Part time MBA Courses Online in Australia

A part-time MBA is for professionals who work full-time and offers a reduced study load. Typically, study requirements do not encroach on working hours. It's the most popular type of MBA, with 78% of Australian postgraduate business students attending part time according to Higher Education data.

The best degrees are fully online, purpose-built for candidates with a full-time job. Online study is clearly favoured. At last count, 19,338 online learners were doing postgrauate business degrees part time, easily surpassing the 11,523 attending classes on campus.

Top 4 Programs

The UTS Online MBA offers specialisations in Business Analytics, Digital Marketing, Health, Organisational Learning, and Technology Management, as well as a Flex study stream. The program is structured in a sequence of twelve 7-week study blocks over 24 months. Each student tackles just one subject at a time, enhancing focus and fitting busy work schedules. This format is flexible, ideal for part-time learners, and allows for six candidate intakes annually. The 12-subject program is delivered by the AACSB-accredited UTS Business School.

The Southern Cross University online MBA is a flexible and affordable option, comprising 8 to 16 subjects based on your advanced standing. The part-time program can be completed in 16 to 32 months, with one subject taken every few months. Specialisations include Accounting, Health Services Management, Information and Knowledge Management, and Managing and Leading People. Entry requirements include a bachelor degree or equivalent professional experience. This program is suitable for those seeking a comprehensive MBA with minimal cost and fuss.

How Long Will the Degree Take?

An MBA completed part-time in Australia typically takes 2 years. This duration is standard for modern online 12-subject programs, where students complete one subject every 2 months. The programs are considered to be accelerated since candidates study year-round.

However, the duration can extend to 3 years if you are enrolled in a traditional on-campus program with a half-load. In such cases, students complete 2 subjects each semester, necessitating 6 semesters over 3 years.

Should You Do this Type of Course?

If you're not an international student, studying for your MBA part time is likely the best option. It allows you to advance your career and education simultaneously without sacrificing income.

We asked Lerna Courses Director and PhD economist Andrew Lancaster who should consider this form of study. His response: "About the only MBA students who study full-time in Australia are international students, along with graduates who don't have a good job to occupy their time. Online programs are so effective and convenient that most Australian MBA candidates study part time."

Enrolment statistics support his perspective. Postgraduate business courses are heavily attended by international students, with 82%, or 84,164, studying full-time. Conversely, only 13% of Australian students are classified as attending full time at a campus.