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Master of Business Administration

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Offered By ANU College of Business and Economics
Minimum 96 units
Academic Contact ANU College of Business and Economics and info.cbe@anu.edu.au
Academic Plan 7810XMBA
CRICOS Code 015465K
Areas of Interest Management

The choice of Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is important to your career and the decision demands a careful analysis of the benefits to you as a graduate. If you aspire to a leadership role in business or government, the ANU MBA has much to offer.

The ANU MBA brings the benefit of a degree from Australia's leading university, ranked as the top university in Australia and 16th in the world.  ANU is distinguished nationally and internationally for its high quality research and educational programs.  Its MBA is recognised by employers around the world, and is a full, two-year, face-to-face program.

The ANU is a specialised, selective institution characterised by high levels of student-staff interaction and small group presentation learning. As most MBA classes have between twenty and sixty students, quality interaction is possible.

The ANU MBA program comprises ten core courses and six electives.  Students have the option of choosing electives to specialise in fields such as Finance, Leadership, Marketing, Project Management and Business of Government.  Alternatively the six electives can be chosen from a wide range of disciplinary options to suit individual interests and requirements.

Core to the ANU MBA program is the Integrating Business Project, a real-life opportunity to develop and implement a new venture business plan for a company. This is not a simulation - students work with companies and organisations based in Canberra and around Australia to assist them in developing new business ventures. It is an opportunity to draw together and apply learning from the program.

A diverse range of fellow students. Our MBA candidates have, typically, six to twelve years work experience and many have senior management experience.  More than two thirds are Australian residents, most of whom study part-time, so they are active in the workforce. Our international students come from many countries and have strong business or government backgrounds.  Participation in the MBA program provides a good opportunity to develop a network of local and international contacts.

Since its establishment in 1994 the ANU MBA has attracted high quality students from around Australia and the world. Our MBA alumni now hold leadership positions in corporations and governments in Australia and internationally.  The ANU College of Business and Economics provides graduates with a quality alumni network operating in over forty countries around the world.

The MBA may be taken full or part-time. A full time course load usually takes 19 to 23 months. A part-time student may take up to seven years, but three to four years is more usual.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The ANU College of Business and Economics offers a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) for Australian students in graduate programs. For further information, please read the general information and the Application Form.

Admission Requirements

Entry to the MBA program is competitive and places are limited.  The following entry requirements are the minimum requirements an applicant must present to be eligible to be considered for admission to the program.  The final decision for admission rests with the Dean of the ANU College of Business and Economics.

Academic requirements - a Bachelor degree in any discipline from a recognised university.  The relative ranking and/or reputation of the university may be taken into consideration.  Applicants completing an Australian degree program must have achieved a minimum grade average of 65% in their undergraduate studies.  Students completing degree studies outside Australia will need to meet a similar minimum grade requirement, however due to variations in grading scales the specific requirements vary between countries.  As an indication, examples of grades required include a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or Upper Second Class Honours degree.  Please contact the ANU directly for the grade average required for your country.

Work experience - applicants must have at least 3 years professional or managerial work experience accumulated after the completion of a bachelor degree or at least 5 years work experience overall.  The applicant's work experience will be determined from information supplied in the application form, CV, referees reports and statement of purpose.  There must be clear evidence of career development. 

Applicants must provide 2 referee reports.  As these may be checked by ANU to verify candidates' work experience, referees' contact details must be current.

English Language - applicants who are citizens of Australia, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Singapore or South Africa can demonstrate English language capability by evidence of completion of their bachelor degree where the medium of instruction was English at a recognised, local university in their home country.

Applicants from all other countries and Australian permanent residents will usually be required to supply evidence of English language capability which meets the ANU requirements.  The ANU English language requirements are:

  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - overall score of  6.5 with no band below 6.0
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - computer-based score of 230 with TWE of 4.5 OR paper-based test score of 570 with TWE of 4.5

To increase your chances of being accepted to the MBA:

  • GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) - applicants are recommended to take the GMAT test to enhance their competitiveness in the selection process.  A GMAT score above 630 will improve candidates' chances of acceptance to the MBA, especially if the Bachelor degree GPA is only at the minimum level required.
  • Interview - Applicants are recommended to take the opportunity to meet with ANU representatives when ANU is visiting their city.  While it is not possible for us to interview all applicants, those we do meet may have an enhanced competitiveness in the selection process. 
  • Referee Reports - applicants are required to supply two referees reports, and at least one of these reports must be from a past or current employer. Reports which detail candidates' work responsibilities will add to the competitiveness of an application.

Application information

Application forms are available to download from: http://www.cbe.anu.edu.au/futurestudents/pg/howtoapply.asp

All Candidates should supply the ANU with a completed application form and the following supporting documents:

  • Two Referee Reports - forms must be completed by nominated referees (one being a past or present employer)
  • Your current Curriculum Vitae
  • Certified copies of your academic transcripts (including your degree certificate and courses completed with relevant markings)
  • Relevant test scores (IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT)

For further information on admissions requirements and application procedures, please contact info.cbe@anu.edu.au 

The information published on the Study at ANU 2010 website applies to the 2010 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2009 website.

Updated:   13 Nov 2015 / Responsible Officer:   The Registrar / Page Contact:   Student Business Solutions