This subject establishes a foundation essential not only for being an effective manager, but also for the remainder of the program. It provides an overview of key areas that need to be managed effectively for an organisation to be successful, and the interconnectedness of those areas. Key areas addressed include strategy, marketing, organisational values and sustainability.

Accounting is the “language of business” and is used for performance measurement, business contracting and managerial decision-making. An understanding of and the ability to use accounting information will be essential to students' success as a manager. This subject provides students with foundational accounting knowledge useful not only internally for managerial decision-making, but also for more externally-focused judgments (eg: benchmarking an organisation’s strengths and weaknesses).

Organisations face many adaptive challenges to survive and thrive in a complex and uncertain environment, driven by forces such as globalisation and technology. This subject helps students become leaders in this context. Leadership is particularly important in organisation structures that are flat, flexible, diverse and global.

Organisations operate within a societal context of diverse stakeholders. Students examine the relationship of the organisation with these stakeholders, as well as their own responsibility to stakeholders. They consider strategies for achieving social responsibility goals such as environmental sustainability, employee satisfaction and societal welfare, taking into account both the ethical case and the business case for such strategies.  

Contemporary organisations are awash in data, whether it be about their customers, internal operating processes or financial activities. Harnessing this data allows managers to better understand their organisation, and thus make more informed decisions. This subject addresses fundamental data analytic skills necessary to extract information from data that then can be used to make better managerial decisions.  

Effective management of individuals, teams and organisations requires an understanding of human behaviour. This subject examines human behaviour at the individual, group and organisational levels through a business lens. This subject assists students to better manage themselves, and better manage and lead other people, groups and organisations.

To be successful, organisations need to recognise, create, grow and protect market-based assets that influence demand. This subject focuses on the challenges organisations face in managing demand, and how to address those challenges with optimal demand-side strategies. 

Economics is relevant to everything an organisation does, from its operations and performance to its interactions with stakeholders and society more broadly. This subject addresses fundamental economic concepts and analytical skills, providing students with the tools of economic reasoning necessary for developing and evaluating strategic business options and making better decisions.  

In fiercely competitive global and dynamic environments, organisations face increasing pressures to exceed stakeholder expectations across measures such as sustainability, social responsibility, cost, quality, flexibility and innovativeness. This subject addresses the analysis, design, management and continuous improvement of business processes. It covers core operations concepts essential for leveraging an organisation’s capabilities to achieve sustainable competitive advantage.

This subject addresses the foundations of valuation and financial management. Concepts addressed are relevant for a variety of organisations, as well as for personal financial planning and investments. Key concepts addressed in this subject are the valuation of financial assets (eg: shares) and selection of investment projects.

Organisations must decide in which industries and markets to compete and how to achieve success in their chosen industries and markets. This subject provides frameworks and tools for understanding factors and forces that shape organisations’ strategic decisions regarding where to compete and how to succeed. Students identify and analyse key factors and issues that impact strategic decisions, enhancing their strategic mindset and decision-making ability.

To apply for the Melbourne Business School Online Graduate Diploma in Business Administration, applicants must have:   

• A university degree and two years of work experience, or six years of work experience 
• Two confidential professional referees 
• Four personal statements relating to their goals and how they can contribute to the program 
• Met the University's English language requirements 

Documentary evidence of meeting the accepted minimum scores within the previous 24 months may be required.   

The minimum accepted scores are:   

• IELTS (Academic) – 7.0 overall, with no band less than 6.5   
• TOEFL IBT – minimum score of 102, with a written score minimum of 24 and no individual score lower than 21   
• PTE - English Academic PTE with a minimum score of 72, written communicative skill of 65 and no other communicative skill below 64. 

$5,148 per subject*, a total of $46,332 for the program*.   

FEE-HELP is available for eligible Australian citizens. 

*Fees listed are for calendar year 2025. Melbourne Business School Online reserve the right to adjust course fees annually.