Australia's best online business degrees cover accounting, administration, marketing and management subjects.
For each of the top 16 subjects / majors, you can see which are Australia's best 3 degrees. At bachelor and masters levels, find out:
- Why people choose the subject
- Study requirements and learning outcomes
- Career opportunities from an online business degree
- A shortlist of the top 3 online programs.
Subjects / Majors
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Accounting
Business Administration
Business Analytics
Economics
Entrepreneurship
Finance
Health Administration
HR Management
Leadership and Management
Logistics and Supply Chains
Management
Marketing
Project Management
Degrees and Courses
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BBus and BCom
Graduate Certificate
Master of Commerce
MBA
Postgraduate Courses
Accounting is a popular distance learning subject. Accounting skills are always in demand, offering high returns on your education investment. Online study is ideal since most accounting tasks are done in a digital environment anyway.
Bachelor degrees in accounting give students the opportunity to gain professional accreditation. Students complete the specific units required by professional bodies.
At a postgraduate level, you can choose units to match your needs. Online accounting courses can be used for a career shift (extended masters degree) or to pick up some accounting skills (graduate diploma). A masters course is typically 3 semesters long if you have an accounting degree…READ MORE
Bachelor degrees in Business and Commerce are flexible and can be combined with other disciplines (such as Law or Science). Studying business online does not necessarily limit your choice.
BBus and BCom degrees are available from Australia’s biggest online universities. Online programs are offered in both the traditional format (2-3 semesters per year) and as a series of short units (accelerated study).
A business or commerce course teaches students concepts and financial skills that are useful in professional roles and everyday life. Areas in which you may specialise include accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, financial analysis, management and marketing… READ MORE
With burgeoning volumes of data available to Australian companies, demand for business analysts is strong. You can learn business analytics with an online degree such as a Master of Analytics or Master of Business Analytics.
Postgraduate business analytics courses are popular among university graduates with backgrounds in fields such as business, technology, science, engineering and mathematics.
Students learn to apply data analytics to inform business management decisions. A good analyst understands business strategy and how to leverage data to produce useful insights… READ MORE
Economics is a niche profession but the study of economics is not. Students gain skills in mathematics, analysis and writing. They learn how income and wealth are generated.
Economic graduates may work as economists but usually apply their skills in a different field. Economics is useful in business professions, government and management. Graduates have demonstrated an ability to do maths, solve complex problems, and write analytical reports.
Economics can be studied online as part of a business or commerce program. You can also combine it with disciplines such as computer science or law. A Master of Economics degree is a way to build specialised skills or break into the profession... READ MORE
There are some fantastic online courses for learning skills to be an entrepreneur. Graduates are equipped to start businesses but also for jobs in accounting, financial analysis, public relations, marketing, and team management.
Being an entrepreneur requires many different qualities and skills.
- Online entrepreneurship courses give students a solid grounding in business studies.
- Programs also emphasise topics such as innovation, product development, capital raising and growth strategies.
- Applied projects help students develop job-ready skills… READ MORE
Finance professionals know accounting but focus more on investment strategy, trading, capital raising and other commercial deals. They are widely employed in banking, corporate finance, and financial advising.
- To become a financial expert, you should probably start with a business or commerce degree with a major in accounting and/or finance.
- Competition for jobs is high in Australia, so a Master of Finance may be needed to get a top position.
Online courses in finance are offered by many business schools, reflecting the subject's popularity and value in the labour market... READ MORE
The online Graduate Certificate in Business Administration is possibly the most popular postgraduate course in Australia. Many students take the course either as a stand-alone qualification or as part of their journey towards earning a Master of Business Administration.
Being admitted to the course is easier than gaining direct entry into an MBA program. Typically, the need to have a university degree is waived.
Students prove themselves by doing four business administration subjects. Receiving a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration means you are a third of the way towards completing an MBA degree… READ MORE
Health administrators plan, manage, monitor and coordinate systems of health care delivery.
Studying health care online develops the knowledge and skills you need for senior management, administration and planning positions in hospitals and other health service facilities.
Australian universities offer fully online masters degrees in health administration and management.
- The courses teach you how to be an effective administrator and give you credentials to compete for executive jobs.
- Flexible programs allow you to start any time of year… READ MORE
Studying Human Resource Management sets you up for a career as an HR manager. You can major in the field as part of a Bachelor of Business degree. Master of HR Management programs are open to graduates from any discipline.
Students build skills across the spectrum of HR management duties, including in employee relations, talent acquisition and retention, rewarding performance, healthy workplaces, employee development, and managing change.
With HR jobs to be found in almost every medium and large organisation in Australia, an HR management degree represents a solid career investment... READ MORE
Leadership and management is an area of study that's best left until after you gain significant professional experience. That way, you can relate what you're learning to your own experiences and the work you do on a daily basis.
Online masters in leadership and management are available from Australian universities. They may be called a Master of Leadership, an MBA with a leadership major, or similar. The programs are lighter in terms of technical content that typical MBA degrees, instead concentrating on leadership and management training... READ MORE
Logistics and Supply Chain Management is a useful specialisation because of its relevance to all businesses.
- Students learn a scientific/engineering approach to managing business interactions and flows.
- A good logistician or supply chain manager can significantly boost productivity.
A limited number of online universities offer Logistics and SCM as a major in a Bachelor of Business Degree. A few also run postgraduate courses.
If the specialisation is not available at your preferred business school, you have the option of designing a program yourself. The subject is broad and each online business course contains relevant units... READ MORE
Management is a business specialisation for people interested in administration, managing teams, and leading organisations.
An online Bachelor of Business (Management) degree starts preparing you for leadership.
- You learn how to approach organisational tasks in a structured, purposeful way.
- The degree provides conceptual tools as well as a qualification.
Management students build knowledge and skills in decision making, handling diversity, strategic planning, organisational behaviour, and commercial law. Studying online allows you to learn according to your own timetable… READ MORE
Marketing content can be found in every business degree and you can also do specialist programs. Bachelor of Business degrees offer marketing as a major while university graduates can go for a masters in marketing.
Marketing courses train students to take an analytical approach to driving sales. Marketing is a key business function on which business growth relies.
Online Study Australia presents the best online marketing degrees. Accelerated programs are available where you study marketing principles as well as technology subjects such as digital marketing and social media... READ MORE
Popular majors for a Master of Commerce degree include marketing, finance, human resources management and logistics. You usually graduate with a degree title such as Master of Marketing or Master of Finance.
- This type of degree is useful for expanding your business knowledge and skills in a broad way.
- Commerce masters are also flexible, allowing you to choose a program which suits your interests and goals.
If you have a non-business degree, a commerce masters is a better option for studying business for the first time than a 3-year undergraduate degree. You can start with a graduate certificate course, which will cover 4 units of the 12-unit masters program... READ MORE
A Master of Business Administration is a valuable qualification offering sustained salary benefits. An MBA can propel your career into executive roles in business strategy, management and leadership.
Most MBA candidates in Australia study online. Typically, students work full-time while studying. Sequential study, where you focus on one subject at a time, is the most common style. Each unit can be completed as part of an online class over 6-8 weeks.
Studying for an MBA online gives you maximum flexibility with managing time. You can also save money due to lower tuition fees... READ MORE
Project management is a postgraduate study field. A Masters in Project Management takes you through each of the key steps involved in managing a successful project.
Because every project is different, project management degrees are principles based. But a good program will connect theory to examples to make the lessons tangible.
A Master of Project Management may cover business topics, such as finance and contract management, but is open to professionals from all industries. Engineering, healthcare and software development are examples of sectors with high demand for project managers... READ MORE
Online Business Schools
Right now more than 30,000 online students are doing business and commerce degrees with Australian universities. Online business schools represent a strong and growing engine for professional development in Australia.
- For first-time university students, you can study for a 3-year Bachelor of Business or Bachelor of Commerce degree. Generally, you don't have to choose a major until the 2nd or 3rd year of the course.
- For university graduates, an assortment of postgraduate degrees and qualifications are available. These vary in length and can be specialist or general degrees. Many postgraduate students combine part-time study with full-time work.
Studying online is a convenient way to gain professional qualifications in fields such as accounting, administration, management, marketing and international business. It's the most cost-effective and time-conserving way to get a business degree.
Pathway programs
Pathway courses offer alternative access into business degree programs.
- A business diploma is a pathway to a bachelor degree. The course can be finished in as little as 6 months and counts as credit towards a degree.
- If you have significant professional experience, a graduate certificate may be the way to go. It's a versatile course and one-third of a masters.