Graduate Certificate in Business courses are always popular among online learners. Let's explore the best programs from universities across Australia.
A Graduate Certificate in Business is a go-to program for business studies. The course is open to almost anyone and offers specialised training and a master's pathway. Explore fields such as analytics, management and marketing.
Top 8 Graduate Certificate in Business Online
Looking to further your career, but don't have the time for full-time study? Look no further than these top 8 Graduate Certificate in Business courses, all of which are available online for working professionals.
The programs offer an opportunity to gain advanced skills and knowledge, either broadly or in a specific area of business. They are shorter and often more focused than master's degrees. The courses are ranked based on factors such as course flexibility, affordability, and further study pathways.
Comparison table
| University | Specialisation | Cost | Subjects |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNSW Online | Business | $17,880 | Business Economics, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Financial Management, Foundations of Marketing, Law, Regulations and Ethics, Managing with Digital Technology, Managing Yourself and Others, Strategies for Disruption |
| UTS Online | Business Administration | $17,000 | Accounting for Decision Makers, Leading People and Change, Managerial Economics, and Marketing in the Age of Technology |
| RMIT Online | Commerce | $15,840 | Students design their own program, with a focus on fields such as general management, marketing, project management, logistics and supply chains, finance, and human resources |
| SCU Online | Business | $11,960 | Accounting for Managers, Business Analytics, Management Communication, and Organisational Behaviour |
| RMIT Online | Business Administration | $18,240 | Design Thinking for Business, Leadership and Management, Marketing for Managers, and Financial Analytics for Managerial Decisions |
| JCU | Business Administration Global | $14,800 | Data Analysis and Decision Modelling, Information Management and Analytics Technology, Marketing Strategy, Analytics and Development, and Management and Leadership Skills |
| UoA | Business Administration | $18,984 | Accounting and Financial Management, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Leadership and Influencing, and Marketing for Managers |
| UTS Online | Business Consulting and Technology Implementation | $15,985 | Microsoft Dynamics 365, Business Processes, Stakeholder Engagement and Storytelling, and electives of Accounting Practices & Tools, Delivering Customer Value, Foundations of Business Analytics, and Supply Chain Essentials |
Source: University websites. Information accurate at time of publishing. Updated: 25 Feb 2023.
UNSW Online – Graduate Certificate in Business
The 100% online Graduate Certificate in Business from UNSW provides relevant, practical skills. The flexible course is delivered by the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at UNSW’s Business School. You can choose any four (4) subjects from a selection of eight (8): Business Economics, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Financial Management, Foundations of Marketing, Law, Regulations and Ethics, Managing with Digital Technology, Managing Yourself and Others, Strategies for Disruption. The course articulates into a Master of Management. Each subject runs over 7 weeks. Open to degree holders and professionals with 3+ years' experience. Tuition fee: $17,880.
UTS Online – Graduate Certificate in Business Administration
Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from UTS Online is an 8-month, part-time foundation course for a flexible MBA. Students complete four subjects: Accounting for Decision Makers, Leading People and Change, Managerial Economics, and Marketing in the Age of Technology. The program adopts a manager's perspective throughout. With 100% online delivery, students can work full-time while learning to better solve real-world business problems. The course is part of the UTS Online MBA, which offers specialisations in analytics, digital marketing, health, organisational learning, and technology management. The cost is $17,000, with FEE-HELP loans available.
RMIT Online – Graduate Certificate of Commerce
RMIT University's Graduate Certificate of Commerce is a flexible online program for professionals seeking a new or improved career. Students design their own program, with a focus on fields such as general management, marketing, project management, logistics and supply chains, finance, and human resources. The program comprises 4 subjects, each lasting 7 weeks, and can be completed in 8 months part-time. Tuition fees for 2023 are $15,840. Graduates can continue their studies at the master's level into different programs. Students are offered synchronised study sessions, discussion boards, and rigorous assessments to promote critical thinking and interaction.
SCU Online – Graduate Certificate in Business
Graduate Certificate in Business online from Southern Cross University offers business success training. Students develop skills in practical areas that have a high impact on job and company performance. The highly affordable course can be completed over 8 months of part-time study. After graduating, you're halfway towards a Graduate Diploma in Business and a third of the way towards earning an MBA. Entry requirements: A bachelor degree (any discipline) OR equivalent experience. Tuition fees are $11,960 in total in 2023. You'll study Accounting for Managers, Business Analytics, Management Communication, and Organisational Behaviour.
RMIT Online – Graduate Certificate in Business Administration
The RMIT Online Graduate Certificate in Business Administration is an 8-month intensive part-time program, comprising of four core courses: Design Thinking for Business, Leadership and Management, Marketing for Managers, and Financial Analytics for Managerial Decisions. The program focuses on developing leadership skills for Industry 4.0 and provides access to current, industry-informed content. The online learning platform connects students with academics and other students worldwide. Enrolment is available every two months, and the program provides a pathway to further MBA studies. The cost is $18,240 in 2023.
JCU – Graduate Certificate of Business Administration Global
Graduate Certificate of Business Administration Global from James Cook University is a part-time, 8-month online program that costs $14,800 in total. The course develops skills and knowledge to become an effective leader with a global perspective. Students study one subject at a time, with a program of four subjects: 'Data Analysis and Decision Modelling', 'Information Management and Analytics Technology', 'Marketing Strategy, Analytics and Development', and 'Management and Leadership Skills'. Upon completion, you can choose to leave with your qualification or continue studying towards a Graduate Diploma of Business Administration Global or MBA Global.
UoA – Graduate Certificate in Business Administration
The Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from the University of Adelaide contains four subjects: Accounting and Financial Management, Entrepreneurial Mindset, Leadership and Influencing, and Marketing for Managers. Each subject takes six weeks of part-time online study to complete. Participants gain new ideas, build influence, and have more impact to advance their careers. The program also offers free career coaching to help students refine their personal brand and interview skills. The degree has a total cost of $18,984, which equates to $4,746 per subject (based on 2023 fees). It represents the first third of a well-rounded MBA program from the Adelaide Business School.
UTS Online – Graduate Certificate in Business Consulting and Technology Implementation
Drive digital transformation using business, human-centric, and technical skills. To address the global talent shortage of skilled consultants, UTS Online presents the Graduate Certificate in Business Consulting and Technology Implementation. You'll learn 'Microsoft Dynamics 365' and 'Business Processes'. Students also study 'Stakeholder Engagement and Storytelling', and can choose from electives of 'Accounting Practices & Tools', 'Delivering Customer Value', 'Foundations of Business Analytics', and 'Supply Chain Essentials'. In the 'Technology Consultation Studio', you'll assess a client's needs using Dynamics and present recommendations. Cost: $15,985 for the whole course.
Popular Specialisations in Australia
If you want to do a specialised grad cert that focuses on a particular discipline, you can usually find what you're looking for. Here are 10 of the most popular majors, with links to more info on individual courses.
Specialisations
Business or Commerce
A Graduate Certificate in Business or Commerce provides you with the opportunity to study useful subjects. The grad cert builds the foundations for a master's degree, such as a Master of Business Administration. Online courses are flexible, allowing you to study part-time while working full-time.
Business Administration
Business Administration is a general program of study for managers and professionals seeking management roles. The postgraduate course usually forms part of a Master of Business Administration (MBA).
The MBA pathway course is open to graduates of any discipline, including non-business majors. Experienced professionals without a degree may also be accepted.
You're likely to study a combination of leadership, management and specialist topics in the 4-subject course. Completed subjects count as credit towards an MBA degree... READ MORE
Business Analytics
With vast amounts of data available at our fingertips, analytics is an extremely valuable skill to hold. You can develop your analytics capabilities with a Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics.
Analytics courses vary in their purpose and content. You can do an introductory course for managers, with the aim to improve your digital literacy and ability to work with analysts. Other courses are more technical, potentially providing the platform for an analytics career.
If you're interested in analytics, it's well worth exploring postgraduate courses available online... READ MORE
RMIT | UNSW | UTS Online
Business Consulting
Consultancy skills are valuable to develop whether you work as a consultant, have ambitions to do so, or would just like to round out your skill set. A business consulting course covers topics such as business planning, presentations, stakeholder engagement, analytics, and management consulting.
Business Management
A Graduate Certificate in Business Management or Graduate Certificate in Management may be a course that forms part of a Master of Management degree. You choose subjects from the MM program. Students build managerial, financial and technology skills that enable you to thrive as a leader in modern Australian workplaces.
Finance
Finance is a core business subject and many postgraduate study options exist. As well as a graduate cert in finance, you can specialised in the closely related areas of Applied Finance or Financial Technology.
If you haven't studied finance before, you can start with a foundations course. A foundations grad cert is designed to prepare students for advanced topics contained in a Master of Finance program.
For finance professionals, you can do a specialised course or customise your program through your choice of electives... READ MORE
Health Management
Health professionals wanting to move into management and leadership roles may benefit from a healthcare qualification such as a Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management. Graduates can also opt to continue studying for a Master of Health Management or similar.
Health management (or health administration) is comparable to business management as a study field. A key difference is that subjects are presented in a health industry context.
Topics may include Australia's healthcare system; health analytics; organisational management; and achieving safety, quality and budget goals... READ MORE
A Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management qualifies you for HR jobs and is a pathway to a masters. To gain entry, you should have a bachelor degree OR at least five years of professional experience.
Most short postgraduate courses in HR management are introductory, serving as a platform for further learning. If you've studied HR before, try to find a course giving you access to advanced subjects in the master's program.
HR is a specialist field and covers topics such as performance management, people and organisational management, and employment law... READ MORE
Marketing
You can advance your marketing career with a postgraduate course on marketing, or digital marketing specifically.
These courses are available to people experienced in marketing as well as those looking to break into the field. You can generally find a suitable course of study to match your education and professional background and learning goals.
A postgraduate certificate in marketing is a business course but you don't need to have studied business before. Foundation courses are available that start with basic concepts and tools before moving on to advanced topics... READ MORE
Project Management
For a university qualification in project management, consider a Graduate Certificate in Project Management. As well as building foundation skills, you can always choose to continue studying for a graduate diploma or masters.
Postgraduate project management courses are typically open to people with a university degree (any discipline) or 5+ years of industry experience.
Expect to learn core knowledge in a PM grad cert course, covering subjects such as project management principles, contract management, team management, and PM techniques... READ MORE
What You'll Study (Course Structure)
A Graduate Certificate of Business may consist of four core subjects or, alternatively, may allow you to choose some or all your four subjects as electives. The difference reflects how the course fits within the business school’s postgraduate program: either as a foundation for a masters or as a flexible training investment.
Subjects commonly offered include professional disciplines such as accounting and finance, economics, management, and marketing. Here are 3 example subject lists.
SCU Online
- Accounting for Managers
- Economics and Quantitative Analysis
- Management Communication
- Organisational Behaviour
UNSW (A)
- Business Economics
- Financial Management
- Foundations of Marketing
- Law, Regulations and Ethics
UNSW (B)
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Managing with Digital Technology
- Managing Yourself and Others
- Strategies for Disruption
Learning Outcomes
A grad cert in a business discipline allows you to pick up practical skills and establish a platform for further learning and development. Depending on the course, you can build foundation knowledge or develop specialist skills.
Here are examples of specific learning outcomes. Successfully completing the corresponding subject may allow you to do the following.
- Apply strategies for managing collaboration and conflict.
- Use enterprise and economic data to inform management decisions.
- Interpret financial statements for an organisation.
- Design and manage a marketing plan.
Career Opportunities
Even if you don't go on to complete a master's degree, studying for a grad cert is worth it. The relatively short course is aimed at recent university graduates or mid-career professionals looking to develop job-relevant skills.
A specialist qualification in, say, analytics, finance, human resource management or marketing may be enough to make you competitive for jobs in that field. Likewise, a management course supports executive careers by developing business and leadership skills.
Earning a postgraduate qualification will also bolster your resume. And the skills you pick up could create opportunities by taking your on-the-job performance to the next level.
e-Learning Environment
The online learning environment is designed to make it easy for you to earn your graduate certificate. For a start, online programs are designed with working professionals in mind. A typical course has you completing one subject from start to finish every couple of months. And that's generally without having to sit an exam.
Everything you need to complete the course 100% online should be available via your online study portal. This will also provide access to chat forums and other platforms for connecting to classmates and instructors. Each student is assigned a Student Success Advisor (or similar), who is there to help with any non-academic questions or issues.
Entry Requirements
The entry requirements are, for most courses, a bachelor degree and/or professional experience. You just need a degree or to have worked in a professional setting of some kind for a few years. Exact entry specifications vary by university.
Here are examples of course admission requirements. Enquire for further details.
To gain entry, you need a bachelor degree OR professional experience regarded by the University as equivalent to a degree.
All students need to be proficient in English. English language requirements apply to international students from non-English speaking countries.
To be eligible, you need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline OR at least 3 years’ relevant work experience.
Relevant work experience may include clerical, administrative, supervisory or management work, along with banking, finance, marketing or other business-related experience.
English language proficiency requirements apply for students with international qualifications. Fully online courses are unsuitable for international students to intend to study on an Australian student visa.
FEE-HELP loans from the Australian Government are available to eligible students.
FAQs
A Graduate Certificate in Business is defined as a short postgraduate program of study focused on an area of business. It's often designed for students who have already earned a bachelor's degree in business or another field and want to gain knowledge and skills in a particular discipline, such as finance, marketing, or human resources.
Some courses also provide a broad-based introduction to business studies, serving as the platform of a master's program.
A grad cert is equivalent to a degree in some ways. It sits at Level 8 in the Australian Qualifications Framework, just above a bachelor degree and just below a masters.
Notably, at usually four subjects long, the course is much shorter than a full-fledged master's degree program. While covering less than a degree program, it can also be completed much more quickly and at far lower cost.
Many students pursue a business grad cert to enhance their knowledge and skills in their current field or to prepare for a career change. Most programs in Australia allow students to apply their credits toward a master's degree if they decide to continue their education.
Let's compare graduate certificates with graduate diplomas.
It must be stated that a graduate diploma is essentially an extended grad cert. Both sit at Level 8 in the Australian Qualifications Framework, alongside an honours bachelor degree. Whereas a Graduate Certificate normally consists of four subjects, a Graduate Diploma is typically 8 subjects long.
Generally, a program that offers a graduate diploma qualification will contain an embedded graduate certificate course. After completing the four subjects, you can do another four subjects and earn a graduate diploma. A master's degree would then be a further 4-8 subjects away.
Compared to a grad dip, a grad cert is considered to be a shorter, more targeted form of postgraduate education.
A graduate certificate is a relatively short course that improves the career prospects of many students in Australia. You can go from having no formal education in a discipline to having a postgraduate university qualification in that particular field. A graduate certificate in business is worth it because it offers a high career payoff at limited cost
Some examples of specialisations are analytics, business itself, finance, human resource management and digital marketing. Adding the qualification to your resume allows you to confidently apply for jobs in the relevant business field. The credential demonstrates knowledge and an interest in the discipline.
What also makes it worthwhile is the ability to continue studying for a graduate diploma or master's degree after completing the course. If you stay with the same university, you'll almost always be able to count completed subjects as credit towards a higher qualification.
