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Course snapshot

Domestic snapshot

  • Start Date

    January, March, May, July, September, October

  • Duration

    8 months part-time
    Duration may vary depending on unit availabilities, previous study or work experience.

  • Location

    SCU Online

  • Placement

    No  

  • Course abbreviation

    GradCertBus

  • Course code

    1008100

  • Credit points

    48

  • Equivalent units

    4

  • Scholarships

  • Indicative fee

Please note, some locations may not have all intake periods available. See the full availability details for further information.

International snapshot

  • Start Date

  • Duration

    1 year part-time

  • Location

  • Placement

    No  

Please note, some locations may not have all intake periods available. See the full availability details for further information.

Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Business provides an introduction to advanced study in business operations and modern management.

The Graduate Certificate is an alternative pathway to enter the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Students who complete the Graduate Certificate in Business are awarded advanced standing of four units.

Learn more about this online course.

Bachelor of Business Alumus Deborah Guion

“I really wanted to make an impact on the world and my degree gave me the start I needed. When I was approached to manage a CSR program for a corporation, it just made sense to me. ”

The Southern Cross Model is a game-changer in higher education study.

Our students now engage in shorter, six-week unit structures designed around immersive and interactive learning experiences. The shorter unit structure gives students a greater sense of momentum as they achieve milestones quickly, resulting in increased student success rates, and course and teacher satisfaction. Lectures are a thing of the past - students will be engaged in active, interactive and discussion-based learning.

On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes.

Our online study option is highly interactive and may include a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes.

The method of teaching and assessment may vary from unit to unit.

Learn more

Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes (GA).

Course Learning Outcome

GA1: Intellectual rigour

Demonstrate critical thinking, independent judgement and the ability to reflect on self and others in a business environment.

Develop systematic problem-solving skills.

GA2: Creativity

Identify and examine innovative solutions to business problems.

GA3: Ethical practice

Demonstrate a coherent understanding of complex ethical and socially responsible business practices, along with a proficient understanding of culturally appropriate business practices.

GA4: Knowledge of a discipline

Demonstrate a coherent understanding of selected subjects to establish a foundation for advanced level learning.

GA5: Lifelong learning

Demonstrate a basic level of critical thinking, independent judgement and the ability to reflect on self and others in a business environment.

GA6: Communication and social skills

Practice well-developed communication and collaboration skills.

GA7: Cultural competence

Demonstrate a coherent understanding of complex ethical and socially responsible business practices, along with a proficient understanding of culturally appropriate business practices.

Graduate Certificate students study four core units of the Master of Business Administration covering foundation business subjects in accounting, economics, communication and organisational behaviour. 

Location Teaching period
SCU OnlineSummer Term, Term  1, Term  2, Term  3, Term  4, Term  5

Career Outcomes

Requirements

We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.

Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.

Entry requirements

Applications for admission to candidature in the Graduate Certificate in Business may be selected where they can demonstrate academic or professional standing considered by the School Board or Course Coordinator to be equivalent to the requirements of Rule 2, Section 3.

Language requirements

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows

CategoryScore
Overall Score6.0

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Graduate Certificate in Business students must complete the equivalent of 4 units (48 credit points), comprising 4 core units. 

Other things to consider

Credit for Prior Learning, also referred to as ‘Advanced Standing’ or Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL), is the process of looking at your prior study and/or experience to assess if you can be awarded academic credit or gain entry to a course on the basis of your existing knowledge and skills.

Learn more


Course structure

Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.

Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment.

Current Students should select their units by checking the Handbook for the year of their enrolment as these may be different.

View Student Handbook

Unit CodeUnit TitleAvailableCredit pointsNotes

Complete the following units to satisfy the Requirements of the Award

BUSN5005Management Communication (Online)
Summer Term
Term4
12
LocationDomesticInternational
SCU Online
Summer Term
Term4
Summer Term
Term4
MGMT5003Organisational Behaviour (Online)
Term1,5
12
LocationDomesticInternational
SCU Online
Term1,5
Term1,5
Anti-requisitesMGMT5002 - Organisational Behaviour
STAT5002Business Analytics (Online)
Term2
12
LocationDomesticInternational
SCU Online
Term2
Term2
Anti-requisitesECON5001 - Economics and Quantitative Analysis
ACCT5003Accounting for Managers (Online)
Term3
12
LocationDomesticInternational
SCU Online
Term3
Term3
Anti-requisitesACCT5002 - Accounting for Managers


Unit CodeUnit TitleNotes
BUSN5005Management Communication (Online)
STAT5002Business Analytics (Online)
MGMT5003Organisational Behaviour (Online)
ACCT5003Accounting for Managers (Online)

Why Business at SCU

Top 8% worldwide

We're ranked in the top 8% of universities worldwide in Business and Economics

(THE World University Rankings 2023)

93% graduate employment

Southern Cross has 93% graduate employment in Business and Management

(Graduate Outcomes Survey 2018-2020)

5-star ratings for business and management

We’re rated 5-stars for full-time employment, overall experience, skills development, student support and teaching quality

(GUG 2023)

Fees and Scholarships

Domestic students

You are a domestic student if you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, New Zealand citizen, or Australian humanitarian visa holder. Your course will either be a Commonwealth Supported Place or a full fee-paying place. This is noted in the course snapshot.

Commonwealth Supported Places:

In a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), the Government pays some of your fees and you pay the rest as the Student Contribution Amount (SCA).

SCA is calculated per unit, not per course. Eligible students can defer the SCA through a HECS-HELP loan.

Full Fee-Paying Places:

A full fee-paying place is where you pay the full (unsubsidised) tuition fee for your course. Eligible students can defer the payment of their tuition fees through the FEE-HELP scheme (including employer-reserved places for The Hotel School courses).

Also known as SSAF, the Student Services and Amenities Fee is a compulsory fee for most students used to provide important services and amenities to students both on and off campus. It’s charged per unit, based on the unit’s credit point value. Eligible domestic students have the option of deferring this fee through the SA-HELP loan scheme. More about SSAF

Depending on your course, your costs could also include computer equipment and software, books, stationery, field trips, uniforms or other course-specific expenses such as art materials, musical equipment or travel for practicums, internships, vaccinations or industry experience.

Scholarships vary in amount, from a few hundred to several thousand dollars each year. Eligibility isn't limited to top-performing students or those facing financial challenges; there are opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds and with different accomplishments. This ensures that education remains accessible to all, changing lives and helping individuals achieve their goals for a brighter future.

More about scholarships

Further fee information

Fees and Scholarships

International Students

If you're an international student, you can find the annual course cost in Australian dollars (AUD$) on our International Courses and Fees page or on the web page for your course under fees.

Also known as SSAF, the Student Services and Amenities Fee is a compulsory fee for most students used to provide important services and amenities to students both on and off campus. It’s charged per unit, based on the unit’s credit point value. Eligible domestic students have the option of deferring this fee through the SA-HELP loan scheme. More about SSAF

Depending on your course, your costs could also include computer equipment and software, books, stationery, field trips, uniforms or other course-specific expenses such as art materials, musical equipment or travel for practicums, internships, vaccinations or industry experience.

Southern Cross University offers a range of scholarships designed to support you while you study, available for a variety of backgrounds and achievements. Scholarships range from a few hundred dollars a year to several thousand dollars a year. Southern Cross has also introduced Access25, a new initiative for 2025 to deliver a quality education combined with a straightforward tuition model, ensuring every international student has equal access.

More about scholarships

Further fee information

Apply now

Preparing to apply

  1. Check requirements
  2. Get supporting documents ready
  3. Choose where and when from the available options

Click the Apply button to start your application in our Application Portal.

Choose where you want to study

SCU Online

Dates for the diary

Our shorter, more focused six-week unit structure gives students a greater sense of momentum and motivation as they achieve milestones quickly. Application dates per Term are shown on each course page however refer to our key dates and teaching calendar for detail on when enrolment opens, studies commence and when grades are published. There are also Dual Term and Tri Term calendars for those who have specific subjects.

See key dates

Credit Transfer

Get a head start on your degree. Find out if you’re eligible for credit from previous studies.

Go to credit assessor

Entry Pathway

We believe in equal access to further education, so we offer a range of pathways to university.

Find a pathway