Melbourne Business School
Graduate Diploma in Business Administration
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 18 months
- Course Type: Graduate Diploma
Broaden your management expertise through nine online subject equivalents, studied one at a time in a flexible format suited to working professionals.
Course overview
The online Graduate Diploma in Business Administration provides broad postgraduate knowledge across the major functions of business. It is designed for experienced professionals seeking stronger commercial insight and greater confidence in management decision-making.
Students complete Business Foundation for Managers and the equivalent of eight additional subjects. Areas of study may include leadership, ethics, accounting, finance, data analytics, people management, marketing, economics, strategy and operations.
Subjects are delivered online and generally completed one at a time. The course takes 18 months or more, providing a structured study pattern that can be managed alongside ongoing professional responsibilities.
The graduate diploma may also provide a pathway into the MBS Online MBA. Students who meet the required academic standard can continue towards the master’s degree with recognition for eligible subjects completed during the graduate diploma.
Key facts
15th March, 2027
10th May, 2027
5th July, 2027
30th August, 2027
26th October, 2026
What you will study
To complete the Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, you must fulfil the subject Business Foundation for Managers plus eight core subjects over at least two years. 112.5 credit points are required to complete the program. You will study the equivalent of one subject (12.5 credit points) each study period.
Unless otherwise noted, each subject is worth 12.5 CP.
Complete the following unit:
- Business Foundation for Managers
The equivalent of eight subjects from those listed below:
- Leadership in a Changing World (6.25 CP)
- Ethics for Managers (6.25 CP)
- Data Analytics for Decision Making
- Managing People
- Marketing
- Financial Accounting
- Finance
- Managerial Economics
- Operations
- Strategic Management
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To apply for the Melbourne Business School Online Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, applicants must have:
- A university degree and two years of work experience, or six years of work experience.
- Two confidential professional referees.
- Four personal statements relating to their goals and how they can contribute to the program.
English language requirements
Documentary evidence of meeting the accepted minimum scores within the previous 24 months may be required.
The minimum accepted scores are:
- IELTS Academic: overall score of 7.0, with no band below 6.5
- TOEFL iBT: overall score of 91, with writing 23, speaking 22, reading 19 and listening 19
- PTE Academic: overall score of 72, with writing 65, speaking 66, reading 64 and listening 64
- Cambridge C1 Advanced: overall score of 178, with writing 180, speaking 187, reading 168 and listening 168
- LanguageCert Academic: overall score of 73, with writing 71, speaking 76, reading 65 and listening 62
- Michigan English Test: overall score of 62, with writing 64, speaking 53, reading 59 and listening 59
Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit or recognition of prior learning may be available subject to Melbourne Business School policy and an individual assessment. Contact MBS for further information.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Fee per subject in 2026: $5,308 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Total fee in 2026: $47,772 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Fees listed are for calendar year 2026. Melbourne Business School Online reserve the right to adjust course fees annually.
A student’s fee may vary depending on:
- The number of subjects studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of subjects.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students.