Graduate Certificate in Economics for Business

Courses Information

View entry requirements, career options and what’s available to you, through our extensive student support network below.

Entry requirements

  • Completion of an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in a similar discipline; OR​
  • Applicants with a minimum five (5) years approved work experience will be considered for admission to this course.

Career options

VU Online’s Graduate Certificate in Economics for Business will foster the key skills required of today’s emerging business manager or leader.

Depending on your career goals and skillset, studying the Graduate Certificate in Economics for Business can open up a number of opportunities. This can include roles in:


Typical job titles

  • Consultant
  • Senior management
  • Supply and demand planning
  • Inventory and supply chain
  • Project management

Student support

VU Online provides you with the support you need, when you need it, during your course. Our support network has a single focus on ensuring you are entirely supported to succeed in your studies.

Our highly experienced academics are responsive and accessible and understand how to deliver a quality online learning experience. You will also be introduced to your very own Student Success Advisor, who provides motivation and one-on-one personalised assistance with non-academic matters throughout your course.

You’ll experience the support of your community through chat, virtual seminars and discussion board activity. Remember, your support network is only a phone call and email away.

Fees and FEE-Help

Our Graduate Certificate in Economics for Business costs $3,650* per unit. The total cost for all 4 units is $14,600*.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying students with the cost of a university course. This Government loan scheme helps to pay for all or part of their tuition.

*2023 student fees are shown and are subject to change.

For more information on fees and student support, download a brochure.

How online study works

Studying with VU Online means that you can undertake postgraduate study without having to attend on-campus classes. This makes it easy to fit study around existing commitments including work and family. You will be able to access your coursework, resources, assignment details and individual feedback from facilitators, all from your online learning environment, VU Collaborate.

Chat with fellow students, compare research notes and collaborate on group tasks – it’s all possible with our seamless, community-focused platform.

With VU Online, you will study just one unit at a time under our award-winning Block Model. Learn about our postgraduate online Block Model with this YouTube video.

With VU Online, you can rest assured you will find support from our responsive academics and facilitators, as well as your dedicated Student Success Advisor throughout your study.

How to apply

VU online has simplified the application process, involving just three key steps.

  1. Speak to one of our Student Enrolment Advisors, who will help you determine your eligibility for the program and whether it suits your career goals. Our advisor will keep you informed of all the application requirements and what to expect during the process. They can also suggest flexible study plans for your circumstances.
  2. Begin your online application and submit the required documentation. This may include a copy of your CV and academic transcript.
  3. Upon completing your application, you will receive a confirmation email or an email letting you know if you need to provide any additional information.

Learn about our postgraduate online Block Model and how it can empower you to create your own success story.

What you'll study

Strategic Business Relationships (BEO6001)

Business success depends on relationships as much as it does on opportunity. Both internal relationships of business units and personnel, and the external relationships with partners and associates are critical components of successful business strategy. This unit delves into the strategy that underlies relationship formation through exploring agency issues, relationships with suppliers and collaborators, and how product strategy affects relationships with competitors.

Students will build their conceptual skills and knowledge in key elements and approaches to sound business relationships including how to: establish clear foundations; nurture relationships; emphasise accountability and metrics; and build relationships that are dynamic and future-focused. Significant exposure to economic theories, industry-based examples and case studies prepare students for complex negotiation environments to assist them to succeed in strategic negotiations and business relationship building.

Competition and Differentiation (BEO6002)

The success of businesses and economies is fundamentally measured by their competitiveness in a market context. This unit explores economic theories to understand competitive landscapes and how businesses develop differentiation strategies to win market share. Students will undertake an analysis of complex markets, including multi-sided platform markets, to develop the conceptual understanding necessary when undertaking differentiation strategy formulation.

Students will explore static and dynamic competition, market-share analysis, intellectual property trend analysis, and successful techniques to formulate a viable competition strategy. Students will also develop knowledge and skills to analyse competitive landscapes, consider short and long-run outcomes, identify business opportunities and develop strategies for success.

Business and Economic Forecasting (BEO7000)

Business and economic forecasting involves methods and techniques aimed at making predictions that can inform business decision-making. This unit introduces students to the application of different forecasting techniques and practical experience in model building. Students will also explore forecasting methods available to senior managers and leaders for business decision-making, including pricing, forecasting, demand analysis, production and cost analysis, and macroeconomic policy as it affects the business environment. The unit also explores techniques for the evaluation of forecasting methods across real-world forecasting applications.

Supply and Demand Strategy for Pricing (BEO7001)

Understanding customer demand is essential to business success, and supply and demand modelling is a cornerstone of economics and business modelling. Determining viable pricing is fundamental to pricing and production decisions. Supply and demand modelling also informs, and is informed by, the decisions of rivals. This unit will critically review how supply and demand conditions influence business decision-making and complex pricing decisions.

Students will learn about supply and demand modelling within diverse markets and industries, including traditional manufacturing, multi-sided platform markets, and service-based industries. The unit will also develop student understanding of fixed and variable costs of production, economies of scale/scope, monopoly/monopsony, substitution effects, complement effects, price elasticity, market externalities and pricing in markets absent of scarcity, and the implications of such concepts for supply and demand analysis and pricing strategy.

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Read more about the units you will study in this course and more, by downloading our comprehensive free brochure

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Entry requirements

Entry requirements

  • Completion of an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in a similar discipline; OR​
  • Applicants with a minimum five (5) years approved work experience will be considered for admission to this course.

For more information about entry requirements, download a brochure.

Units of study

Units of study

For more information about the units of study, download a brochure.

Strategic Business Relationships (BEO6001)

Business success depends on relationships as much as it does on opportunity. Both internal relationships of business units and personnel, and the external relationships with partners and associates are critical components of successful business strategy. This unit delves into the strategy that underlies relationship formation through exploring agency issues, relationships with suppliers and collaborators, and how product strategy affects relationships with competitors.

Students will build their conceptual skills and knowledge in key elements and approaches to sound business relationships including how to: establish clear foundations; nurture relationships; emphasise accountability and metrics; and build relationships that are dynamic and future-focused. Significant exposure to economic theories, industry-based examples and case studies prepare students for complex negotiation environments to assist them to succeed in strategic negotiations and business relationship building.

Competition and Differentiation (BEO6002)

The success of businesses and economies is fundamentally measured by their competitiveness in a market context. This unit explores economic theories to understand competitive landscapes and how businesses develop differentiation strategies to win market share. Students will undertake an analysis of complex markets, including multi-sided platform markets, to develop the conceptual understanding necessary when undertaking differentiation strategy formulation.

Students will explore static and dynamic competition, market-share analysis, intellectual property trend analysis, and successful techniques to formulate a viable competition strategy. Students will also develop knowledge and skills to analyse competitive landscapes, consider short and long-run outcomes, identify business opportunities and develop strategies for success.

Business and Economic Forecasting (BEO7000)

Business and economic forecasting involves methods and techniques aimed at making predictions that can inform business decision-making. This unit introduces students to the application of different forecasting techniques and practical experience in model building. Students will also explore forecasting methods available to senior managers and leaders for business decision-making, including pricing, forecasting, demand analysis, production and cost analysis, and macroeconomic policy as it affects the business environment. The unit also explores techniques for the evaluation of forecasting methods across real-world forecasting applications.

Supply and Demand Strategy for Pricing (BEO7001)

Understanding customer demand is essential to business success, and supply and demand modelling is a cornerstone of economics and business modelling. Determining viable pricing is fundamental to pricing and production decisions. Supply and demand modelling also informs, and is informed by, the decisions of rivals. This unit will critically review how supply and demand conditions influence business decision-making and complex pricing decisions.

Students will learn about supply and demand modelling within diverse markets and industries, including traditional manufacturing, multi-sided platform markets, and service-based industries. The unit will also develop student understanding of fixed and variable costs of production, economies of scale/scope, monopoly/monopsony, substitution effects, complement effects, price elasticity, market externalities and pricing in markets absent of scarcity, and the implications of such concepts for supply and demand analysis and pricing strategy.

Career options

Career outcomes

VU Online’s Graduate Certificate in Economics for Business will foster the key skills required of today’s emerging business manager or leader.

Depending on your career goals and skillset, studying the Graduate Certificate in Economics for Business can open up a number of opportunities. This can include roles in:

  • Consulting
  • Senior management
  • Supply and demand planning
  • Inventory and supply chain
  • Project management

You can also continue your studies to gain your Master of Business Administration (Economics for Business).

For more information about career outcomes, download a brochure.

Student Support & Fees

Student Support

VU Online provides you with the academic support you need, when you need it, throughout the course. With four layers of student support, our goal is to ensure you succeed in your studies. Our highly experienced academics understand how to deliver a quality online learning experience and are responsive and accessible.

You will also have access to a dedicated Student Success Advisor, who provides motivation and 1:1 personalised assistance with non-academic matters for the duration of the course. You will experience the support of a community through chat, virtual seminars and discussion board activity. Your support network is only a phone call or email away.

FEES and FEE-HELP

Our Graduate Certificate in Economics for Business costs $3,500* per unit. The total cost for all 4 units is $14,000*.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying students with the cost of a university course. This Government loan scheme helps to pay for all or part of their tuition.

*2022 student fees are shown and are subject to change.

For more information on fees and student support, download a brochure.

Online study

This degree is offered through VU Online’s postgraduate Block Model, winner of consecutive LearnX Live! Awards.

Instead of taking two or three units a semester, you will study one unit at a time in six study periods per year. This offers you more flexibility than traditional on-campus degrees and the opportunity to immerse yourself in your study.

At VU Online, we take a personalised 1:1 approach to online learning, which makes learning with us highly interactive and supported.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study VU Online's MBA without a undergraduate degree at VU Online?

Yes. Our Graduate Certificate in Business Administration is an alternative pathway to entering into our MBA program. The Graduate Certificate in Business Administration is essentially the first 4 units of our MBA and those without an Undergraduate can be considered as applicants provided that they meet and have 5 years of full-time work experience. Once this is completed, these units are transferred into the overall MBA program.

What does an MBA graduate do?

Depending on each individual and the industry they’re in, the overall aim for an MBA graduate is to be able to elevate their career and gain valuable leadership skills. That may translate into running a successful small business to leading multi-national corporations. Our graduates have undertaken diverse and rewarding career paths both locally and overseas.
Potential career leadership roles include:
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
- Director of Business Development
- Senior Managing Consultant
- Marketing/Communications Director
- Human Resources Director
- Financial Manager

Does an MBA increase salary?

An MBA has been designed to take your career to the next level in order to achieve your professional goals. This may come in the form of potential promotions, salary increases, or new business and leadership opportunities. We believe that completion of an MBA will not only enhance one’s learning and confidence, it will also help to open up new opportunities for growth.

Is the MBA globally recognised?

Yes, and we are also ranked among the world’s top 2% of universities.

How long does it take to complete an MBA on VU Online?

VU Online's MBA can be completed within 2 years, part-time at a minimum. However, you can complete this within 5 years as part of our flexible block model structure.

What do you learn in VU MBA Online?

Our Online MBA focuses on business leadership through career-based teaching and learning. This is to ensure our MBA graduates develop the problem solving and financial skills to meet ever-changing industry standards and the enterprise skills today's employers expect. Students will focus on areas such as strategic management, ethics, financial analysis and organisational change – skills that are essential for all future leaders, in any industry. Students will also have the opportunity to connect with a community of like-minded peers via our intuitive and immersive online learning environment. Each student can share their own professional industry experiences and participate in collaborative online sessions.

What specialisations are offered?

Aside from our general MBA, you can also streamline into Finance, Change Management and Economics for Business.

Can I choose my specialisation after I start studying?

Unfortunately not. You will have to know which specialisation you would like to do, prior to enrolling in our MBA (i.e. Finance, Change Management or Economics for Business). You will have to complete your specialisation units, before completing the remaining core MBA units.

Are there options to study more than one unit at a time?

There are options to take more than one unit at a time, but this is not generally recommended for individuals who are working full time. To take more than 1 unit at a time, a student must make an application and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis.

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