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Advance your career in business with this flexible course tailored to suit your professional interests, whether in economics, marketing, international business, or entrepreneurship. Learn alongside leading industry experts with opportunities for real-world learning and networking in domestic and international settings.

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#1

in Queensland for full-time employment outcomes* *Good Universities Guide 2022, PG Business

$96,400

Median graduate salary* *Good Universities Guide 2022, PG Business

Ignite your career

82% of graduates were satisfied with their skills development* *Good Universities Guide 2022, PG Business

Available to Australian students for inter-campus study in Singapore. Conditions apply.

Townsville: February, May, September
Brisbane: February, May, September

$28,160.00^{^}

^{^}estimated annual tuition fee for a full-time study load

Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible

1.5 years full-time

or part-time equivalent

AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a cognate discipline; or AQF level 8 degree; or 4 year managerial experience that satisfies the course co-ordinator's requirements

116204

What to expect

Enhance your career prospects with JCU’s Master of Business Administration (MBA). Gain an in-depth understanding of sustainable enterprise, corporate strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship. JCU MBA graduates are highly sought after for their ability to analyse current practices and outcomes in a business or organisation and develop innovative methods for enhancing its enterprise and success.

JCU’s Master of Business Administration degree has a strong focus on applying and integrating sustainable economic, social and environmental business performance methods to new or existing business models. You will learn how to evaluate the context of a business or organisation and identify the appropriate performance method/s that will enhance its performance or solve a key issue within the business’s framework. You will study a broad body of theoretical and technical knowledge and gain skills in critically analysing complex contemporary business issues and making effective decisions or recommendations for improvement.

This Master of Business Administration degree has six core subjects covering a broad range of topics and will equip you to work effectively in any field of business. You can specialise your degree by choosing from nine majors, including Analytics and Business Solutions, Conflict Management and Resolution, Marketing, Finance and Management. You can also choose to undertake either a research project, or a professional internship with one of JCU’s leading industry partners. Both the research project and the internship provide extensive experience that will prepare you for your future career as well as networking opportunities that will benefit your professional development.

Advance your business career and develop the skills to lead innovative and sustainable change. JCU MBA graduates are highly valued by employers for their expert knowledge, skills, and experience, particularly in relevance to the Tropics.

Majors

Analytics and Business Solutions

Learn how to analyse large volumes of data for trends, patterns and relationships that give insight into a business’ performance, its key audiences and demographics, and the market it operates in. In this major, you’ll be equipped to manage information resources, build basic business intelligence systems, interpret business statistics and develop practical decision models. Use your analytical and decision-making skills to help businesses improve their strategic operations for increased success.

Conflict Management and Resolution

Conflict management and resolution is a key ability in many fields, including in workplaces, in legal contexts, in domestic disputes and even throughout your everyday life. Learn how to guide others through conflict to reach a positive resolution that meets the needs of each person involved. Your understanding of the different conflict management styles and the best methods for engaging in conflict resolution will prepare you to provide effective resolution services in multiple settings and contexts.

Creative Marketing

Learn how to use your creativity to strategically engage your target demographic in unique and inspiring ways that connect your audience to your brand. In this major, you’ll find out how e-strategic management, analytics and innovation can help your brand thrive in domestic and international markets. You’ll learn how to creatively engage your audience through advertisement campaigns, targeted messaging and storytelling, and customer experiences in both digital and physical spaces.

Entrepreneurship

Discover how to become an effective manager and gain the knowledge and skills you need to develop and manage a successful business. In this major, you’ll learn how to identify an idea with potential as well as how to bring that idea into reality. You will learn about the strategies and operations involved in new business ventures and how to navigate short-term goals and long-term growth for your business.

Finance

Study funds management, financial markets and risk management. You will learn the different approaches to managing financial institutions, including commercial banks, rural cooperatives and microfinance institutions.

Develop the skills to help businesses develop and thrive, whether they're government, non-government, private or not-for-profit organisations. With an understanding of international finance and sustainable economic growth, employers will value your theoretical and practical knowledge.

Global Talent Management

Gain the knowledge and skills to improve the way we work in the 21st century. The Global Talent Management major focuses on leading and managing organisational change and exploring methods for solving contemporary issues in human resource management. You’ll learn about HR analytics and decision making as well as pillars of modern global talent management such as data analysis, employee experience, tax and legal compliance, and integrated technology.

Leadership

Use your love of innovation, entrepreneurship and people-management to strengthen your employability. Learn how to lead businesses in highly competitive environments, solve complex organisational problems, plan effectively and hire the right employees. Managing finances, resources, and direct business operations with confidence in a fast-paced setting. You will learn a variety of transferable skills, important in managing a business or team in any industry.

MICE, Tourism and Hospitality

Stand out from the crowd with this major and manage tourism and hospitality attractions, events, and services. Learn about the strategies and standards of the hospitality and tourism industry as well as the key business areas of meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE).

Gain the professional expertise to manage, plan, and market the food, recreation, accommodation and tourism industry. Your in-depth understanding of hospitality will allow you to create amazing travel and event experiences while meeting target goals of generating revenue, increasing brand awareness and engaging with stakeholders.

Project Management

Learn how to harness your passion, resolve and vision to deliver groundbreaking results for business, government and the community. Develop vital skills in linear planning, leadership and management, and risk assessment in complex projects.

Be in high demand as a professional in a field equally important across disciplines, industry sectors and government both in Australia and internationally. Gain the skills and expertise to guide businesses towards success during turbulent times, contributing to the prosperity, health, safety and sustainability of tropical communities.

View the handbook for more information.

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment,and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Master of Business Administration.

Career Opportunities

JCU Master of Business Administration graduates have outstanding leadership skills and are sought after in a wide range of industries.

Graduates pursue careers in economics, finance, human resource management, marketing, accounting, business law, and information technology.

You could work as a management consultant, marketing manager, market research analyst, investment banker, operations manager, or financial advisor.

Handbook

Master of Business Administration

Handbook year	2022
Course code	116204
Course type	Masters by Coursework (AQF Level 9)
Owner	Division of Tropical Environments and Societies
College	Business, Law and Governance

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites	The following course pre-requisites have been designed to ensure the assumed base introductory knowledge within the Accounting, Marketing and Management disciplines. Completion of an AQF level 7 bachelor degree in a cognate* discipline from this or another university; or Completion of an AQF level 7 bachelor degree in any discipline from this or another university and two years business experience in a managerial role; or completion of an AQF level 8 honours degree in any discipline from this or another university; or completion of an AQF level 8 Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from this or another university; or four years business experience in a managerial role, to the satisfaction of the course coordinator; or Other qualifications or practical experience recognised by the Dean, College of Business Law and Governance as equivalent to the above. Cognate disciplines: accounting and finance, marketing, management, commerce, human resource management, economics, tourism and hospitality or other disciplines where students will have completed study relating to organisational behaviour, business, strategy, marketing, economics, communication and people management. *Business experience: applicants must have a minimum of 4 years full-time equivalent professional work experience in a management, leadership or supervisory level in a business environment or be eligible for a member grade status of a relevant professional organisation. Students will have demonstrable effective management experience relating to organisational behaviour, business, strategy, accounting, marketing, economics, communication and people management.
Minimum English language proficiency requirements	Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 2 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy or have successfully completed an AQF 8 qualification from James Cook University within the previous two (2) years.

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points	36 credit points as per course structure
Course learning outcomes	JCU graduates are committed to lifelong learning, intellectual development, and to the display of exemplary personal, professional and ethical standards. They have a sense of their place in the tropics and are charged with professional, community, and environmental responsibility. JCU graduates appreciate the need to embrace and be acquainted with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples of Australia. They are committed to reconciliation, diversity and sustainability. They exhibit a willingness to lead and to contribute to the intellectual, environmental, cultural, economic and social challenges of regional, national, and international communities of the tropics. On successful completion of the Master of Business Administration, JCU graduates will be able to: Critically analyse complex business-related knowledge and practice from both historical and recent perspectives; Evaluate contexts within which differing sustainable business performance methods should be integrated and applied; Evaluate sustainable economic, social and environmental practices and value systems from different disciplinary perspectives; Apply knowledge of research principles, methods, techniques and tools to apply established concepts to solve business and professional practice problems; Critically analyse complex contemporary business issues using appropriate models and make reasoned recommendations based on multidisciplinary synthesis of theory and evidence; Apply creative and innovative thinking effectively to business theory and practice Communicate complex business analyses and information appropriately to diverse audiences Demonstrate the ability to work effectively in achieving common goals, demonstrating both collaboration and leadership Adapt sustainable business constructs and skills to novel theoretical or practical situations Exercise independent ethical judgment and initiative in solving differing business problems creatively Demonstrate a capacity for personal reflection and self-development in relation to professional business learning and practice. Learning outcomes for this course are consistent with those outlined in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) for Masters level coursework programs.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements

Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Master of Business Administration.

Reasonable adjustments

All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

LB5203:03 Sustainable Enterprise

LB5113:03 Corporate Strategy

LB5233:03 Innovation and Entrepreneurship

CO5124:03 Data Analysis and Decision Modelling or LB5237:03 Managerial Accounting for Decision Making (Singapore students)

LB5241:03 Leadership Futures

LB5235:03 Applied Research Project or LB5520:03 Professional Project/Internship

PLUS

Select 6 credit points of subjects from List 1

PLUS

Select one of the following Options

Option 1 (General Stream)

Select 6 credit points of any level 5 subjects

PLUS

Select 6 credit points of level 5 subjects with a prefix of CO, CP, EC, LB, PL or TO

Option 2 (Major)

Select a Major from Table A

List 1

LB5229:03 Economics for a Sustainable World

LB5230:03 Managing Strategic Resources and Operations

LB5231:03 Corporate Responsibility and Governance

LB5237:03 Managerial Accounting for Decision Making

TABLE A (MAJORS)

Type of major	Optional, single
Credit points in major	12 credit points

MAJOR	AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
Analytics and Business Solutions	JCU Singapore
Conflict Management and Resolution	JCU Townsville External	Available in mixed attendance mode at the JCU Townsville City Campus
Creative Marketing	JCU Singapore
Entrepreneurship	JCU Brisbane JCU Singapore JCU Townsville External
Finance	JCU Singapore External
Global Talent Management	JCU Singapore
Leadership	JCU Brisbane JCU Townsville External
MICE, Tourism and Hospitality	JCU Singapore
Project Management	JCU Brisbane JCU Townsville External

Location

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
JCU Brisbane	Not all majors are available
JCU Singapore	Not all majors are available
JCU Townsville	Not all majors are available

Candidature

Expected time to complete	1.5 years full-time or equivalent part-time (1 year full-time or equivalent part-time at JCUS)
Maximum time to complete	5.5 years
Maximum leave of absence	1 year

Progression

Course progression requisites	Nil
Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	No
Special assessment requirements	Nil
Professional accreditation requirements	Nil
Supplementary exam for final subject	A student who has failed a single subject towards the award in their final teaching period and who gained 40% or more of the marks for that subject may be granted a supplementary examination in that subject. However if that subject is required for accreditation, then the criteria specified by that accreditation will apply.

Credit

Eligibility	Students may apply for a credit transfer for previous tertiary study or informal and non-formal learning in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure Credit will be granted for the following: The JCU Diploma in Business Administration – 12 credit points Graduate Diploma in a cognate discipline* - up to 12 credit points Note that where employment experience without qualifications, as provided for in the Admission Requirements, is used to meet entry requirements, that experience will not also be used to give credit. *Cognate disciplines: Accounting and Finance, Marketing, Management, Commerce, HRM, Economics, Tourism and Hospitality or other disciplines where students will have completed study relating to organisational behaviour, business, strategy, marketing, economics, communication and people management.
Maximum allowed	12 credit points
Currency	Credit will be granted only for studies completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course.
Expiry	Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 15.5 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed the course.
Other restrictions	Credit will not be granted for undergraduate studies or for work experience used to gain admission to the course when assessed separately for admission requirements.

Award Details

Award title	MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Approved abbreviation	MBA
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Majors will appear on the testamur
Exit with lesser award	Students who exit the course prior to completion, and have completed the relevant number of credit points and appropriate subjects, may be eligible to receive one of the following awards: Graduate Diploma of Business Administration Graduate Certificate of Conflict Management and Resolution
Course articulation	Not applicable

Fees and scholarships

Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD28,160.00

A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.

A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.

Pathways to JCU

Consult the admission requirements section in the Handbook for prerequisites and pathways into this course.

How to apply

Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.

Student

Eyal Azulay

Master of Business Administration

This course gives an opportunity for emerging and existing leaders to develop strategic leadership skills to achieve personal and organisational goals. The course’s various subjects challenge me to think differently and provide me with essential tools to improve my communication and collaboration.
Alumni

Aaron Newman

Master of Business Administration

My professional development has benefited from the MBA in a number of ways, from applying new knowledge to my management role at the time to enabling me to think more strategically about the business. The lecturers connected us with emerging leaders in the business community, providing valuable network opportunities.
Student

Vinola Rita Miranda

Master of Business Administration

When I saw JCU offered a Master of Business Administration degree where I could major in Conflict Management and Resolution I was excited as I've always wanted to be a conflict management practitioner and it complements my Bachelor of Law undergraduate degree.
Lecturer

Associate Professor Josephine Pryce

Course Coordinator

Studying Business Administration is an important step for managers aspiring to advance their careers in a competitive labour market or to promote their own businesses. It allows for development of management skills across areas, such as people, marketing, financials, operations, innovation, entrepreneurship, and change
Lecturer

Damian Scanlon

Manager, MBA and Business Postgraduate Programs

JCU’s MBA program focuses on students’ professional development by sharpening their critical thinking, encouraging a global outlook, embracing team work, and increasing their capacity to redesign in systems and sustainability terms. Graduates demonstrate practical leadership in complex, transdisciplinary environments.