Master of Business Administration

What you'll learn:

1. Lead people and teams, drawing on how individuals and groups behave in organisations.
2. Plan and lead organisational change.
3. Use managerial accounting to plan resources and make strategic decisions.
4. Lead innovation inside established organisations and anticipate emerging trends.
5. Design and improve end-to-end customer experiences using data.
6. Investigate complex business problems and present evidence-based strategy to senior stakeholders.

The Swinburne Master of Business Administration is a fully online qualification for experienced professionals. It builds your leadership capability and your impact on your organisation while you keep working.

You'll complete eight core subjects covering business strategy, managerial accounting, behaviour in organisations, leading change, leadership for innovation, customer experience and future-focused thinking. You'll then complete four subjects as a specialisation or as electives.

Throughout the course, you'll apply what you learn to real issues in your own organisation. The MBA ends with the Sustainable Strategy and Leadership Immersion Capstone, where you'll investigate a significant organisational or industry challenge, work with industry partners, and present a strategic management plan to senior stakeholders.

Recommended study pattern

The MBA Specialisations

Swinburne Online’s MBA offers the flexibility to focus on subjects that match your career goals. By choosing one of four specialisations, you can tailor your degree to a specific industry and objective. This focused approach helps you stand out to employers and build the exact skill set needed to excel in your chosen field.

If you don’t want to do a specialisation, you can choose your four electives from a wide range of elective units. These units come from the specialisation areas. You can mix and match these to suit your interests or career goals.

Our Specialisations are:

• Project Management
• Cyber Security
• Digital Marketing
• Human Resource Management

What you’ll study

To qualify for the award of Master of Business Administration, you must complete 150 credit points (part- or full-time) comprising:

• Eight (8) core units (100 credit points)
• Four (4) units comprising a Specialisation or electives of your choice (50 credit points)

Students who have completed the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma of Business Administration don't repeat subjects they've already completed. 

Core Units

Behaviour in Organisations (HRM60016)

Leading Change (HRM80018)

Managerial Accounting (ACC80008)

Leadership for Innovation (MGT80005)

Customer Experience Management (MKT70021)

Future-Fit Innovation (ENT60011)

Business Strategy (MGT80002)

Sustainable Strategy & Leadership Immersion Capstone (MGT80006)

Electives

Choose 4 electives of your choice to create the MBA that works for you

OR

Choose one of our Specialisations below to truly stand out in your chosen path

Project Management Specialisation

Lead complex initiatives with confidence. You’ll master strategic planning, risk management, and innovative delivery—skills essential for driving impactful outcomes across industries.

You must complete the following units:

Project Management for Innovative Outcomes (PRM60002)

The Risk Management Spectrum (PRM60003)

Strategic Project Management (INF70005)

Operations Management (SCM60001)

Cyber Security Specialisation

Get prepared to protect organisations in a rapidly evolving digital world. Gain critical skills in threat detection, ethical decision-making, and cyber law—empowering you to lead confidently in the fight against cybercrime.

You must complete the following:

How to Think Like a Hacker: An Anatomy of Cyber Attacks (CYB60001)

Cyber Security Operations Management (CYB60002)

Cyber Security Law, Policy and Ethics (CYB60003)

Networks and Cybersecurity Frameworks (CYB60004)

Digital Marketing Specialisation

Be empowered to craft bold, data-driven strategies that connect with consumers and fuel business growth. From global digital campaigns to understanding buyer behaviour, you’ll gain the creative and analytical skills needed to lead marketing in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

You must complete four (4) of the following:

Data Empowered Marketing (MKT60011)

Consumer Behaviour (MKT20025)

Global Digital Marketing (MKT70017)

Marketing Management (MKT60010)

Human Resource Management Specialisation

Lead people-focused strategies that drive innovation and performance. Explore key areas like diversity and inclusion, employee relations, and creative problem-solving—giving you the tools to shape thriving, future-ready workplaces in a world where strong leadership and talent strategy are more vital than ever.

You must complete Human Resource Fundamentals and then choose three (3) units from the following:

Employee Relations (HRM60013)

Human Resource Fundamentals (HRM60018)

Managing Workplace Diversity and Inclusion (HRM70012)

Behaviour in Organisations (HRM60016)

Award requirements

To qualify for the award of Master of Business Administration, students must complete 150 credit points comprising of:

• Eight (8) core units (100 credit points)
• Four (4) units comprising a specialisation or electives (50 credit points).

Students who have completed the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma of Business Administration don't repeat subjects they've already completed.

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

Indicative total fee $39,672

The amounts shown here are 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.

Study on your own terms with this forward-thinking university.

It offers a wide range of study options, from pre-apprenticeships, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhDs, including online degrees with Open Universities Australia. Swinburne is known for career-oriented education and encouraging lifelong learning.

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QS World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

19

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2026, within Australia:

15

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

• a recognised bachelor’s degree in any discipline plus a minimum of three years equivalent full-time relevant professional experience; or
• a recognised Graduate Certificate in a related discipline (you'll receive full credit for the subjects you've completed)*

* Related graduate certificates include Swinburne Online’s Graduate Certificate in Business Administration, Graduate Certificate in Project Management and Graduate Certificate in Cyber Security Management.

You'll provide a CV and documents showing your roles, how long you held them, and your formal and non-formal learning. The Course Director assesses whether your professional experience and academic capability are sufficient.

English language requirements: IELTS Academic overall 6.5 with no band below 6.0, or an equivalent measure accepted by Swinburne.

Recognition of previous work or study

You may be eligible for credit for previous study. The maximum credit available is 75 credit points (six subjects). If you're admitted on the basis of your work experience, no further credit is granted for that experience. Graduate Certificate entrants receive full credit for the subjects they've completed.