Master of Business Administration
Postgraduate course
Overview
This suite of courses provides opportunities for students to develop their capability to engage and deal with uncertainty, change and turbulence in the environments in which their organisations operate, and to develop skills in strategy, leadership, innovation and ethical and social responsibility.
| Duration | 18 months full-time or 3 years part-time | ||
Campus and intakes  |
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| Study mode | Full-time Part-time (day & evening) | ||
| Course code | CMBA640 | ||
| Fees | The total tuition fee is dependent upon the combination of units of study selected by the student. Fees are reviewed each year. For information about Swinburne's fees visit the Fees website. |
Course in detail
Course description
This course replaced the Master of Business Administration (BMBA680) from Semester 1, 2012.
The Swinburne Master of Business Administration (MBA) offers not only the opportunity to acquire contemporary management knowledge and skills but, more importantly, it provides students with the ability to apply that knowledge in innovative, creative and entrepreneurial ways. We develop skilled managers and competent leaders who are entrepreneurially oriented, globally focused and socially conscious in a diverse and complex world. Specifically our MBA prepares you to engage and deal with uncertainty, change and opportunity in the environments in which your organisations operate.
Broadly, our MBA program is designed to:
- Develop skilled and competent managers and leaders who are entrepreneurially oriented, globally aware and socially conscious in a world of uncertainty, change and complexity
- Meet the demands of business and industry to achieve and sustain international competitive advantage
- Enable students to have more rewarding and satisfying career outcomes
Our MBA is focused on developing students’ capabilities to operate in organisationally critical domains of practice that we have identified as fundamental to their own and their organisations’ success in today’s turbulent environment. These domains of practice are not the same as subjects or streams. They can play out across many subjects and are:
- Strategy
- Leadership
- Global focus
- Entrepreneurship and innovation
- Life-long learning
- Ethical and social responsibility - both individual and organisational
(International students holding an international student visa are required to study full-time and are cannot take the part-time study mode.)
Course structure
The Master of Business Administration incorporates the Graduate Certificate of Business Administration (CMBA440) and the Graduate Diploma of Business Administration (CMBA540) (exit award only).
To qualify for the award of Graduate Certificate of Business Administration students must complete four units of study (50 credit points) comprising of:
- Four Graduate Certificate of Business Administration core units of study (12.5 credit points each)
The graduate certificate provides the basic entry level for people seeking careers and qualifications in business management. It may serve as a foundation for managers qualified in other tertiary disciplines. The four units cover the areas of financial planning and decision-making, strategic marketing, operations management and leadership, each within the context of entrepreneurial activity in organisations. The four units are normally completed over two semesters of part-time* study, or may be completed in one teaching period full-time.
To qualify for the award of Graduate Diploma of Business Administration students must complete eight units of study (100 credit points) comprising of:
- Four Graduate Certificate of Business Administration core units of study (12.5 credit points each)
- Four Graduate Diploma of Business Administration core units of study (12.5 credit points each)
The graduate diploma level is focused on strategic thinking and management techniques for turbulent times, business finance and analysis, and workforce leadership and strategy and business information systems. The four units are normally completed over two semesters of part-time* study, or may be completed in one semester full-time.
Students cannot enrol directly into the Graduate Diploma of Business Administration; this is an exit degree only.
To qualify for the award of Master of Business Administration students must complete 12 units of study (150 credit points) comprising of:
- Four Graduate Certificate of Business Administration core units of study (50 credit points)
- Four Graduate Diploma of Business Administration core units of study (50 credit points)
- Two Master of Business Administration compulsory units of study (25 credit points)
- Two Master of Business Administration elective units of study (25 credit points)
The final four units are normally completed over two semesters of part-time* study or may be completed in one semester full-time. The master stage of the program focuses on governance and corporate leadership and leadership for innovation.
In each year, eight units (12.5 credit points each) normally constitute a full-time load of 100 credit points and four units normally constitute a part-time* load of 50 credit points.
*International students holding an international student visa are required to study full-time and cannot take the part-time study mode.
Units of study
Graduate Certificate of Business Administration (CMBA440)
HBC480 Accounting Information and Managerial Decision Making
HBM480 Strategic and Entrepreneurial Marketing
HBO480 Leading
HBS481 Operations Management or HBR482 Management Analysis and Problem-solving (previously HBR680/480/682)
Exit with the graduate certificate or progress to the MBA.
HBC480 Accounting Information and Managerial Decision Making
HBM480 Strategic and Entrepreneurial Marketing
HBO480 Leading
HBS481 Operations Management or HBR482 Management Analysis and Problem-solving (previously HBR680/480/682)
Exit with the graduate certificate or progress to the MBA.
Graduate Diploma of Business Administration (CMBA540) (exit award)
HBC580 Business Finance and Quantitative Analysis
HBH582 Workforce Leadership and Strategy (previously HBH580/HBH680) or HBO580 Managing Diversity and Culture
HBS580 Business Strategy
HIT8036 Business Information Systems for a Rapidly Changing World
Exit with the graduate diploma or progress to the MBA.
Master of Business Administration (CMBA640)
HBO682 Leadership for Innovation (previously HBO680)
HEI861 Governance and Corporate Leadership
Elective one
Elective two
HBC580 Business Finance and Quantitative Analysis
HBH582 Workforce Leadership and Strategy (previously HBH580/HBH680) or HBO580 Managing Diversity and Culture
HBS580 Business Strategy
HIT8036 Business Information Systems for a Rapidly Changing World
Exit with the graduate diploma or progress to the MBA.
Master of Business Administration (CMBA640)
HBO682 Leadership for Innovation (previously HBO680)
HEI861 Governance and Corporate Leadership
Elective one
Elective two
Indicative course electives HBC626 Financial Management for Non-Profit Organisations (new unit 2013)
HBC687 Finance Risk Management
HBI680 Global Business
HBO580 Managing Diversity and Culture
HBO685 Organisational Consulting (previously HBO686)
HBO688 Organisational Change Management Leadership and Strategy (previously HBO687)
HBR683 Enterprise Project (previously HBR681)
HBS681 Corporate Strategy and Foresight (previously HBS680)
HBS689 Management and Innovation
Note: Students choosing to take the HBR482/HBR683 Enterprise Project elective pair must take them in sequence (one after the other) as the project is completed over two consecutive teaching periods. No element of the Enterprise Project is offered over summer or winter terms.
All electives are offered subject to demand.
Providing program prerequisites are met, other electives may also be approved from:
- Other postgraduate programs at Swinburne, or
- Other postgraduate programs at other institutions
All electives outside of the prescribed MBA elective list, or as pre-approved, are subject to approval by the MBA program director and the relevant equivalent program director for the unit. Students selecting this option must complete the Postgraduate External Unit Application Form available on the Faculty of Business and Enterprise website.
Graduate outcomes
Aims and objectives
We work with our MBA students to build their capabilities so that they are better able to engage with the following key practice challenges:
- Create and lead effective teams and build robust collaborative relationships across organisational boundaries
- Guide deep individual and organisational learning under conditions of change and complexity
- Foster a culture of entrepreneurship
- Keep self and others focused and energetic when issues are complex and challenging
- Evaluate a business opportunity and make the business case for change
- Construct an effective marketing plan
- Contribute to the development of a strategy for a single or multi-business unit
- Evaluate and advise on the financial implications of strategic and operational plans
- Help an organisation maintain a useful global awareness
- Diagnose the appropriateness of an organisation's human, financial and information resources and systems
- Effectively explain the financial state of an organisation to a lay audience
- Help an organisation recruit, reward and retain good people
- Create workplaces where people can be fully present and able to engage constructively with intellectually and emotionally challenging tasks
- Develop organisational cultures that truly value diversity of all kinds in a global world
- Lead significant change for a business unit and its people
- Devise and implement forms of accountability and governance that ensure ethical and sustainable corporate governance
At the completion of the program, it is expected that students will be able to:
- Apply critical thinking and integrative learning to evaluate problems, uncover assumptions and differentiate information from a range of disciplines as well as from personal experience
- Display creative thinking to a range of problem solving and decision making techniques to demonstrate entrepreneurial leadership in their field
- Develop quantitative literacy skills to interrogate quantitative information and systematically analyse it to support the decision making process
- Critically analyse theories and information drawn from literature, research and personal experience in a range of professional contexts
- Use oral and written communication skills to inform and persuade others in a clear and concise manner to a professional business standard
- Self-reflect to develop reflective practitioner skills, learning how to learn and how to use learning as a leadership skill and process
- Behave ethically and honestly in working with others in their academic and professional contexts, their private, public and community lives
- Demonstrate alertness and sensitivity to the impact of culture on own world view and the world view of others within a global context
Career opportunities
Students’ career opportunities are enhanced by improving their leadership and management capabilities, and learning to operate effectively in a changing, complex and turbulent environment.
Graduate attributes
The Swinburne graduate attributes signify that Swinburne intends that its teaching programs assist all its graduates to be:
- Capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas and an ability to engage in critical enquiry
- Entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
- Effective and ethical in work, community situations and reasoning skills
- Adaptable and able to manage change, and
- Aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing (e.g. socio-cultural, economic, natural)
Course experience
Swinburne Abroad
Swinburne offers International Exchange Programs as well as other Education Abroad Programs to help internationalise your degree. International Exchange is an academic program allowing you to study at a Swinburne Partner Institution for one or two semesters during your degree. Swinburne's Partner Institutions offer many relevant subjects as well as a secure base to explore a different culture. Your studies whilst on exchange can be credited towards your Swinburne degree, provided they are relevant and approved by Swinburne. For further information visit the Swinburne Abroad website.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
The standard entry into the Masters of Business Administration is an appropriate undergraduate qualification at a credit level (GPA 2.5, GMAT 550 or equivalent) from a recognised institution as well as a minimum of three years relevant work experience.
Applicants with an undergraduate degree with less than a credit average should submit a 750 to 1000 word statement demonstrating their suitability.
Applicants with an undergraduate degree with less than a credit average should submit a 750 to 1000 word statement demonstrating their suitability.
Applicants without an appropriate qualification but who have significant relevant work experience (usually at least five years) and evidence of academic capability (e.g. successful completion of a certificate or diploma course at a TAFE with high grades or attaining a GMAT of 550 or higher) may be admitted initially to the Graduate Certificate of Business Administration.
Credit transfer
Applicants with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be granted ‘credit’ and/or entry into the course with ‘advanced standing’. University policies apply and applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. For further information refer to ‘Swinburne Pathways: Credit Transfer Guide’ at: http://pandoraplus.swin.edu.au/credit/StudentCredit/index.cfm
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
The Faculty of Business and Enterprise is committed to the principles of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Our philosophy of 'Learning Through Experience' recognises that learning takes place through a variety of means including formal studies at universities, other accredited institutions and private providers, employer-based training and development, and relevant experience gained within the workforce.
Undergraduate units are ineligible as a basis for subject exemptions, however, students with a major sequence of study in a relevant discipline will have the option of completing an additional elective as a substitution. Applications for RPL should accompany the enrolment application.
International students should bring certified copies of documentation supporting any claim for exemption.
Apply
How to apply
Application forms can be downloaded from the website at: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/postgrad/apply/Course fees
The total tuition fee is dependent upon the combination of units of study selected by the student. Fees are reviewed each year.
For information about Swinburne's fees visit the Fees website.