Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management)

Degree Level Postgraduate

Years

Australian students

Start Date
January
March
June
September

Campus
City West

Duration
1.5 year(s) full-time

Program Code
DMMA

Study as
Full-time or part-time

Mode
On-campus/Online

Fees
$AU 41,900 per 1.0 EFTSL for students enrolled in 2025

Entry requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the program will normally have:
a) A minimum of three (3) years full time management experience and a recognised university Bachelor degree or equivalent professional qualifications;
or
b) A Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from the University of South Australia with an average of at least Pass Level 1 (55%) across four (or more) courses, or an equivalent qualification from the University of South Australia or from another recognised university;
or
c) The Program Director may, under exceptional circumstances, accept candidates with substantial and proven managerial and/or entrepreneurial experience who have demonstrated the potential to meet the learning requirements of the MBA.

All applicants are also required to submit a detailed curriculum vitae or equivalent with at least one referee who can validate work experience.

View full entry requirements Hide full entry requirements

Aim

The Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management) provides individuals with the knowledge and skills to advance a career in senior organisational management and leadership, with an emphasis on the program area of specialisation.

Qualities developed by the degree include strategic thinking, ethical conduct, responsible leadership, evidenced based decision making, an international perspective, the ability to think critically, and the ability to work both collaboratively and with a high level of autonomy and accountability.

Content & Structure

This program comprises 54 units of study, normally completed as 12 courses of 4.5 unit value each, plus a structured Commencement Seminar.

Study at the new Adelaide University in 2026

The University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia are combining their strengths to create a new university for the future, Adelaide University, opening in January 2026.

From 4 August 2025, the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia will no longer be accepting applications for new students.

Apply now to study with Adelaide University in 2026.

What courses you'll study

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units	Reference
COURSES and SEQUENCING:				Rule(s): 1
FIRST:
Strategic Thinking: Concepts and Tools	BUSS 5424	4.5
THEN - in any order:
Accounting for Decision Making	BUSS 5247	4.5
Data Visualisation and Communication for Business Professionals	INFS 5128	4.5
Managing People and Organisations	BUSS 5425	4.5		Rule(s): 3
International Business	BUSS 5251	4.5
Strategic Marketing	BUSS 5245	4.5
Ethics, Governance and Sustainability	BUSS 5385	4.5
Leadership for Growth	BUSS 5438	4.5
Elective 1		4.5	Note(s): 2
Specialisation elective 1		4.5		Rule(s): 2
Specialisation elective 2		4.5		Rule(s): 2
CAPSTONE COURSE - normally taken when all compulsory courses have been completed successfully:
Strategic Industry Project	BUSS 5449	4.5		Rule(s): 4

Electives

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units
Specialisation electives
Managing the Global Workforce	BUSS 5302	4.5
Introduction to Human Resource Management	BUSS 5307	4.5
Australian Industrial Relations	BUSS 5308	4.5
Strategic Management of Human Resources	BUSS 5316	4.5
Talent Acquisition and Development	BUSS 5351	4.5
Negotiation	BUSS 5355	4.5
Workplace Learning and Development	BUSS 5069	4.5
Employment Law F	COML 5015	4.5
Responsible Leadership	BUSS 5389	4.5
Workplace Health and Safety Management	BUSS 5399	4.5
Managing Employee Performance and Rewards	BUSS 5398	4.5
Business Electives
International Study Tour	BUSS 5421	4.5
Company Directors Course	BUSS 5417	4.5
Contemporary Management Issues B	BUSS 5419	4.5
Digital Business Strategy and Operations	BUSS 5451	4.5
The Law for Managers	LAWS 5016	4.5
Entrepreneurship and Innovation	BUSS 5080	4.5
Negotiation	BUSS 5355	4.5

Rules & notes

Rules

1. All students are required to attend or view a structured Commencement Seminar. No grade is awarded for this.

2. Specialisation electives are to be chosen from a range of specialisation elective courses set out in the electives schedule or, subject to Program Director approval, from courses in other postgraduate programs at the University of South Australia or from other recognised higher education institutions.

3. This course, two Human Resource Management specialisation electives and the capstone course must all be completed in order to graduate from the program with the title of Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management).

4. This course must be completed with a project focus on Human Resource Management and is the final course of the four courses required to graduate from this program with a title of Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management).

Notes

1. The Master of Business Administration is designed as a nested program, with credit transfers and articulation pathways from the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration and the Graduate Diploma in Business Administration.

2. Not all electives will be offered each year. Students should refer to the online timetable for details of courses offered in the current year as additional electives may be offered on a once-off basis.