Postgraduate Coursework
Master of Business Administration
2021
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) develops the key attributes and skills you need to move into senior and middle management positions in business, industry and the public sector. It complements your existing qualifications and experience, giving you an opportunity to learn more about:
- accounting for managers
- business research
- decision making
- communication
- negotiation and conflict resolution
- economics for managers
- organisational behaviour
- organisational strategy and leadership
- fundamentals of management.
At CDU, you can study an MBA online or on campus to suit your lifestyle. You can also tailor your studies to suit your goals, with options to design your coursework around your areas of interest.
Career opportunities
The Australian Government predicts strong industry demand for business degree graduates from a wide range of sectors. As a Master of Business Administration graduate, you will be qualified to pursue a range of exciting domestic and international career opportunities, which include business planning and management, brand management, marketing, market research, business analysis, e-commerce, human resource management, and many others.
Credit transfers & pathways
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
International applications
English Language Requirements for International Students
For detail on English Language Entry Requirements please read the entry requirements provided for International students.
How to Apply
International applicants apply directly to CDU and should refer to the information provided for International future students Apply.
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This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
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Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
Admission criteria
Successful completion of a recognised bachelor degree, graduate certificate, graduate diploma, master's degree or equivalent international qualification in a business or related field.
OR
Successful completion of a recognised bachelor degree, graduate certificate, graduate diploma, master's degree or equivalent international qualification in an unrelated field plus a minimum of 6 months full-time
employment experience in a managerial role. Applicants must provide documentation detailing their employment experience in the form of a curriculum vitae (CV) and two written referee reports in their application.
If you have no undergraduate or post graduate qualifications, you should apply for entry into one of the following programs:
- Graduate Certificate of Global Marketing
- Graduate Certificate of Human Resource Management
- Graduate Certificate of Strategic Management
International Pathway
Applicants who have completed the CDU International Masters Qualifying Program (ZMQP01) or the Accelerated International Masters Qualifying Program (ZAMQP1) are eligible for entry.
Essential requirements
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. International applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
The minimum English language requirement for this course is met by either undertaking previous education in an English-speaking country or undertaking one of the following English language tests and obtaining the minimum requirements listed below.
| IELTS Academic Module | A minimum overall score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0. |
| Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) | A minimum overall score of 176, with no skill below 169. |
| Common European Framework Certificate of English Proficiency | A minimum overall grade of C1, valid for three years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU. |
| Navitas Academic English (will not be accepted from 2021 onwards) | A minimum overall pass and 65% in Academic English 3 with a 65% pass in the research essay. (Note: this score will not be accepted from 2021 intakes onwards). |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic module | A minimum overall score of 58 with no score lower than 50. |
| TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) | A minimum overall score of 79 with a minimum writing score of 21. |
* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified.
* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.
Do you have a question regarding English requirements at CDU? Please email: international@cdu.edu.au.
Course structure
The MBA is made up of twelve units or 120 credit points in total.
This includes eight core units (80 credit points) which you are required to take, plus four elective units (40 credit points) that you choose. The core units focus on the essential skills required by middle and upper level managers. The elective units allow you to learn more about particular areas you are interested in such as Entrepreneurship, International Human Resource Management, Services Management, Operations Management, International Marketing, Clients and Markets.
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 120 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.
| Unit type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
| Core Units (8 units) |
80cp | Compulsory Core units totalling 80 credit points as detailed below.
ACT507 Accounting for Managers |
| Specialist Electives (4 units) |
40cp | Specialist Elective units totalling 40 credit points as detailed below.
BUS502 Entrepreneurship |
| 120cp | Total Credit Points |
Students who commenced in or after 2013
The grade of "PC" cannot be counted towards a Masters Degree by Coursework AQF Level 9 course award.
Students should refer to the current Grading Policy and Common Course Rules for further information.
COURSE CHANGES - 2019
ECO501 has been replaced by ECO504 and is equivalent. Students who have completed ECO501 should not complete ECO504.
COURSE CHANGES - 2018
Students enrolled in the MBA14 Master of Business Administration should transfer to the new SBAD01 Master of Business Administration from 2018. Students who do not transfer to the new SBAD01 Master of Business Administration should note the following:
LAW512 Commercial and Corporate Law for Managers will be discontinued as of Semester 1 2019. Any students wanting to complete this unit must do so before this time.
ECO502 has been replaced by BUS501. Students who have completed ECO502 should not complete BUS501.
MKT502 has been replaced by MKT503. Students who have completed MKT502 should not complete MKT503.
MAN504 has been replaced by HRM503. Students who have completed MAN504 should not complete HRM503.
MAN505 has been replaced by BUS502 but is not equivalent. Students who have completed MAN505 should not complete BUS502
Study plan
Students commencing in Semester 1
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 1 and enrolling in a standard load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| BUS501 Decision Making | CO | COM501 Communication, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution | CO |
| MAN508 Organisational Strategy and Leadership | CO | MAN506 Organisational Behaviour | CO |
| MAN509 Contemporary Management Issues | CO | Specialist Elective | SE |
| ECO504 Business Economics (replaces ECO501) | CO | Specialist Elective | SE |
| Year 2 | |||
| BRE810 Business Research | CO | ||
| ACT507 Accounting for Managers | CO | ||
| Specialist Elective | SE | ||
| Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Semester 1 - Accelerated Study Plan
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 (Summer) |
|||
| Year 1 | |||||
| BUS501 Decision Making | CO | BRE810 Business Research | CO | COM501 Communication, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution | CO |
| ECO504 Business Economics (replaces ECO501) | CO | ACT507 Accounting for Managers | CO | MAN506 Organisational Behaviour | CO |
| Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE | MAN508 Organisational Strategy and Leadership | CO |
| Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE | MAN509 Contemporary Management Issues | CO |
Students commencing in Semester 2
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 2 and enrolling in a standard load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| COM501 Communication, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution | CO | ||
| MAN506 Organisational Behaviour | CO | ||
| BUS501 Decision Making | CO | ||
| ECO504 Business Economics (replaces ECO501) | CO | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| MAN508 Organisational Strategy and Leadership | CO | BRE810 Business Research | CO |
| MAN509 Contemporary Management Issues | CO | ACT507 Accounting for Managers | CO |
| Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
| Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
Semester 2 - Accelerated Study Plan
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
Semester 3 (Summer) |
|||
| Year 1 | |||||
| BUS501 Decision Making | CO | COM501 Communication, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution | CO | ||
| ECO504 Business Economics (replaces ECO501) | CO | MAN506 Organisational Behaviour | CO | ||
| Specialist Elective | SE | MAN508 Organisational Strategy and Leadership | CO | ||
| Specialist Elective | SE | MAN509 Contemporary Management Issues | CO | ||
| Year 2 | |||||
| BRE810 Business Research | CO | ||||
| ACT507 Accounting for Managers | CO | ||||
| Specialist Elective | SE | ||||
| Specialist Elective | SE | ||||
Students commencing in Summer Semester (from 2021 Summer Semester is no longer available for entry)
The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in summer semester and enrolling in a standard load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective |
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 (Summer) | |||
| Year 1 | |||||
| COM501 Communication, Negotiation and Conflict Resolution | CO | ||||
| MAN506 Organisational Behaviour | CO | ||||
| MAN508 Organisational Strategy and Leadership | CO | ||||
| MAN509 Contemporary Management Issues | CO | ||||
| Year 2 | |||||
| BUS501 Decision Making | CO | BRE810 Business Research | CO | ||
| ECO504 Business Economics (replaces ECO501) | CO | ACT507 Accounting for Managers | CO | ||
| Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE | ||
| Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Course fees
Non-Commonwealth supported places
Full fee paying places are available in this course.
2021: Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
International tuition fees
The annual tuition fee for full time study of 80 credit points (1.0 EFTSL) for commencing students in 2021 is AUD $32,760.00.
These fees are subject to annual increases each year of your study, effective at the start of each calendar year.
You can find a list of International fees and payments you can expect to pay as part of your studies in Australia.
CDU offers a number of scholarships to international students to assist with the cost of study.