHM blends 100 years of European tradition with a fresh, work-ready approach to quality, industry focused education and training for which Australia has gained an enviable international reputation. ICHM graduates are now enjoying successful management careers across all parts of the globe in a variety of industries, a testament to the high standards of international hotel management education provided by ICHM.

Admission into the SHA Diploma requires students to successfully complete high school, the same as university entry in Australia.  The level to which this must be achieved depends on where (e.g. state/country) the student has completed their studies. For these specific details see the Entry Requirements table.
 
Entry into the ICHM Degree requires students to have completed the SHA Diploma; or studies to an Advanced Diploma level from an approved hotel school.  Students must also have 1400 hours of approved industry experience, fluency in a second language (Euro centre level 6 or equivalent), and fluency in English (IELTS 6.0 with no band less than 5.5).

No, there are no pre-requisite subjects, but students should consider taking a foreign language, accounting (business maths) and computing (IT).

Each ICHM Career Week is designed to help high school students explore their possible future career path in the hospitality industry. All students live on campus for one week and are taken through a specially designed program aimed at showing them more about ICHM, management and the hospitality industry. It’s a great opportunity for students to see and experience things for themselves. In some places these are called “Summer Programs”, although it should be noted that they usually run during July and September which is winter in Australia.

Standard entry at ICHM has an IELTS level of 6.0 Academic, with a minimum band of 5.5. This applies for students entering either the SHA Diploma or the ICHM Degree.

The Australian Immigration Department, DIAC specifies that students from many countries must take an IELTS test before coming to Australia. By DIAC regulation, students are expected to have an IELTS level of 6.0 Academic before they start a bachelor degree course. In a few countries a TOEFL test is an alternative.
 
Where students have completed high school in a language other than English, ICHM requires them to show evidence of high English proficiency.

ICHM works with a network of hundreds of hotels in Australia and around the world to place their students. Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and exclusive hotels and resorts in Far North Queensland are the most popular locations in Australia.  Obviously, there are limits to the number of students that can be placed in any location but we always try to match first preferences. ICHM can also assist with overseas job placements, however, students are responsible for obtaining, on their own permission to work abroad. While some hotels may be able to sponsor particular students for working visas, most countries impose some form of restrictions and no facilitate internships.

In Australia, students earn about A$13-18 per hour.  Thus over 20-24 weeks, they should earn approximately A$7,000–$10,000.  However, the student must account for tax, accommodation and meals as well as transport to and from the industry placement location.  Thus the student could clear A$2,000–$4,000 over a six-month period. Obviously, if a student chose to work overseas, the amount they earn and the costs involved will be significantly different than if they were to work within Australia.

Student can study for the degree either in face-to-face delivery in Adelaide or online via the Internet.  If the student wishes to study face-to-face in Adelaide, they may undertake the degree EITHER by doing 8 subjects over a 26-week period (“Accelerated) OR 4 subjects per 6-months over a one-year period (“Standard”) OR 7 subjects over 26 weeks and the final subject is a work-based project. If you are studying online, you can undertake one or two subjects at a time and complete the degree over one or more years.

Australia’s education and training system is subject to ongoing checks and controls by Government to maintain and improve its high standards. Institutions must be registered with the Australian and State Governments and meet a high standard of quality and ethical practices to enable them to deliver courses.
 
ICHM is proud to be the only school outside Europe that offers the world famous and highly prestigious Swiss Hotel Association Diploma. This course is registered by the Australian Government Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9 Vocational Graduate Diploma.

The ICHM Bachelor Degree of International Hotel Management is registered by the Australian Government Australian Qualifications Framework as a Bachelor Degree, equal in standing to a Bachelors Degree issued by any Australian University. The Bachelor of International Hotel Management is accredited by the Training and Skills Commission. The Commission is the only legal body conferred authority under the South Australian Training and Skills Development Act (2003) permitted to accredit Degree programs to private Registered Training Organisations outside of the University sector. Accreditation by the Commission is equivalent to Regional Accreditation in the United States and self-accrediting status of Royal Chartered Universities and Universities enacted by an Act of Parliament. The ICHM Degree is also listed on the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition register, which means it meets the Generally Accepted Accrediting Principles as espoused by Dr John Bear (leading US researcher in non-traditional higher education) and PIER in the United States.

All students at ICHM must have or learn a second language in order to obtain the Swiss Hotel Association Diploma.  This can be English (if the student comes from a non-English speaking background) or it can be another language they have learnt or intend to learn while at ICHM.  The student can choose the language they wish to designate as their second language. ICHM does not teach any languages, but we can refer students to language centres in Australia or overseas to assist them gain their second language proficiency. Costs associated with studying another language are the student’s own responsibility.

The 2010 academic fees for Australian and International Students undertaking the SHA Diploma is A$22,050 per annum including GST. Australian citizens can also access VET FEE-HELP.(In addition, International Students are required to pay a New Student Application/Administration Fee of A$1,500).

The 2010 academic fees for the ICHM Bachelor Degree for Australian citizens is A$10,800, and they may also apply for Fee Help. The total 2010 Bachelor Degree academic fees for International Students is A$15,840.

Yes, if you are an Australian citizen you can borrow from the Government using VET FEE-HELP during the SHA Diploma, and FEE-HELP for the ICHM Bachelor Degree.

Yes, ICHM provides separate scholarships for Australian students, New Zealand students, and also for international students. To see which one might apply to you and for more information, please see the scholarships section of the website.

Yes, the accommodation at ICHM is very comfortable and modern.  There are 184 spacious single bedrooms which are fully furnished.  These are grouped in pairs with two rooms sharing one bathroom.  Four rooms share one sitting/lounge room equipped with microwave oven, refrigerator etc. Each bedroom has a desktop computer with broadband internet access provided.


Meals are taken in the students dining hall, all of them are prepared by professional chiefs with Western, Asian and halal food all available. Students with special dietary needs are also catered for. There is a student recreation room with table tennis, pool tables, TV etc.  A prayer room is part of the accommodation facilities available to all students.

ICHM has a student counsellor dedicated fulltime to its students. In addition students have access to the Regency TAFE medical centre, with the costs of basic consultations covered by the student medical insurance. Students also have access to the campus recreational facilities; and ICHM has a full time recreation officer who arranges a variety of activities for all students.

All international students coming to Australia on student visas are required to have Overseas Students Health Cover. ICHM will arrange cover with Australian Health Management Group Ltd at the students expense. This cover is loosely termed insurance but is in fact not insurance but a minimum level of health cover that allows them access to health care.


This cover gives them the same minimum cover that all Australian citizens get through the universal health care provided by the government.  This means that if a student needs to see a doctor, he or she will not have to pay.  Equally, if he or she needed emergency treatment (i.e. ambulance/hospital) this would also be provided. The OSHC does not provide for pre-existing illness, dental, optical, physiotherapy, various gaps between schedule and actual fees or treatment while travelling to and from Australia.  The cover extends to the students time spent studying on the campus. Students undertaking IP within Australia are normally covered by their employers insurance.

The ICHM campus is 10 km from the centre of Adelaide.  It is located at Regency Park, North West of Adelaide.  A major shopping centre with several supermarkets, variety stores and specialty shops and a cinema complex, are located 15 minutes walk from the campus.

Public transport from the campus to the Adelaide city centre runs every 30 minutes during peak hours on weekdays and every 60 minutes on weekends and off-peak hours.  The cost of a bus trip is A$3.50 full fare ticket (reusable within 2 hours) and A$1.70 student concession fare. A taxi from the campus to the city is approximately A$20 (depending on traffic flow).

Yes.  Many students from Australia and overseas buy a used car while they are in Adelaide, and others use the time in Adelaide as an opportunity to take driving lessons and get a licence. Parking on campus is free.

The amount of pocket money students allow for while studying at ICHM ranges between A$50 – $200 per week.  Thus over a 23-week period, students need a minimum allowance of A$1,100+ for pocket money.  This covers dry cleaning, stationery, entertainment, meals off campus, and other incidentals. This however is only a guide, and students need to be mindful of their own expenses.

It is sometimes possible for students to find work, but it is suggested that students restrict their work to the weekends. This is because the ICHM course is 35 hours plus time spent on homework/assignments.  About 30% of the students at ICHM are able to find part-time work (4 – 12 hours per week) working on Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays.  A student would normally earn about A$13-18 per hour for this work.  Students are not permitted to work for more than 20 hours per week during academic semesters.

Australian graduates of ICHM normally start work at a salary level of A$29,000 –A$40,000 per annum.  This is about the same as that of a university graduate but significantly more than a student who attended a TAFE college. Salaries overseas will vary from country to country.

Some students are employed by hotels to junior management positions in Food & Beverage, Front Office, or Marketing.  Others join hotel groups on management trainee/cadetships. Many of our graduates achieve 2 – 3 promotions in their first year or two and progress quickly to middle management positions. Experience shows that it takes 10 – 15 years to reach the ranks of senior management (e.g. General Manager) of a major hotel, but graduates might become a Senior Manager of a 3-4 star hotel in eight to ten years.

No, about 30% of the ICHM students obtain work outside the hotel industry.  They obtain jobs in Human Resource Management, Advertising and PR, Marketing, IT and E-commerce, Consulting, and more.  The ICHM course is an excellent applied business qualification, and our graduates are able to undertake a broad range of business opportunities in Australia and abroad.

While non-Australian passport holders are permitted to work in Australia during their industry placements, once they have graduated from ICHM, they are required to return to their home country. Obviously the conditions for students to remain in Australia are set by the Australian Government (Department of Immigration), and these can be changed at any time.
At this point it is becoming easier for ICHM graduates with a Bachelor Degree to obtain a Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 880). Because ICHM is based in Adelaide, students can apply for a Skilled Independent Regional Visa (subclass 495), which makes residency even easier. As a result there are around 100 ICHM graduates who have residency in Australia and almost 50 of these are living in South Australia. We are hopeful that this situation will continue.