Undergraduate Certificate of Business

Course highlights:

1. Business Strategy: Learn the skills needed to make effective business decisions and analyse their impact.
2. Innovation: Develop an understanding of innovation practices and build confidence and capability in communicating your professional ideas.
3. Communication: Build the essential skills you’ll need to translate your ideas into practice in a corporate setting.

What is the Undergraduate Certificate of Business? 

The Undergraduate Certificate of Business with Swinburne Online is a nationally accredited qualification that gives you practical business foundations and can be completed in as little as six months.

You’ll learn how to think strategically, communicate with confidence, and make decisions that hold up under pressure. One core unit builds your innovation and communication skills, while three elective units let you shape the course around your interests – whether that’s finance, marketing, sustainability, digital business, or management.

This qualification is built for people who want to enter the business sector or take their first step towards a full bachelor’s degree without committing to three years upfront. It also provides a recognised pathway into the Bachelor of Business for students who don’t yet meet the standard entry requirements.

How You’ll Study

• The Undergraduate Certificate of Business runs across three Teaching Periods per year. 
• Expected study load is between 10-12.5 hours per unit, per week. 
• Set your own study pace by taking one or more units per Teaching Period. 
• You’ll have 24/7 access to your online classroom, discussion boards, and learning content. 
• Learning is delivered through interactive materials, including videos, quizzes, podcasts, diagrams, and written content. 

Recommended study pattern

To be awarded the Undergraduate Certificate of Business you must complete 4 units in total made up of: 

Core Units 

Learning and Communicating for Innovative Business Practice (COM10011)

Core Unit Options

You must complete three (3) of the following units:

Financial Information for Decision-Making (ACC10007)

Business for Sustainability, Social Change and Impact (BUS10014)

Economics for Business Decision-Making (ECO10005)

Business Digitalisation (INF10024)

Contemporary Management Principles (MGT10009)

Marketing and the Consumer Experience (MKT10009)

Award requirements

To qualify for the award of Undergraduate Certificate of Business, students must complete 50 credit points comprising of:

• 1 core units (12.5 credit points)
• 3 units of other studies (37.5 credit points) from the six available electives of your choice.

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

Indicative total fee $8,700

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.

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

Students must meet any of the below criteria in order to enter this course:

• Hold a Year 12 certificate of completion (Minimum ATAR requirements may apply.); or
• Completion of a Cert IV or partial completion of a Diploma or above in any field; or
• Can demonstrate relevant work experience and meet the language, literacy and numeracy requirements to study at the diploma level.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Speak to a Course Consultant about applying for RPL.