Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation) [43520] : Handbook 2025 : The University of Western Australia

Course overview

Description

The UWA MBA offered in the format enables potential senior managers to rapidly develop their business acumen and leadership skills through tailored modules, teamwork assignments, case studies and a personal and professional development module.

The course will have significant overlap with the current Master of Business Administration (MBA) (42520), including a similar set of core units. A distinguishing feature of the MBA is the inclusion of a strategic analysis and consulting project.

Course title

Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation)

Award abbreviation

MBA

Course code

43520

Course type

Master's degree by coursework and dissertation

Status

Current / 2025

Administered by

UWA Business School

CRICOS code

081415F

Course details

Intake periods: Beginning of year only
Attendance type: Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
Credit points required: 72
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester.
Standard course duration: 18 months
Time limit: 36 months
Delivery mode: Internal
Locations offered: UWA (Perth)
Domestic fee type: Postgraduate fee-paying/FEE-HELP
Available to international students: Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
Course Coordinator(s): Professor Allan Trench
Fees: Visit the fees calculator.

Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.

No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.

Specialisations

Course structure

Key to availability of units:

T1: Trimester 1
T2: Trimester 2
T3: Trimester 3
N/A: not available in 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027
NS: non-standard teaching period

All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.

Take all units (48 points):

Availability	Unit code	Unitname	Unit requirements	Contact hours
T1, T2, T3	ACCT5602	Accounting	Prerequisites enrolment in one of the following courses: Master of Business Administration (coursework). Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation). Graduate Certificate in Business. Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation). or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience. Incompatibility ACCT5432 Introductory Financial Accounting	trimester teaching periods—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week; non-standard teaching period—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 6 hours per week over 6 weeks; online—nil
T1	BUSN5000	Leading Self and Others (0 points)	None	3 hours per week for 12 weeks
T1, T2	ECON5503	Economic Management and Strategy	Prerequisites enrolment in one of the following courses: Master of Business Administration (coursework). Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation). Graduate Certificate in Business. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience. Incompatibility ECON5541 Economics for Business: Applications and Policy	trimester teaching periods—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hrs per week; non-standard teaching period—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 5 hrs per week over 7 weeks; online—nil
T1, T2, T3	FINA5530	Managerial Finance	Prerequisites enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework) or the Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation). or enrolment in the Graduate Certificate in Minerals and Energy Management. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience Incompatibility FINA5432 Introduction to Finance	for trimester teaching periods—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week; for non-standard teaching period—up to 5 hours per week over 7 weeks; online-nil
T1, T3	MGMT5501	Organisational Behaviour	Prerequisites enrolment in one of the following courses: Master of Business Administration (coursework). Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation). Graduate Certificate in Business. Graduate Certificate in Leadership. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.	for trimester teaching periods—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week; for non-standard teaching period—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 5 hours per week over 7 weeks; online-nil
T3	MGMT5502	Strategic Analysis and Consulting Project (12 points)	Prerequisites enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation) (43520). MGMT5513 Data Driven Decision Making Incompatibility MGMT5700 Strategic Management	seminars/presentations/case studies: 6 hours per week over 14 weeks
T1, T3, T2	MGMT5513	Data Driven Decision Making	Prerequisites ACCT5602 Accounting or MGMT5501 Organisational Behaviour. and enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework). or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience. Incompatibility MGMT5504 Data Analysis and Decision Making	lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week
T2, T3, T1	MKTG5550	Marketing Principles	Prerequisites enrolment in one of the following courses: Master of Business Administration (coursework). Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation). Graduate Certificate in Business. Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience. Incompatibility MKTG5561 Marketing Management	trimester teaching periods—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week; non-standard teaching period—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 5 hours per week over 7 weeks

Take unit(s) to the value of 24 points:

Availability	Unit code	Unitname	Unit requirements	Contact hours
T2	ECON5504	Global Energy and Mineral Markets	Prerequisites ECON5503 Economic Management and Strategy and FINA5530 Managerial Finance. enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework) or the Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation). or MGMT5524 Strategic Management of Resources Companies and enrolment in the Graduate Certificate of Minerals and Energy Management. or enrolment in the Master of Engineering in Oil and Gas. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience	lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week
N/A	FINA5590	Blockchain and Technologies for Digital Finance	None	3 hours per week for 12 weeks
NS	FINA5601	Valuation and Risk Analysis for Resource Companies	Prerequisites ACCT5602 Accounting and FINA5530 Managerial Finance or MGMT5524 Strategic Management of Resource Companies. enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework) or the Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation). or enrolment in the Graduate Certificate in Minerals and Energy Management. or enrolment in the Master of Engineering in Oil and Gas. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.	Intensive—lectures/seminars/workshops: 5 sessions (7–8 hours) over 7 weeks Trimester—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week
NS	FINA5602	Strategic Corporate Finance	Prerequisites FINA5530 Managerial Finance. enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework) or the Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation). or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.	intensive: 5 sessions (7–8 hours) which may include lectures/seminars/workshops
NS	FINA5603	Mergers and Acquisitions	Prerequisites ACCT5602 Accounting and FINA5530 Managerial Finance. enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework) or the Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation). 42520 MBA Flexible 42530 MBA Advanced 43520 MBA Full Time or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.	Intensive period—lectures/seminars/workshops: 5 sessions (7–8 hours) over 7 weeks Trimester—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week
NS	MGMT5505	International Management	Prerequisites MGMT5501 Organisational Behaviour. and enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework). or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience	non-standard teaching period—lectures/seminars/workshops: 5 full day sessions throughout the Trimester
N/A	MGMT5512	Leadership in Maintenance	None	Intensive teaching period
NS	MGMT5514	Demonstrating Social Impact	Prerequisites enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework) or the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.	lectures/seminars/workshops: 4 sessions (7–8 hours each) and 2 sessions (3 hours each)
NS	MGMT5516	Social Impact: Entrepreneurs and Social Innovation	Prerequisites enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework) or the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.
NS	MGMT5517	Leadership for Social Impact	Prerequisites enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework) or the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience. Incompatibility MGMT5623 Leadership Effectiveness	lectures/seminars/workshops: 5 sessions (7–8 hours each)
NS	MGMT5518	Social Investment and Philanthropy	Prerequisites enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework) or the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.	lectures/seminars/workshops: 5 sessions (7–8 hours each)
NS	MGMT5519	Ethical Leadership in Contemporary Organisations	Prerequisites Enrolment in 43520 Master of Business Administration or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience	lectures/seminars/workshops: 5 sessions (7–8 hours each)
T3	MGMT5521	Operations and Strategic Supply Chain Management	Prerequisites enrolment in 43250 Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation) or 42520 Master of Business Administration (coursework)	seminars/industry presentations/case studies: 6 hours per week over 7 weeks
NS	MGMT5523	Becoming a Leader: Perspectives on Leadership Development	Prerequisites MGMT5501 Organisational Behaviour and Enrolment in 43520 Master of Business Administration or 42520 Master of Business Administration or 41220 Graduate Certificate in Leadership or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience. or OCEN4003 Strategic Leadership for the Blue Economy and Enrolment in 62540 Master of Ocean Leadership	trimester—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week; non-standard teaching period—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 5 hours per week over 7 weeks
T1	MGMT5524	Strategic Management of Resource Companies	Prerequisites enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework) or the Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation). or enrolment in the Graduate Certificate in Minerals and Energy Management. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.	lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week
T3	MGMT5531	Strategic Management and Innovation in Health	Prerequisites Enrolment in the Master of Business Administration or Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Leadership and Management Incompatibility MGMT5615 Selected Topics in Management (for 2019)	trimester—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week
NS	MGMT5555	Executive Decision Making	Prerequisites Enrolment in 42520 Master of Business Administration and 12 points 42520 Master of Business Administration	12 x 3hour Teaching Period (36 hours total) spread over 2 Trimesters Reading List Online materials/videos
NS	MGMT5556	The Business of Politics	Prerequisites Enrolment in 42520 Master of Business Administration or 43520 Master of Business Administration and Successful completion of 12 points Incompatibility Successful completion of MGMT5616 Advanced Topics in Management	Intensive Teaching Period - 5 days at 7.2 hours a day = 36 hours
NS, T3	MGMT5570	Organisational Change and Transformation	Prerequisites MGMT5501 Organisational Behaviour. and enrolment in one of the following courses: Master of Business Administration (coursework). Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation). Graduate Certificate in Leadership. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.	intensive period—lectures/seminars/workshops: 5 sessions (7–8 hour each) over 7 weeks trimester—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week.
NS	MGMT5601	Small Business Management	Prerequisites enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework) or Master of Business Administration by Coursework and Dissertation or the Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.	lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week
NS	MGMT5608	Entrepreneurship and Innovation	Prerequisites ACCT5602 Accounting or MKTG5550 Marketing Principles. and enrolment in one of the following courses: Master of Business Administration (coursework). Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.	lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week
NS	MGMT5615	Selected Topics in Management	Prerequisites ACCT5602 Accounting or MGMT5501 Organisational Behaviour and completion of at least 24 points in the Master of Business Administration (coursework) or the Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation). or approval from the Faculty of Business only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.	lectures/seminars/workshops: five intensive days
N/A	MGMT5616	Advanced Topics in Management	Prerequisites ACCT5602 Accounting or MGMT5501 Organisational Behaviour. and enrolment in Master of Business Administration (coursework). or approval from the Faculty of Business only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.	Intensive teaching period
N/A	MGMT5618	International Study Program	Prerequisites ACCT5602 Accounting or MGMT5501 Organisational Behaviour. and enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework) or Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation). or approval from the Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.
NS	MGMT5647	Negotiation Behaviour	Prerequisites ACCT5602 Accounting or MGMT5501 Organisational Behaviour. and enrolment in one of the following courses: Master of Business Administration (coursework). Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation). Graduate Certificate in Leadership. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.	trimester teaching periods—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week; non-standard teaching period—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 5 hours per week over 7 weeks (this unit may also be offered in intensive teaching mode)
T3	MGMT5665	Project Management	Prerequisites ACCT5602 Accounting or MGMT5501 Organisational Behaviour. and enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework) or the Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation). or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience. Incompatibility MGMT5660 Applied Project Management	trimester teaching periods—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week intensive teaching period—lectures/seminars/workshops: 7–8 hours per week over 5 weeks
N/A	MGMT5782	Management Case Study	Prerequisites enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework). and completion of six units or enrolment in the Graduate Certificate in Minerals and Energy Management
T3	MKTG5603	Management of Technology and Innovation	Prerequisites enrolment in the Master of Business Administration (coursework) or the Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.	lectures/seminars/workshops: 7-8 hours per day for 5 intensive days

See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.

Rules

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures
1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.
(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules

2.(1) A student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).

(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.

English Language competency requirements

3.(1) To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

(2) Applicants presenting with the IELTS Academic require an overall score of at least 7.0 and no band less than 6.5.

(3) Applicants presenting with the TOEFL iBT require an overall score of at least 100 and no sub-score less than 20.

(4) Applicants presenting with the Pearson Test of English (PTE) (Academic) require an overall score of at least 71 and no section less than 61.

Admission requirements

4. To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—

(a) a Bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;

and

(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 60 per cent;

and

(c) at least three years professional experience in a relevant occupation.

Admission ranking and selection

5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on—

(a) a satisfactory personal statement, as recognised by UWA;

and

(b) two satisfactory references, as recognised by UWA;

and

(c) an interview in which eligible applicants will be assessed based on demonstrated leadership potential, with invitation to attend the interview based on—

(i) the proportion of candidates to be interviewed, determined by UWA, depending on the number of eligible applicants.

Articulations and exit awards

6.(1) The following courses form part of an articulated sequence:

40260 Graduate Certificate in Social Impact (24 points)
41210 Graduate Certificate in Business (24 points)
41220 Graduate Certificate in Leadership (24 points)
41230 Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (24 points)
43200 Graduate Certificate in Minerals and Energy Management (24 points)
43520 Master of Business Administration (72 points)

(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of Business Administration course before completing it, but after fulfilling the requirements of a lesser award in the above sequence, may apply for the relevant award.

Course structure

7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 72 points.

(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.

Satisfactory progress

8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.

9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.

Progress status

10.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 8 is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.

(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances—

(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';

(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';

(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 8 is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded'.

11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.

Award with distinction

12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—

(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;

(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;

and

(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.

Deferrals

13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).

Additional rules

Requirements for applying for an articulated or alternative exit award

14. A student who withdraws from the course before completing the course requirements but after completing units to the value of 24 points for the Graduate Certificate in Business may apply to the Faculty to be awarded the qualification.

Credit

15.(1) The Faculty may grant credit towards the course up to a total value of 24 points for units completed in the Graduate Certificate in Business, Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Graduate Certificate in Leadership or Graduate Certificate in Social Impact of this University within the previous five years.

(2) For students who have not completed the Graduate Certificate in Business, Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Graduate Certificate in Leadership or Graduate Certificate in Social Impact of this University, the Faculty may grant credit towards the course for studies completed within the previous five years to a total value of 36 points.

(3) Within the overall credit limit set out in (2), credit may include—

(a) a maximum of 24 points for relevant studies completed in postgraduate courses at recognised tertiary institutions;

(b) a maximum of 12 points for units approved by the Faculty and completed through the UWA Business School's Executive Education group;

(c) a maximum of 18 points for work completed in approved courses provided by professional providers or private educational institutions.

[(b) and (c) are approved exceptions to University Policy]

UWA Handbook 2025