Graduate Diploma of Business Administration

Course summary for international students

Year	2026 course information
Award granted	Graduate Diploma of Business Administration
Campus	This course is only offered Online
Length	1 year full-time
Fee paying annual fee - commencing 2026	$50,400 for 1 yr full-time AUD
Level	Postgraduate (Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma)
Deakin course code	M601
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS – Please note that due to Australian Government regulations, student visas to enter Australia cannot be issued to students who enrol in Deakin online courses.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Enhance your undergraduate degree with versatile business expertise. Deakin’s Graduate Diploma of Business Administration is designed to provide you with a global business perspective, broadening your career options and paving the way to progress to our Master of Business Administration (MBA).

This one-year course offers the opportunity to study the fundamentals of business at a top 3 business school in Victoria.* You will cover a broad range of topics related to organisational management, while developing the creative, analytical and interpersonal skills crucial to business leadership, including people management and marketing.

Ready to accelerate your business leadership skills?

The course prepares you for management roles across various sectors. The business skills gained in this qualification can also lead to progression in your current career.
Considering further study? The Graduate Diploma of Business Administration provides a pathway into the Master of Business Administration (MBA).

^{*AFR BOSS Best Business Schools 2024}

Online studies

Deakin offers many courses which can be studied by distance education overseas.

However, international students living in Australia on a student visa, in each compulsory trimester (that is, Trimesters 1 and 2), must enrol in at least one unit that is offered as a Campus located unit and can, in addition enrol in units offered online. International students may undertake a maximum of up to one third (or equivalent) of their study as online study. Please note enrolment in one face to face unit in compulsory study periods is only allowed if the student is completing their final unit of study and will not exceed maximum one third (or equivalent) online requirement.

Professional recognition

Deakin Business School holds both AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. These prestigious accreditations are awarded to business schools that meet strict standards of quality, academic and professional excellence, and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing improvement and innovation in their courses, ensuring our graduates are employable worldwide

Fees and charges

The tuition fees you pay are determined by the course you are enrolled in. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical tuition fees for students completing this course within the same year they started. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning. One year full-time study load is typically represented by eight credit points of study. Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value.

The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together eight credit points of a typical combination of units for your course.

You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook. Learn more about fees and available payment options.

Career opportunities

As a graduate you may find employment in areas such as:

Financial planning
Corporate governance
Human resource management
Marketing.

Course learning outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental business principles and concepts and integrate own business expertise to develop insights into complex, contemporary business issues and apply this to address emerging global business trends and challenges
Communication	Demonstrate high level communication skills to articulate a range of business concepts and their application
Digital literacy	Use digital technologies to obtain, organise and disseminate complex business information
Critical thinking	Critically analyse and evaluate business data and information, complex ideas and theories and their application in an organisational environment
Problem solving	Apply problem solving skills to analyse, develop and recommend solutions for complex business issues
Self-management	Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award
Teamwork	Not explicitly addressed as a learning outcome in this award
Global citizenship	Demonstrate understanding of global business issues and social and cultural contexts that influence them

Course rules

To complete the Graduate Diploma of Business Administration, you must pass 8 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.

An 8-credit point Graduate Diploma of Business Administration includes:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
6 credit points of core units
2 credit points of open elective units.

Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.

All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Course structure

Compulsory 0-credit point module

To be completed in the first trimester of study:-

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin

Core units

MBR701/MBA701

Strategy and Innovation Management: Managing Value and Risk ^#

MBA702

Financial Decision Making

MBT703/MBA703

Creating Value for Sustainable Business Practice ^{^}

MBT704/MBA704

Marketing, Consumers, and the Marketplace ^{^}

MBA705

Enterprise Optimisation and Transformation

MBR706/MBA706

Leading People in Organisations ^#

^{^} MBT code denotes study tour version of the unit

^#MBR code denotes residential version of the unit

Open electives

Open electives can be chosen from a wide range of level 7 study areas across the University, subject to availability and meeting any pre-requisites. Choose open electives to suit your interests, career aspirations or to broaden your academic experience beyond your discipline study area.

Mix and match Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials) to earn credit towards your degree, subject to eligibility. Any stacking must add up to a whole number to be used for credit. See more information on Stackable short course options.

Admission criteria

Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements or higher to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.

A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.

Academic requirements

To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet at least one of the following criteria:

completion of a bachelor degree in any discipline and at least three years' relevant work experience (or part-time equivalent)
completion of a graduate certificate in a related discipline and at least three years' relevant work experience (or part-time equivalent).

Examples of relevant work experience include, but not limited to:

three years' relevant work experience, and
at least two years' (full-time equivalent) in a managerial or professional role with responsibilities for decision making in a range of areas including:
- budgetary oversight
- staffing and management
- strategic planning and development
- operational implementation.

English language proficiency requirements

To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:

bachelor degree from a recognised English-speaking country
IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)

Non-academic requirements

You must provide the following with your application:

a current CV that clearly demonstrates professional / managerial experience
current contact details of two referees who can be contacted concerning your work experience
a one page brief outlining why you believe that your work experience would be valued by your peers in the course

Admissions information

Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.

Not sure if you can get into Deakin postgraduate study? Postgraduate study doesn’t have to be a balancing act; we provide flexible course entry and exit options based on your desired career outcomes and the time you are able to commit to your study.

Pathways

This course can be a pathway to:

Master of Business Administration (M701)

Credit for prior learning - general

If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for Recognition of prior learning. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your Recognition of prior learning.
Your Recognition of prior learning is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.

You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Business Administration (M501)

Further study

M701 Master of Business Administration

Course duration

You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.

Workload

You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, online interactions, or professional experiences for Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Work experience

This course provides students the opportunity to complete one or more elective work integrated learning units.

Explore Business and Law WIL opportunities.

Participation requirements

Units in this course may have participation requirements that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Units which contain work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. These requirements will be detailed in unit guides upon enrolment.