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Graduate Certificate of Business Administration

Harness your professional experience to gain a globally recognised postgraduate qualification with the Graduate Certificate of Business Administration, and grow your earning potential while you work.

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Icon Qualification

Postgraduate

Qualification

Icon Duration

8 months full-time

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Icon Start Dates

Mar, Jul, Nov

Start Date

Icon Units

4

Units

Icon Learning Mode

100% Online

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Icon Fees

$17,450*

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Corey-BW2

‘The support level has been unmatched. OLAs, student advisors, anyone you contact is always there for you. There is always someone to reach out to, always someone to help, always someone you can lean on.’

Corey, Swinburne Online graduate

32% ▴

The Australian Government 2021 QILT report showed that postgraduate coursework graduates earned an average of 32% more than those with a bachelor’s immediately following graduation.

GoodUniversity

Our business faculty has received a five-star rating for learning engagement, student support and skills development. 

‘The support level has been unmatched. OLAs, student advisors, anyone you contact is always there for you. There is always someone to reach out to, always someone to help, always someone you can lean on.’

Corey, Swinburne Online graduate

32% ▴

The Australian Government 2021 QILT report showed that postgraduate coursework graduates earned an average of 32% more than those with a bachelor’s immediately following graduation.

Our business faculty has received a five-star rating for learning engagement, student support and skills development. 

GoodUniversity
icon

Make your move into a key leadership role

If you are a seasoned professional without a tertiary or postgraduate degree, the Graduate Certificate of Business Administration is the perfect way to translate your experience into a recognised postgraduate qualification. Gain entry through either relevant work experience or undergraduate study, and develop your strategic, leadership and entrepreneurial skills to help you thrive as a business professional.

In as little as eight months, your coursework will equip you with the skills to capitalise on opportunities, think critically and lead an organisation to success in any field, including commerce, education, arts, engineering, IT and health. Gain practical skills that you can apply in your current workplace, and rapidly grow your skillset, professional network and job opportunities without putting your life on hold.

The AACSB-accredited Graduate Certificate of Business Administration contains the first four units of, and is a pathway to, the Graduate Diploma of Business Administration and the Master of Business Administration. Swinburne University’s MBA has a Tier-1 rating and is in the top Online MBAs in CEO Magazine’s 2022 Global Rankings.

Why study with us?

  • No prior study needed: If you have three of more years of relevant work experience, you can jump directly into your Graduate Certificate of Business Administration with Swinburne Online.
  • Study when and where you choose: With no compulsory live classes or attendance requirements, you can create a study schedule that fits around your work and family commitments.
  • Career growth: Accelerate your career progression and earning potential with a skillset designed to meet the business demands of the future.
  • Pathway to a top-tier MBA: When you have completed your graduate certificate, you may use your completed units towards Swinburne Online’s MBA.
  • Swinburne quality: Upon completion of your online Graduate Certificate of Business Administration, you will receive exactly the same globally recognised postgraduate qualification as Swinburne’s on-campus students.

Learn more about our professional accreditations. Download a Course Guide.

Flexible study

What does flexible study mean for me?

As a busy professional, you need a course that fits into your schedule, not the other way around. Studying at Swinburne Online gives you the freedom to learn on your terms. There is no requirement to attend live or in-person classes, so you can log on and learn when and where it suits you, whether it’s on the train on the way to work, at a café on your lunch break or at night after the kids have gone to bed. Decide when and where learning fits into your life and tailor your study journey to your needs.

A Graduate Certificate of Business Administration from Swinburne Online is exactly the same qualification as you would get on campus. Get a world-class degree without giving up what’s important.

Flexible study at Swinburne Online

Pace your study to suit your lifestyle. Your time is always in demand, with personal and family commitments that are constantly evolving. If you’re unsure about how much you can commit to, we can offer part-time options and a flexible unit load.

You don’t have to put your life on hold to study. Prioritise what matters to you and fit study around family, work and personal commitments through a course that is flexibly designed for online learners. Your online classroom is accessible 24/7, so you are free to decide when study best fits into your lifestyle. There are no compulsory live sessions, and all content is recorded for you to access when it is most convenient. When you are less busy, stay a step ahead by accessing the content for the following week.

Start when it suits you. Swinburne Online offers three intakes per year and flexible unit availability, so you can choose when you begin your studies or easily make a call when you need to take a break.

Flexible study requires flexible support. As a Swinburne Online student, you’ll have support for extended hours, seven days a week. Student Advisors are available to help with anything from tech support to research advice, and a dedicated academic team will guide you through each of your units. If this is your first time studying at a tertiary or postgraduate level, you can count on comprehensive support with additional study workshops and learning resources to help you get up and learning, quickly.

Structure

Your course structure

The Graduate Certificate of Business Administration consists of four units that can be completed in eight months full-time.

Your units will give you the fundamental management skills needed to address the challenges of today’s globalised business environment. Study core fields of knowledge in subjects like Marketing Management and Accounting Systems and Reporting, to gain a broad overview of the many facets of contemporary business.

Pathway to MBA

The Graduate Certificate of Business Administration can be used as a pathway into the Swinburne Online Master of Business Administration, with the four units completed in your graduate certificate counting towards your MBA. Speak to a Course Consultant about how you can extend your learning and grow your skillset with an MBA.

Why study with Swinburne Online?

Our courses are at the forefront of industry and provide you with the practical skills to succeed come graduation. View all units in this graduate certificate.

View All Units

How you'll learn

Learning designed for online

Designed by the online learning experts at Swinburne Online, your study journey is tailored to the digital space. You’ll study in a dynamic virtual classroom environment, interact with your peers in a custom-built social platform and receive support at the times you need it from advisors who understand online study.

Your online study journey

You’ll complete each of your units in your online classroom, where you will access learning modules, videos, animations and other interactive resources. You will also have the option to participate in discussions and live facilitator sessions to collaborate with your peers. Online doesn’t mean you’re alone – connect with fellow students to share ideas, organise study groups and support one another, all within our user-friendly learning environment.

Be guided through coursework by experienced academics, currently practising in their fields, and gain cutting-edge, practical knowledge that you can put into practice immediately.

The Student Hub is your online campus, where you’ll access the support and resources to assist you throughout your study journey. From managing your course to technical support and library resources, you’ll find it all in one easy location.

Swinburne Online will be there for you each step of the way. From enrolment through to graduation, we offer extended, flexible support in each of your units. Our Student Advisors will also assist with anything from technical support to referencing and assignment tips, seven days per week.

Entry requirements

To gain entry into this course, applicants must have one of the following:

  • a minimum of three years equivalent full-time relevant professional experience, or
  • a recognised bachelor’s degree in a related discipline, or
  • a recognised bachelor’s degree in any discipline plus a minimum of two years equivalent full-time relevant professional experience.

If you are applying as an international student, please view the English language requirements.

Fees

The estimated annual fee for this course is $17,450*.

Commonwealth provided loans are available to assist eligible students to pay their course fees and there are a range of university, government and privately funded scholarships and prizes.

Discover more information about HELP loans.

Course fees will be affected by a student’s unit selection and any credit awarded in recognition of previous academic experience.

This course is offered to domestic and offshore international students.

Domestic students also contribute to student services and amenities via an annual fee.

Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students. You may be eligible for Swinburne Scholarships.

Career Outcomes

Your pathway to industry

You are already well on your way to accomplishing your big career goals; now is the time to equip yourself with the qualification you need to accelerate your progress and take your career to the next level. Your Graduate Certificate of Business Administration will teach you practical techniques to plan and deliver effective, comprehensive business strategies that respond business objectives within a complex environment.

Your practical learning aims to equip you with skills you can take straight into your next senior leadership role, and is designed to quickly accelerate your career progression and earning potential in just about any field.

Your graduate certificate also opens a pathway for you to advance your knowledge and expertise by continuing with a Master of Business Administration.

A survey of recent Swinburne Online graduates revealed that 90% of Business alumni were employed full-time. This comes as no surprise as the 2021 GMAC Corporate Recruiters Survey revealed that worldwide, demand for graduate management talent has now returned to its pre-pandemic high.

A Graduate Certificate of Business Administration from Swinburne Online signals to employers your readiness to take on contemporary business challenges within a senior leadership position.

Swinburne Online’s Graduate Certificate of Business Administration is not only for those wanting to open doors to upper-management positions in their industry. If you are an entrepreneur or business owner ready to upscale your team, output, customer base and profit margin, this course can offer you a clear and practical pathway to take your business to the next level. No matter the size of your business, we can equip you with the skills you need to realise your capabilities and potential.

When you complete a Graduate Certificate of Business Administration with Swinburne Online, you will be rewarded with not only a top-tier postgraduate qualification, but also a valuable network of like-minded business professionals. Forge connections, motivate one another and share opportunities and ideas that you can continue to draw upon long after graduation.

Nationally accredited

This course is nationally accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), a globally recognised business school standard achieved by less than 5 per cent of business schools worldwide.

FAQs
What are other students asking?
A.
For students undertaking a degree, most of your learning materials are included with a free license provided to you by Swinburne Online. However, in some cases, you will be notified via your student email that you will need to buy specific software or eTexts. For TAFE Business students, all of your learning materials will be available online and are covered by your course fees. You won’t need to purchase any further materials.
A.
When you enrol to study a degree with us, you will nominate how many units you would like to select per teaching period, based on a recommendation from one of our Course Consultants. From here, our enrolments team will allocate you automatically to the units they feel will be best suited to your needs, so you don’t need to worry about choosing units. If you want to choose something different than what you are allocated to, that is no problem, just get in touch with our Student Advisors and they will take care of it for you.
A.
You won’t normally have to be online at a specific time. Your course material is available for you from the beginning of each teaching period and you can work through it in the hours that suit you. There are some live webinar sessions that run approximately once a month. These are a special opportunity for students to sign in at the same time as their tutors, normally before an assessment deadline. It gives you the chance to ask any questions relating to the assignment in real time and hear other student’s questions and thoughts. We understand that students won’t always be able to make these sessions, so they can be replayed the next day.
A.
Yes, there are no requisite live or in-person sessions, so you can elect to study anytime, anywhere. If you find the combination of full-time work and full-time study to be too much, you can choose to study part-time.
A.
As a Swinburne Online student, you’ll have support for extended hours, seven days a week, with Student Advisors available to help with anything from tech support to research advice and dedicated online tutors in each of your units. Learn more about your support.

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