CQUniversity
Graduate Diploma of Business Administration (Leadership)
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 9 months
- Course Type: Graduate Diploma
Advance your leadership capabilities through flexible online postgraduate study, developing contemporary business knowledge and practical leadership skills to solve complex business challenges.
Course overview
The Graduate Diploma of Business Administration (Leadership) from CQUniversity is a postgraduate qualification designed for emerging business leaders seeking to strengthen their leadership capabilities and broaden their business expertise. Delivered 100% online over 0.7 years full-time or up to five years part-time, the course offers a self-paced, hyperflexible study experience that allows you to start anytime and study when it suits you.
You will develop knowledge across strategic marketing, communication for leadership success, accounting, global economics, international business law, leadership, people and culture, and innovation and entrepreneurship. Through problem-solving and activity-based learning, you will strengthen your ability to develop innovative solutions, generate entrepreneurial initiatives and apply contemporary business and leadership practices.
On successful completion, you will graduate with the Graduate Diploma of Business Administration (Leadership). The qualification supports career progression in management and leadership and provides a seamless pathway to the Master of Business Administration (Leadership).
Key facts
What you will study
To earn the Graduate Diploma of Business Administration (Leadership), you must successfully complete units totalling 48 credit points as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 6 credit points.
Core units
- Disruption, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- People, Leadership and Culture
- Communication for Leadership Success
- Strategic Marketing
- Accounting for Business Decisions
- Contemporary Leadership
- Global Economics
- International Business Law
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To be eligible for entry into this course, applicants must hold one of the following criteria:
- A completed Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) bachelor's degree or a higher equivalent qualification.
- A completed AQF diploma with two years of relevant business or managerial experience.
- Five years of relevant business or managerial experience.
Relevant business or managerial experience includes a working knowledge of how a business operates, for example, budgeting, staffing, project management, financial reporting, process management, or human resources.
A letter of employment presented on company letterhead and signed and dated by a delegated authority must show professional experience. The letter must contain the position title, duties performed and length of service.
English language requirements
Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of one of the following criteria:
- A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent).
- An AQF diploma-level qualification.
- Bachelor's level qualification study for at least two years full-time with a minimum overall GPA of 4.0 completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or the United States of America.
If you do not satisfy any of the above criteria, you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores below:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic): The overall band score was at least 6.0, with a minimum of 5.5 in each subset.
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): Requires 550 or better overall and a minimum TWE score of 4.5 (Paper Based Test), or 75 or better overall and no score less than 17 (Internet Based Test).
- Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46.
- Occupational English Test: Grades A or B only in the four components.
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between the final examination date and the commencement date of study. They must appear on a single result certificate. Each student will be assessed individually.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be able to get credit for your course based on prior formal, non-formal or informal learning. To apply, you will need to provide supporting documentation outlined by the university. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
The Graduate Diploma of Business Administration (Leadership) supports career progression in management and leadership through the development of contemporary business knowledge and leadership capabilities.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $14,976 (domestic full-fee paying place)
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of 48 credit points (normally eight units) per year.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.