Master of Business Administration

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year

2025 course information

Award granted Master of Business Administration
Deakin course codeM701
Faculty

Faculty of Business and Law

CampusThis course is only offered Online
OnlineYes
Duration1.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Course Map - enrolment planning tool

This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025

Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.

CRICOS course code035037J Burwood (Melbourne)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition

The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS - International students should note that, due to visa regulations, this course can only be undertaken while living outside Australia.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Study at a top 3 business school in Victoria* and propel your career to the next level. Join a thriving, diverse and inclusive community of like-minded professionals from a wide range of sectors and backgrounds in Australia’s #1 ranked Master of Business Administration (MBA) for classroom experience.^ Deakin’s MBA gives you access to the latest business insights from industry experts and academic thought leaders with decades of professional experience.

Refined over 30 years, our MBA is a flexible and engaging program. Choose from an extensive range of specialisations, electives, residentials, study tours and intensives. Personalise your study to fit around your complex work and family life while meeting your career goals.

Want to become a confident business leader with Deakin's game-changing MBA?

Get first-hand experience of a socially and environmentally responsible approach to business that considers people, the planet and profit in all its forms. Gain real-world skills from day one. Tackle live challenges faced by organisations, visit international businesses, take industry-led masterclasses and mature your leadership style. You will be exposed to new ideas and thinking that doesn't stop when class does.

Deakin has a long history of delivering unique, student-centred opportunities to upskill in future-focused areas of business. Our residential intensives and study tours allow you to learn through immersive, collaborative and culturally enriching experiences while gaining credit towards your degree. The Deakin MBA offers a wide selection of flexible study options that may help you fast-track your studies.

You will learn from highly experienced and PhD-qualified professors and industry adjunct professors who are globally respected leaders in their fields. Our industry partners and professors work together to create a curriculum that is grounded in the everyday reality of business, ensuring that the MBA reflects the contemporary challenges you will face in your professional endeavours.

In addition to industry input, your personal and professional background is valued for bringing significant knowledge to the program. Share your expertise with your peers and learn from people from a wide range of backgrounds. Take advantage of regular opportunities for networking, career enhancement and professional development. Plus, get the personalised learning support you need, including writing workshops, one-on-one mentoring and seminars.

Whether you learn best face-to-face or online, the Deakin MBA allows you to create a course that works for you. A truly flexible experience, the modular nature of Deakin's MBA means you can choose from a range of specialisations, electives, delivery modes (online, residential, study tours) and MBA masterclasses to thoroughly explore your area of interest – tailoring your learning to what's relevant to your career goals.

Deakin’s MBA will ignite your imagination, creativity and business mindset, setting you up to be a future CEO or director. You will graduate with both the technical and human skills to secure the job, client or project you’ve been pursuing. 

*AFR BOSS Best Business Schools 2024 

^QS Global Online MBA Rankings 2022  

Indicative student 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.

Professional recognition

Deakin Business School holds both AACSB and EQUIS accreditations. These prestigious accreditations are awarded to less than 1 per cent of business schools internationally and 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.

Career opportunities

Deakin MBA graduates excel in leadership and entrepreneurial roles across all areas of business and industry. As a graduate of Deakin’s MBA, you will have the skills and expertise to pursue executive, C-suite and director roles.

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.

Alternative exits

Graduate Certificate of Business Administration (M501)
Graduate Diploma of Business Administration (M601)

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes Course Learning Outcome

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 written, oral and interpersonal communication skills required to provide clear, well-reasoned advice to organisations and lead and influence others
Digital literacy

Select and use digital technologies that support the research and analysis of complex business issues and enhances effective dissemination of proposals and recommendations
Critical thinking

Apply critical thinking and analysis skills to evaluate complex data, relationships and projects in an organisational environment
Problem solving

Apply problem solving skills and creativity to arrive at evidence-based decisions and imagine strategies and the changes required to implement recommended courses of action
Self-management

Developed an enhanced insight into leadership style and reflect on own ability to take personal accountability and act as a confident leader
Teamwork

Demonstrate the ability to develop networks and business relationships and leverage these to achieve collaborative and mutually beneficial outcomes
Global citizenship

Demonstrate an understanding of the impact entrepreneurial approaches to business issues has on social, sustainability and cultural challenges in the global business environment

Course rules

To complete the Master of Business Administration students must pass 12 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate: 

  • DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
  • 8 credit points of core units
  • 4 credit points which may comprise of:  
    • 4 credit points of open electives
    • 4 credit point specialisation
    • 4 credit points of Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials) and open electives 

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary. 

Specialisations

Faculty-wide specialisations

Refer to the details of each specialisation for availability.

*Offered to students who commenced in 2023 or prior

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

MBA700Leadership and Professional Development

MBR701/MBA701Strategy and Innovation Management: Managing Value and Risk #

MBA702Financial Decision Making

MBT703/MBA703The Economic Environment ^

MBT704/MBA704Marketing, Consumers, and the Marketplace ^

MBA705Enterprise Optimisation and Transformation

MBR706/MBA706Leading People in Organisations #

MBA707 MBA Capstone (Capstone)

#MBR code denotes optional residential version of the unit

^MBT code denotes optional study tour version of the unit

Open elective units

The remaining 4 credit points may be selected from:

  • a faculty-wide specialisation
  • postgraduate units offered by the University (subject to availability)
  • Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials).

Stackable short courses

Mix and match Deakin stackable short courses (0.5 cp microcredentials) to earn up to 4 credit point(s) of open electives, subject to eligibility. Any stacking must add up to a whole number to be used for credit. See more information on Deakin stackable short course options.

Work experience

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

Explore Business and Law WIL opportunities.

Applied Research

Unit set code

SP-MDBS001

Offered to students who commenced in 2023 or prior. See a Student Adviser for further assistance.

Accounting

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS002

Units

MAA701Accounting

MAA703Accounting for Management 1,2,4

Plus 2 credit points from:

MAA716Financial Accounting 1,2

MAA705Corporate Auditing 2,3,4

MAA725Advanced Accounting Principles and Practice 1,2

MAA767Enterprise Value Creation: Sustainability and Integrated Reporting

MAA789Accounting Systems and Analytics 1,2

MLC703Principles of Income Tax Law 2

Notes:

1 Required by CPA Australia for Associate (foundation level) Membership.

2 Required by the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand for entry to the CA Program.

3 For candidates who have completed an accredited degree in Australia, this unit may be taken as part of the CPA program. Required by the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand for entry to the CA Program.

4 For candidates who would like to obtain exemptions to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) program.

Arts and Cultural Industries

Unit set code

SP-MDBS003

Offered to students who commenced in 2023 or prior. See a Student Adviser for further assistance.

Business Analytics

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS004

Units

MIS770Foundation Skills in Data Analysis

MIS771Descriptive Analytics and Visualisation

Plus 2 credit points from:

MIS772Predictive Analytics

MIS714People Analytics

MIS781Business Intelligence and Database

Management Consulting

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne)

Unit set code

SP-MDBS005

Units

MPM715Management and Organisational Consulting

MPT712/MPM712Managing Innovation *

MIS798Project Management ^

MMH707Managed Change

* MPT code denotes Study Tour version of the unit

^Note: MIS798 has a co-requisite rule requirement.

Cyberlaw

Unit set code

SP-MDBS006

Offered to students who commenced in 2023 or prior. See a Student Adviser for further assistance.

Digital Transformation

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS007

Units

MIS712Managing Digital Transformation

MIS782Value of Information

MIS741Ethics of Digital Transformation

MIS776Design Thinking for Innovation

Finance

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS009

Units

Select any 4 units from:

MAF702Financial Markets and Digital Innovations

MAF703Applied Corporate Finance

MAF707Investments and Portfolio Management

MAF716Fintech Foundations and Cryptocurrencies

MAF752Principles of Finance

MAF760International Finance

Financial Planning

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS010

Units

MAI769/MAA769Ethics for Financial Services

MAA719Superannuation and Retirement Planning

MAA745Financial Planning and Economic Fundamentals

Plus 1 credit point from:

MAI728/MAA728Financial Behaviour and Decision Making

MAA700Estate Planning and Risk Management Strategies

MLC707Business Law

MLC703Principles of Income Tax Law

Note:

MAI and MLI coded units denote Intensive offerings and are only available to M701 students enrolled in this unit set.

To find out whether this specialisation is FAS approved and suitable for you, please contact our dedicated Financial Planning Course Advisers to discuss further on +61 3 9251 7969, financial-planning@deakin.edu.au, or book a phone consultation.

Human Resource Management

Campuses

Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS011

Units

MMH701Human Resource Strategy

MMH702Strategic Staffing

MMH703Workforce Capability

MMH709Workplace Relations

Information Systems

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS012^

Units

For M761 students:*

Must pass 1 credit point from:

MIS761Cyber Security Strategies

MIS782Value of Information

Plus

Must pass 3 credit points from:

MIS701Digital Business Analysis

MIS712Managing Digital Transformation

MPE701Information Technology, Markets and Business Strategy

* 75% Rule: M761 students are required to complete a minimum of three units that are not part of the M761 core units.

All other students:

Must pass 4 credit points from:

MIS701Digital Business Analysis

MIS761Cyber Security Strategies

MIS712Managing Digital Transformation

MIS782Value of Information

MPE701Information Technology, Markets and Business Strategy

^Students enrolled in M722 Master of Information Systems cannot undertake the specialisation in Information Systems

International Trade and Business

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS013

Units

Select one unit from:

MBT703/MBA703The Economic Environment *

MPT781/MPE781Economics for Managers *

Plus

MPE707International Banking and Finance

MPE711Global Trade and Supply Chains

MPT735/MPM735International Business Management *

*MBT and MPT codes denote the Study Tour version of the unit

Leadership

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS014

Units

MMH707Managed Change

MPT712/MPM712Managing Innovation ^

MPR779/MPM779Leadership in Complexity *

MPM780Foundations in Leadership

^ MPT code denotes study tour version of the unit

* MPR code denotes residential version of the unit

Marketing

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS015

Units

One unit from:

MMT732/MMK732Marketing Management ^

MBT704/MBA704Marketing, Consumers, and the Marketplace ^

Plus:

MMK713Consumer Behaviour

MMK737Digital and Social Media Marketing

MMK739Strategic Brand Management

^MMT code denoted study tour version of the unit.

Project Management

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS016

Units

MIS776Design Thinking for Innovation

MIS712Managing Digital Transformation

MIS798Project Management

MMH707Managed Change

Property and Real Estate

Campuses

Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS017

Units

MMP713Property and Real Estate Context

MMP731Management of Real Estate

MMP732Property Development

MMP742Investment Valuation

Supply Chain Management

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS008

Units

Select any 4 units from:

MIS713Digital Transformation of Supply Chains

MIS716Artificial Intelligence Strategies and Enterprise Applications

MIS761Cyber Security Strategies

MMM710Emerging Issues in International Operations

MPE711Global Trade and Supply Chains

Artificial Intelligence for Business

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS018

Units

MIS714People Analytics

MIS715Responsible Artificial Intelligence

MIS716Artificial Intelligence Strategies and Enterprise Applications

MIS710Machine Learning in Business

Public Sector Studies

Unit set code

SP-MDBS019

Offered to students who commenced in 2023 or prior. See a Student Adviser for further assistance.

Event Management

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS020

Units

MIS798Project Management

MMM793Managing Events *

MMK732Marketing Management

Plus 1 credit point from:

ACG708Design Thinking and Problem Solving

MIS776Design Thinking for Innovation

*Note: This unit is offered in online mode only

Business Law

Unit set code

SP-MDBS021

Offered to students who commenced in 2023 or prior. See a Student Adviser for further assistance.

Digital Finance

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS022

Units

MAF702Financial Markets and Digital Innovations

MAF716Fintech Foundations and Cryptocurrencies

Plus 2 units from:

MAF752Principles of Finance

MAF759Financial Data Analytics

MIS716Artificial Intelligence Strategies and Enterprise Applications

MIS715Responsible Artificial Intelligence

MIS701Digital Business Analysis

Marketing Technology

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

SP-MDBS023

Units

MIS716Artificial Intelligence Strategies and Enterprise Applications

MMK737Digital and Social Media Marketing

MIS784Marketing Analytics

MMK710Fundamentals of MarTech

Professional Practice

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online, GIFT City Campus

Unit set code

SP-MDBS024

Units

Select 4 credit points from:

MWL705Business for Social Impact

MWL716Consultancy Experience

MWL717Entrepreneurship Experience

MWL718Internship

MWL719International Consultancy Experience

MWL720Industry Based Learning (2CP)^

MWL721Industry Cadetship (4CP)^

or other approved postgraduate-level Work Integrated Learning (WIL) unit*

*WIL units include, but are not limited to:

  • placement, practicum or internship
  • industry or community project
  • industry or community field work
  • workplace simulation

^available to GIFT City Campus students only.


Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Other learning experiences

This course includes the option of other learning experiences including residential and study tour units.

  • MBT703 The Economic Environment (Tour)
  • MBT704 Marketing, Positioning and Consumers (Tour)
  • MBR701 Strategy and Value Creation (Residential)
  • MBR706 Leading People in Organisations (Residential)

Research and research-related study

Students are introduced to research tools and techniques in core units of the course where they learn analytic skills and the practical application. Assessment tasks require students to conduct self-directed research in order to complete them

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.