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Associate Degree in Applied Business (Business Improvement)
UndergraduateTAS-ABI-DEG2024
Make it in the modern business world
Launch your first business career or work towards a Bachelor of Business with this course. Cover the building blocks of management, marketing, finance, project management and more. Learn what it takes to continuously improve in business.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 2 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 16
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Associate Degree in Applied Business (Business Improvement)
About this degree
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:
- Apply and reflect on business knowledge, skills, behaviours, and attributes to develop and enhance career opportunities.
- Apply and communicate business processes and strategies within the contemporary business environment to improve organisational outcomes.
- Communicate evidence-based recommendations for business improvement to a range of audiences.
- Demonstrate adaptability, digital capability, and entrepreneurial and innovative thinking to enable continuous business improvement.
- Model the principles of sustainable business practice and resource management through ethical and professional conduct within a collaborative framework.
The Associate Degree in Applied Business (Business Improvement) is for future leaders and managers who want to learn the knowledge and skills required to make it in the modern business world. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or an assistant manager looking to step up to the next level, this program is a great stepping stone to a new or accelerated career.
The program combines core business subjects covering areas such as management, finance, marketing, human resources, project management, entrepreneurial and innovative thinking, and business planning with a choice of streams and electives in students’ areas of interest. The program content has been developed in consultation with industry experts and they are actively involved in its delivery.
The first year serves as a foundation year, where you will learn the skills to apply your new business knowledge to a range of situations. In the second year, you’ll be extended to supervisory level as a practitioner.
A key feature of the program is the focus on hands-on learning, where you will develop knowledge and skills through experiential education opportunities such as industry placements, fieldwork, case studies and data-driven decision making. This aims to enhance students’ problem solving, communication, critical thinking, teamwork, and leadership skills by assisting you to ‘learn through practice’. It has been designed to make university study a little less daunting, and a lot more practical.
Recommended study pattern
For students undertaking full-time study the following study pattern is recommended.
If students are undertaking part-time study, we recommend that students complete all first year compulsory subjects prior to completing elective subjects to maximise success.
Year 1. 8 subjects in first year including:
- 6 Compulsory Subjects:
- TAS-ZAA131 Applied Business Foundations
- TAS-ZAA132 Managing People
- TAS-ZAA133 Financial Decision Making
- TAS-ZAA134 Business Marketing
- TAS-ZAA140 Lean Thinking
- A choice of:
- TAS-ZAA135 Professional Communication
- TAS-ZAA146 Managing Contracts
- 2 UTAS electives
Year 2. 8 subjects in second year including:
- 6 compulsory subjects:
- TAS-ZAA232 Business Planning and Decision Making
- TAS-ZAA233 Managing Projects
- TAS-ZAA234 Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking
- TAS-ZAA247 Leading People
- TAS-ZAS231 Quality Management
- A choice of :
- TAS-ZAA236 Managing Events
- TAS-ZAA254 Supply Chain and Logistics Management
- 2 UTAS electives
Award requirements
Satisfactory completion of 16 subjects, as required in the schedule, within 2-5 years from commencement.
Exit points
Students will be permitted to exit the program and graduate with the Diploma of Applied Business exit award where the requirements of the exit award have been met
- 6 Compulsory Subjects:
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $28,980
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
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Explore UTAS courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 20
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 19
Entry requirements
- Partially completed an undergraduate course at Diploma level or higher (or equivalent). You must have completed at least one subject of study (equivalent to 12.5 UTAS credit points), at 100 level or higher and which may include 100 level subjects completed in the UTAS Diploma of University Studies. If you have failed any subjects, your application may be subject to further review before an offer is made; OR
- Completed the UTAS University Preparation Program (or an equivalent qualification offered by an Australian University).
Successful completion of one OUA open access subject of study at the equivalent AQF level, unless otherwise specified.
Completed the TCE or an equivalent qualification.
Successful completion of Certificate III or higher (or equivalent) in any discipline.
Applicants without senior secondary, tertiary or VET / TAFE study can complete a personal competency statement.
Applicants may be eligible for an offer if they have relevant work and / or life experiences which demonstrate a capacity to succeed in this program.
The University of Tasmania grants credit and recognition of prior learning that may include formal and/or informal prior learning. More information is available here.
Career opportunities
Graduation from the Associate Degree in Applied Business (Business Improvement) can provide an entry opportunity for those who have not worked in business settings, accelerate progression through a graduate's present organisation, or open up new career paths and opportunities. It will also provide substantial credit into the Bachelor of Business. This course provides graduates with paraprofessional level of business knowledge and practice applicable across industries. The career options of graduates may also be influenced by their chosen specialisation. A graduate's chosen specialisation might lead them to paraprofessional-level roles within that industry.
New to Applied Business and never worked in the industry before?
For those graduates new to Applied Business, this qualification could assist you to gain roles such as trainee positions with managers, team leaders, field officers, and researchers.
Already working and want to fast track or leverage off past experience?
For those graduates already working in Business, an Applied Business qualification may enable you to progress from assistant positions to managerial roles, lead a small team, become specialists, salespersons and liaise better with suppliers or customers.
Potential types of employers:
- Small and medium businesses;
- Accountancy firms;
- Financial services;
- Event organisations;
- Sport organisations;
- Tourism organisations;
- Health and well-being consultants;
- Non-for-profit organisations; and
- Project management companies.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Advertising, Public Relations and Sales Managers | Over $120K | Up 18.5% |
Finance Managers | Over $120K | Up 24.7% |
Human Resource Professionals | $75K to $93K | Up 24.6% |
Management Consultants | $93K to $120K | N/A^ |
^ There is no data available
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.