Master of Corporate Governance
Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
This course has been discontinued - this course is closed for new enrolments, the information on this page is provided for continuing students.
The Master of Corporate Governance provides a comprehensive view of the system of checks and balances that exist to ensure corporate actors including directors and executive officers exercise their powers legitimately and responsibly. It offers insights for all stakeholders in the management of organisations – including, but not limited to, corporations.
Corporate governance is a dynamic discipline that interacts with the social, digital and business model landscape in which it is placed. Innovation and technology impact best practices in corporate governance. Our unique placement within the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship at Swinburne, coupled with insights from our industry partners, ensures that this degree is practical, current and pro-actively focused.
You will acquire skills in all aspects of corporate governance including leadership; the legal obligations of company officers and directors; accounting fundamentals, risk decision-making; and management, strategy and corporate culture. You will also have the opportunity to undertake governance projects in both profit and non-profit organisational contexts.
This course is part of the Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship (AGSE)
Duration
3 years part-time
Study mode
- Part-time

Be an innovator
Undertake this course and you’ll be joining other change-makers at Swinburne’s Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship – the first dedicated entrepreneurship school in the nation. One of our unique AGSE offerings, this course will give you the mindset of edge.
“Entrepreneurship,” says AGSE Director, Alex Kaiser (pictured), “is about questioning the status-quo, identifying opportunities, making decisions and implementing ideas. Concisely, it’s about having impact.”
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
The Master of Corporate Governance will equip you to become a governance professional with a thorough understanding of law, leadership, design thinking, risk and governance issues. The role of governance is becoming more important and evident due to highly visible corporate failures, executive remuneration and corporate decision-making. A mastery of governance is becoming more important for those in senior roles, including board members, company directors, members of the C-suite, company secretaries, accountants and those working within the areas of audit, risk, strategy and compliance. Equipping graduates with this knowledge will help them to navigate legal and governance issues in decision-making.
The Master of Corporate Governance forms the third stage in a nested suite of programs consisting of:
- Graduate Certificate of Corporate Governance
- Graduate Diploma of Corporate Governance ^
- Master of Corporate Governance
Master of Corporate Governance (Advanced)
^ Students are unable to enrol directly into the Graduate Diploma of Corporate Governance but it is available as an exit award.
A student cannot be awarded two masters level courses from the same nested suite.
Course structure
To qualify for the award of Master of Corporate Governance, students must complete 12 units (or equivalent) (150 credit points) comprising of:
- 9 core units (112.5 credit points)
- 3 Elective units (37.5 credit points)
Maximum Academic Credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Master of Corporate Governance is 75 credit points (normally six units)
Units of study
Want to know more about the units that make up your course, how many units you need to complete, our recommended study sequence, and what your timetable looks like this year? Check out our Course Planner and get enrolled.
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Career opportunities, course aims and objectives and graduate skills.
Career opportunities
Aims and objectives
At completion of the Master of Corporate Governance, graduates will be able to:
- apply coherent, advanced and integrated knowledge of corporate governance and enterprise governance concepts in diverse contexts 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 and function as an effective member or leader of a diverse team
- apply governance fundamentals to the analysis, design and operation of a business model using appropriate governance methods and tools, in a variety of contexts
- demonstrate professionalism, integrity, ethical conduct, professional accountability and a deep awareness of professional practices in a global and sustainable context
- reflect on and take responsibility for their own learning and self-management processes by regularly reviewing performance as a means of managing continuing professional development and lifelong learning
- apply advanced knowledge of research methods to plan and execute a piece of research with some independence.

Graduate skills
The Swinburne graduate attributes signify that Swinburne intends that its teaching programs assist all its graduates to be:
- 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
- Pathways, credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Fees, entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Course fees
Entry requirements
successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Corporate Governance **
*Relevant professional/managerial experience and evidence of academic capability will be determined by the Faculty PVC (or delegate) with reference to Faculty determined guiding principles. Applicants will be required to submit a curriculum vitae (CV) with their application. Documents substantiating relevant experience are required, clearly detailing roles and duration, as well as evidence of formal and non-formal learning. Where relevant experience is used for the basis of admission, no further recognition for prior learning/credit can be granted on that basis.
**Students entering under this admission requirement will be given full credit for the units completed.