A Master of Business (MBA) degree is the most popular postgraduate program in Australia and internationally. And studying online is fast becoming the preferred way to earn this management masters.
Here’s a guide to online MBA programs in Australia, with advice on how you could use an online MBA to grow your future career.
Online MBAs are Popular in Australia
Online MBA programs in Australia are as popular as ever and seem to be overtaking the traditional classroom model. According to official enrolment statistics, the vast majority of Australians studying for an MBA do so online rather than exclusively on campus.
An estimated 51,222 Australians studied postgraduate Management and Commerce in 2023 (Extracted from Higher Education Statistics, 16 December 2024).
- Of these, 38,370 students studied in the “external” category (fully online).
- Another 2,107 postgraduate business students were in the “multi-modal” category.
- 10,745 were classified as “internal” (or on-campus).
Why are online MBA’s so popular? In short, because they are convenient. You can study anytime from anywhere. Compare this to some of requirements, including international travel if you are from abroad, of doing a traditional MBA in Australia.
Unsurprisingly, most online MBA students in Australia are working professionals or other busy people who don’t have time to waste. They see the tremendous career advantages of an MBA qualification as worth the challenge of fitting study into their weekly schedule.
Australia’s Best Online MBA Degrees
Modern, flexible, and affordable are three of the key qualities that define Australia’s best online MBA programs. That’s according to Lerna Courses, which has ranked business schools for 2025.
Topping the list is the UTS Business School MBA. The program allows students to customise their studies with majors like Business Analytics, Digital Marketing, Health, Organisational Learning, and Technology Management. Alternatively, the Flex Stream offers a mix-and-match approach across specialisations.
Also making the Lerna Courses list is the Southern Cross University (SCU) Online MBA. This program stands out for its affordability, convenience, and balanced curriculum. Students can specialise in areas such as Accounting, Health Services Management, or Managing and Leading People.
Rounding out the top 3 is the RMIT Online MBA, which offers a future-focused curriculum. Students can specialise in Design Thinking, Technology and Innovation, Leadership, or Project Management. The program emphasises practical skills and interaction with industry experts.
These three MBAs also make the top 5 list at Learning Lab, which has its own method for comparing postgraduate business and management degrees.
Advice for Taking Online MBA Classes
Online MBA classes are difficult, and the culture of online learning differs from the traditional campus programs that most students are used to. Students often find that they have to redefine the way they learn and build new study skills.
Academic advisers normally caution students against underestimating the difficulties of online learning, such as the risk of feeling isolated. An online MBA is not any easier or somehow has a smaller workload than other kinds of MBA programs. And students need to be prepared to do the bulk of their learning on their own while also taking opportunities to engage with others online.
Find out what other online MBA students think
Planning how you will manage online learning is usually preferable to jumping into it nonchalantly. Talking to other online MBA students to find out more about their experiences is a good place to start, and will help you determine if online learning is really the way to go.
For example, online MBA students have reported that “virtual teaming” can be highly beneficial to the learning experience (Kim, Liu and Bonk). Choosing a program that offers this can, therefore, increase your chances of making it to the end.
Start with a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration
For most MBA programs, you can start by studying for a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration. In Australia, this is a 4-unit courses that typically represents a third of the full MBA program. Entry requirements are lower and you can often be admitted even if you lack a university degree (but have professional experience).
The advantage of doing a Grad Cert is that you can test if an online MBA program is really for you. If it’s not, you can leave after four units with new skills and a recognised qualification.
An example is the Graduate Certificate of Business Administration from Swinburne University of Technology. The course provides students with foundational knowledge and skills for pursuing further qualifications and/or a career in business management. Subjects are presented from the angle of engaging in entrepreneurial activities within organisations, covering operations management and leadership, strategic marketing, financial planning and decision-making.
Develop study strategies
Having strategies to address any academic problems before they arise is a good idea. For example, participating in study groups or online chat sessions with instructors and other students is a good way to guard against apathy.
Sticking to a regular study schedule can also be invaluable to maintaining consistent effort. Even if the university does not require it, this kind of professionalism helps ensures you are able to get your work done on time and achieve learning goals.
I was just reading about how online MBA programs are surging in Australia, in part due to the pandemic. I can’t think of any reason an online MBA program is any different than a traditional one. The subject material is the same and you have the same professors. The only difference is you don’t have to get out of bed and drive to university.
I recently moved to Australia with my wife. She wanted to be closer to family and I agreed that we should move back. I have found decent work but I want more so I have been looking into programs to gain an MBA in Australia. This has been the most helpful post on the topic I have found. I just wanted to say thank you for the information. I know things are a bit different here from the US so I can use all the help I can get on the topic!