The Australian Catholic University MBA program aims to provide students with the “management, analytical and leadership” skills to equip them in the business world.
The Australian Catholic University (ACU) has six campuses around Australia and is a member of the International Federation of Catholic Universities. Its stated mission is to engage the Catholic Intellectual Tradition to bring a distinct perspective to higher education. However, as a publicly-funded university, it is open and welcoming to staff and students of all beliefs and backgrounds.
The ACU MBA program aims to provide students with the “management, analytical and leadership” skills to equip them in the business world. It blends courses that emphasise economics and accounting with courses that focus on ethics and leadership. The core 18-month program is offered at campuses in North Sydney and Melbourne, while the Executive MBA is available in Brisbane and North Sydney.
“Our curriculum is global in its content and practical in its outcomes, ensuring our graduates are ready to take their place as leaders in the professions of law and business management. When you’re ready to expand your career options, ACU’s Faculty of Law and Business is the smarter choice.” Executive Dean (Acting) of Law and Business Professor David Spencer
The university places a strong focus on community engagement – to the point the philosophy is ingrained into many of the courses. The MBA program is offered through ACU’s Faculty of Business which was formally launched in 2010 as a continuation of the University’s 20 years of business-oriented education.
ACU MBA Program Structure
ACU offers two primary streams of MBA: a standard MBA and an Executive MBA. A Graduate Certificate and a Graduate Diploma pathway to the MBA are also available. Double degrees combining the MBA with courses like Business Information Systems, Global Leadership, Human Resource Management, Marketing and Professional Accounting are also available.
The Executive MBA is based on the core MBA, but is designed to be flexible enough to accommodate the needs of professionals who may need to balance the competing pressures of family, work and lifestyle. It is run over 24 weeks, but can completed over four years.
MBA studies at ACU are structured around a traditional academic year, fitting two semesters into each year of study – one starting in February and another in July. Full-time students complete four units per semester – usually accounting for about 12 hours of contact time. The Executive MBA is broken into six terms, which are completed part-time over two years. There is also an intensive mode available, but there are no electives available.
To complete the standard ACU MBA, students must complete 16 units, consisting of 10 credit points (cp) each. Students must complete 20 cp from Core Units, 110 cp from Specified Units, 20 cp from Business Electives and 10 cp from Business/ACU Postgraduate Units.
Business Core Units:
- Strategic Management for Sustainability
- Ethical Leadership and Social Responsibility
Specified Units
- Accounting for Decision Making
- Corporate Finance
- International Business Environment
- Corporate Governance and Risk Management
- Managerial Economics in a Global Environment
- Commercial and Corporations Law
- Research Methods
- Management of Change
- Organisational Dynamics and Behaviour
- Managerial Marketing
- Data Analysis and Interpretation
Business Elective Units
- International Finance
- Special Topics in Business
- Contemporary Issues of HRM
- Human Resource Management
- International HRM Diversity
- Workplace Relations
- Strategic Human Resource Management
- Information Systems Strategy and Management
- Taxation Law
- International Marketing
- Advanced Consumer Behaviour
- Integrated Marketing Communication
- Strategic Marketing
The Executive MBA program consists of 12 units drawn from key areas of business studies: general management, organisational behaviour, information systems, economics, accounting, human resource management, corporate governance and strategic leadership. Each of the 12 units are taught by highly qualified and experienced specialists in a small group setting. The course is delivered in a seminar format, characterised by the exchange of ideas, knowledge and experience – rather than having formal lectures and tutorials.
The program is offered at a choice of three campuses, but some courses are specific only to certain campuses. The campuses are located in northern Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
Entry Requirements
To be eligible for admission to the MBA course, an applicant must have a bachelor degree, or a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration, or equal qualification. For the Executive MBA, applicants must also have at least three years managerial/or professional experience.
Fees*
MBA
- Domestic – Average first year fee (full-time) is $23,160. Estimated fee for full degree is $48,640. Fees may vary in accordance with choice of major and electives and are reviewed annually.
- International – Unit Fee: $3125 (2016); average first year fee: $25000 (2016); estimated total cost: $52,480 (2017)
MBA (Executive)
- Domestic – Average first year fee is $19050. Estimated fee for full degree is $38100.
- International – not available to International students
*Information from fees is sourced from publicly available information in December 2016 and may not be reflective of actual costs. Current costs per subject/unit/course may change in the future, altering the overall cost of the degree. Consult course providers for fee confirmation.
