Here are 17 different types of business courses that are great for gaining knowledge and setting up a career. Choose the right specialisation and program for your future.
In a business course, you can study accounting, analytics, commerce, economics, finance, human resources, logistics, management, marketing, and more. Let's explore the best online business courses in Australia.
Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, these 17 types of courses will help you achieve your career goals. With the convenience and flexibility of online learning, you can study from anywhere at any time. So why wait? Start your journey to a successful business career today!
Specialisations
Top 17 Business Programs in 2023
This list of the best courses in business covers many important specialisations and is close to comprehensive. If you're interested in a business-related career, you can probably find the ideal kind of education program for your needs right here.
Accounting
Accounting courses prepare students to be professional accountants or pursue other finance-related careers where dollar figures matter.
Learning the discipline provides a strong platform for any business career. Accounting is known as the language of business and is central to financial management. Numerous job opportunities exist in both accounting and finance.
Bachelor degrees and professional masters programs both enable you to meet the education requirements for accreditation with professional accounting bodies in Australia... READ MORE
Business Administration
Studying business administration helps you to manage systems and people efficiently. This broad discipline is popular at all levels, from Certificate III and IV through to diploma, graduate diploma and MBA levels.
Business administration refers to practical activities such as budgeting, developing corporate documents, organising meetings and keeping financial records. But the term also covers soft skills, team management and leadership.
Every good administration program builds business skills that can be used across diverse workplaces, industries and disciplines... READ MORE
Business Analytics
Learning business analytics may really pay off if you have ability in maths, IT and finance. Most analytics courses are postgraduate, with students often coming from a business, technology or maths background.
Topics covered often covered in these programs include: customer analytics, data visualisation, machine learning, financial analytics, marketing analytics, principles of programming, and big data management.
Business analysts are in demand across all Australian industries. The job is about using data to help inform strategic management decisions... READ MORE
Business Management
Business management programs are for people who ultimately want to be the boss. You learn a structured approach to managing people and operations, applying insights into management and leadership best practices.
It can pay to study management as an asset towards getting your first supervisory position or as you climb the ranks. Not only do you learn management and leadership skills, but you become better at communicating your knowledge (which is good for interviews).
Business management career opportunities are available essentially everywhere... READ MORE
Commerce
Commerce programs are broad in scope. You gain knowledge across business disciplines, learning accounting, finance and marketing alongside chosen specialisations.
At university, you can study for a Bachelor of Commerce or Master of Commerce. The programs are hard to distinguish from Bachelor of Business and Master of Business degrees respectively.
Why study commerce? Probably, the main reason for choosing commerce is that you have a limited business education and want to gain strong foundational knowledge... READ MORE
Economics
By studying economics, you learn how economies and markets function. You also develop analytical and report writing skills.
Top economics graduates work as economists for government agencies and large corporations. But an economics degree is also valuable for other business careers. Analytical and other skills are highly transferable.
Completing an economics degree program demonstrates you have: (a) good all-round maths skills; (b) problem solving abilities and (c) determination when faced with a difficult task... READ MORE
Entrepreneurship
Being an entrepreneur requires some serious skills to back up your great idea and willingness to have a go. Entrepreneur courses focus on how to manage a small business and start new ventures.
Things you learn in entrepreneur programs include marketing, business strategy, corporate governance, managing virtual teams, research and development, innovation strategies, and commercialisation.
Studying entrepreneurship can be the start of an exciting journey as you join a community of people who take on challenges for potentially great rewards... READ MORE
Finance
Finance can be a lucrative sector to work in. But the only sure way to get there is to start with a good education.
At an undergraduate level, you can study for a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a Finance major. Combining finance and accounting in your studies is often recommended as well. Finance professionals should possess accounting skills.
Master of Finance programs are also popular. They're good for business graduates who want advanced skills as well as non-finance professionals looking to switch into the sector. You can specialise in Applied Finance as well as Financial Technology... READ MORE
Health Administration
Health administration is a discipline that you generally study after gaining experience in a health or social services industry. Postgraduate courses are popular with experienced professionals in the early stage of a management career.
We need health administrators to manage hospitals and aged care facilities. They're also needed to administer government healthcare programs and lead teams such as nursing units and social welfare agencies.
A Master of Health Administration or equivalent program is much like an MBA. But the curriculum is adapted for healthcare sectors... READ MORE
Human Resource Management
Specialising in human resource management opens up enormous job opportunities. HR managers and, indeed an HR team, can be found in almost any large organisation.
As well as there being many employers and jobs, you have a well-defined career path. You can start as an assistant and work up to senior executive positions.
To become a human resources manager, you can major in the field within a BBus or BCom degree. HR masters degrees are also available. HR programs teach you about recruitment, training, performance management and employee relations... READ MORE
Leadership
Leadership and management programs are ideal for experienced professionals who are aiming for senior roles. These business majors focus on developing leadership and management skills and tend to be light on technical content.
Some of the most popular programs in the category are Master of Leadership, Master of Management, Master of Health Management, Masters in Educational Leadership, and Masters in Nursing Management.
Leadership and management masters are designed with working professionals in mind. Accelerated part-time courses are available online... READ MORE
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Logistics and Supply Chain Management is a specialisation in which students learn how to coordinate productive activities.
You'll build knowledge around purchases, procurement, inventory control, distribution and transport. Another side is selling, including marketing, customer relations, partnerships and global networks.
The business major encompasses many of the essential functions in commercial operations and management. Graduates are employable in numerous roles, from warehouse management to analysis of large supply chains... READ MORE
Marketing
In a marketing or digital marketing course, you learn how to understand customers, reach your audience and convert interest into sales.
Digital marketing, including social media marketing, is prominent in many business programs. You can also do digital marketing courses, which have extra content on topics such as digital media platforms, analytics, and data-driven marketing strategy.
Popular marketing courses in Australia include diplomas, bachelor degrees, graduates certificates and masters. All courses are available 100% online... READ MORE
MBA
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is the world's most popular and famous postgraduate course, not just for business.
Why the fuss? An MBA provides management training. That makes the degree valuable to professionals from all disciplines. No matter your background, you can benefit from learning how to manage people and businesses once you've gained experience in the workplace.
Online MBA courses are usually taken part-time by working professionals. Numerous specialisations are available with Australian universities... READ MORE
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel training can bring you up to speed with the versatile software package.
Excel can be used to do just about anything involving data and information. MS Excel is a handy business tool with many uses. People who are proficient in Excel find many ways to improve productivity.
The software allows you to easily perform calculations, manage data and create lists. Excel is commonly used in accounting and HR and for transferring business data. Low-cost training courses show you the power of the platform... READ MORE
Project Management
There’s a whole science around the art of project management (if that’s not a contradiction). For experienced professionals, you can polish your skills in managing projects by studying for a diploma, graduate certificate, graduate diploma or masters degree.
Project management courses are often delivered by a business college or a university’s business school (but not always).
Students learn general principles and techniques. But you may also have the opportunity to manage applied projects in your particular field of work... READ MORE
Social Media Marketing
A Diploma of Social Media Marketing gives you tips and skills in this important and growing field. The training course will help make your social media efforts more professional.
A short, specialist course is the best way to gain or update your skills in social media campaigning. Communications and general marketing degrees are long and don't focus on social media.
Diploma courses use the knowledge of social media professionals. Instructors give students insight, strategies and practical training. You can learn techniques properly the first time instead of relying on trial and error... READ MORE
Accredited Business Programs in Australia
Every accredited business course in Australia is part of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). From Certificate I training courses through to doctorates, you can find a program to meet your education and learning goals. Here are some examples.
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... READ MORE
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... READ MORE
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 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... READ MORE
FAQs
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.
At any given time, around 50,000 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
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.
If you want to come to Australia to study at degree-level, you can choose almost any university in the country. Out of 40 mainstream universities, 39 have at least 500 international students enrolled in Management and Commerce programs.
Australian universities with most business students from abroad
- RMIT University 15,910
- Monash University 14,736
- University of Sydney 11,400
- Torrens University Australia 7,654
- University of Melbourne 7,436
- University of New South Wales 7,362
- University of Queensland 7,210
- Victoria University 6,736
- University of Wollongong 6,392
- Curtin University 5,890
Source: Higher Education Statistics. Extracted on 13 February 2023.
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.
