Associate Degree in Applied Business

On completion of the Associate Degree in Applied Business, graduates will be able to:

1. Apply and reflect on business knowledge, skills, behaviours, and attributes to develop and enhance career opportunities
2. Apply and communicate business processes and strategies within the contemporary business environment to improve organisational outcomes
3. Communicate evidence-based recommendations for business improvement to a range of audiences
4. Demonstrate adaptability, digital capability, and entrepreneurial and innovative thinking to enable continuous business improvement
5. 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 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 units 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 course 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 course 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:

• 4 core subjects:
  • TAS-ZAA131 Contemporary Business Environments
  • TAS-ZAA132 Managing People
  • TAS-ZAA133 Business Finance
  • TAS-ZAA134 Business Marketing
• 2 Major subjects
• 2 UTAS electives

Year 2. 8 subjects in second year including:

• 4 core subjects:
  • TAS-ZAA232 Business Planning and Decision Making
  • TAS-ZAA233 Managing Projects
  • TAS-ZAA234 Entrepreneurial and Innovative Thinking
  • TAS-ZAA247 Leading People
• 2 Major subjects
• 2 UTAS electives

Award requirements

Satisfactory completion of 16 subjects, as required in the schedule, within 5 years from commencement.

Choose your subjects

Majors

The Associate Degree in Applied Business offers 5 unique streams as Majors:

• Leisure, Sport and Recreation
• Event Design and Management
• Tourism Engagement
• Procurement and Supply Chains
• Business Improvement

For information on subjects within these streams please see the stream details below.

You may also elect to utilise your elective subjects to undertake a second stream if more then one major appeals to you.

Electives

You will complete 4 elective subjects in the Associate Degree in Applied Business. Your electives can be used to add breadth to your degree, by exploring a variety of different subject areas from across the University in areas such as Arts, Design, Science, and Information Communication Technologies . Alternatively, you can deepen your engagement with specific subject areas, for example, by completing additional units in the same discipline field. To search for possible Elective subjects, use the Unit Search tool to search by the discipline that you are interested in. You can complete any subjects marked as "Student Electives" which you meet the pre-requisites for.

Exit points

Students will be permitted to exit the course and graduate with the Diploma of Applied Business and Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Business exit award where the requirements of the exit award have been met.

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.

• Year 1 Core

• Year 2 Core

• Leisure, Sport and Recreation Year 2

• Leisure, Sport and Recreation Year 1

• Event Design and Management Year 1

• Event Design and Management Year 2

• Tourism Engagement Year 2

• Tourism Engagement Year 1

• Procurement and Supply Chains Year 2

• Procurement and Supply Chains Year 1

• Business Improvement Year 2

• Business Improvement Year 1

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $15,900

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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QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

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19

Successful completion of 4 subjects through OUA including the following:

• ZAA131 and ZAA132

Domestic Applicants with higher education study

• Completed at least one undergraduate unit (equivalent to 12.5 UTAS credit points).

Domestic Applicants who have recently completed secondary education

• Completed the TCE (or equivalent)

Domestic Applicants with VET / TAFE study

• -A completed VET Certificate III or higher,

Domestic Applicants with work and life experience:

If you have not successfully completed senior secondary, tertiary or TAFE/VET study, but have relevant work and life experience you can complete a personal competency statement. You may be eligible for an offer if you have work and life experiences that demonstrate a capacity to succeed in this course.

Prerequisites

Nil

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION

If your ability to access or participate in education has been affected by circumstances beyond your control, you can apply for special consideration as part of your application. We will consider a range of factors for special consideration, including economic hardship, a serious medical condition or disability.

We can only approve applications for special consideration where we are confident that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in your studies. If your application is not approved, the UTAS admissions team will work with you to find the best alternative pathway to your chosen course.

You may be eligible for advanced standing (i.e. credit points) in this associate degree if you:

• Have completed an award such as a Diploma or Advanced Diploma at the University, from TAFE or another institution;
• Are currently studying another associate degree at the University or at another institution;
• Have completed studies towards a Bachelor degree at the University or from another institution.