Graduate Diploma of Business Administration

Course summary for local students

Year	2027 course information
Award granted	Graduate Diploma of Business Administration
Campus	This course is only offered Online
Length	1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Full fee paying annual fee - commencing 2027	$40,000 for 1 yr full-time - Full-fee paying place
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

Build versatile management skills with Deakin's Graduate Diploma of Business Administration, designed to strengthen your business knowledge and provide a clear pathway into the MBA. Study core areas such as strategy, financial decision-making, marketing and organisational leadership at one of Victoria's top 3 business schools.

Across this one-year course, you will apply contemporary frameworks and real business case studies to organisational challenges, building analytical, strategic and professional capability. You will graduate ready to take on broader management responsibilities or continue into Deakin's Master of Business Administration.

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 estimated tuition fee above is based on a typical full-time enrolment of 8 credit points undertaken within the same academic year and is provided as a guide only. Your tuition fees are determined by your course and unit enrolment. Your tuition fees will vary depending on your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning. You may also be eligible for a FEE-HELP loan to defer all or part of your tuition fees.

Check your eligibility or learn more about a FEE-HELP loan.

Career opportunities

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

Strategic management and planning
Organisational transformation
Financial planning and management
Corporate governance
Human resource management
Marketing

Course learning outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes
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
Demonstrate high level communication skills to articulate a range of business concepts and their application
Use digital technologies to obtain, organise and disseminate complex business information
Critically analyse and evaluate business data and information, complex ideas and theories and their application in an organisational environment
Apply problem solving skills to analyse, develop and recommend solutions for complex business issues
Demonstrate understanding of global business issues and social and cultural contexts that influence them

Inclusive support for learning and participation

At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.

If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.

Key selling points

Key selling points (KSPs)

Domestic

1. Top 20 online MBA globally

2. #2 business school for career impact in Victoria

3. #3 in Australia business administration

Why choose Deakin

Why choose the Graduate Diploma of Business Administration at Deakin?

Domestic

Top-ranked business school: Study at a top 3 business school in Victoria, recognised for strong career outcomes and industry relevance.

Pathway to an MBA: Strengthen your business capability while building a clear pathway into Deakin’s MBA.

Industry-shaped learning: Learn through an industry-informed curriculum aligned with real business challenges.

Career-focused outcomes: Build practical capability in leadership, strategy and decision-making valued across industries.

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.

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.

Learning journey

What will I study in the Graduate Diploma of Business Administration?

Over one year, you will build integrated business knowledge spanning strategy, finance, marketing and leadership, progressing from core organisational functions to applied decision-making. You will graduate with the capability to manage complexity, contribute to strategic decisions and continue progressing into senior study or roles.

Year 1

Integrated business foundations

You will develop broad business capability while learning how different functions connect to drive organisational performance.

Build cross-functional business knowledge

Develop understanding across strategy, finance, marketing and operations to see how organisations create and deliver value.

Strengthen leadership and management capability

Learn how to support teams, manage change and align work with organisational goals.

Apply strategy in real contexts

Build decision-making capability by working through complex business challenges.

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

Your academic history, work and life experience, and individual circumstances will be considered. Meeting the minimum academic and English language requirements does not guarantee admission, but alternative pathways may be available.

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

We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.

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.

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.