Graduate Certificate of Business Administration
Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
The Graduate Certificate of Business Administration is a must if you want foundational knowledge and skills to boost your career prospects or launch into further tertiary study with a Swinburne MBA.
The Graduate Certificate focuses on entrepreneurship both outside and within existing organisations. This includes honing your financial planning, decision-making, strategic marketing, operations management and leadership knowledge and skills.
The only constant is change, so the Graduate Certificate aims to develop your ability to embrace and deal with uncertainty and turbulence in your work environments.
The four foundation subjects are:
- Business Information Systems
- Management Analysis and Problem Solving
- Business Sustainability and Social Impact
- Future Management Skills
Duration
6 months full-time or equivalent part-time
Intakes
Hawthorn (Semester 1, Semester 2) - View application and start dates
Study modes
- Full-time,
- Part-time
2024 Start Dates
2023 Start Dates
Professionally accredited by

Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
The Graduate Certificate of Business Administration forms the first stage in a nested suite of programs consisting of:
- Graduate Certificate of Business Administration (GC-BUSADM4)
- Graduate Diploma of Business Administration (GD-BUSADM4) ^
- Master of Business Administration (MA-BUSADM5)
Course structure
Maximum Academic Credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Graduate Certificate of Business Administration is 25 credit points (normally two units)
Units of study
Students select all four units as listed below:
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and graduate skills.
Career opportunities
The Swinburne MBA prepares students to successfully improve and manage their careers while leading and managing enterprises in a complex, global and competitive environment.
Aims and objectives
- apply advanced knowledge of business concepts in diverse contexts and applications using critical thinking
- apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to identify and provide innovative solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence
- communicate proficiently in professional practice to a variety of audiences, function as an effective member or leader of a diverse team, and use the basic tools and practices of business within project work
- demonstrate professionalism, integrity, ethical conduct, professional accountability and an awareness of professional practices in a global and sustainable context
- apply business fundamentals to the analysis, design and operation of a model using appropriate business methods and tools.

Graduate skills
- capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas and an ability to engage in critical enquiry
- entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
- effective and ethical in work, community situations and reasoning skills
- adaptable and able to manage change
- aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing (e.g. socio-cultural, economic, natural).
Pathways and scholarships
- Credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Fees, entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Course fees
How do I pay my fees?
FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.
Entry requirements
A recognised bachelor degree in any discipline PLUS a minimum of two years equivalent full-time relevant professional experience* or
**Students entering under this admission requirement will be given full credit for the units completed.