- Program summary
- Program overview
- Admission requirements
- Program structure
- Intakes - when to apply
- Costs
- Enquiries
Program summary
Award abbreviation: GDBusAdmin
Degree type: postgraduate coursework
Modes of study: on campus, online
Duration: 2 sessions - ⅔ year minimum full-time; 4 years maximum part-time. Only a full-time study option is available to international students
Fee type 2009: postgraduate coursework places, online postgraduate coursework places
Total courses: 16
Commence: there will be three intakes a year. Prospective domestic candidates should apply by no later than 28 February, 30 June or 31 October
Program code: BU610
CRICOS code: not available to international students on a student visa.
Program overview
Graduates of the 16-course Graduate Diploma in Business Administration will undertake skill-focused programs of study and practical work to develop their professional understanding and problem-solving abilities.
This program offers the following features:
- innovative and flexible approaches to learning, eg online learning
- the opportunity to integrate knowledge and skills across functions and disciplines
- focus on the application of theory and execution of practice
- teaching by highly qualified and experienced academic staff
- links theory and application to current business issues
- network-building opportunities
Admission requirements
Domestic candidates
To be considered for admission candidates must:
- possess an undergraduate degree with a GPA of at least 4.5 (on a 7-point scale)
- have at least two years relevant full-time equivalent work experience, and
- must achieve at least 5 points from the points tables below, with those points gained in at least two of the three categories:
- prior work experience
- academic achievement
- graduate management admissions test
Exceptional applicants who do not possess a Bachelor degree will be required to complete a GMAT or Business Select Entrance Test plus an interview. Successful completion of either entrance qualification and interview may allow the candidate to be admitted to the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration (GCBusAdmin). Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration with a GPA of 4 or greater (on a 7-point scale) will qualify the candidate for entry into the MBA.
Points table – Applicable for entry requirements and scholarship eligibility
Prior work experience
Candidates must have at least two years relevant full-time equivalent work experience. An additional point may be awarded for substantial managerial work experience with a multinational firm. Applicants will need to provide certified documentary evidence of prior employment experience.
| Work experience (years, full-time equivalent) | 2 | 3 | 4+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Prior academic achievement (ie undergraduate GPA)
Prior academic study at the bachelor level can be in any field at any recognised tertiary institution. Points awarded are based on the candidate’s grade point average (GPA) from their undergraduate degree based on USC's 7-point scale or equivalent.
| GPA (7-point scale) | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 5.1 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 6.5 | 6.7+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
Applicants who have not completed a recognised bachelor degree may be considered for admission based basically on their prior work experience and GMAT test score but entrance without a prior degree is limited to 10 percent of the entire enrolment.
Graduate Management Admissions Test
USC needs to see a certified copy of GMAT results.
| GMAT | 500-549 | 550 | 560 | 570 | 580 | 590 | 600 | 610 | 620 | 630 | 640 | 650 | 660 | 670 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Points | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
| GMAT | 680 | 690 | 700 | 710 | 720 | 730 | 740 | 750 | 760 | 770 | 780 | 790 | 800 | |
| Points | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
Note: At the discretion of the Dean, Faculty of Business, one additional point may be awarded for each of the following:
- Masters degree
- PhD/DBA
- substantial managerial experience with a multi-national firm
English language proficiency
International applicants must meet one of the following English language proficiency levels for entry to the GCBusAdmin program:
| Test | Postgraduate program |
|---|---|
| Direct Entry English Pathway (DEEP) | Successful completion with a minimum grade of 70 percent |
| IELTS (Academic) (www.ielts.org) | 6.5 (minimum of 6.0 in all subtests) |
| TOEFL (Paper-based) (www.toefl.org) | 575 with essay score of 4 |
| TOEFL (Computer-based) (www.toefl.org) | 230 with essay score of 4 |
| TOEFL (Internet-based) (www.toefl.org) | Overall score of 88 (minimum writing score 21 and minimum score of 20 in all sections) |
| DAAD (Germany) | Grade of A in writing, grade of B in other areas |
| Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English | Level A Pass |
| Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English | Pass |
| Swedish Upper Secondary School completed within the last 5 years | A grade of 4 (MVG) in final year English |
| Norwegian Upper Secondary School completed within the last 5 years | A grade of 4 or better in English |
| Danish Upper Secondary School completed within the last 5 years | A grade of 9 or better in English |
| GCE Ordinary Level Studies completed within the last 5 years | A grade of B or better in GCE O-level English |
| Two years full-time secondary study - medium of instruction was English | Successful completion within the last five years |
| One year full-time University level study - medium of instruction was English | Successful completion within the last five years |
| Two years full-time of other post-secondary study - medium of instruction was English | Successful completion within the last five years |
Applicants who do not meet the language requirement outlines above may be offered a USC English Language pathway program to the GCBusAdmin.
Program structure
Candidates may select 12 required courses plus 4 elective courses, a total of 16 courses. These courses cover the fundamental areas of business administration. The subjects include the key functional areas of an organisation, with the aim to provide candidates with knowledge and skills in the key discipline areas. The required courses allow for contemporary management areas to be incorporated whilst allowing updates to meet changing required skill sets.
The Graduate Diploma in Business Administration is a 6 credit point, 16 course model. Delivery is offered across 6 half sessions. A half session is comprised of a 6 week teaching block with an additional week (week 7) to complete final examinations and assessment items.
Required courses
MBA701 Innovation and Creative Decision Making
MBA702 Marketing Foundations
MBA703 Research for Decision Making
MBA704 Entrepreneurship
MBA705 Financial Statement Analysis
MBA706 Information Systems for Managers
MBA707 Organisational Behaviour
MBA708 Economics for Managers
MBA709 Business Law
MBA710 Understanding Leadership
MBA711 Corporate Governance
MBA712 Strategic Management
MBA713 Financial Management
MBA714 Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
MBA715 Human Resource Management
MBA716 New Business Planning
Electives
MBA717 Strategic Performance Measurement Systems
MBA718 Event Management
MBA719 Quantitative Data Analysis
MBA720 Business Process Re-engineering
MBA721 Leading and Managing Organisational Change
MBA722 Project Management
MBA723 Cultural Intelligence for International Business Managers
MBA724 Managing Knowledge Assets
MBA725 Leadership Development
MBA726 Marketing Strategy
MBA727 Property and Asset Management for Executives
MBA728 Management Project A **
MBA729 Management Project B **
MBA730 Management Project C **
Program scheduling
Half-Session 1, March – April
MBA701 Innovation and Creative Decision Making (Required)
MBA703 Research for Decision Making (Required)
MBA704 Entrepreneurship (Required)
MBA710 Understanding Leadership (Required)
Half-Session 2 May - June
MBA706 Information Systems for Managers (Required)
MBA709 Business Law (Required)
MBA718 Event Management (Elective)
MBA722 Project Management (Elective)
MBA727 Property and Asset Management for Executives (Elective)
Half Session 3 July – August
MBA702 Marketing Foundations (Required)
MBA707 Organisational Behaviour (Required)
MBA712 Strategic Management (Required)
MBA719 Quantitative Data Analysis (Elective)
MBA723 Cultural Intelligence for International Business Managers (Elective)
Half Session 4 September – October
MBA705 Financial Statement Analysis (Required)
MBA715 Human Resource Management (Required)
MBA720 Business Process Re-engineering (Elective)
MBA717 Strategic Performance Measurement Systems (Elective)
Half Session 5 November – December
MBA708 Economics for Managers (Required)
MBA711 Corporate Governance (Required)
MBA713 Financial Management (Required)
MBA721 Leading and Managing Organisational Change (Elective)
MBA724 Managing Knowledge Assets (Elective)
Half Session 6 January – February
MBA714 Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility (Required)
MBA716 New Business Planning (Required)
MBA725 Leadership Development (Elective)
MBA726 Marketing Strategy (Elective)
How to apply
Apply for a postgraduate program.
Intakes - when to apply
Domestic candidates
There will be three intakes a year. Prospective domestic candidates should apply by no later than 28 February, 30 June or 31 October.
Costs
The cost of the 16-course GDBusAdmin program for 2009-2010 Cohort 1 is A$1,125 per course. Program cost is A$18,000 *.
Enquiries
For further details about this program please contact:
Graduate Studies, Faculty of Business
Tel: + 61 7 5459 1239
Fax: + 61 7 5430 1231
Email: businessfaculty@usc.edu.au
* Please note that fees are subject to change.
** Management Project A, B and C are not open for student enrolment. These courses are for students who are given substitutes upon entry and require the Faculty’s approval.