Regions
A Destination Guide to Earning your MBA in Australia
Explore Australia’s Top Business Schools with nationally recognised MBA programs and your best career opportunities in the regions they serve.
Overview
Historically, a major determining factor in where students went to school (particularly for graduate work like an MBA) came down to what schools were nearby. It’s one thing to travel across the country, or even the world, to study when you’re an undergraduate and basically still a kid. But by the time you’re making the decision to explore an MBA, you may feel entrenched where you are, be it because of a career you’d like (or, financially, might need) to continue while you study, or because of personal or family obligations.
For many, that will continue to be the case, but online learning has been steadily growing over the past decade and it took a rather gigantic step forward as a result of 2020’s global pandemic, where everyone got used to doing almost everything remotely. Now, often the only hurdle to studying wherever you’d like is a reliable internet connection.
So, whether you’re looking to stay close-to-home or in a certain city or region for on-campus learning, or if you’re just looking for the right program and are willing to study anywhere in Australia remotely, we’ve provided a look at the MBA landscape for every region of Australia. And while Sydney and Melbourne’s metro areas combined may hold almost half of Australia’s entire population (and contain some of its best and most iconic schools) there’s great MBA courses to be found all over the country.
So, explore all these schools have to offer. We’ve supplied just a snapshot of some of the great MBA programs available in Australia and there’s always more to explore, but we think it should give you a strong indication of what’s out there. As always, consider which is the best program for you, and dig deep in each school’s website to discover up-to-date information on tuition, financial aid, and other details you’ll need to know to make an informed decision about your educational future.
New South Wales (and Australian National Territory)
As always, New South Wales remains Australia’s most populous and economically powerful state, making it the perfect location to pursue an MBA. New South Wales (or NSW) is a regional powerhouse with easy access to Asian markets and Sydney, NSW’s capital and the country’s largest city is known for its professional and financial services, information and communications technology and creative industries such as museums, publishing, media production and broadcasting. Sydney has become the de-facto capital of the Asia-Pacific region as 60% of all business headquarters in the region call the city home, as does is also home to the Australian Securities Exchange.
Of course, there’s more to the state than just Sydney. In addition to other NSW cities like Newcastle to the north and Wollongong to the south, the Australian National Territory (home to Australia’s national capital, Canberra) is an enclave nestled within NSW as well. A bustling city all its own, Canberra is home to some great MBA programs and is a perfect location for students who want to use their developing business skills in the public sector.
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) offers many MBA options through its Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) including its flagship fulltime MBA, a part-time Executive MBA (perfect for managers who need to continue their roles within their organisations), and a dual MBA and Master of Law program.
Additionally, the AGSM offers a wealth of online MBAs as well, which will let you study in Sydney wherever you are in the country or in the world. These programs are called an MBAX, and 5 different types are offered: MBAX for Change, MBAX for Social Impact, MBAX for Finance, MBAX for Law, and MBAX for Technology. This diverse network of programs will really let your career take off in any direction you choose.
The oldest and still one of the most prestigious academic institutions in all of Australia, the University of Sydney (USYD) outdoes itself with its MBA programs, which are ranked #1 in Australia in 2017 and 2019 and #4 in the world for graduate employability. The MBA from USYD comes in two forms: the standard part-time course and the full-time MBA (Leadership and Enterprise) course, plus a Global Executive MBA for those further down their career path. Learn more about both the part-time and full-time programs.
Macquarrie University offers a variety of MBA options under the Macquarrie Graduate School of Management (MGSM) including a standard MBA, a Global MBA (which can be completed remotely), and a Master of Management designed for early career professionals. MGSM features campuses both in suburban North Ryde and Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD). Tailored to your area of focus and featuring flexible study options, the MBA program is consistently ranked in the top 100 globally, as was recently ranked in the top 30 for salary increase.
University of Wollongong (UOW) offers a variety of MBA programs that are designed with the professional and personal commitments of their students in mind. Between weekly, evening-based classes or more intensive weekend-based classes, UOW makes sure that pursuing this course won’t interfere with other responsibilities.
UOW provides access to events that will give you the opportunity to network with your peers, members of the local business community and alumni. Courses are informed by research, structured on applied outcomes, internationally recognised within industry, and supported through specialised developmental resources.
University of Newcastle (UON) offers a flexible and affordable MBA 100% online, face-to-face or a mix of the two, designed to let you study around your schedule. Best of all, you can graduate in as few as 18 months. At UON, you’ll hear from industry guest speakers and learn from some of the best minds in the industry or participate in hands-on problem solving for real-world issues. Learn more about Newcastle’s MBA program.
University of Technology Sydney (UTS) offers multiple different course options, which lets students craft the ideal MBA experience for them. These options include a standard MBA for early career professionals, an advanced MBA for those a little further down the career path, an Executive MBA in Entrepreneurship for professionals with managerial experience who are looking to start their own businesses, and a combination MBA and Master of International, Commercial & Business Law degree, plus graduate diplomas and graduate certificates. With all these choices, and the sterling UTS reputation, graduates from any of these programs should go far.
If you’re looking to become a leader in the business world, where better than in the city where Australia’s leaders live and work? The MBA course at the University of Canberra (UC) covers all aspects of business administration, including finance, marketing, economics, strategic processes and people management, and culminates in the completion of a research project of your choice.
The course places a strong emphasis on “Work Integrated Learning” meaning that all students graduate with an impressive portfolio of international experience, some of which can be learned with internship opportunities available in Singapore, Bhutan, Shanghai and more.
The MBA program from Canberra’s Australian National University builds upon management experience and prior learning to provide mid-level professionals with the essential business and management knowledge and skills to move into senior management roles. A strong component of the course is the sharing of extensive and varied business experience, so it is a program not ideally suited for those fresh out of university.
All applicants are considered for Research School of Management MBA Scholarships and up to 30 fee-waiver scholarships to attract high-calibre students into the MBA and MBA (Advanced) programs. Courses can be finished in 1.5 years full-time or 3 years part-time, with courses offered in the evening to cater to those who are still maintaining a career or family obligations.
Queensland
Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane, is thriving with industry not just in business and financial services but also in the construction, education, government, health, and retail sector. In fact, those 5 industries alone make up more than half of total employment in the capital city. The wealth of economic diversity makes Brisbane a wonderful place to earn an MBA and begin or growing your career in business administration.
It may be one of the only programs that’s on-campus only, but the MBA from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is ranked #1 in Queensland and #3 nationally by the most recent Australian Financial Review BOSS EMBA ranking.
Attending QUT offers access to the two-week Immersion Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston, developing skills and capability in the areas around entrepreneurship and digital transformation. Graduates complete their MBA at QUT with an industry project that allows them to creatively plan for a new venture or to engage in a consultancy project for an organisation.
Griffith University’s MBA is designed for managers who wish to develop a solid business foundation, as well as skills and knowledge of cutting-edge business practices for the 21st century. Griffith offers two MBA programs with otherwise identical content: (1) the standard course which is fully flexible and can be studied online or face to face in a standard 12-week trimester, and (2) the online-only accelerated program delivered over a 6-week period.
Griffith MBA students are also eligible to attend the European Summer School for Advanced Management (ESSAM), a two-week intensive that will see them explore the future of business in a global environment overseas.
Based in the heart of Brisbane’s CBD, University of Queensland (UQ) has an MBA with a reputation for excellence, appearing regular as one of the top MBAs in Australia by The Economist MBA global ranking.
Designed to be completed in just one year full-time (and longer for part-time students), the program lets students benefit from flexible study options, international opportunities, and the completion of a project-based capstone course with a strong experiential component. Explore their Master of Business and Master of Leadership in Service Innovation too.
The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) offers a new accelerated MBA providing the tools to advance your career, allowing students to study at their own pace and convenience or fast-track their studies to get their qualification in 12 months full-time. This innovative structure makes it one of the quickest MBA degrees on the market.
The course also offers two capstone courses are designed to help you apply the research and analytical skills you will learn as USQ to “explore mega-trends, technological advances and paradigm shifts at the local and global level that have the potential to impact the future of business.”
Southern Cross University (SCU) offers an MBA that can be completed online or at their campus on the Gold Coast. They offer an internationally recognised MBA degree where professional expertise is honed by completing practical assessment activities in leadership, problem solving, and communication skills, all of which the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs will need. In addition to core units, the course builds substantial expertise in an area through the completion of the MBA’s signature research project.
Victoria
With its rapid growth, Melbourne, Victoria’s state capital and signature city, may be close to overtaking Sydney as Australia’s largest city, but it’s still often in its shadow in many things. Collegiate education isn’t one of them. By many metrics, the University of Melbourne is the best and most prestigious university in the country while Monash University is the largest.
For those pursuing an MBA and concerned with the state’s industry landscape when they graduated? Victoria is a state filled with dynamic industries in fields as extensive as professional and scientific services, financial and insurance services, accommodation and food, health care, public administration, and information media.
The University of Melbourne (the #1 university in Australia according to U.S. News and World Report) offers its MBA courses out of its Melbourne Business School (MBS), and there are plenty of them! In addition to full-time and part-time MBA courses, MBS offers an Executive and Senior Executive MBA, a dual Master of Business Administration and Marketing, a Master of Professional Management, and Masters of both Management and International Business for those earlier in their career.
The traditional full-time MBA is designed with a focus on practical skills for any business application and is ranked best in Australia by The Economist.
Victoria University (VU) features one the largest, most progressive business departments in the country, with a top tier ranking from CEO Magazine. In addition to both its professional and online MBA degree, VU also has other great postgraduate offerings including a Finance MBA, a Global MBA and a Master in Change, Innovation and Leadership. Whether studying online or on campus in Melbourne, graduates from VU will receive the same great education and accreditation.
La Trobe‘s MBA features a practical, industry-focused approach, built on the United Nations-backed Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), so you’ll gain the skills and knowledge to balance economic and sustainability outcomes. Flexible learning options allow students to fit their study around work and lifestyle commitments. Keep your career moving forwards while you prepare for the next level.
La Trobe Business School’s MBA is in the top 1% of universities worldwide according to World University Rankings 2022. It’s also accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) Programme and is only one of only two MBA programs in Australia to have attained five-year accreditation – an international benchmark of excellence.
Monash University’s business school boasts triple accreditation by three of the leading accrediting bodies AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA and offers three distinct MBA programs: their signature two-year MBA program, their 15-month Global Executive MBA, and the Digital MBA, which is 100% online.
One of the highlights of Monash’s MBA course is the Career Advancement Program (CAP) which includes a suite of events, workshops and individualised career planning. CAP’s Talent Bank provides opportunities for permanent placement plus internships where students can gain targeted industry knowledge and advance their networks.
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (better known as RMIT University) offers what they refer to as a “unique, industry-connected and design-thinking centred MBA, run by Australia’s largest business college.” RMIT’s MBA course is one of the highest ranked in Oceania and it’s guided by committed and experienced academics and practitioners that offer industry-informed knowledge and important professional connections.
Unlike some of the other programs on this list, RMIT’s MBA program is designed hose beginning their careers, or with limited professional experience. RMIT instead offers an Executive MBA for more experienced professionals.
Western Australia
Western Australia is the largest state in Australia by area, but among the smallest by population, leaving a considerable 79% of the population in Perth. When considering making Perth your home, it may be important to recognize it is home also to many mining and mineral companies. That mining, of course, takes place outside of the capital, but the metropolitan city supports the research and engineering that governs the mining outside of town.
Between iron ore mining, and oil and gas drilling, Western Australia provides almost half of the country’s exports, so don’t believe that being on the west coast instead of the populous east coast won’t provide you with economic opportunities.
Not just one of the most prestigious universities in the west but in all of Australia, the University of Western Australia (UWA) offers many MBA courses. These include both a flexible and intensive MBA, a dual MBA and Master of Laws, plus other courses like Master of Business Analytics, and Master of Business Information and Logistics Management and many more. If you’re based in Western Australia and want to increase your business know-how in a graduate setting, UWA ensures you’re in the right place.
The flexible MBA program, which is offered both part-and-fulltime out of the Perth campus is perhaps the most traditional of these degrees. When taking part in Western Australia’s leading MBA program, students are challenged to boost their leadership potential by expanding their business knowledge and sharpening their critical thinking and decision-making skills.
At Edith Cowan University (ECU), students benefit from an almost unmatched level of customization by choosing from one of an impressive 13 specialisations. These include more traditional choices like finance, business analytics, and entrepreneurship as well as more highly-specialised options like environmental, health care, or hospitality management. ECU’s MBA course is available from both their Mount Lawley and Joondalup campuses, and can also be completed online.
Curtin University’s MBA is an internationally accredited qualification, the only course in Western Australia (and one of only four Australian business schools with MBA programs) to have achieved EFMD Accredited status.
Students at Curtin can specialise in a particular area or choose subjects that complement their interests and will also complete a professional portfolio. Graduates also undergo 40 hours of professional development designed to expand their network. This can include attending industry events, seminars, guest lectures and more and can be vital to increasing their understanding of the modern business community.
Murdoch University (MU) offers an MBA program that hardly begins and ends there. There’s also a Global MBA and a collection of three dual MBAs: an MBA paired with (1) Master of Health Care Management, (2) Master of Human Resources Management, or (3) Master of Information Technology.
Fully flexile, a Murdoch MBA can be pursued full-time, part-time, on-campus or online allowing you to get your degree in as little as 12 months if you choose. Murdoch also offers free workshops and seminars to help you with subjects such as statistics and data analysis, ethics, surveys, and research as a postgraduate student.
South Australia
As a result of South Australia’s huge swaths of mountains, deserts, and protected Aboriginal lands, a whopping 77% of South Australians call the coastal capital city of Adelaide home. It might not surprise you that the vast majority of universities in the state are located in the greater Adelaide metro area.
South Australia is renowned as a cultural and festival hub, with its iconic wine regions like Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Currency Creek, and Kangaroo Island some of the most celebrated in the world. It should be no surprise then that some South Australian MBA programs have taken notice. The University of Adelaide’s business school offers an MBA specifically for the wine business, a program you’d be unlikely to discover anywhere else outside of France, Italy, and California.
South Australia’s #1 university, the University of Adelaide is very impressive when it comes to the diversity of its MBA programs, all of which can be explored using the link above.
In addition to their standard MBA program (which can be taken both in Adelaide and at their campus in Singapore) the school also offers: an online MBA, an MBA in Emerging Leaders, an MBA in Entrepreneurship, an MBA in Health Management, an MBA in Information Technology, an MBA in Marketing, an MBA in Project Management, the aforementioned MBA for the Wine Business, and a wealth of Graduate Degrees and Certificates. Whatever you want to do with an MBA? You can find the program for you at University of Adelaide.
The MBA program at the University of South Australia (UniSA) can be completed both online or in-person at UniSA’s City West campus in Adelaide. UniSA’s MBA offers the Company Directors Course – a unique partnership with the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), the only one of its kind in the entire country.
Like the University of Adelaide, UniSA offers a variety of great alternate postgraduate businesses courses, including specialised MBAs, specialised International MBAs, and Masters of Management degrees.
The Northern Territory and Tasmania
The Northern Territory (with its sprawling savannas and tropical wetlands) and Tasmania (with nationally-protected dense forests making up half the island) may be on opposite ends of the country, but they have one big thing in common: only one sparsely populated metropolitan area. Despite more moderate means, these regions are still home to one university per with well-developed MBA courses worth spotlighting in this listing: Charles Darwin University in the Northern Territory’s capital of Darwin, and The University of Tasmania in Tasmania’s capital city, Hobart.
As befits a region filled with diverse natural landscapes, Charles Darwin University (CDU) offers an MBA for Sustainable Enterprise that will build a deep understanding of genuine sustainable business practice as well as an MBA for Sustainable Leadership that teaches profitability in business operations designed to support the environment, the economy, and benefit society. At CDU students develop the business skills to run organisations in ways that are future-focused and not driven by profit alone.
The University of Tasmania offers a more traditional International MBA program that can be undertaken both on campus in Hobart or online. Students can choose one of four specialisations: (1) Business Research, (2) Entrepreneurship, (3) Finance, and (4) Marketing.