Expand your network
VU Collaborate, our intuitive online learning environment, makes it easy to connect with like-minded students, obtain feedback from academics and leverage a supportive professional network.
Learn from industry leaders
You will benefit from the unique industry connections of our academics and facilitators, as well as VU’s strong reputation in the business community.
Gain enterprise skills
All course content is written with a strong and consistent emphasis on employability, ensuring it meets industry standards and delivers the enterprise skills employers demand.
MBA specialisations
Choose your specialisation
Students have the option to study a generalist MBA or choose a specialisation in Finance or Change Management. Learn more about specialisations here.
Study a MBA to empower your leadership. Learn practical business principles applicable to real-world scenarios, and graduate equipped to elevate your career as an effective, authentic leader. Learn more about the Master of Business Administration here.
Or;
Choose from specialisations in Finance or Change Management to align with your career goals. Learn more about the Master of Business Administration (Finance) here.
Entry requirements
To apply for the Master of Business Administration (Finance), you are required to have:
- Completion of an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent) in a similar discipline; OR
- Completion of an Australian Graduate Certificate (or equivalent) in a similar discipline; OR
- Applicants without an undergraduate qualification may be admitted to the Graduate Certificate (in the same discipline) based on approved work experience. Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate, graduates will be eligible for admission to this course with credit granted for completed units.
Advanced Standing
You may be eligible to enter into the Master of Business Administration (Finance) with credit for past skills and/or study, known as advanced standing.
If you've already completed any of the units in the course in which you are enrolling, or their equivalent, you may be eligible for advanced standing. Learn more about Advanced Standing here.
Career options
Embrace change and lead the way with an online MBA (Change Management). Our graduates have undertaken diverse and rewarding career paths both locally and overseas.
Units of study
VU Online’s MBA (Finance) includes four specialist Finance units and eight core business units, equipping you with the skills for current and future financial management and leadership roles. You will also complete a practical, multi-faceted capstone project. Each unit of study lasts for seven weeks.
For more information about the units of study, download a brochure.
Understand the effective and efficient use of financial statement information for business
analysis. This unit enables you to identify and evaluate key framework components and
apply them to a variety of complex decision-making contexts including security analysis,
credit analysis, corporate financing policies analysis, merger and acquisition analysis, and
management communications analysis.
View unit page
Learn how to assess information and business support systems to monitor issues, problems
and opportunities affecting businesses. This unit enables you to evaluate accounting
information, analyse financial reports to inform users of business performance and position,
and verify and synthesise information required for short- and long-term decision-making, and
articulate and devise problem-solving techniques for making informed management decisions.
View unit page
Learn and develop the necessary skills for making value-changing financial decisions to
maximise an organisation’s value. Learn to demonstrate, analyse and apply knowledge of
finance theories, practices and markets when making decisions. Critically analyse and solve
problems related to the decisions of the corporate manager and gain a clear understanding
of the theories underlying the operation of financial markets and relevant asset pricing
models for strategic corporate transactions.
View unit page
Gain a clear understanding of research methodologies and data sets commonly used
when researching corporate finance. Be able to critically evaluate issues that arise when
raising debt finance and leasing arrangements. Justify financial decision-making through
demonstration of the correct use of analytical tools and frameworks, and be able to argue
how an organisation can employ different risk management instruments to hedge against
financial risks.
View unit page
This unit focuses on the key knowledge and skills required for successful business consulting. It will synthesise and leverage the competencies you have acquired in your earlier studies, which encompass accounting and finance, marketing, human resources and organisational change management, strategy and data analysis. The unit aims to develop capabilities which will allow you to pursue a career in consulting, or act as an effective internal consultant within an organisation. You will apply knowledge and skills acquired in the previous units of the course to effectively design, research and manage a business consulting project, deliver solutions and present practical recommendations to meet the needs of a real-world client, in an ethical manner. You will be involved in authentic engagement with a client and receive industry feedback, or draw on an industry case study, to address a complex business challenge. You will enhance your research and interpersonal skills, including problem-solving, collaboration, communication, customer-orientation and influencing.
View unit page
This unit critically examines the extent to which human resource management is strategic to organizational success in a global context. Alternative models of business strategy and the integration of human resource management are considered.
There will be a focus on strategic international human resource management and the issues facing organizations that operate in the international environment.
View unit page
This unit investigates theoretical concepts of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship and the skills and competencies to apply this knowledge effectively to diagnoses the need for, identify and leverage an opportunity and create solutions to contemporary business or societal challenges both locally and globally.
Contemporary scenarios and examples are given to enable students to apply developing knowledge to create an entrepreneurial venture that generates economic, social or environmental benefit and which is sustainable.
View unit page
This unit aims to critically review the major decisions faced by marketing decision makers in their efforts to harmonize the organization's objectives, capabilities, and resources with marketplace needs and opportunities.
This unit allows students to evaluate contemporary practices of marketing: the creation of value for customers and firms and the strategies and methods marketers use to successfully operate in today's dynamic environment.
View unit page
This unit critically reviews the socio-cultural environment in which business operates.
Ethical frameworks for decision making will be critiqued and students will construct the debates surrounding contemporary corporate responsibility and sustainable development as they impact on organisations in their local and global contexts.
View unit page
Strategic Management examines the decisions, actions and processes undertaken by firms for success, growth and change in a business environment.
This unit of study will explore the principal elements in external and internal environments which impact on organisations and consider how current theoretical frameworks and the interdisciplinary and professional knowledge base respond to complex issues.
View unit page
The unit examines the contextual challenges facing leaders, seeking to develop a deep personal understanding of leadership as a complex process of scanning the environment and setting the direction, and achieving organisational goals through influencing people both inside and outside the organisation.
The dynamics of interpersonal power are investigated, with particular attention given to the leader as a social architect, implicit in the concepts of transformational and (values-based) authentic leadership.
View unit page
Business analytics and visualisation focuses on uncovering business insights hidden in massive datasets using statistical models and algorithms. Visualisation is the vital component of analysing data and communicating insights to stakeholders. The unit equips students with foundational knowledge in business analytics and visualisation to be able to analyse business data, convert insights into business decisions and communicate results to stakeholders.
View unit page
Career options
Step up to a middle or senior financial management role with an online MBA (Finance). Our graduates have undertaken diverse and rewarding career paths both locally and overseas.
Typical job titles
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Financial Officer
- Head of Finance
- Director of Business Development
- Senior Managing Consultant
- Strategic Planning Manager
- Financial Manager
- Financial Director
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 work, family and other life commitments.
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 engage with learning materials – it’s all possible with our seamless, community-focused platform.
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, offering more flexibility than traditional on-campus degrees. Learn about our postgraduate online Block Model ® with this YouTube video.
Student support
VU Online provides you with the 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 highly responsive and accessible.
You will also have access to a dedicated Student Success Advisor, who provides motivation and one-on-one 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.
Course 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
- Completion of an Australian Graduate Certificate (or equivalent) in a similar discipline; OR
- Applicants without an undergraduate qualification may be admitted to the Graduate Certificate (in the same discipline) based on approved work experience. Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate, graduates will be eligible for admission to this course with credit granted for completed units.
- Additional Information
- Applicants are required to submit a curriculum vitae (CV).
Student support
VU Online provides you with the 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 highly responsive and accessible.
You will also have access to a dedicated Student Success Advisor, who provides motivation and one-on-one 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
An MBA (Change Management) from VU Online costs $3,800 per unit*, taking the total for 12 units to $45,600*.
This depends on the number of units you study and whether you are eligible for Advanced Standing, which is assessed after you submit your application.
Note that you may be eligible for the Australian Government’s loan scheme, FEE-HELP. The loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying students with the cost of a university program. It can be used for all or part of the tuition. To determine your eligibility, visit the FEE-HELP website.
*2024 student fees are shown and are subject to change.
For more information on fees and student support, download a brochure
How to apply
VU online has simplified the application process, involving just three key steps.
- 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.
- Begin your online application and submit the required documentation. This may include a copy of your CV and academic transcript.
- Upon completing your application, you will receive a confirmation email or an email letting you know if you need to provide any additional information.
What you'll study
VU Online’s MBA (Change Management) includes four specialist Change Management units and eight core business units. You will also complete a practical, multi-faceted capstone project. Each unit of study lasts for seven weeks.
Agile Project and Change Management (BMO6000)
Globally, organisations are adopting agile principles to optimise project delivery and efficiency in the face of rapidly changing conditions.
In this unit, students learn the fundamentals of agile project management (APM) as well as the scrum methodology for managing change projects in dynamic settings, and how they differ from other theories of change management. Students will contrast agile and waterfall, learn where APM is most applicable and useful, and assess how agile is leveraged to successfully implement projects on time with and explicit focus on stakeholder requirements. Students will also consider alternative ways of framing change initiatives either as incremental or transformational events within an organisation to foster new ways of thinking. These effective project management skills prepare them to successfully lead agile project teams, enable their teams to deliver what their customers want faster and with better quality than traditional project management methods.
Organisational Change Management (BMO6624)
This unit develops contemporary understanding of organisational design, organisational change and development through contextualisation of common challenges for change in both traditional and new organisational forms.
Students are challenged through interrogation and critical reflection on practices and theories of critical and conventional theories and models of change. Students will advance their diagnostic skills, competencies and processes in assessing the need for change, and the development, implementation, and evaluation of change strategies at all organisational levels. Solutions to complex change management problems will be derived in a socially and culturally responsible manner, where students will advocate and substantiate recommendations grounded in scholarly literature to demonstrate professional responsibility and accountability.
Technological Change and Innovation (BMO7002)
The importance of technological change and innovation within organisations has increasingly become critical as firms struggle to achieve and maintain competitive advantage in a fast changing global markets.
The speed of technological change has not only brought innovation and efficiency but has also created a challenge for many organisations that still grapple with its complexity. Often the relationship between technological change and organisational change is not comprehended which leads to significant innovations being resisted, became victims to competing ideas, or fail to be sustained. This unit of study will help students learn how new technologies are aligned and implemented within organisations to remain competitive. Using insights from case studies and real life examples, students will be able to analyse problems and challenges relating to technological change and design solutions.
Managing Change and Complexity (BMO7003)
Prescriptions on “best” ways to change organisations are in abundance. Yet what most organisations experience when they attempt to change is not as straightforward as the prescriptions suggest.
Change, whether internally generated, or externally confronted, is not a neat and clearly marked journey from a present state to a desired state. The complexity that surrounds organisations is not in designing the change journey but in dealing with complex relations with human behaviour. As such, the central debate in the field is, can employee behaviour and attitude be “managed and controlled” during change implementation? This unit will focus on the debate and will provide students with an opportunity to critically evaluate and articulate various models of change and help appreciate the complex and paradoxical nature of managing organisational change. Students will have an opportunity to learn from real life case examples that will include both success and failure stories of managing change. Using insights from the case examples, students will be able to analyse problems and challenges relating to managing change in their own organisation.
Strategic Management and Business Policy (BMO6511)
Strategic Management examines the decisions, actions and processes undertaken by firms for success, growth and change in a business environment. Managers at all levels are involved in the strategic management process and must be able to utilise an advanced body of knowledge and skills to plan and problem solve in this area.
This unit of study will explore the principal elements in external and internal environments which impact on organisations and consider how current theoretical frameworks and the interdisciplinary and professional knowledge base respond to complex issues. High level analytical and planning skills will be required to prepare relevant business plans.
Business Ethics and Sustainability (BMO5501)
This unit critically reviews the socio-cultural environment in which business operates. Ethical frameworks for decision making will be critiqued and students will construct the debates surrounding contemporary corporate responsibility and sustainable development as they impact on organisations in their local and global contexts. Emphasis will be on how new pressures on businesses arise, and how effective the various models that structure organisational responses are to these dynamic and emergent challenges. Students will understand the importance of various United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) relating to governance, operations and culture through evidence-based research, case analysis, and evaluation, in understanding the importance of the SDGs.
Marketing Management (BMO6505)
This unit aims to critically review the major decisions faced by marketing decision makers in their efforts to harmonise the organisation’s objectives, capabilities, and resources with marketplace needs and opportunities. This unit allows students to evaluate contemporary practices of marketing: the creation of value for customers and firms, along with the strategies and methods marketers use to successfully operate in today's dynamic environment. The unit reflects on the major trends in the managerial practice of marketing and the teaching pedagogy is crafted around applied learning content, case study analysis, collaborative decision making and reflective reasoning.
Financial Analysis (BAO5734)
Financial acumen is an important skill for managers in the complex local and global business environment. The unit takes a multidisciplinary approach to develop advanced analytical, planning and decision making skills. This unit proposes a theoretical framework for effective and efficient use of financial statement information for business analysis. It identifies and evaluates: financial statements, business strategies, financial data, and growth of the business. This framework is then applied to a variety of complex decision making contexts including security analysis, credit analysis, merger and acquisition analysis, and management communications analysis.
Business Consulting (BMO7005)
This unit focuses on the key knowledge and skills required for successful business consulting. It will synthesise and leverage the competencies you have acquired in your earlier studies, which encompass accounting and finance, marketing, human resources and organisational change management, strategy and data analysis. The unit aims to develop capabilities which will allow you to pursue a career in consulting, or act as an effective internal consultant within an organisation. You will apply knowledge and skills acquired in the previous units of the course to effectively design, research and manage a business consulting project, deliver solutions and present practical recommendations to meet the needs of a real-world client, in an ethical, sustainable and responsible manner. You will be involved in authentic engagement with a client and receive industry feedback, or draw on an industry case study, to address a complex business challenge. You will enhance your research and interpersonal skills, including problem-solving, collaboration, communication, customer-orientation and influencing.
Strategic Human Resource Management (BMO5572)
This unit critically examines the extent to which human resource management is strategic to organisational success in a global context. Alternative models of business strategy and the integration of human resource management are considered. The changing external environment of globalisation and competition and the resultant restructuring of industries, labour markets and organisations is analysed so that the factors influencing managerial choice and employee choice in relation to the different strategies can be assessed. There will be a focus on strategic international human resource management and the issues facing organisations that operate in the international environment.
Managing Innovation and Entrepreneurship (BMO6622)
This unit investigates theoretical concepts of creativity, innovation, intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship and the skills and competencies to apply this knowledge effectively to diagnoses the need for, identify and leverage an opportunity and create solutions to contemporary business or societal challenges both locally and globally.
The unit provides an authentic and evidence based learning experience in which learners engage and apply to planning, strategising and decision making in professional, commercial and social contexts. The unit stimulates students to challenge the way in which entrepreneurs grow within, flourish and are perceived by and contribute to diverse societal and sustainable contexts. Students will use their insights in analysing and critiquing contemporary international entrepreneurial trends and dilemmas as responsible ethical and global citizens. Important paradoxes are posed for students to express the way in which human ingenuity translates to business endeavour which can have both positive and negative consequences. Contemporary and emerging future scenarios and examples are given to enable students to apply knowledge to create an entrepreneurial venture that generates economic, social and sustainability benefits.
Art and Practice of Leadership (BMO6050)
Uncertainty and changes call for unique leadership in businesses. The core learning in this unit is to understand the development of leadership capacity and prepare for critical transformation or transition in complex situations. A unique learning model that aims for students to increase to close the gap between their understanding and effective leadership action. The unit examines the contextual challenges facing leaders today, seeking to develop a deep personal understanding of leadership as a complex process of scanning the environment and setting the direction, and achieving organisational goals through influencing people both inside and outside the organisation. The dynamics of interpersonal power are investigated, with particular attention given to the leader as a social architect, implicit in the concepts of transformational and values-based authentic leadership.
Frequently asked questions
Will the Change Management specialty be reflected on my testamur?
Will I gain the Graduate Certificate in Change Management in addition to my MBA?
When do I choose my specialisation in Change Management?
Do I need to sit exams when I study the MBA (Change Management)?