MBA in Australia Guide - Cost, Eligibility for Indian Students

Australia is one of the top study destinations for international students. As per the QS ranking, Australia is among the top five study destinations for international students who want to pursue an MBA abroad. According to the Australian High Commission in New Delhi, 122,202 Indian students were studying in Australia in November 2024 out of which 20,0000 were enrolled for an MBA in Australia. Around 80% of the admitted students for an MBA in Australia were international students.

Nowadays, every graduate wants to pursue an MBA to give a boost to his/her career. Pursuing it from a prominent international destination definitely keeps one ahead in the league. It also gives a head start to MBA professionals in their careers. However, aspirants face the dilemma of the process of applying to foreign universities.

In this article, we have summarized details about the application procedure, estimated cost plus the total duration of an MBA in Australia. There are also details about the eligibility criteria, job opportunities and MBA scholarships available for international students in Australia.

MBA in Australia Highlights

Check: Why study in Australia?

Top Ranking MBA Universities in Australia

Australia is considered one of the most sought-after study destinations for international students. Quality education, high-end research opportunities, and excellent career prospects make Australia a hot favourite study destination for MBA aspirants. All Australian Business Schools are AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS accredited. They are popular options among international students and have been ranked highly in not just Australia but globally as well.

Australian Universities MBA - QS World Ranking 2025

When it comes to pursuing MBA, Australia is a hot-favourite study destination for MBA aspirants in the Asia-Pacific. Business and management schools are assessed on factors like imparting academic skills, research excellence, and employability. The following table shows the top Australian universities ranking as per QS for 2025 for Global MBA:

Read more about Australia University Rankings 2022-23

Apart from this, favourable visa policies also draw a lot of students to pursue their higher studies in Australia. The universities in Australia are internationally recognised and offer courses in the most preferred language, i.e. English. Management courses in these universities focus on imparting leadership qualities and giving real-world experience by offering internships in top companies. There are two main intakes for applying to Australian universities:

• February Intake in Australia
• July Intake in Australia
• November (applicable for a few universities)

Why Study MBA in Australia?

A good MBA degree is considered a gateway to success. It is not only beneficial for one's career progression but also enhances skills that one requires to stay ahead in the industry and also helps in networking. There are numerous reasons why one should pursue an MBA and acquire the skills and knowledge required to give vertical growth to one's career. MBA course teaches students how to successfully manage a business and how to adapt to the latest global trends. Through this program students also learn how to run a business in an uncertain environment and revive it in times of crisis. Some of the top reasons to study MBA in Australia are:

• MBA in Australia is a recognised degree globally because the AQF issues comparative qualifications for office use. 
• Australian Universities may or may not accept GMAT scores for MBA admissions.
• International students studying MBA in Australia can work for 40 hours while studying. Check: Part-time work options for international students in Australia
• Australia opens more than 45,500+ job vacancies for MBA degree holders in Australia annually.
• More than 6,000+ vacancies are open up for Finance MBA graduates in Australia each year.

Check: Why Study MBA Abroad?

Noosr List

Recognition of foreign education institutions could be a concern for students wanting to study in Australia. Experts recommend students evaluate their credentials before applying for an MBA programme at a recognised university in Australia. It is a process where your credentials are evaluated and your level of education is compared with the Australian education system.

For example, if an aspirant is seeking admission to Melbourne Business School, and he completed his bachelor’s from an ‘A’ category university in India and scored 70% marks then it is equivalent to another aspirant who completed his bachelor’s from ‘B’ category university in India and scored 75% marks. [This is just to explain the concept and is not to be seen as eligibility criteria for Melbourne Business School.]

It is a fee-based service that is conducted by a government body, the Australian Education International-National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI NOOSR) and can take up to 3 months.   

MBA in Australia Admission Requirements 

Entry requirements for MBA in Australia for international students include at least 60% at the undergraduate level, minimum 2 years of work experience and English language proficiency scores. The following section is divided for more information: 

MBA in Australia Course Duration

In most universities, the duration of the MBA programme is 2 years. The time period for an MBA in most universities in Australia is between 15 months to 2 years. Apart from this, a lot of universities have started offering one-year MBA programmes Melbourne Business School has started a one-year MBA program which is highly popular among aspirants. The following is a list of MBA programs offered by some of the top business schools: 

Read: How to choose between a year and two-year MBA program?

Exams to Study MBA in Australia 

Students who do not meet the English language requirements of  TOEFL / IELTS / PTE can pursue ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) courses, it is the Australian equivalent of English language courses. Students who need to prove English language proficiency in order to study at a university or a vocational college or want to work can pursue any course under ELICOS. There are different types of ELICOS courses, students can pursue any course depending on their requirements. 

Also Read: TAFE Institutes in Australia   

MBA in Australia Eligibility Requirements for Admission  

Some of the basic requirements for getting admission to a top Australian university/institution are: 

• Bachelor's degree: Candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree in any field from a recognised university. 
• IELTS: Students need to secure a good IELTS score to get an Australian visa. Students from non-native English-speaking countries need to showcase their English language proficiency to secure admission to a university. Check: IELTS v/s TOEFL v/s PTE? 
• Work Experience: Although it is not mandatory having work experience of at least three years definitely proves to be advantageous for aspirants. Most universities give preference to candidates having two to three years of work experience in their field. 
• GMAT Score: Most Australian universities and colleges accept GMAT scores for admission to pursue the MBA program. A good GMAT (The Graduate Management Admission Test) score is required to get into a top university to pursue an MBA. However, the average GMAT score for getting admission to an Australian university is 700+. 

*Note: There are some colleges in Australia that do not require GMAT scores for MBA admissions. Applicants must check the admission requirements before applying for an MBA in Australia.

Since there are very few universities in Australia that require the GMAT, this is because they focus more on the practical (work) experience of the candidate. Australian universities demand that candidates maintain consistency in their academics and obtain high scores in high school as well as the bachelor's level program. Eligibility criteria vary from university to university. Universities can be classified into three main categories depending on their admission requirements: 

• Category 1: These universities require students to have a good GMAT score, significant work experience and an IELTS score as a mandatory requirement. 
• Category 2: These universities require students to either have a good GMAT score or work experience and an IELTS score. 
• Category 3: In this category, universities grant admission only based on a student's academic score and IELTS score.   

Check: Eligibility requirement and application procedure: Australia 

MBA in Australia Fees

One of the most important factors when deciding on the university is the course curriculum and the program's cost. Always compare the cost of studying in different universities and go for the one that is reasonable in your pocket. According to mbanews.com, the MBA fee in Australia for international students has escalated from the year 2021 to 2022. Therefore, always consider various factors that contribute to the cost like course fees, accommodation, travel expenses, and research for the project work. The cost of studying MBA in Australia varies from AUD 126,000 to AUD 16,000. Here’s a list of the MBA fees of the top 10 MBA schools in Australia: 

Also Read: 12 Most Affordable MBA Colleges in Australia 

Scholarships/Financial Aid for MBA Course in Australia

The biggest challenge aspirants face while planning to study abroad is arranging for funds. Getting a loan is one of them, however, not all students are eligible to get an education loan. Most of the universities in Australia do not offer tuition fee waivers or financial assistance for a professional degree like MBA. Therefore, students often look out for scholarships to fund their education. It is also important that students should always take care of the eligibility criteria and different types of costs covered in the scholarship they are awarded. 

Some of the popular scholarships for pursuing an MBA in Australia are: 

• Central Sector Scheme of National Overseas Scholarship for SC etc. Candidates: Through this scheme financial assistance is provided to the selected candidates who wish to pursue master's level courses abroad. 
• Dr Abdul Kalam International Undergraduate Scholarship- Engineering Honours & Information Technology: This fellowship is offered in memory of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam who was presented with an Honorary Doctorate of Engineering from the University of Sydney in 2011. It is awarded to students who want to pursue bachelor's or master's level courses. 
• Deakin India 10 per cent Bursary- MBA, Sports Management, International Finance & Commerce: It is a need-based scholarship that is awarded to students who want to pursue a master's level degree. Students are not required to apply separately for this scholarship, they are automatically considered for this scholarship while they apply for admission to different courses. 
• Macquarie University Tuition Fee Grants for Indian Students- MBA: This scholarship is awarded to students who wish to pursue a master's level course. The candidate must have three years of work experience to become eligible for this scholarship. 

MBA in Australia Salary (Top career options after MBA in Australia) 

Demand for MBAs is high across the globe and employers are ready to pay handsomely if you have the right skill and talent. MBA graduates are amongst the best paid in the world. Due to their high demand amongst multinationals and the excellent rapport of B-schools in Australia. 

Top industries offering MBA jobs: 

• Financial Services 
• IT/Computer Services 
• Consulting/Professional Services 
• Education 
• Manufacturing/Engineering 

Read: MBA v/s MIM

Skill Shortage List 

According to the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) released by The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) of Australia 2017-2018, if your occupation features on the shortage list then you have a better chance of getting the Australian Visa. However, you still need to fulfil the other requirements for getting a visa. If you are under 45 years of age and possess 6-7 years of professional experience then also you can get an Australian visa even if you cannot pass the points test. 

Work Visa after MBA in Australia 

The post-study work visa in Australia is issued to international students who recently graduated from an Australian institution. This visa allows the visa holder to stay, work and study in Australia temporarily after completing his education. Students can get a temporary Graduate visa (SUBCLASS 485) once as primary applicant. 

This Temporary Graduate visa has two streams: 

• The Graduate Work stream 
• The Post-Study Work stream 

The main applicant covered by the application needs to be present in Australia at the time of applying for a visa and also when his/her visa is decided. 

Further, the qualification of the applicant must relate to an occupation listed on the occupation skilled list for getting the Graduate Work stream visa. In this category, the visa holder is allowed to stay for a period of 18 months. 

Apart from this, the qualification of applicant must be a higher education degree to acquire the Post-Study Work stream visa. In this category, the visa holder is allowed to stay between two to four years. 

Check: Life after MBA from Australia: Placements and Job Prospects 

For more information related to eligibility fulfilment based on entry requirements or the application process, prospective students can contact our team of study abroad experts.