Adelaide MBA
The Adelaide MBA is a rich, contemporary, and transformative journey into leadership that will help unlock your potential as a business leader, and prepare you for the challenges of a changing world.
Coffee catch-up with Adelaide Business School MBA Director Gary Bowman
Is an Adelaide MBA your next challenge?
Then why not have a 1:1 coffee catch-up with Adelaide Business School MBA Director Gary Bowman? Gary is available to chat with you about unlocking your potential and taking the next step in your career with an MBA. You’ll meet in the MBA lounge, have a coffee and discuss how you can reframe the game with an MBA.
Bookings available between 8:00am – 6:30pm from Tuesday 11 April to Monday 17 April in the MBA Lounge, Nexus Building.

Darren Thomas, CEO and Owner, Thomas Foods International
"I really enjoyed the focus on applying my studies back to my real-life work. I found I was getting twice the amount of learning - there was the educational value of what I was doing in class as well as being able to go back to work and immediately make use some of those learnings in real situations."
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The Adelaide MBA experience
Our Adelaide MBA offers a rich learning environment allowing you to formulate innovative approaches to real-world leadership challenges through the exploration of complex issues with your peers.
- Benefit from our face to face delivery style and access purpose-built facilities including our smart classrooms and MBA lounge
- As one of Australia’s only MBA programs with 100% staff with current business experience, you’ll be learning from people who know what it takes to succeed in the real world
- Be challenged and solve real-world business problems through our bespoke Social Enterprise Project, supported by industry mentors
- Connect with peers from a diverse range of industries, and join an enviable global network of Adelaide MBA alumni
- Access financial support through our range of specialised scholarships and FEE-HELP options
Ranked #1 MBA in South Australia*
*Adelaide MBA AFR BOSS Magazine MBA Rankings 2019
Ranked #2 MBA in Australia*
*Adelaide MBA AFR BOSS Magazine MBA Rankings 2019
5 Star GMAA rating**
*Graduation Management Association of Australia Rating
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Entry requirements
To be eligible for entry into the Adelaide MBA, you must meet the following criteria:
- A minimum of five years' relevant work experience is required for applicants with a completed AQF Bachelor's degree or;
- A minimum of seven years' related work experience and a satisfactory GMAT score is required for applications without a completed Bachelor's degree.
International applications must have a minimum IELTS of 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 in any band. Learn more on admission requirements.
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Flexible study mode
The Adelaide MBA program is designed to accommodate the needs of busy professionals, providing maximum flexibility to customise your schedule around your needs – whether it’s long work hours or family commitments. Classes include:
- Weekly evening classes
- Monthly weekend intensives (Friday/Saturday)
- Optional MBA summer school for two weeks in January
You have the option to pause your studies at any time, and can complete the program in as little as 1.5 years, up to five years.
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Class profile
The Adelaide MBA program fosters a diverse class profile, with a small class delivery model that places significance on active participation and the individual. Our classes provoke intelligent discussion and provide a place for you to network and forge deep connections with other aspiring business leaders.
Class profile:
- Average age of our students is 36
- 96% of students maintain full time work whilst studying
- Top 10 industry backgrounds:
- Health Services
- Finance & Insurance
- Government Departments
- Education
- Defence
- Engineering
- Communications & Technology Services
- Construction & Architecture
- Mining
- Manufacturing
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What you'll study
The Adelaide MBA program consists of nine core courses and two elective options, that will help you develop a well-rounded skill set, and a deep understanding of management principles through our tried and proven curriculum that ensures our graduates are fully equipped to make an impact.
A shorter 8 course (Graduate Diploma) and 4 course (Graduate Certificate) option is also available to those seeking a shorter qualification.
Courses Adelaide MBA Graduate Diploma Graduate Certificate Fundamentals of Leadership x x x Marketing Management x x x Accounting for Managers x x x Elective 1 x x x Managing Contemporary Organisations x x Managerial Finance x x Business Analytics for Managers x x Elective 2 x x Strategic Management x Innovation and Entrepreneurship x Elective 3 x Enterprise Project x -
Scholarships and fees
Scholarships
Scholarship support for the Adelaide MBA program is funded by the Adelaide Business School across a range of categories to ensure our program is accessible to all candidates who have the capability and drive to undertake MBA studies.
Browse scholarships
Read through our full list of rules and eligibility.
Fees
Fees for the Adelaide MBA program are charged incrementally on a ‘pay as you go’ basis at the start of each trimester based on your enrolment.
A breakdown of the indicative fees for 2023 are outlined below:
2023 Tuition fees (indicative only) Per course (3 units) Full 12-course cost Domestic A$5,625 A$67,500 International A$6,249 A$74,988 Eligible domestic candidates also have the option of deferring the cost of their tuition to FEE-HELP .
* Fees for courses completed in subsequent years may be subject to change.
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Course credit
You may be eligible for course credit on the basis of previous study, with all credit applications assessed by the Program Director and Program Advisor on an individual basis.
Commonly accepted qualifications include:
- Relevant postgraduate studies
- CPA Accreditation or Chartered Accountants of Australia & New Zealand Membership
- Professional Management Program
- Professional Certificate in Defence Industry Leadership
- Selected Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) courses.
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World class opportunities
Our students have the opportunity to study at some of the world’s highest profile business schools by undertaking a study exchange with one of our international MBA partner institutions.
Our exchange experience has been specifically designed to provide a valuable opportunity for you to develop an understanding of international business and network with MBA students from around the world without having to extend the duration of your studies or pay additional course fees.
Learn more about our current opportunities below:
University Program Aarhus School of Business, Denmark Summer School Program Aalto University, Finland MBA Courses HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management, Germany Doing Business In Europe The University of Glasgow, UK ESSAM Study Abroad Due to COVID-19, study overseas plans may be delayed. For further information, please visit the Study Overseas website.
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How to apply
Domestic and international applicants:
Submit a SATAC application
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview with the MBA Program Director.
MBA scholarship applications:
To apply for a scholarship please submit an application online including the following documentation:
- Current CV (including the contact details of two business referees)
- Academic transcript (if applicable)
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Critical dates
The Adelaide MBA courses are offered in trimester mode with rolling intakes for this degree in January, May, and September each year.
Trimester
Application & scholarship deadline
Orientation
Classes commence
Trimester 1 2023 5 December 2022 16 January 2023 30 January 2023 Trimester 2 2023 27 March 2023 8 May 2023 22 May 2023 Trimester 3 2023 10 July 2023 21 August 2023 4 September 2023
Start your leadership journey with South Australia’s top-ranked MBA.
Have a question?
Contact us directly to discuss your queries in further detail and find out if the Adelaide MBA program is right for you.
Adelaide MBA in Singapore
The Adelaide MBA is now available in Singapore at the Ngee Ann Academy.
MBA News
Adelaide Business School appoints new MBA Director
The University of Adelaide’s Adelaide Business School has appointed a new MBA Director, Associate Professor Gary Bowman.
Read more about Adelaide Business School appoints new MBA DirectorAdelaide MBA continues to impact daily work life of graduate
As a female in the construction industry, Megan felt overlooked and stuck in her career. She made a 'crazy decision' and decided to do back to back master’s degrees, first the Adelaide MBA and then Master of Applied Project Management (MAPM), both with Adelaide Business School.
Read more about Adelaide MBA continues to impact daily work life of graduate