Why study business in Australia?

Updated: March 2025

Are you interested in studying business in Australia, but unsure about whether it’s the right fit for you? Or perhaps you’re wondering about what your prospects will look like after graduation?

To assist with your research, we will answer three main questions: 

• WHAT ARE THE TOP REASONS TO STUDY BUSINESS?
• WHY CHOOSE TO STUDY YOUR BUSINESS DEGREE IN AUSTRALIA?
• WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESS DEGREE ARE THERE?

WHAT ARE THE TOP REASONS TO STUDY BUSINESS?

Here are 6 top reasons to pursue a degree or qualification in the field of business.

1. Be a graduate in demand

Studying business has traditionally been a solid career choice and remains in demand today as an increasingly globalised business market calls for managers and leaders who can help businesses navigate emerging technologies, complex projects and turbulent financial markets. The 2024 Corporate Recruiters Survey reported high demand of business post-graduates by corporations. 

The demand for professionals for many areas of business will remain strong. 

Business analytics 

The analytics sector is booming. An industry forecast indicates that globally, data as a service market is projected to reach $61.42 billion by 2026 (from $4.99 billion in 2018), registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 36.9% from 2019 to 2026.

Project management

According to the Project Management Institute, the global economy needs 25 million new project professionals by 2030.

Accounting

According to Commbank, 83% of companies were looking to increase their recruitment activity for accounting professionals in 2021. Job Ads for Accounting Professionals on SEEK (job search website) grew 33% year on year.

Healthcare industry

Health Care and Social Assistance is the largest employing industry in Australia with 15.6% workforce share. There are over 2.2 million people currently employed in this industry and employment is expected to continue to grow. This in turn will increase demand for non-medical managers with business management qualifications who can take on projects, innovate in the health space and embrace emerging technologies in telemedicine and diagnostics.

2. Strong salary expectations

Given you’re considering making an investment in your education, it’s only natural that you will want to have some idea of what you can expect to earn upon graduation and as your progress throughout your career.

Salary expectations will of course vary depending on your specific role and industry. However, base statistics show the national average salary for a business manager is $115,000 per year in Australia.

According to a survey by the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC), the salary prospects for MBA graduates are forecast to recover to pre-pandemic levels as recruiters project a “robust demand” for business school graduates.

The 2021 Corporate Recruiters Survey indicated 9 in 10 corporate recruiters expected demand for graduates to increase or remain stable over the next five years. Their 2022 Survey found that salaries for business master’s graduates are rising, particularly for Finance, Data Analytics and Accounting and that the median MBA salary was AU$153,000 per year.

3. Flexible and diverse career outcomes

Studying a degree in business and management gives you wide scope to pursue a career across multiple disciplines. Business programs have the benefit of being flexible to adapt to your specific area of interest. Majors of our Bachelor of Business courses include Accounting, Marketing, Management and Hospitality and Tourism Management.

If you are unsure of exactly what industry or role you might want to go into, you can choose to maximise your flexibility by studying a general Bachelor of Business at an undergraduate level or a Master of Business Administration postgraduate degree.

Or, you can pursue a major or specialisation to align your study more closely to your career goals or passions. For example, at Kaplan Business School, we offer eight MBA specialisations which are Project Management, Health Services Management, Tourism and Hospitality Leadership, Digital Management, Entrepreneurship, Women in Leadership and International Leadership. You can choose to specialise in two of these, without adding any additional time to your degree.

Studying a business degree with a major or specialisation gives you the opportunity to gain the foundational skills to help businesses thrive such as knowing how to write a financial plan and track profits and losses. At the same time you will also take a deep dive into specific industry skills that are in high demand, such as the ability to manage complex projects or lead and manage teams. 

4. Gain transferable skills

Transferable skills are abilities that can be used across different industries and jobs such as communication skills, teamwork and critical thinking. According to LinkedIn, more than 3 in 5 (61%) of professionals said soft skills in the workplace are just as essential as hard skills. 

Even if you already have transferable skills, you can work to improve them and acquire new ones that are sought after by employers. According to an analysis conducted by Deloitte, soft-skill intensive occupations will account for two-thirds of all jobs by 2030.

Studying business will help you with technical skills and soft skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, task management and presentation skills. Practicing and honing these skills can contribute to career progression and earning potential.

Some of the top soft skills you will gain with a business degree include:

Communication

The 2022 Corporate Recruiters survey found that recruiters valued graduates who showed strong communication skills and are strategic thinkers. With remote working becoming the norm, it is now more important than before to learn how to talk and listen to each other.  

Analytical and critical thinking

The ability to think critically will help you to problem-solve effectively, add value to a business's day-to-day- operations and contribute to strategic planning.

Time management

Time is a valuable commodity, so being able to manage it well will ensure a productive working week. 

Leadership

The ability to guide projects, communicate a strategy or vision, and motivate your team, lies at the core of most business programs and can be instrumental in helping you to progress in your career whichever direction it takes you in.

5. Become your own boss

Studying business can be a practical way to gain the skills you need to start your own business or venture. A business degree will help you learn how to write a detailed and viable financial plan, obtain financing for your business, track your profits and losses and gain knowledge of other aspects of business management in order to keep your business profitable.

If your goal is to start your own business you can choose to specialise you can choose to specialise in entrepreneurship. At Kaplan Business School, our Master of Business Administration with a specialisation in Entrepreneurship will take you through the fundamental of entrepreneurship and small business administration, as well as new venture capital raising.

Just as important as the knowledge you’ll gain, are the connections you’ll make. The careers service at a university or business school can help take your networking to the next level. At KBS this includes the opportunity to boost your career prospects through an academic internship, gain access to exclusive networking events and benefit from one-on-one career sessions with our experienced and globally recognised Careers Central advisors.

What’s even more valuable for an entrepreneur is the Lifetime of Learning Guarantee that KBS offers. It gives our alumni, unlimited, free and lifelong access to all online classes of the course from which you graduated from and lifelong coaching from our Career Central team. For example, you can study an elective subject that will help you fill a skill gap you are experiencing as you work towards setting up your new business.

6. Feel prepared for a global career 

The business world is globally connected. Studying business will help you navigate the different rules, processes and structures that comes with managing businesses internationally.  

The business programs at KBS have been designed with an international outlook in mind, allowing you to graduate and excel in a career in Australia or globally. This includes subjects such as ‘International Business and Finance’ in which you'll learn about the strategies and structures that businesses need to compete in the international marketplace and operational aspects of international business such as exporting and importing, manufacturing, marketing, human resource management, accounting and financial management. 

Your ability to think globally will also be encouraged by your experience in the classroom, with a student mix of more than 90 nationalities. Learning alongside international students will help you become more culturally aware and open you up to new perspectives and ways of thinking. 

WHY CHOOSE TO STUDY YOUR BUSINESS DEGREE IN AUSTRALIA?

When weighing up options as to where to gain your qualification you should consider a few factors. Just looking at academic rankings, often does not tell you about the actual student experience an institution will provide, including support services and employment outcomes. 

Systems however like the Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT), assess both business schools and universities for academic quality and learning, based on student surveys rather than panel judgement.

You can read more about the choice of attending a business school vs university.

Here are 5 top reasons to study business in Australia. 

1. Receive a world-class education

All higher education courses need to be accredited by the Australian education system.

The Australian Qualifications Framework allows countries around the world to recognise your qualification and issue comparable qualifications for local use. All our courses are accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, a national agency closely regulated by the Australian government to ensure you are receiving the highest quality learning experience.

International students are also protected under Australian law through the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act. This framework sets out the standards that Australian institutions must meet in offering education and training services.

2. Strong salary prospects for MBA graduates

The demand for MBA graduates in Australia is strong – In fact, 22% of the world's top CEOs have an MBA (Preply survey, 2022). According to the QS Global MBA Rankings in 2023, Australian MBA graduates have the highest salaries in the Oceania region. The QS Global Employer Survey in 2022 reported that Australia offers the fourth highest salary for MBA graduates in the world. 

3. Bright prospects for employability

The National Skills Commission, which is tasked with regularly reviewing the national skills needs of Australia and provides a current labour market rating and a future demand rating for occupations nationally. They predict a job growth of 17% over the 5 years to 2026 for professionals.  

4. Flexible working and career options

Graduates who want to pursue a business career in Australia have many options available to them. After successfully completing your bachelor’s or master’s degree at KBS, you may be eligible to apply for a two-year post-study work arrangement in Australia.

Also, as an international student, you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight while studying in Australia. This means that even while studying, you’ll be able to seek work and potentially even gain practical experience in your field of interest.

Please visit the Home Affairs website. 

5. Develop your English language skills

If you want to have a successful business career, you need to be fluent in the global business language of English. Studying business in Australia will help you to immerse yourself in the language and fast-track your language development.

At Kaplan Business School you can choose to study elective subjects such as ‘Skills for Advanced Business English’ where you will engage in weekly workshops that will present you with real-world business contexts through which grammar instruction, communication practice activities, listening tasks and writing tasks take place.

You also have access to dedicated student support services such as the Academic Success Centre, where you can access help with your assessments and academic language skills via one-on-one sessions with an advisor, workshops, and lectures.

WHAT TYPES OF BUSINESS DEGREES ARE THERE?

Studying business can span different areas, majors and specialisations depending on the higher education provider. Here we break down some of the study options at KBS. 

• Accounting
• Business and Management
• Business Analytics
• MBA
• Marketing
• Information Technology (IT)

ACCOUNTING

Degree options

• Graduate Certificate in Accounting
• Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
• Master of Accounting
• Master of Professional Accounting

What you’ll learn

The key knowledge and skills covered across your core subjects will include:

• Financial accounting processes and concepts
• Record-keeping and the preparation of financial statements
• Double-entry accounting
• Financial recording and reporting
• Business processes and transaction cycles
• Corporations law
• Management accounting information systems
• Principles of corporate finance
• Auditing and assurance
• Taxation law

It’s also worth noting that our bachelor’s and master’s degrees are accredited by CPA Australia, CA ANZ and ACCA, and offer a direct pathway to professional certification and employment.

Is accounting right for me?

Accounting has the benefit of offering a clear career path. Traditionally, accountants are responsible for maintaining and analysing financial records for companies, government agencies, and other organisations.

As an accountant, you could also choose to specialise in the strategic side of finance such as forecasting and analysis. At that level, an accounting role can encompass the process of translating numbers into insights that can help inform a business’s decision making.

In terms of skills, working in accounting requires you to be adept with numbers and technology, but also possess the ability to problem-solve and come up with innovative solutions. Attention to detail and analytical skills will likely be part of your day-to-day role as you help an organisation to assess financial activities, problem-solve and reduce costs where necessary.

You can read more about the reasons to study accounting and career outcomes in our blog – 6 top reasons to study accounting.

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT

Degree options

• Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Business (Management)
• Bachelor of Business (Hospitality and Tourism Management)

What you’ll learn

The key knowledge and skills covered across your core subjects in an undergraduate business management degree will include:

• Management tools and theoretical concepts
• Key principles of financial accounting
• Business communication
• Key marketing principles
• Introduction to business analytics
• Commercial law
• Introduction to mathematical and statistical concepts
• Principles of Economics
• Human resources management
• Organisational structure and culture
• Business ethics
• Logistics and supply chain management
• Strategic and change management
• Innovation and entrepreneurship
• Issues in international business

Key skills/traits that will help you thrive 

• Problem-solving
• Critical and creative thinking
• Communication and negotiation
• Financial management
• Leadership

Is business or management at an undergraduate level right for me?

Curious about how companies build, maintain, and promote brand reputation? Do you see opportunities for businesses to operate more efficiently or solve problems facing society? There are many paths possible with a business degree for people who are energised by problem-solving, full of ideas, have natural leadership skills or tendencies, and have numerical skills or an interest in data.

Pursuing business at an undergraduate level will help you acquire business communication skills, high-level problem solving, financial literacy and a host of other transferable skills. Whether you wish to work as a consultant or to start your own business, this degree provides an excellent platform for your business career.

You will graduate with a firm understanding of different business environments and develop effective ways to approach, create and execute operational business plans. The insights you gain will be relevant to any industry and will empower you to build productive, ethical and successful teams and organisations.

BUSINESS ANALYTICS

Degree options

• Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics
• Graduate Diploma of Business Analytics
• Master of Business Analytics
• Master of Business Analytics (Extension)

What you’ll learn

The key knowledge and skills covered across your core subjects in a master’s level business analytics degree will include:

• Software analysis tools such as Tableau
• Data life cycle
• Collection, documentation, cleaning, processing, mining and validation of data
• Data security and ethics
• Data-driven decision making and forecasting
• Social media analytics
• Analytics in accounting, finance and economics
• Statistical techniques and quantitative methods used in business entities
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Project visualisation, planning, initiation, risk assessment and management
• Digital marketing and competitive advantage
• Analytics-driven business innovation

Key skills/traits that will help you thrive

• Attention to detail
• Interest in data and analytical skills
• Problem-solving
• Critical and creative thinking
• Leadership and presentation skills

Is business analytics right for me?

The term ‘analytics’ might allude to an exclusive focus on technical skills such as algorithm building, coding and programming, however studying a degree in business analytics, you’ll find that technical skills are covered, but always in a business application context.

The job requires critical and creative thinking and problem-solving. It takes a person capable of identifying and healing the cracks in a struggling business or managing the health of a larger corporation. A keen interest in data is essential as it will help shape the solutions you put forward to correct a business.

Business analysts draw on insights from data to maintain the equilibrium between the needs of stakeholders and unmatched opportunities and changes within a business structure. It combines the technical aspects of data analysis with the business acumen you would gain through more traditional business education.

Forecasting, analytics, and diplomacy in the realm of business also require a creative thinker. You’ll need to think outside the box and investigate processes instead of taking them at face value. This will help you to envision outcomes and ensure success in new markets, enviroments, and the rapidly evolving landscapes that businesses operate in.

MBA

Degree options

General

• Graduate Certificate in Business Administration
• Graduate Diploma in Business Administration
• MBA – Master of Business Administration

Specialisations

• MBA - (Project Management)
• MBA - (Health Services Management)
• MBA - (Tourism and Hospitality Leadership)
• MBA - (Digital Management)
• MBA - (Entrepreneurship)
• MBA - (Data-driven Leadership)
• MBA - (Women in Leadership)
• MBA - (International Leadership)​​​​​​​

What you’ll learn

The key knowledge and skills covered across your core subjects in a general MBA degree will include:

• Business psychology, coaching and mentoring
• Governance, ethics and sustainability
• Microeconomic principles
• Human resources management
• Emotional intelligence, cultural intelligence and diversity
• Dynamic strategy and disruptive innovation
• Thinking styles, negotiation and conflict management
• Operations management and decision-making models
• Business Analitics

Specialisations and Career Outcomes

• Project Management – Project Manager, Risk Consultant, Implementation Manager
• Health Services Management – Nursing Manager, Practice Manager, Health Care Administrator
• Tourism and Hospitality Leadership – Tourism Executive, Hotel General Manager, Events Planner
• Digital Management – Marketing Consultant, Information Resources Manager, Business Analyst
• Entrepreneurship – start-up Consultant, Venture Capitalist, Business Coach
• Data-driven Leadership – Management Consultant, Data Strategist, Corporate Reporting Manager, Research Consultant
• Women in Leadership – Corporate Leader, Diversity Manager, Executive Coach
• International Leadership – Global Director of Strategy, Remote/virtual Leader, Change Manager

Key skills/traits that will help you thrive

• Creativity and innovation
• Problem-solving
• Critical thinking
• Leadership and presentation skills
• Communication skills

Is business administration right for me?

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is widely regarded as the preferred qualification for professionals wanting to pursue a career in strategic management. 

You will receive an education in business management and leadership, and learn transferable skills including communication, problem-solving, and creative and critical thinking. Industry and academic professionals will provide valuable insights into what it takes to run a business effectively. This includes how to increase productivity and sales, problem-solve, nurture clients and stakeholders, risk management, and how to apply theoretical and practical approaches in strategy development. MBA skills can be applied to a range of different fields, making you a flexible professional.

Studying a specialisation will help you hone precise, industry-specific skills, while still building foundational skills.

At KBS you have the option of undertaking a dual specialisation which will allow you to gain knowledge and skills in two industry-specific areas of the MBA. 

An MBA can be especially valuable for professionals who want to:

• Grow professional skills to attain a promotion and/or access higher salary potential
• Build management and leadership skills that can lead to better career opportunities and job satisfaction
• To start in a new industry or role
• Gain entrepreneurial skills to start or grow their own company
• Network and expand their business networks
• to build an international career

For more  information about studying an MBA, you can read our Ultimate Guide to doing an MBA in Australia.

MARKETING

Degree options

• Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
• MBA – Digital Management

What you’ll learn

The key knowledge and skills covered across your core subjects will include:

• Key marketing principles 

• Strategic marketing 

• Digital marketing 

• International marketing 

• Integrated marketing communications including the role of advertising and media 

• How to conduct market-specific research 

• Consumer behaviour 

• Introduction to management
• Key aspects of financial accounting
• Business communication
• Introduction to business analytics
• Commercial law
• Logistics and supply chain management

Key skills/traits that will help you thrive

• Communication skills
• Strategic, analytical and creative thinking
• Adaptability
• Sales-minded
• Good people skills

Is marketing right for me?

Marketing focuses on creating, managing and enhancing brands. You will work across many different channels and skill areas such as from advertising, public relations, digital marketing, social media, and search engine optimisation.

With the adoption of technology, online marketing has significantly grown. Traditional offline marketing like radio, TV and newspapers still exist, but there’s significantly less demand given the huge growth of online platforms.

Marketing requires creativity and collaboration supported by strong interpersonal and communication skills. There’s a strategic component to marketing that focuses on your target audience. You’ll need to understand the motivations and needs of your customers – who they are, what they expect from you and what value you can bring them. You’ll be required to closely follow the evolution of digital platforms and the emergence of social media trends.

Doing some research on different marketing fields can help give you a better idea of the type of roles you can expect to apply for in the industry. These may include:

• Social media marketing
• Paid advertising
• Search engine optimisation
• Web and conversion optimisation
• Content strategy
• Email marketing
• Start-up marketing

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Degree options 

• Diploma of Information Technology 
• Graduate Certificate in Information Technology 
• Bachelor of Information Technology 
• Master of Information Technology (Extension) 
• Master of Information Technology

What you'll learn

The key knowledge and skills covered across your core subjects will include: 

• Technological and programming tools  

• Communicatinge technological problems, solutions and outcomes to stakeholders 

• Implementing business solutions using technology-based approaches  

• Working within or managing expert terms to oversee technological initiatives  

• Ethical, privacy and information security  

Specialisations and Career Outcomes

• Analytics – Database administrator, Data Centre technician, Database analyst, Network analyst
• Programming – Software tester, Programmer, Network engineer, Software analyst
• Cyber Security – Security administrator, Cyber intelligence analyst, Digital forensic analyst
• Web and mobile development – Multimedia developer, Web designer, Software developer, Front-end developer

Key skills/traits that will help you thrive 

• Attention to detail 
• Problem-solving 
• Critical and creative thinking 
• Communication  
• Project collaboration 

Is IT right for me? 

The IT industry is growing at a rapid rate, driven primarily by the effects of the pandemic which led to companies being dependent on digital technology for the majority of their business operations.  By 2027, Australia will need over 1.2 million IT workers to fulfil our digital needs*.   

Technology is changing and advancing quickly so if you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy collaborating with people on building new applications and frameworks, developing more efficient and user-friendly information systems, analysing data, and enforcing cyber security, then IT is the right fit for you.  
*ACS Australia’s Digital Pulse 2022 

Find out more about our range of undergraduate and postgraduate business courses at Kaplan Business School. 

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