The Graduate Diploma in Business Administration requires the completion of 36-units of study. It can be completed in 1 year of full time study (or the equivalent part time). The course is a part of the postgraduate Business Administration programs and is offered by the Flinders Business School in the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.

It articulates with the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration and the Master of Business Administration specialisations.

Students who have completed the graduate certificate or a comparable award normally receive credit for up to 18 units of topics towards the graduate diploma, and those who complete the graduate diploma normally receive up to 36 units of credit should they choose to proceed to the Masters degree.

Alternatively, students who enrol directly in the graduate diploma subsequently may choose only to meet the requirements for the graduate certificate and exit with that qualification.

Admission requirements

Applicants for the Graduate Diploma of Business Administration will normally hold a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution.

Applicants for the Graduate Diploma of Business Administration Health specialisation will normally

  • hold a bachelor degree in a health related field or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution plus at least 4 years’ professional work experience working in the health or aged care industries,

Or

  • have completed the Graduate Certificate of Business Administration and have at least 4 years’ professional experience working in the health or aged care industries

However, the Faculty Board may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Course aims

The course is designed to provide a strong foundation in appropriate business knowledge, skills and to foster attitudes commensurate with successful careers as managers of organisations including private sector business organisations, not-for-profit organisations and public organisations. The course aims to provide students with a sound understanding and appreciation of the context in which organisations operate including the impact of global economic, social, environmental and ethical and business conditions and practices.

Learning outcomes

Graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Business Administration will be able to:

  • Explain how decision making and the management of organisations is aided by knowledge of theory and practice in a range of business sub-disciplines.
  • Analyse organisations and apply contemporary management practices compatible with organisational, social and environmental sustainability.
  • Present theoretical concepts and complex ideas in both written and verbal formats appropriate for management audiences.

Program of study

Student must complete 36 units (8 topics) with a grade of P or NGP, or better, selected form the list of topics below.

  • a minimum of six topics (27 units) of MBA foundation core topics
  • a maximum of two topics (9 units) of MBA specialisation topics (as long as the student meets the entry requirements for the MBA specialisation).

Core topics and specialisation topic choices are detailed below.

It is possible to complete a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration without specialisation. In this case eight MBA core topics must be completed.

Core - MBA topics

 Select at least 27 units from the following:

 BUSN9226  Accounting for Managers  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9227  Financial Management  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9228  Strategic Marketing  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9229  Sustainability and Ethics in Management  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9230  Economics for Business  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9231  Global Business Context: An Asia Pacific Focus (4.5 units)
 BUSN9248  Managing People  (4.5 units)

Options - MBA specialisations

Select up to 9 units of Option topics, which can be other topics from the Master of Business Administration Program and its specialisations or other topics as approved by the Program Director.

 Select up to 9 units of specialiasation topics from:

Option Topics

 BUSN9125A  Industry Project (9 units)
 BUSN9233  Data Analysis for Decision Making  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9234  Project Management  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9235  Managing Negotiations  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9236  Leadership: Theory, Practice and Experience  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9241  International Business Finance and Banking  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9259  Supply Chain and Operations  (4.5 units)#

# Online only

OR

Finance

Select 9 units from the following:

 BUSN9129  Corporate Finance  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9130  Derivatives and Risk Management  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9132  New Venture Finance and Private Equity  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9223  Investments and Portfolio Management  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9237  Financial Markets and Institutions  (4.5 units)
 BUSN9241  International Business Finance  (4.5 units)

OR

Health

Select 9 units from the following:

 HACM9101  Leading Organisations in Health and Aged Care  (4.5 units)
 HACM9200  Health and Aged Care Systems and Policy  (4.5 units)
 HACM9201  Health Law and Ethics  (4.5 units)
 HACM9202  Safety and Quality in Health Care  (4.5 units)

Other topics may be taken with the approval of the Program Director.