Overview

Develop your entrepreneurial and leadership strengths with the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Renowned for its industry connections, our MBA delivers practical learning with a focus on leadership and change, innovation and entrepreneurship, ethical practices, and social responsibility. It equips you with the capacity to start new ventures and initiate organisational improvements.

View Master of Business Administration course handbook
Looking to start in Semester 1, 2025?

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Upgrade your skills

  • Knowledge of management activities
  • Leadership motivation, competence, and skills (interpersonal skills)
  • Ability to audit internal and external environments and build strategies (conceptual skills)
  • Emotional intelligence (EQ), digital intelligence (DQ), and cultural intelligence (CQ)
  • Problem solving and design thinking
  • Capable of responsibly addressing stakeholders' interests

Stretch your career further

Students can enhance their career opportunities by gaining additional leadership and management skills – an important asset in a today’s complex and changing business environment. The below examples demonstrate the types of roles graduates can attain.

  • Middle manager to top manager
  • Manager in both manufacturing and service firms
  • Manager in private as well as public sectors
  • Intrapreneur/Entrepreneur
  • Expatriate manager

Key codes

CRICOS course code
102648M
International student visa

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

Professional accreditations

Industry partners

Why Swinburne?

MBA ranked global top tier by US CEO Magazine

Top 5% of the world’s higher education business schools

91.1% of graduates found employment within 4 months of finishing.

The median income for PG graduates one year out is $79.5K

  • I engineered my MBA with a strategic path. I did some international business, strategic foresight, innovation and consulting units as electives. It gave me the ability to think laterally, to look at a situation and develop my own analytical models, and to use strategic frameworks to communicate a solution to the problem. I wouldn't have been able to work in my current job without my Swinburne MBA.

    Richard , Master of Business Administration

Fast track your course*

A fast-track course gives you the same qualifications as a ‘regular course’, but is completed in a shorter amount of time. Designed for those who already have business or industry experience, you’ll participate in workshops, with assessments based on the workplace.

*Example fast-tracked durations:

Proven relevant working experience and cognate learning
=
1
year
Proven relevant cognate learning
=
1.5
year

Qualifications

Applicants are required to have completed one of the following:

  • a bachelor degree (or higher award) in any discipline from a recognised higher education institution or equivalent or
  • the Postgraduate Qualifying Program (available to International applicants only)
     

Applicants who have additional qualifications are eligible to enter the program with Advanced Standing and may be able to complete the program in less than two years. 

1 year duration (full-time, or equivalent part-time)

Applicants who have completed one of the following may be able to complete the program in 1 year of full-time study (or equivalent part-time study):

  •  the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration; or
  •  an honours bachelor degree in a related discipline
      
1.5 year duration (full-time, or equivalent part-time) 

Applicants who have completed one of the following may be able to complete the program in 1.5 years of full-time study (or equivalent part-time study): 

  •  a bachelor degree in a related discipline; or
  •  a graduate certificate in a related discipline; or
  •  a bachelor degree (or higher award) in any discipline and have two years relevant work experience* or
  • the Postgraduate Qualifying Program (available to International applicants only) PLUS either previous related discipline Higher Education Study, OR a minimum of two years relevant work experience*
     

* Relevant professional/managerial experience and evidence of academic capability will be determined by the Faculty PVC (or delegate) with reference to faculty-determined guiding principles. Applicants will be required to submit a curriculum vitae (CV) with their application.

Documents substantiating relevant experience are required, clearly detailing roles and duration, as well as evidence of formal and non-formal learning. Where relevant experience is used for the basis of admission, no further recognition for prior learning/credit can be granted on that basis.

Applicants are required to have completed one of the following:

  • a bachelor degree (or higher award) in any discipline from a recognised higher education institution or equivalent or
  • the Postgraduate Qualifying Program (available to International applicants only)

Applicants who have additional qualifications are eligible to enter the program with Advanced Standing and may be able to complete the program in less than two years. 

1 year duration (full-time, or equivalent part-time)

Applicants who have completed one of the following may be able to complete the program in 1 year of full-time study (or equivalent part-time study):

  •  the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration; or
  •  an honours bachelor degree in a related discipline
      
1.5 year duration (full-time, or equivalent part-time) 

Applicants who have completed one of the following may be able to complete the program in 1.5 years of full-time study (or equivalent part-time study): 

  •  a bachelor degree in a related discipline; or
  •  a graduate certificate in a related discipline; or
  •  a bachelor degree (or higher award) in any discipline and have two years relevant work experience* or
  • the Postgraduate Qualifying Program (available to International applicants only) PLUS either previous related discipline Higher Education Study, OR a minimum of two years relevant work experience*

* Relevant professional/managerial experience and evidence of academic capability will be determined by the Faculty PVC (or delegate) with reference to faculty-determined guiding principles. Applicants will be required to submit a curriculum vitae (CV) with their application.

Documents substantiating relevant experience are required, clearly detailing roles and duration, as well as evidence of formal and non-formal learning. Where relevant experience is used for the basis of admission, no further recognition for prior learning/credit can be granted on that basis.

Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Finding your fit

At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.

How credit points work

To qualify for the award of Master of Business Administration students must complete 16 (or equivalent) units (200 credit points) comprising:

  • 4 foundation units (50 credit points)
  • 8 core units (100 credit points)
  • 4 units comprising one specialisation or 4 elective units (50 credit points)
4
Foundation units
+
8
Core units
+
4
Specialisation or elective units
=
Masters degree

Your units

Units of study Unit code
Core units
Accounting Systems and Reporting
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ACC60008
Marketing Management
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MKT60010
Behaviour in Organisations
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
HRM60016
Opportunity Discovery
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ENT60006
Economics
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
ECO80001
Corporate Financial Management
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
FIN80005
Business Strategy
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MGT80002
Leadership for Innovation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MGT80005
Foundation units
Business Information Systems
Foundation unit, 12.5 credit points
INF60007
Management Analysis and Problem Solving
Foundation unit, 12.5 credit points
MGT60040
Business Sustainability and Social Impact
Foundation unit, 12.5 credit points
MGT60042
Future Management Skills
Foundation unit, 12.5 credit points
MGT60043
Specialisation Units
View specialisation units
View units
Want to see the full range of electives?

Learn about all the electives you can take in the course handbook.

Nested programs

The Master of Business Administration encompasses a comprehensive suite of interconnected programs. Discover more about the initial stage:

Your specialisation units

Add your specialisation

Add your specialisation for a more personalised experience.

2024 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$34,900

Total fee* ($AUD)

$69,800

2024 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$44,340.00

Fees are estimates only

The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2024 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.

Fees are estimates only

The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.

How do I pay my fees?

FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.

International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.

To pay your fees:

  • log in to My Finances
  • check your Australian bank account details are correct 
  • check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe 
  • pay using your preferred payment method.

Eligibility for FEE-HELP

You’re eligible for a FEE-HELP loan if you are studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or UniLink or OUA course at Swinburne, and you:

  • are an Australian citizen doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
  • hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
  • hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens
  • are undertaking bridging study for overseas trained professionals and will be living in Australia for the duration of this study
  • have not exceeded the new combined Help Loan limit.
     

The HELP limit is the maximum amount you can borrow from the government in your lifetime towards your education costs. It is fixed and cannot be topped up.

Student services and amenities fee

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

The fee shown in the capped amount for 2024.

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown in the capped amount for 2024.

Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$351.00

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$351.00

Scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2024 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals. 

Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.

When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.

Apply through an agent

Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.

Representatives and agents
MA-BUSADM5
Search for agents

Apply directly

Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! 

Course code
MA-BUSADM5
Apply directly
Course code
MA-BUSADM5
CRICOS code
102648M
Apply directly
Start dates
Location
Last date to apply
Start dates
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
26-February-2025
Start dates
03-March-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
30-July-2025
Start dates
04-August-2025
Start dates
Location
Start dates
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
03-March-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
04-August-2025
Upcoming events
2025 Study Expo
12-November-2024