• Program summary
• Program overview
• Admission requirements
• Advanced standing
• Program structure
• Recommended enrolment pattern
• Intakes - when to apply
• Costs
• Scholarships
• Enquiries

Program summary

Award abbreviation: MBA
Degree type: postgraduate coursework
Modes of study: on campus, online (not available to students on a student visa)
Duration: 1 year minimum full-time; 6 years maximum part-time. Only a full-time study option is available to international students.
Total courses: 24
Commence: this program runs on a sessional basis, with intakes twice a year, commencing in late February and June (Half-Session 1 and Half-Session 3). (Two intakes per year.)
Program code: BU710
CRICOS code: not available to international students on a student visa.

Program overview

The MBA has become the international standard for graduate business qualifications. It is a generalist degree intended for those who wish to widen their managerial knowledge and skills in preparation for senior management roles. The program aims to develop managerial skills in critical thinking, research and analysis through individual and team based work.

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:

1. possess an undergraduate degree with a GPA of at least 4.5 (on a 7-point scale)
2. have at least two years relevant full-time equivalent work experience; and
3. must achieve at least 5 points from the points tables below, with those points gained in at least two of the three categories:
   1. prior work experience 
   2. academic achievement 
   3. 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.

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.

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.

Note: At the discretion of the Dean, Faculty of Business, one additional point may be awarded for each of the following:

1. Masters degree
2. PhD/DBA
3. 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 MBA program:

Applicants who do not meet the language requirement outlines above may be offered a USC English Language pathway program to the MBA.

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Advanced standing

Students with an undergraduate degree

No advanced standing will be granted to students with an undergraduate qualification.

Students with postgraduate qualifications

Students who have completed postgraduate courses elsewhere may apply for advanced standing up to a maximum of 50 percent for the Master of Business Administration, Graduate Certificate in Business Administration and the Graduate Diploma in Business Administration. The content of the courses would need to overlap the University of the Sunshine Coast course content by at least 75 percent.

Program structure *

At the heart of the new MBA are 16 core subjects that 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 core courses allow for contemporary management areas to be incorporated whilst allowing updates to meet changing required skill sets. A further eight courses are chosen from a set of elective courses allowing a candidate to focus on specific interest areas.

The Master of Business Administration is a 6 credit point, 24 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 **

Recommended enrolment pattern

Course scheduling may be subject to change.

Half-Session 1 2009 entry point

Half-Session 3 2009 entry point

Half-Session 3
MBA702 Marketing Foundations
MBA704 Entrepreneurship
MBA707 Organisational Behaviour
MBA712 Strategic Management

How to apply

Apply for a postgraduate program.

Intakes - when to apply

Domestic candidates

There will be two intakes a year. Prospective domestic candidates should apply by no later than 30 January or 5 June.

Costs 

The cost of the 24-course MBA program for 2009 is A$1,125 per course. Program cost is A$27,000 *.

Scholarships 

Candidates wishing to apply for a scholarship must complete a Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Scholarships are available at several levels, including a half waiver of full fees, and a quarter waiver of full fees. The level of scholarship awarded will depend on the achievements evidenced by prospective students as part of their admissions process. Further information will be provided on request for prospective students interested in applying for a scholarship.

For more information visit scholarships for business masters programs.

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 the program structure of the MBA, names of courses and fees are subject to change.
** Subject to approval. 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.

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