University of Western Australia MBA

The $50 million University of Western Australia Business School was opened in 2009.
The $50 million University of Western Australia Business School was opened in 2009.

The University of Western Australia MBA is available through the UWA Business School. The MBA is the most established course of its kind in Western Australia and the only one in the State that is internationally accredited.

The UWA Business School is one of only seven institutions in Australia to hold both EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) and AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation.

The UWA Business School is overseen by a Board of highly influential business leaders, and the School fosters outstanding links with corporate partners and alumni. Major corporate partners include ATCO Australia, BHP Billiton, EY, Macquarie Group, Mitsubishi Development, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Wesfarmers and Woodside.

“Research evidence tells us that every individual’s leadership development journey is unique. The path you take depends upon your personality, skills, life experiences, and a range of other factors. At UWA, MBA Full Time students complete a 12-month program, with follow-up surveys once back in the workplace. Students also complete a longterm development plan, establish relationships with mentors, and develop skills to take charge of their own leadership development.” Winthrop Professor Sharon Parker

The MBA Full Time was developed in conjunction with top ASX companies in Western Australia. It is an intensive 12 month program undertaken as a cohort. It includes a Personalised Development Program, practical industry experience and deep corporate involvement, including one-on-one mentoring with Senior Executives and a three-month business advisory project. Within this, students are able to choose to specialise in Leadership, Natural Resources or General Management.

The MBA Flexible has the benefit of flexible study options. It can be completed from 16 months to 5 years. It offers unparalleled depth of business interaction, the opportunity to participate in LAUNCH, a non-assessed module focussing on self-management skills and the ability to specialise in Leadership, Natural Resources or General Management.

Program Structure

The MBA Full Time is completed in 12 months of intensive full-time study, with one intake in January each year. Students complete 12 units of study, comprising nine core units and three option units. Within this, students are able to choose to specialise in Leadership, Natural Resources or General Management. It includes a personalised Leadership Development Program (non-assessed).

The MBA Flexible has intakes in January, May and August each year. Students complete 12 units, comprising seven core units and five option units.

Core Units – MBA Full Time

  • Accounting
  • Business Advisory Project (Part 1) – (Data Driven Decision Making)
  • Business Advisory Project (Part 2) – (Strategic Management)
  • Business Advisory Project (Part 3)
  • Economic Management and Strategy
  • Managerial Finance
  • Marketing Principles
  • Operations Management
  • Organisational Behaviour

Core Units – MBA Flexible

  • Accounting
  • Data Driven Decision Making
  • Economic Management and Strategy
  • Managerial Finance
  • Marketing Principles
  • Organisational Behaviour
  • Strategic Management

Elective Units

MBA Full Time – Students choose 3 from:

  • Leading Global Collaborations
  • Organisational Change and Transformation
  • Becoming a Leader: Perspectives on Leadership Development
  • Project Management
  • Global Energy and Mineral Markets
  • Strategic Management of Resource Companies
  • Valuation and Risk Analysis for Resource Companies
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Negotiation Behaviour
  • Project Management

MBA Flexible – Students choose 5 from:

  • Valuation and Risk Analysis for Resource Companies
  • Strategic Corporate Finance
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Legal Principles for Management
  • Organisational Change and Transformation
  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation
  • Selected Topics in Management
  • Advanced Topics in Management
  • International Study Program
  • Leadership Effectiveness
  • Negotiation Behaviour
  • Project Management
  • Management Report
  • Management Case Study
  • Electronic Business
  • Leadership for Social Impact
  • Demonstrating Social Impact
  • Social Investment and Philanthropy
  • Social Impact: Entrepreneurs and Social Innovation

Capstone

The Business Advisory Project (Part 3) is delivered as a capstone unit, providing students an opportunity to use their skills to solve a real-life business challenge facing an organisation. Working with a partner organisation, students work in small teams to address a strategic issue facing the company.

MBA Flexible

Strategic Management is delivered as a capstone unit.

Other Study Options

UWA Business School offers a range of other courses, including;

  • Graduate Certificate in Business
  • Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation
  • Graduate Certificate in leadership
  • Graduate Certificate in Social Impact

Accreditation

The UWA Business School holds international accreditation through the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) awarded by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and through the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). The UWA Business School is the only institution in Western Australia—and one of only seven institutions in Australia—to hold both of these accreditations.

Entry Requirements

MBA Full Time
To be considered for admission to the MBA Full Time an applicant must have:

  1. a bachelor’s degree of this University or equivalent as recognised by the Faculty;
  2. met the University’s English language competence requirements, except in the case of students presenting with an IELTS Academic, who must achieve a score of at least 7 overall with no sub-score less than 6.5, or students presenting with an TOEFL iBT, who must achieve a score of 100 overall with no sub-score less than 22 in writing and 20 in other bands;
  3. a valid Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) with a minimum score of 550 (note: the maximum length of time that a GMAT score is valid is 5 years);
  4. three years’ relevant work experience or two years’ relevant work experience and a GMAT score of at least 650;
  5. a satisfactory Personal Statement; and
  6. two satisfactory references.

All students meeting the above eligibility criteria will be short-listed and will then normally be ranked according to their GMAT score. The highest-ranked candidates will be interviewed. (Faculty will determine the proportion of candidates to be interviewed, depending on the number of eligible applications.) Interviewed students will be assessed as suitable or not suitable based on ‘demonstrated leadership potential’ as determined by the Faculty and offers will be made to students who achieve a satisfactory interview.

MBA Flexible
To be considered for admission to the MBA Flexible an applicant must have:

  • A bachelor’s degree from UWA with a weighted average mark of at least 60 per cent, or equivalent as recognised by the Faculty; and at least three years’ relevant, documented, professional experience

OR

  • A Graduate Certificate in Business, Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, or Graduate Certificate in Social Impact from UWA with a weighted average mark of at least 65 per cent, or equivalent as recognised by the Faculty

Applicants are also required to submit a CV and personal statement.

Fees*

In 2020, the total course fee for the MBA Intensive is AUD$59,700.00.

Applying

Applications can be made online at www.uwa.edu.au/applynow

* Information on fees is sourced from publicly available information in November 2016 and may not reflect current 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.

Ben Ready
Ben Ready founded MBA News in 2014 and is the Managing Editor. He is a former business and finance journalist with Australian Associated Press (AAP) and Dow Jones Newswires in London. Ben completed his MBA in 2012 and was awarded the QUT GMAA Entrepreneurship Prize. He is also the founder and Managing Director of RGC Media & Mktng (rgcmm.com.au).