Latest of Australia’s Top Globally Ranked online MBA Programs Compared
This article is based on the 2021 rankings.
Each year, London-based education specialist, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), rank the best business schools in the world based on several deciding factors. This year, QS ranked online MBA programs from 57 global management schools across the world.
Compared to last year’s list of 47 (2020), ten more universities have been added to the QS online MBA rankings in 2021.
In 2021, five of Australia’s online MBA programs made the top 57 list of the QS ranking with 2 universities sitting within the top 20 and 1 university sitting within the top 5.
AGSM @ UNSW held their place as the 4th globally ranked and the top ranked online MBA course in the Oceania region. Macquarie University joined the rankings for the first time in 2021 at 19th globally. Deakin University, La Trobe University and Curtin University all dropped places respectfully by 9 places, 1 place and 5 places to 29th, 31st and 45th rank.
The ranking indicators (out of 100) include:
- Overall score
- Faculty and Teaching
- Class Experience
- Employability
- Class Profile
Quick Overview:
| University
|
Global Rank | Rank in Australia | Overall QS Score |
| ASGM @ UNSW | 4th | 1st | 77.6 |
| Macquarie University | 19th | 2nd | 58.7 |
| Deakin University | 29th | 3rd | 50.6 |
| La Trobe University | 31st | 4th | 49.9 |
| Curtin University | 45th | 5th | 42.9 |
No. 5 Australia – No. 45 Globally
Curtin University
| Overall | Faculty and Teaching | Class Experience | Employability | Class Profile |
| 42.9 | 41.3 | 57.4 | 32.2 | 53.2 |
Curtin Business School, coming at 45th, is the final Australian program to make it onto QS’ global rankings for MBA programs online. Curtin University’s MBA course is especially suitable students who are looking for a career switch, move into a different industry sector or wanting to acquire the confidence and business insight to move from a technical role into a managerial or executive position.
Students undertaking this course can complete the program from as fast as 18months to 34month. The program comprises of eight core units and four elective units. Students must also complete a professional portfolio, which involves a minimum of 40 hours of professional development.Curtin Business School, coming at 40th, is the final Australian program to make it onto QS’ global rankings for MBA programs online. Curtin University’s MBA course is especially suitable students who are looking for a career switch, moving into a different industry sector or wanting to acquire the confidence and business insight to move from a technical role into a managerial or executive position.
Students may specialise in one of the following areas under the course:
- Business Administration
- Innovation and Enterprise
- Leadership
- Energy Futures
Entry requirements for the program include:
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), and
- A minimum of 3 years’ work experience, and
- English language requirement of a minimum IELTS score of a 6.5 or equivalent.
Tuition fees in 2021 for the course are estimated to be around AUD $36,200 (approx. USD $28,097) for domestic students and AUD$ 44,900 (approx. USD $34,850) for international students.
No. 4 Australia – No. 31 Globally
La Trobe Business School
| Overall | Faculty and Teaching | Class Experience | Employability | Class Profile |
| 49.9 | 62.6 | 57.4 | 31.5 | 52.4 |
The online MBA course offered at La Trobe University focuses on peer-to-peer learning and professional relationships using interactive weekly video conferencing.
The program has intakes in January, March, April, July, September and October. The program is based on a credit-based system where students are expected to complete a total of 12 credits (10 core subjects and 2 elective subjects) in order to graduate. The length of completion for this course can range from 18 – 30 months.La Trobe University is ranked no. 3 in Australia and 30th globally. The online MBA course offered focuses on peer-to-peer learning and professional relationships using interactive weekly video conferencing.
La Trobe’s online MBA course will teach students key skills including:
- Business Analysis
- Accounting
- Innovation
- Responsible Leadership
- Entrepreneurship
Entry Requirements for this course includes:
- Bachelor’s degree or international equivalent, with a minimum C-grade (60 percent) average, and
- A minimum of three years’ relevant postgraduate managerial experience, or
- A minimum of eight years managerial experience without an undergraduate degree.
Tuition fees in 2021 for the course are estimated to be around AUD $57,000 (approx. USD $44,242). Individual course subjects are $4,750 each.
No. 3 Australia – No. 29 Globally
Deakin University
| Overall | Faculty and Teaching | Class Experience | Employability | Class Profile |
| 50.6 | 36.5 | 92.7 | 36 | 74.6 |
Deakin’s online MBA course is based on their ‘cloud campus’, which is an interactive learning platform with face-to-face interactions available on their Melbourne campus. The university has over 40 years of distance and online teaching experience to provide students with the best learning experience that is nothing short of an on-campus experience.
Students can choose to start their MBA journey with Deakin University in March, July or November. The program’s completion is based on a credit point system where a total of 12 credit points (8 credit point core units and 4 credit point elective units) is required. The length of completion can range from 18 months to 30 months.
Requirements for the program include:
- An undergraduate degree in any discipline and three years of professional/managerial experience, or
- Graduate certificate in a related discipline and five years professional/managerial work experience, or
- Graduate diploma equivalent (professional pathways); and
- English language requirement of a minimum IELTS score of a 6.5 or equivalent.
Tuition fees in 2021 are estimated at AUD $53,100 (approx. USD $41,145) for the full course.
No. 2 Australia – No. 19 Globally
Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM)
| Overall | Faculty and Teaching | Class Experience | Employability | Class Profile |
| 58.7 | 52.1 | 100 | 63.3 | 55 |
Macquarie University‘s Graduate School of Management has become the latest top-ranked business school with their online MBA program and options for area of focus, including the highly awarded Global MBA program.
The Macquarie Graduate School of Management (MGSM) Global MBA is a first-of-its-kind online MBA on future-focused capabilities, designed to serve the rapidly growing workforce in an age when AI is expected to automate half of the activities that people are paid to do in the global economy.
The study experience at Macquarie university will be tailored to you with options to choose elective units that allow you to focus on your management field of interest and career goals. Macquarie’s MBA program also caters to different lifestyles by offering flexible study options for students to complete the MBA in 2-years at a full-time load or go at their own pace with a part-time load.
Requirements for the program include:
- An undergraduate degree with a GPA of 5+
- Three years of supervisory (including team/project leader) or professional experience
- English language requirements
No. 1 Australia – No. 4 Globally
Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at the University of New South Wales Business School
| Overall | Faculty and Teaching | Class Experience | Employability | Class Profile |
| 73.3 | 70.5 | 75.7 | 81.2 | 68.7 |
ASGM @ UNSW is not only the 1st ranking online MBA course in Australia, but also the only Australian online MBA program to make it into the global top 10 rankings. It’s well-established online MBA program – MBAX – describes itself as a unique online management degree where students can choose their preferred area to speciailise. Specialisations include:
- Finance
- Social Impact
- Technology
- Change
MBAX offers a truly flexible delivery where students can find their perfect balance between work, study and family. All MBAX courses can be studied entirely online from anywhere in the world, including exams and assignments. The program can be completed in as little as 2 years (full-time) to 6 years (part-time).
Requirements for the program include:
- An undergraduate degree (or equivalent qualification), and
- A minimum of 2 years professional, or managerial work experience, or
- At least 6 years professional work experience;
- * GMAT/GRE isn’t required for admission into the MBAX course.
In terms of class profile, AGSM @ UNSW has achieved parity for the second year in a row. The 2021 cohort is comprised of 50% male and 50% females from 18 different countries and an overall average of 8 years of work experience prior to entering the program.
Tuition fees are charged by unit of credit. MBAX is made up of 12 courses, and the 2021 fee per course is AUD $4,980 (approx. USD $3,858). The total program cost is estimated at AUD $59,760 (approx. US$46,306)
Source: https://www.topmba.com/mba-rankings/online-mba-rankings/2020
Rita Wang is a student at the University of Queensland. She is in her final year with a dual degree in Journalism and Public Relations. Currently working at RGC Media & Mktng, Rita is one of the content creators for MBA News. Rita has experience in communications, digital marketing and graphic design.
