15 Best Business Courses Online in Australia

The Diploma of Business is Australia's number one online training course. No other program offers as many specialisations and elective units.

The diploma consists of 12 subjects, including 5 core units and 7 electives. Nine specialisations (majors) are potentially available. Up to 99 different subjects may be offered by business colleges.

This course of study offers lasting career value. With changes in the Australian Qualifications Framework, the diploma replaced several others.

Almost every university in Australia offers a Bachelor of Business or Bachelor of Commerce degree. The undergraduate degree is for school leavers who achieve the required ATAR (or equivalent) score to get into the program of their choice.

Degrees are more flexible than you might imagine. Generally, you can combine business studies with other disciplines, such as technology, science or humanities. There's also no need to commit to a particular major in your first year.

Earning a bachelor degree may be all you need in terms of education to set up a great professional career. Through your studies, you'll build knowledge across the business disciplines while gaining advanced skills in some areas through electives and specialisations.

Related: Best Business Degrees Online in Australia

A Graduate Certificate in Business is a versatile course. Usually, the only entry requirements are that you have a bachelor degree (any discipline) OR comparable experience.

Graduate certificates are often introductory. Since they're embedded in masters programs, you may be asked to complete the foundation subjects for a degree such as an MBA or Master of Management.

But you can also do specialised training in these 4-subject courses. Popular grad certs include Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics and Graduate Certificate in Project Management.

A master's degree in business develops skills in areas such as finance, marketing, accounting, or analytics. It's postgraduate, often with 12 subjects. No need for a specific background, but it helps.

These degrees aim to boost your career. Whether it's getting into management with an MBA or specialising in areas like marketing or finance, there's a clear path to higher roles.

Online courses are popular and practical. They fit work schedules and offer direct benefits to your job. From an MBA to specialised fields like health management or project management, these programs are about getting ahead fast.

Related: Best Masters in Business Online in Australia

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a qualification for any professional who wants to advance their career. The management course is not just for "business people".

MBA programs give you the conceptual tools, strategies and language for taking on management and leadership roles. You gain general business skills, learnt for implementing as a manager and leader.

With online MBA degrees, you can study part-time while working full-time. Accelerated programs also give you the option to study steadily over the year and finish 33% faster.

When you study business, you acquire skills and knowledge in the activities that are common to businesses and other enterprises. Core subjects in a degree program include accounting, finance, human resource management, management and marketing.

Every business needs people who can do activities such as:

• keep and manage records of expenses, sales, borrowings and assets (accounting)
• acquire funds from lenders and investors and invest those funds into the business or elsewhere (finance)
• recruit and pay staff and manage their development and performance (human resource management)
• supervise and manage employees on a daily basis and allocate tasks (management)
• price products and services and promote them through advertising and partnerships (marketing).

As a course, business is learning about these administration activities and acquiring skills and strategies to do them well. As a graduate, you've acquired skills and knowledge that could be useful to almost any organisation.

Related: Is a Business Degree Worth It? Australia Guide

At any given time, around 45k Australians are choosing to study business online at university level (Source: uCube). And many more are taking online courses at TAFEs, colleges and with private training providers.

Online training is convenient and affordable. You can easily study part-time while working full-time. The qualification and skills you gain also have real value.

A business course gives you the opportunity to define your ambition … The sheer breadth of disciplines (such as economics, finance, marketing, human resources, management, strategy and law) gives you the chance to explore fields before finding the one that interests you most.
Asian Correspondent

The flexible nature of online study means that your study schedule can be made to fit around your professional and family commitments, not the other way around … Distance learning programmes give you complete access to your studies from anywhere in the world, 24/7.
London School of Business and Finance

A business degree is one of the most sought after credentials at university. It is also one of the most asked for by employers. All sectors of a modern economy rely on effective management, financial control and administration. A knowledge of business helps round out a CV.
University of Tasmania

Related: Is an Online MBA Worth It?

Because business is a practical discipline, the best course is the one that teaches you exactly what you'd like to know. Do you want to build knowledge in accounting and finance, human resource management, managing people, or marketing?

The good news is that general programs are widely available that will develop your skills across the key areas. A Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Bachelor of Commerce are all good choices. Master of Commerce and most MBA programs also provide a balance of general training and specialisation.

If you want to focus on a particular discipline, you can do that as well. An example is a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management.

Related: 10 Highest-Paying Business Degrees: Future Jobs

If you want to come to Australia to study at degree-level, you can choose almost any university in the country. Out of 41 mainstream universities, 39 have at least 500 international students enrolled in Management and Commerce programs.

Australian universities with most business students from abroad

1. RMIT University 15,910
2. Monash University 14,736
3. University of Sydney 11,400
4. Torrens University Australia 7,654
5. University of Melbourne 7,436
6. University of New South Wales 7,362
7. University of Queensland 7,210
8. Victoria University 6,736
9. University of Wollongong 6,392
10. Curtin University 5,890
11. University of Technology Sydney 5,639
12. Macquarie University 5,479
13. La Trobe University 5,077
14. Deakin University 4,891
15. CQUniversity 4,660

Source: Higher Education Statistics. Extracted on 4 April 2024.

Related: Best Online MBA Schools in Australia

There are a few key ways to learn leadership skills from training programs. One learning method is to study leadership theories and models. Dive in to understand the key characteristics and practices of effective leaders. Study real-world examples of successful leaders and analyse the strategies and tactics they used to achieve their goals.

You can also participate in activities and simulations that allow you to practice leadership skills. Soft skills such as decision making, problem solving, communication, and team building can all be built up with mindfulness and practice.

Additionally, you can learn leadership by engaging in discussions with instructors and classmates. You can collectively provide insights and feedback on leadership styles and approaches with structured conversations.

Related: Is a Masters in Leadership Worth It?