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Diploma of Applied Business
UndergraduateTAS-APB-DIP2020
Course information for 2020 intake
Your stepping-stone to business leadership
Begin developing, or sharpening, your toolkit for the modern business world. Cover management, finance, marketing, planning and electives based on your passions. Continue your path to leadership with the Associate Degree.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Credit available
- Yes
- Total subjects
- 8
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Diploma of Applied Business
About this degree
Upon successful completion of this degree, students should be able to:
- Identify, analyse and evaluate personal goals and pathways for paraprofessional employment and further learning
- Articulate evidence and value of learned academic and practice knowledge and skill to a range of audiences
- Apply and communicate academic knowledge of business disciplines within the contemporary business environment
- Apply and communicate practical business skills within the contemporary business environment
- Demonstrate adaptability in the context of emerging digital and innovative landscapes through cognitive, technical and creative thinking skills
- Model the principles of sustainable business practice and resource management through ethical and professional conduct within a collaborative framework
The Diploma in Applied Business is for future leaders and managers who want to learn the 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 and planning with a choice of 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 year serves as a foundation year, where you’ll learn the skills to apply your new business knowledge to a range of situations.
Recommended study pattern
Students must complete 8 subjects as outlined in the recommended study pattern below:
- 4 subjects in first year including:
- 2 compulsory subjects; TAS-ZAA131 Contemporary Business Environments and TAS-ZAA132 Managing People
- 2 subjects chosen from the available subject options
- 4 subjects in second year including:
- 2 compulsory subjects; TAS-ZAA133 Business Finance and TAS-ZAA134 Marketing for Business
- 2 subjects chosen from the available subject options
Award requirements
Satisfactory completion of 8 subjects as required in the schedule within 5 years from commencement.
- 4 subjects in first year including:
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 $9,520
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.
Wherever you are, the University of Tasmania brings its island campus to you through a growing range of online programs across art and design, business, education, health, science, sustainability, technology, and more. It’s never too late to switch things up. Kickstart that career you’ve been dreaming about, or upskill for the one you’re in. You’ll also become a part of the world's leading university on climate action.
Learn more about UTAS.
Explore UTAS courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 20
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 19
Entry requirements
4 OUA subjects, including TAS-ZAA131 and TAS-ZAA132
Students may apply based on previous higher education study:
- Previous Tertiary study at Bachelor level or higher – complete or incomplete with a minimum of two successfully completed units.
- Associate Degree – complete or incomplete with a minimum of four successfully completed units.
- Completed UTAS Diploma of University Studies
- Incomplete Diploma of University Studies with a minimum of four units completed and no fail results.
- Completed University Preparation Program (or incomplete with minimum 4 units completed and no failed units)
ATAR Entry: an ATAR result of 40 or greater achieved within the last 5 years
Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE) Entry: completed the TCE (or equivalent) with a minimum of Satisfactory Achievements (SA) in 5 x Level 2 subjects
A VET certificate III or higher (in a related field of study) within the last 10 years
Diploma or advanced diploma in a related or unrelated field
UTAS Pathway Entry: Completed the University Preparation Program or Diploma of University Studies (offered by University of Tasmania)
Personal Competency Entry: completed a personal competency statement as part of the application process and met the criteria for entry. This statement can include prior work experience, qualifications (eg VET qualifications), skills, competencies and/or previous education.
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
Students wishing to pursue a career in business who don’t wish to continue on to a Bachelor degree should choose this pathway. Due to the practical focus and industry-based syllabus, you’ll be considered ‘workplace ready’ after two years of full time study.
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^ |
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.