Master of Business Administration [2-Year]

Program Overview

---

Master of Business Administration [2-Year]

Advance your career in business with this flexible course tailored to suit your professional interests, whether in economics, marketing or international business. Learn alongside leading industry experts with opportunities for real-world learning and networking in domestic and international settings.

Fast Facts

• Location: JCU campuses or study centres where you can study this course. 'Online' means the course can be studied off-campus using a combination of online resources, printed material or other technologies. Some online courses include on-campus workshops and travel for professional placements.
  • Online
  • Townsville
  • Brisbane
• Commencing: The month(s) you can start the course. For courses offered at JCU Singapore and JCU Brisbane, see 'How to Apply'.
  • Online: January, May, September
  • Townsville: January, May, September
  • Brisbane: January, May, September
• Fees: Indicative, annual cost of your course. Some courses are supported by the Australian Government with the government paying some of your fees. This is the Commonwealth Supported fee. The tuition fee is the fee payable if Commonwealth Support does not apply. You can defer your fees if eligible with HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP. The Student Services & Amenities Fee is a required payment from most students.
  • $33,470.00^
  • ^estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load
  • Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
  • Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible
• Duration: The time it will take you to complete the course as a full-time student. Also specifies if the course is available part-time. This section will indicate if some online courses may have a longer duration due to their different delivery method.
  • 2 years full-time
• Entry Requirements: This is usually a score given to Year 12 students upon completion of their studies. Non-school leavers can have their qualifications and work experience assessed to obtain an equivalent score. The score displayed is the minimum adjusted ATAR/rank that was required for entry. Some subjects are required for entry into a course. Whereas assumed knowledge indicates a minimum level of knowledge
  • Completion of an AQF level 7 bachelor degree; or equivalent

Course Detail

What to expect

Enhance your leadership abilities and career prospects with JCU’s Master of Business Administration [2-Year] (MBA). Gain an in-depth understanding of areas such as sustainable enterprise, corporate strategy, project management, innovation and entrepreneurship. JCU MBA graduates are highly sought after for their ability to analyse current practices and outcomes in a business or organisation and develop innovative methods for enhancing its enterprise and success.

JCU’s Master of Business Administration [2-Year] degree has a strong focus on applying and integrating sustainable economic, social and environmental business performance thinking and methods to new or existing business models. You will learn how to evaluate the context of a business or organisation and identify the appropriate performance method/s that will enhance its performance or solve a key issue within the business’s framework. You will study a broad body of theoretical and technical knowledge and gain skills in critically analysing complex contemporary business issues and making effective decisions or recommendations for improvement.

This two-year, leadership-oriented Master of Business Administration degree has ten core subjects covering a broad range of topics and will equip you to work effectively in any field of business. You can specialise your degree by choosing from majors including Economic Resilience, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Leadership and Project Management.

You can also choose to undertake either a research project, or a professional internship with one of JCU’s leading industry partners. Both the research project and the internship provide extensive experience that will prepare you for your future career as well as domestic and international networking opportunities that will benefit your professional development.

Advance your business career and develop the skills to lead innovative and sustainable change. JCU MBA graduates are highly valued by employers for their expert knowledge, skills and experience, particularly in relevance to the Tropics.

Majors

• Economic Resilience: Build strong and sustainable business practices with an Economic Resilience major. You’ll develop an advanced understanding of the economic principles of disaster analysis and response, sustainable business development, and business continuity and resilience. The skills you develop will become an asset within industries and are designed to assist businesses, governments and NGOs to weather any storm as they plan, prepare and recover from diverse challenges.
• Entrepreneurship: Develop your expertise with an Entrepreneurship major and learn the principles of business consulting, venture capital and project management. With this major, you’ll become a valuable source of knowledge and expertise across diverse industries, including engineering, IT, consulting, procurement, health, defence and construction. Gain hands-on experience with the capacity to apply your skills in real-world entrepreneurial environments. You’ll be able to consult on business planning, problem solving, performance improvement and consider diverse capital and seed funding opportunities.
• Finance: Keep pace with technological advancements and the financial landscape with a major in Finance. You’ll gain broad knowledge of diverse areas within international and corporate finance. Gain practical skills in advanced investment and portfolio analysis and advanced financial risk management. In this major, you’ll establish a financial mindset with expertise in financial planning, decision making and financial and credit risk modelling, through practical learning focused on contemporary financial markets.
• Leadership: Use your love of innovation, entrepreneurship and people-management to strengthen your employability. Learn how to lead businesses in highly competitive environments, solve complex organisational problems, plan effectively and hire the right employees. Managing finances, resources, and direct business operations with confidence in a fast-paced setting. You will learn a variety of transferable skills, important in managing a business or team in any industry.
• Project Management: Learn how to harness your passion, resolve and vision to deliver groundbreaking results for business, government and the community. Develop vital skills in linear planning, leadership and management, and risk assessment in complex projects.

Career Opportunities

A JCU Master of Business Administration [2-Year] will equip you with the skills and confidence to take charge in a variety of commercial management situations. Your broad knowledge base, strong interpersonal and leadership skills will be in high demand in a variety of industries.

As a Master of Business Administration graduate you will have a greater capacity to facilitate change and improvement in fields such as accounting, business law, economics, finance, human resources, and information technology.

Your advanced leadership skills and strong critical thinking abilities will enable you to excel in your current career or pursue careers such as chief financial officer, operations manager, investment banker, market research analyst and management consultant.

Handbook

• Handbook year: Information valid for students commencing in 2025
• Course code: JCU's unique identifier for this course
• Course type: Masters by Coursework (AQF Level 9)
• Professional accreditation status: The Project Management Major within this program is globally accredited by the Institute of Project Management (IPM). Graduates who complete the Project Management subjects: LB5403:03, LB5246:03, LB5245:03 and LB5247:03 are eligible to be admitted as Certified Project Officers (CPO)
• Owner: Academy
• College: Business, Law and Governance

Award Requirements

• Credit points: 48 credit points as per course structure
• Course learning outcomes: JCU graduates are committed to lifelong learning, intellectual development, and to the display of exemplary personal, professional and ethical standards. They have a sense of their place in the tropics and are charged with professional, community, and environmental responsibility. JCU graduates appreciate the need to embrace and be acquainted with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia. They are committed to reconciliation, diversity and sustainability. They exhibit a willingness to lead and to contribute to the intellectual, environmental, cultural, economic and social challenges of regional, national, and international communities of the tropics.

Admission Requirements

• Course pre-requisites: Completion of an AQF level 7 degree from James Cook University or another university; or Other qualifications or practical experience recognised by the Dean, College of Business Law and Governance as equivalent to the above.
• Minimum English language proficiency requirements: Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 2 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy or have successfully completed an AQF 8 qualification from James Cook University within the previous two (2) years.

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

• Credit points: 48 credit points as per course structure
• Course learning outcomes: JCU graduates are committed to lifelong learning, intellectual development, and to the display of exemplary personal, professional and ethical standards. They have a sense of their place in the tropics and are charged with professional, community, and environmental responsibility. JCU graduates appreciate the need to embrace and be acquainted with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia. They are committed to reconciliation, diversity and sustainability. They exhibit a willingness to lead and to contribute to the intellectual, environmental, cultural, economic and social challenges of regional, national, and international communities of the tropics.

Inherent Requirements

• Inherent Requirements: Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Master of Business Administration [2-Year].
• Reasonable adjustments: All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

• LB5202:03 Marketing Essentials
• LB5205:03 People in Organisations
• LB5212:03 Accounting and Finance for Managers
• LB5228:03 The Changing Business Environment
• LB5203:03 Sustainable Enterprise
• LB5113:03 Corporate Strategy
• LB5233:03 Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• CO5124:03 Data Analysis and Decision Modelling
• LB5241:03 Leadership Futures
• LB5235:03 Applied Research Project or LB5520:03 Professional Project/Internship

OPTIONS

• Select 6 credit points of subjects from List 1
• PLUS
• Select one of the following Options
  • Option 1 (General Stream)
    • Select 6 credit points of any level 5 subjects
    • PLUS
    • Select 6 credit points of level 5 subjects with a prefix of CO, CP, EC, LB, PL or TO
  • OR
  • Option 2 (Major)
    • Select a Major from Table A

Location

• COURSE AVAILABLE AT: JCU Brisbane, JCU Townsville, External
• NOTES: Not all majors are available

Candidature

• Expected time to complete: 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent
• Maximum time to complete: 5 years
• Maximum leave of absence: 1 year

Progression

• Course progression requisites: Nil
• Course includes mandatory professional placement(s): No
• Special assessment requirements: Nil
• Professional accreditation requirements: Nil
• Supplementary exam for final subject: A student who has failed the final subject towards the award and who gained 40% or more of the marks for that subject, may be granted a supplementary examination in that subject. However, if that subject is required for accreditation, then the criteria specified by that accreditation will apply.

Credit

• Eligibility: Students may apply for a credit transfer for previous tertiary study or informal and non-formal learning in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure
• Credit will be granted for the following:
  • An AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a cognate discipline* – 12 credit points;
  • AQF level 8 bachelor (honours) degree in a cognate discipline* – 12 credit points;
  • JCU Graduate Certificate in Business Administration – 12 credit points;
  • Graduate Diploma in a cognate discipline* - 12 credit points;
  • or Other qualifications or practical experience recognised by the Dean, College of Business Law and Governance as equivalent to the above – up to 12 credit points.
• Note that where employment experience without qualifications, as provided for in the Admission Requirements, is used to meet entry requirements, that experience will not also be used to give advanced standing.
• Cognate disciplines: Accounting and Finance, Marketing, Management, Commerce, HRM, Economics, Tourism and Hospitality or other disciplines where students will have completed study relating to organisational behaviour, business, strategy, marketing, economics, communication and people management.
• Business experience: Applicants must have a minimum of 4 years full-time equivalent professional work experience in management, leadership or supervisory level in a business environment or be eligible for a member grade status of a relevant professional organisation. Students will have demonstrable effective management experience relating or organisational behaviour, business, strategy, marketing, economics, communication and people management.
• Students may apply for advanced standing for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit and Articulation policy and associated procedures
• Maximum allowed: 24 credit points
• Currency: Credit will be granted only for subjects completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course
• Expiry: Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 15 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed this course.
• Other restrictions: Credit will not be granted for undergraduate studies or for work experience used to gain admission to the course when assessed separately for admission requirements.

Award Details

• Award title: MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
• Approved abbreviation: MBA
• Inclusion of majors on testamur: Majors will appear on the testamur
• Exit with lesser award: Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have successfully completed the relevant number of credit points and appropriate subjects, may be eligible to receive one of the following awards:
  • Graduate Certificate of Business Administration
  • Graduate Diploma of Business Administration
  • Graduate Certificate of Conflict Management and Resolution
• Course articulation: Not applicable
• Special awards: Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure

Fees and Scholarships

• Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD33,470.00
• A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.

Pathways to JCU

• A Graduate Certificate in this subject area can be used as a pathway into this course.
• Explore JCU’s available Graduate Certificates here or contact our friendly JCU Future Students Team to find out more.

How to Apply

• Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

---

Objective:

The Master of Business Administration [2-Year] is a leadership-oriented degree program that aims to cultivate your managerial skills, problem-solving abilities, and innovative thinking to empower you to thrive in a dynamic business environment.

---

Program Description:

• Develop a holistic understanding of core business disciplines, including marketing, human resource management, finance, accounting, and operations.
• Analyze complex business challenges through a critical lens, identify opportunities, and make data-driven decisions.
• Enhance your communication and interpersonal skills to effectively lead teams, motivate individuals, and collaborate with stakeholders.
• Specialize in areas of interest through a choice of majors, including Economic Resilience, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Leadership, and Project Management.
• Apply your knowledge through practical projects, case studies, and internships to gain real-world experience and build professional networks.

---

Outline:

---

Year 1

---

Semester 1

• Marketing Essentials
• People in Organisations
• Accounting and Finance for Managers
• The Changing Business Environment
• Sustainable Enterprise

---

Semester 2

• Corporate Strategy
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Data Analysis and Decision Modelling
• Leadership Futures

---

Year 2

---

Semester 3

• Applied Research Project or Professional Project/Internship
• Select 6 credit points from List 1

---

Semester 4

• Select 12 credit points from your chosen Major
• Select 6 credit points from List 1 or approved subjects

---

Assessment:

• The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods to evaluate your understanding and application of concepts, including:
• Written assignments and reports
• Case studies and problem-solving exercises
• Presentations and group projects
• Examinations
• Assessment criteria focus on your ability to:
• Critically analyze business issues
• Develop and implement innovative solutions
• Communicate your ideas effectively
• Work collaboratively in teams
• Conduct independent research

---

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods: The program employs a blended learning approach that combines:
• Face-to-face lectures and tutorials
• Online resources and discussion forums
• Hands-on projects and case studies
• Industry guest lectures and workshops
• Faculty: The program is taught by experienced faculty members who are actively involved in research and industry collaborations.
They provide expert insights, mentorship, and support throughout your learning journey.
• Unique Approaches: The program incorporates innovative teaching approaches to enhance your learning experience:
• Real-world case studies and projects to bridge the gap between theory and practice
• Industry internships to gain practical experience and build professional connections
• Opportunities to present your research findings at conferences and seminars

---

Careers:

Upon completing the Master of Business Administration [2-Year] program, you will be well-equipped for a wide range of leadership and management roles in various industries. Potential career opportunities include:

• Chief Financial Officer
• Operations Manager
• Investment Banker
• Market Research Analyst
• Management Consultant
• Entrepreneur
• Project Manager
• Business Analyst
• Marketing Manager
• Human Resources Manager