Best MBA Courses in Australia – with GRADSearch
For those trying to figure out the next step in their careers to take their professional lives to the next level, an MBA can be a strong opportunity. The right MBA program can unlock greater work options, higher salary brackets, richer professional networks, and more.
Luckily, MBA courses in Australia are among the global best of the best, with multiplying benefits. Let’s have a look at whether the MBA is the right next step for you and what makes Australia the ideal place for it.
What Do You Gain from an MBA Program?
The MBA – or the Master of Business Administration – is arguably the most popular postgraduate degree route in business. MBA degrees are strong indicators to employers of the candidate’s qualifications, including their strengths in:
• Leadership
• Strategic thinking
• Management
• Marketing
• Finance
• Accounting
• Project management
The career benefits you can enjoy with an MBA include:
Greater Work Options and Opportunities
The best MBA courses in Australia can prepare you for career opportunities across a multitude of fields. No matter the sector, business professionals are in demand to keep the operation running smoothly. If you possess the right leadership and management skills, you can explore exciting opportunities across industries like technology, engineering, media, healthcare, and more.
Some high-paying sectors for MBA holders in Australia include:
• Business administration
• Supply chain management
• Healthcare management
• Consulting
• Finance
Career Change Options
According to MBA.com, the providers of the GMAT test – a key requirement for many MBA programs – one of the top reasons students pursue MBA programs is to change their careers. Building on our previous point, thanks to the broad applicability of the skills you learn with an MBA, you can transfer your skills and experience across job sectors easily. Thanks to the global relevance of the best MBA programs, you can also transfer your skills around the world to explore borderless career opportunities.
Upskilling and Reskilling
This comes with the territory of all the career benefits you enjoy as an MBA holder, as MBA programs focus on developing high-demand soft skills to tailor you into a competitive professional. By choosing one of the top MBA courses in Australia, you can enjoy the job security of the fact that your skillset will always be in demand, no matter the industry.
Higher Salary Outcomes
Another of the main motivators driving applications for MBA programs is the higher-earning opportunities. Professional roles you can take on as an MBA holder can unlock annual salary brackets between AUD 85,000 and AUD 125,000. Some high-paying professions for graduates of the best MBA courses in Australia are:
| Role | Annual Salary |
| Operations Manager | AUD 109,923 |
| Human Resources Manager | AUD 118,482 |
| Marketing Manager | AUD 104,159 |
| Program Manager | AUD 120,756 |
| Product Manager | AUD 119,571 |
| Project Manager | AUD 128,922 |
| General Manager | AUD 135,639 |
| Business Consultant | AUD 79,335 |
| Business Development Manager | AUD 99,285 |
| Account Executive | AUD 84,531 |
*Indeed.com, 2024
Develop Your Professional Network
Sometimes, career success and opportunities come down to who you know. An MBA program is a great opportunity to meet other professionals in your field with similar goals and motivations as you. Your peers may be current or future leaders whom you can learn from and call up in the future to create opportunities.
Types of MBA Programs
MBA programs come in a few shapes and sizes and considering your options carefully helps align your program to your goals. Your MBA program options include:
| MBA Programs | Program Length | Program Type |
| Full-Time MBA | 1 – 2 years | For full-time students |
| Part-Time MBA | 2 or more years | For full-time working professionals |
| Executive MBA | 1 – 2 years | For full-time, executive-level work professionals |
As international students who must hold a Subclass 500 student visa, the most feasible option is usually a full-time MBA. While holding the Subclass 500, you can only work part-time for 48 hours per two weeks as an international student. You can only work full-time during semester breaks in Australia.
This does not mean that you won’t get the relevant work experience while completing your MBA program, however. Many universities place emphasize on practical learning as part of their program outcomes. Your program may include internship and placement options that specifically aim to give you industry-relevant work experience options while in Australia.
To find the best MBA courses in Australia, you can start exploring through Australian university websites or tools like GRADSearch. This course finder consists of a list of university courses across all of Australia’s top universities, letting you review your picks through one platform!
Why Study an MBA in Australia?
Now that we are on the same page about the clear advantages of an MBA degree, what makes Australia the right destination for you? Here are some of the top reasons to consider MBA courses in Australia:
Top MBA Universities
Several of the world’s best universities to study an MBA are in Australia. These universities offer world-class programs, with 11 universities in the top 200 best universities in the world for Global MBA. You can explore all of these universities and their respective programs and scholarships through the GRADSearch tool!
| University Name | QS Global MBA Rankings 2024 |
| Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne | #30 |
| UNSW | #31 |
| University of Sydney Business School | #50 |
| University of Queensland Business School | #75 |
| Monash Business School, Monash University | #84 |
| Macquarie Business School, Macquarie University | #101-110 |
| Australian National University | #111-120 |
| University of Western Australia Business School | #131-140 |
| School of Business and Law, RMIT University | #151-200 |
Diverse Campuses
Did you know that business students make up the largest fraction of international students travelling overseas to study in Australia? This naturally translates into all these top global universities hosting diverse student cohorts on campus. In fact, some of the best universities for MBA in Australia also happen to be some of the country’s most international universities. Top names on the list include UNSW, University of Technology Sydney, and University of South Australia.
Graduate Outcomes
One of the key factors motivating MBA applicants is future career outcomes. This is a key consideration that Australian universities take into account when developing their MBA programs. Some of the best universities in the world for global MBA graduate outcomes are in Australia. These include:
• Melbourne Business School – University of Melbourne
• Australian Graduate School of Management – University of New South Wales (UNSW)
• University of Sydney Business School
• Monash Business School – Monash University
• Macquarie Business School – Macquarie University
Practical Learning Opportunities
A reason why the graduate outcomes of Australian MBA programs are high is thanks to the emphasis on experiential learning. Whether through projects or real-world internships and placements, the top MBA courses in Australia incorporate practical learning opportunities into their curricula.
Part-Time Work Opportunities
Another perk that makes studying in Australia popular in general is the opportunity for international students to work part-time. As a Subclass 500 visa holder, you can work up to 24 hours per week (48 hours per fortnight) as an international student. Destinations like the UK, USA, and Canada cap their weekly work hour limit at 20 hours, for comparison.
Post-Study Work Opportunities
Another compelling reason Australia appeals to international students is thanks to its flexible post-study opportunities. If you are graduating with the skillsets that the Australian government identifies among its high-demand roles, you can take advantage of the Subclass 485 visa. This Temporary Graduate Visa pathway lets you continue living and working in Australia and can, in the future, open doors to longer-term immigration and residency!
Best MBA Courses in Australia for International Students in 2024-25
Now that we have gone through the top reasons to study for an MBA in Australia, here are some of the excellent options the country has to offer:
MBA Full-Time Program – UNSW
The Australian Graduate School of Management at UNSW is one of the leading business schools in the world, as well as one of the best in global MBA programs. The school ranks among the world’s top 100 for best MBA programs, according to both the UK’s Financial Times and QS World University Rankings. This program also ranks as Australia’s best MBA program!
The AGSM partners with over 100 other business schools, creating collaborative knowledge, learning, and experiential opportunities. Graduates of this program, according to the QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022, earn the highest average salaries within three years of program completion.
Entry Requirements
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent
• Minimum 2 years of full-time professional work experience
• Strong academic results from a top-ranking university OR strong GMAT/GRE scores
• IELTS Score of 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each section
Master of Business Administration – Macquarie University
This full-time 2-year program is another of the best MBA courses in Australia for international students. Another of the globally-ranking universities in Australia, Macquarie University covers 16 course units in its MBA program, with ten foundation units and six electives. The areas you can explore as part of your program include industry-relevant, high-demand specializations such as:
• Big data
• Logistics and operations
• Strategy
• Design thinking
• Global perspectives
• Management skills
• Entrepreneurship
The university co-designs the program with the support of industry experts and insight, making Macquarie University graduates among the highest-demand student cohorts in Australia.
Entry Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• Minimum three years of full-time work experience at a professional or managerial level
• IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each section
Global Executive MBA and Master of Business (Double Degree) – Monash University
Monash University offers a unique double degree route with its Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) and Master of Business. This two-year option is an on-campus program with an international study module, aiming to provide professionals with a holistic curriculum breaking down the essentials of:
• Strategic management
• Marketing
• Leadership
• Corporate finance
• Global markets
• Economic decision-making
• International business
At the end of the program, you graduate with two business degrees from one of the world’s leading business schools!
Entry Requirements
• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• Minimum five years of full-time work experience
• IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each section
Master of Business Administration – RMIT University
RMIT University’s MBA program is among the top ten best MBA courses in Australia and Oceania as a whole. The program centers sustainability in its curriculum as one of the most critical challenges facing society today. The learning experience incorporates real-world problem-solving in collaborative classrooms, combining theory with industry-relevant practical experience. Some industry-leading organizations engaging with RMIT’s MBA program include:
• KPMG
• PwC
• National Australia Bank
• Medibank
The capstone subject of the program is a business consulting project, whereby students will learn how to develop and deliver effective pitches and manage complete project pipelines.
Entry Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each section
Master of Business Administration (MBA) – University of Wollongong
This 1.5-year program at one of the global top 1% universities prepares you to be an effective leader and strategic thinker. Outcomes of the program include tailoring your skillset for effective leadership, communication, decision-making, business acumen, innovative thinking, and confidence in leading complex projects and making critical decisions.
The University of Wollongong’s Sydney Business School program comprises 12 core subjects, which include:
• Accounting for Managerial Decision-Making
• Design Thinking and Business Transformation
• Financial Strategy and Governance
• Global Business Challenges
• Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Commercialization
You will also choose among electives from the Sydney Business School to complete 12 credit points.
Entry Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent OR significant managerial and/or entrepreneurial experience
• IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each section
Rounding Up
The above are by no means the only excellent MBA courses in Australia. The country has globally strong universities, especially schools which excel in the field of business. These universities have rich alumni networks of thriving graduates, translating into the impressive graduate outcomes of Australian universities. If you are set on discovering the right MBA for you in Australia, the GRADSearch tool, with over 130,000 programs in its database, is a good place to start. You can also start an inquiry directly with Gradstar’s Student Success Consultants for one-on-one program guidance!
