CL39 - Master of Business Administration (Leadership)

Overview

Course Overview

A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is considered the degree of choice for an astute business professional’s employment portfolio. CQUniversity’s MBA (Leadership) offers an affordable, fresh, and compelling graduate educational experience. Delivered entirely online, this course of graduate business education is designed for emerging and aspiring leaders who want to have a positive impact. The MBA (Leadership) is intentionally lean from start to finish. Students are expected to work independently, and the course is designed to promote self-directed learning.

Course units align with industry expectations and include essential business functions, such as accounting/finance, law, marketing, communication, economics, human resources, operations, and research methods relevant to business analysis and strategy. All core areas are supplemented with a focus on leadership in a contemporary business environment, which expects both social and financial return on investments. Emphasis is therefore placed to developing the capacity to identify opportunities, resolve problems, create innovative solutions, and being entrepreneurial.

Contemporary competencies in theory and business practice are developed through problem solving and activity based learning. Primarily, learning is directed to identifying and solving business problems and creating new business opportunities that are also having a positive social impact. Essentially, the MBA curriculum and attributes provide what is required to become an internationally astute, agile and creative business leader.

The MBA (Leadership) comprises 11 discrete units (for a total of 72 Credit Points). This is approximately the equivalent of 12 to 18 months of full-time study. You can enrol, study and undertake assessment at times that suit you. Our MBA is not bound by term dates or submission deadlines. You have up to 5 years to complete the course.

Career Information

If you are seeking to reinvigorate your career, CQUniversity’s MBA (Leadership) is for you. Delivered 100% entirely online, this course is intended for aspiring leaders seeking to take the next career step.  The MBA (Leadership) is closely aligned with the industry capabilities expected of graduates and provides graduates with the skills and capabilities required to become an internationally astute business leader.

Course Details
Duration 5 years maximum
Credit Points that Must be Earned 72
Number of Units Required CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in postgraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24).
Expected Hours of Study One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term.
Course Type Postgraduate Award
Qualification (post nominal) MBusAdminLead
AQF Level Level 9: Masters Degree (Coursework)
Course Fees
Indicative Year - 2025
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $7,800
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $15,600
Indicative Year - 2024
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $13,776
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $6,888
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $13,776
Indicative Year - 2023
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $12,756
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $6,840
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $13,680
Indicative Year - 2022
  • International Indicative First Year Fee - $13,680
  • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $12,240
  • International Indicative First Term Fee - $6,840

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
Not Applicable
International Students
CRICOS Codes
Not Applicable
Where and when can I start?

Domestic Availability

Hyperflexible Annual Term - 2025

Online

Hyperflexible Annual Term - 2024

Online

Overseas Availabilities

Hyperflexible Annual Term - 2025

Online

Hyperflexible Annual Term - 2024

Online
For any problems regarding admissions availability for the selected course please contact 13 CQUni (13 27 86) or send us an email at http://contactus.cqu.edu.au/
What do I need to start?
Entry Scores
Entry scores are not available, please contact the Student Advice Team for more information
Entry Requirements

To be eligible for entry into the Master of Business Administration applicants must have one of the following:

  • A completed bachelor degree in any discipline from an Australian university or college, or equivalent, OR
  • A completed graduate certificate or graduate diploma from an Australian university or college, or equivalent, OR
  • A recognised diploma and two years relevant business experience, OR
  • Five years of relevant work or managerial experience

Relevant work experience should include an understanding of how a business operates, which includes a working knowledge of a range of areas such as human resource management, budgeting, project management, financial reporting, process management or other relevant professional experience.


English Language Proficiency Requirements

If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University.

Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion of:

  • A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
  • An Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) diploma level qualification, or
  • Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0.

Completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.

If you do not satisfy any of the above you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores as below:

  • An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 6.0 overall with a minimum 5.5 in each subset; or
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requires 550 or better overall & minimum TWE score of 4.5 (Paper Based Test), or 75 or better overall and no score less than 17 (Internet Based Test); or
  • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46; or
  • An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.

English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.

International Students should visit http://www.cqu.edu.au/international for further information.

Each student will be assessed individually.

Security Requirements
No information available at this time
Health Requirements
No information available at this time
Assumed Knowledge

N/A

Fees and Charges
Be Different
  • Indicative Year - 2025
    • International Indicative First Term Fee - $7,800
    • International Indicative First Year Fee - $15,600
  • Indicative Year - 2024
    • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $13,776
    • International Indicative First Term Fee - $6,888
    • International Indicative First Year Fee - $13,776
  • Indicative Year - 2023
    • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $12,756
    • International Indicative First Term Fee - $6,840
    • International Indicative First Year Fee - $13,680
  • Indicative Year - 2022
    • International Indicative First Year Fee - $13,680
    • Domestic Full Fee Paying – Indicative First Year Fee - $12,240
    • International Indicative First Term Fee - $6,840
Higher Education
Course Features

Awards and Accreditation

Interim Awards CM08 - Graduate Certificate in Business Administration (Leadership) CM07 - Graduate Diploma of Business Administration (Leadership)
Exit Awards CM08 - Graduate Certificate in Business Administration (Leadership) CM07 - Graduate Diploma of Business Administration (Leadership)
Accreditation
  • Core

    N/A

Residential School Requirements

No Residential School for this course.

Practicum/Work Placement

Not applicable

Previous and Current Enrolments

Year Number of Students
2024 158
2023 192
2022 222
2021 290
2020 489
Inherent Requirements
There are currently no inherent requirements associated with this course.
Core Learning Outcomes
  • 1. Evaluate business theory from a leadership perspective to improve business performance
  • 2. Apply contemporary leadership theory to business practice to analyse and solve problems
  • 3. Communicate effectively to build a culture of confidence, integrity, and innovation in an organisational environment
  • 4. Develop and communicate business strategy to effectively achieve strategic outcomes
  • 5. Innovate in legally and financially responsible ways to solve problems and create new opportunities
  • 6. Reflect critically on ethical behaviour in a leadership role, including demonstration of understanding and empathy in diverse environments.
  Course Learning Outcomes
Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors 1 2 3 4 5 6
1. KNOWLEDGE Have a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice
2. KNOWLEDGE Have an understanding of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning
3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory and professional practice or scholarship
4. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice
5. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level
6. SKILLS Have communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences
7. SKILLS Have technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice or scholarship
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use high level personal autonomy and accountability
10 APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship.
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Communicate, interact and collaborate with others effectively in culturally or linguistically diverse contexts in a culturally respectful manner
Course Structure

In order to complete this course, you must:

  1. Complete the core structure
Number of units: 11 Total credit points: 72

Given the self study nature of the course, you are encouraged to study units in a particular order of progression to complete the Master of Business Administration. Ultimately, it is your choice but you are strongly advised and encouraged regarding the progression of learning that will most likely result in successful completion of this course. Every unit is worth 6 Credit Points, except the Leadership Capstone, which will be worth 12 credit points. You will be restricted from starting this unit until you have fully completed all the preceding units. The course has been split into three phases; Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Masters, each consisting of units worth 24 Credit Points. Students are encouraged to fully complete each phase before moving to the next. All units are compulsory, there are no optional or elective units or provision for recognised prior learning.

Master of Business Administration (Leadership) course structure

Phase # Unit Code Unit Name
Phase 1 - Graduate Certificate 1 BUSN20023 People, Leadership & Culture
2 BUSN20022 Disruption, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
3 BUSN20024 Communication for Leadership Success
4 BUSN20025 Strategic Marketing
Exit Point for Graduate Certificate
Phase 2 - Graduate Diploma 5 BUSN20026 Accounting for Business Decisions
6 BUSN20027 Contemporary Leadership
7 BUSN20028 Global Economics
8 BUSN20029 International Business Law
Exit Point for Graduate Diploma
Phase 3 - MBA 9 BUSN20030 Strategies for Business Leaders
10 BUSN20031 Social Innovation
11&12 BUSN20032 Leadership Capstone

Available units
Students must complete the following compulsory units:
BUSN20023 People, Leadership and Culture
BUSN20022 Disruption, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
BUSN20024 Communication for Leadership Success
BUSN20025 Strategic Marketing
BUSN20026 Accounting for Business Decisions
BUSN20027 Contemporary Leadership
BUSN20028 Global Economics
BUSN20029 International Business Law
BUSN20030 Strategies for Business Leaders
BUSN20031 Social Innovation
BUSN20032 Leadership Capstone
More Details

Students may apply for credit transfer towards CL39 Master of Business (Leadership) where equivalent tertiary level study has been completed, i.e. postgraduate level. Students must then complete the CL39 MBA Mapping Kit CL39 MBA Mapping Kit and supply relevant documentation (study guides, unit profiles, etc.) in this process. 

Please see below restrictions regarding credit transfer for the CL39 MBA (Leadership) course: 

  • You must be admitted to the CL39 course before applying for credit transfer. No pre-assessments will be completed.

  • Credit transfer will not be granted on the basis of work experience and/or informal and non-formal learning.

  • Credit transfer will not be granted towards a unit you have already paid and enrolled into.

  • Formal study completed must be at AQF level 8/9 or above (postgraduate study) to be considered.

If believe you meet the conditions as outlined above, please complete the CL39 MBA Mapping Kit and submit an application for credit transfer here.

International students should apply for a credit as part of their admission application process to study at CQUniversity through iStart. For further information please refer to the International Students Credit Transfers page.