Graduate Certificate in Business Administration

Name: Graduate Certificate in Business Administration
Author: Queensland University of Technology

The Graduate Certificate in Business Administration is one of the courses offered in the MBA suite. This course is effectively one-third of the MBA program and allows professionals to update their skills and acquire in-depth knowledge and skills in the core discipline areas of business.

Highlights

Study at a leading business school. We're Australia’s first business school to earn the triple crown accreditation. Less than 1% of all business schools globally have achieved triple accreditation, and we're proud to be part of this distinguished group.
Gain in-depth knowledge in business disciplines to lead confidently in complex environments.
Engage in flexible study designed to accommodate your professional commitments, with classes conveniently scheduled on weeknights across a 7-week teaching period.
Choose to study full-time and finish in one teaching period, or part-time over two teaching periods.
Extend your studies by continuing into a Master of Business Administration (MBA) once you’ve completed your graduate certificate.
Applications for our March 2025 intake close 9am, Monday, 3 March 2025.

Highlights

Update your skills and acquire in-depth knowledge and skills in business disciplines to lead with confidence in complex business environments.
Complete core and option units from QUT's Master of Business Administration program.
Opportunities to progress on to the MBA.
Complete in 1 teaching period full-time.

Explore this course

What to expect

Take the first step in your leadership journey with the QUT Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.

Designed for managers with substantial relevant work experience who may not have an undergraduate degree, this graduate certificate will deepen your knowledge of business disciplines and equip you to lead effectively in complex environments.

Throughout this graduate certificate, you’ll learn to manage strategic direction, develop advanced communication skills to persuade and engage your audience effectively, apply creative problem-solving and innovative thinking in complex business settings, and assess your leadership style to unlock new opportunities for both personal and career growth.

Pathway to the QUT MBA

This graduate certificate forms one-third of the QUT Master of Business Administration (MBA). After completing eight units with a minimum overall grade point average of 4.5, you can choose to seamlessly transition into the QUT MBA, enabling you to earn two qualifications in the time it typically takes to complete one.

For those exploring their options, this certificate serves as an excellent introduction to the QUT MBA. You’ll study alongside MBA students, completing the same subjects, engaging with the same content, and undertaking the same assessments. By starting with the Graduate Certificate, you’ll follow the same academic path, with no additional study, costs, or changes to your learning experience.

Flexible delivery

Tailored with your professional commitments in mind, in-person classes are also conveniently scheduled weekly on weeknights outside of working hours. All course materials—including lecture notes, practical guides, readings, and help resources—are accessible online for maximum convenience and flexibility.

Careers and outcomes

Possible careers

Account executive
Administrator
Business development manager
Consultant
Manager
Project manager
Senior professional

Details and units

Students must complete four core units of the MBA program and select a further four units from a list of five MBA option units.

Requirements

Course code: GS87

CRICOS code: 031575D

Delivery

Gardens Point

Delivery

Gardens Point

Duration: 6 months full-time; 12 months part-time

Duration: 6 months full-time

Entry: March and August

Entry: March and August

Entry requirements

You must either have a:

recognised bachelor degree in any field with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 4.50 (on QUT's 7-point scale) and a minimum three years full-time post degree work experience with minimum of two years relevant professional work experience and one year minimum supervisory/management experience; or
recognised postgraduate degree in any field with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 5.50 (on QUT's 7-point scale) and a minimum three years full-time post degree work experience with minimum of two years relevant professional work experience and one year minimum supervisory/management experience; or
minimum of seven years work experience with a minimum six years relevant professional work experience and one year minimum supervisory/management experience).

Work experience

Relevant work experience indicates an applicants capacity to contribute to workshop discussion and the wider student body. To enable us to assess your work experience, a current curriculum vitae providing details of your roles, responsibilities and achievements is required.

Additional entry requirements

You must submit responses to the following mandatory reflective questions:

Motivation to complete the QUT MBA
Intended contribution to the cohort
Work/life/study balance strategy
Current leadership philosophy

You may also be required to:

attend an interview with the MBA Director or nominee.

Pathway

Upon successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration with a minimum overall grade point average of 4.50 (on QUT's 7 point scale), you can articulate into the Master of Business Administration.

Minimum academic requirements

Academic entry requirements

A completed recognised bachelor degree in any field with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 4.5 (on QUT's 7-point scale); and

A GMAT score of at least 550; and
A minimum 3 years full-time equivalent relevant managerial or professional work experience post-degree. You may be required to be available for an interview with the MBA Director to demonstrate relevant work experience.

Minimum English language requirements

Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.

Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.

If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.

We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests undertaken in a secure test centre. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.

English Test
IELTS Academic / One Skill Retake
Overall	6.5
Listening	6
Reading	6
Writing	6
Speaking	6
Cambridge English Score You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website.
Overall	176
Listening	169
Reading	169
Writing	169
Speaking	169
PTE Academic
Overall	58
Listening	50
Reading	50
Writing	50
Speaking	50
TOEFL iBT
Overall	79
Listening	16
Reading	16
Writing	21
Speaking	18

English Test	Overall	Listening	Reading	Writing	Speaking
IELTS Academic / One Skill Retake	6.5	6	6	6	6
Cambridge English Score You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website.	176	169	169	169	169
PTE Academic	58	50	50	50	50
TOEFL iBT	79	16	16	21	18

Don't have the English language score you need? We can help!

We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.

When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.

Fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.

2026 fees

2026: Fee available from July

2026 fees

2026: Fee available from July

2025 fees

2025: $3,186 per unit (6 credit points)

2025 fees

2025: $3,570 per unit (6 credit points)

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Find out more about postgraduate course fees

FEE-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees

You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a FEE-HELP loan.

Find out more about government loans

Scholarships

You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.

Browse all scholarships

MBA and EMBA Scholarships

We offer a range of scholarships to support students in their MBA and Executive MBA journey.

Scholarship eligibility: Indigenous Australian; Struggling financially; From regional, rural or remote areas; Sporting excellence; Women

Equity scholarships scheme

A scholarship for low-income students studying in any faculty.

Scholarship eligibility: Struggling financially

International Merit Scholarship

A high achievement scholarship for future international undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Scholarship eligibility: Academic performance

QUT Real World International Scholarship

A scholarship to cover tuition fees, with eligibility based on your prior academic achievements.

Scholarship eligibility: Academic performance

You may also be eligible for

Centrelink payments

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