Southern Cross University
Graduate Certificate in Business Law
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 8 months
- Course Type: Graduate Certificate
A great first step for a business professional to start bridging the knowledge gap between business and law.
Course overview
In an increasingly disrupted world, there is a growing need for people who can help businesses navigate their way through obligations, opportunities, and consequences. The online Graduate Certificate in Business Law with Southern Cross University is a great first step for a business professional to start bridging the knowledge gap between business and law.
The course will provide students with a thorough introduction to the legal institutions and processes which influence the ongoing development of Australian law, their history, context, and contemporary relevance, and equips students with the skills necessary to find, interpret, critique and apply the law in relation to business.
Key facts
6th July, 2026
31st August, 2026
26th October, 2026
What you will study
Students must complete four units to gain the Graduate Certificate in Business Law Online.
Core unit
- Legal Institutions and Processes
Electives
Complete three units from the following:
- Advanced Intellectual Property Law
- Advanced Property Law
- Competition Law
- Consumer Law
- Advanced Contract Law
- Global Business Law
- Litigation and Corporations
- Tax Law
- Law of Corporate Governance
- Advanced Legal Research
Entry Requirements
To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Business Law Online, you must have:
- A bachelor's degree in any discipline or equivalent.
- Students also need to be proficient in English.
If you are a qualified lawyer, you could also be eligible for the Master of Law (Business Law) degree.
Recognition of Prior Learning
SCU recognises and rewards credit for past education, qualifications and work experience through a process called advanced standing. If you're eligible for advanced standing, this can impact the number of units you need to study, reducing the time and cost of your overall degree.
Contact the university to find out more about applying for advanced standing.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
- Develop legal acumen. Lay the foundation to understand, interpret and apply the law in relation to business contexts.
- Identify legal risks and obligations. Gain a deep understanding of different areas of business law through your choice of three electives: Advanced Contract Law, Advanced Intellectual Property Law and Consumer Law.
- Leverage opportunities. Gain the core knowledge and skills to be agile in your business and seize opportunities quickly.
Career Outcomes
Current Master of Business Law students work in a range of business roles that require legal expertise. Below is a snapshot of some of these roles and jobs.
- Commercial director
- Governance and planning coordinator
- Project manager
- Business Consultant
- Lecturer
- Finance officer
- Contract Administrator
- Commercial services manager
- CEO
Fees and FEE-HELP
Fee per unit in 2026: $3,250 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Total course fee in 2026: $13,000 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The number of units you must complete to graduate depends on the course and if you receive advanced standing. This, in turn, will effect how much your Southern Cross University Online course fees will cost you.
Student fees 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.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
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.
Who You Will Learn From
Dr John Orr
Lecturer & Course Coordinator in Law & Justice
Dr John Orr is a Lecturer and Course Coordinator in Law and Justice at Southern Cross University. He holds a Bachelor of Human Movement Studies from the University of Queensland, a Bachelor of Laws with First Class Honours (awarded the University Medal) from Southern Cross University, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Queensland University of Technology. John is a dedicated, professional, and enthusiastic teaching and research academic who is deeply committed to positive learning outcomes and to student welfare.
He was awarded a prestigious PhD in Higher Education Law, which recognised his significant contributions and excellence in higher-degree research practice. His research in higher education law has been presented at numerous national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.
With over 20 years of experience in researching, designing and teaching university law courses, John is a skilled academic and exceptional educator. He approaches his teaching with reflectivity, mindfulness, and a scholarly perspective.
Student Testimonials
Mike McCaw
Favourite units were the Law of Corporate Governance, Global Business Law and Advanced Legal Research. I found these units both challenging and rewarding as well as increasing my overall business knowledge and ability to contribute to the Social Enterprise organisations to which I belong.