Graduate Diploma of Business Administration

What you will study

To complete the Graduate Diploma of Business Administration, students must attain a total of eight credit points, consisting of six credit points of core units and two credit points of open elective units.

Core units

• Strategy and Innovation Management: Managing Value and Risk
• Financial Decision Making
• Creating Value for Sustainable Business Practice
• Marketing, Consumers and the Marketplace
• Enterprise Optimisation and Transformation
• Leading People in Organisations

Open elective units

Open electives can be chosen from a wide range of level 7 study areas across the University, subject to availability and meeting any prerequisites. 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 about Stackable short-course options.

Entry requirements

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 to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.

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

*Definition of minimum work experience: three years of relevant work experience and must include 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, involvement in strategy and planning development and operational implementation.

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.

English language requirements

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

• Bachelor's 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 (contact the university for more information). 

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

Learning outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental business principles and concepts, 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 various 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 an understanding of global business issues and social and cultural contexts that influence them.

Career outcomes

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

• Financial Planning
• Corporate Governance
• Human Resource Management
• Marketing

Fees and FEE-HELP

Estimated first-year tuition fee in 2026: $40,000 (domestic full-fee paying place).

All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of eight 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.