Study International Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management) at the University of South Australia (UniSA). Information for International students.

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Entry requirements Degree overview Career outcomes How to apply Study experience

You're viewing degree information for International students

You're considered an International student if you are:

NOT an Australian or New Zealand citizen
NOT an Australian Permanent Resident (including Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders)

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International students

Start date
February
July

Campus
City West

Duration
2 year(s) full-time

Mode
On-campus/Online

Program Code
DMIN

Fees
AUD$ 42,000 per annum (per 1.0 EFTSL) for students enrolled in 2025

English Language Requirements

IELTS total [6.5]
IELTS reading [6.0]
IELTS writing [6.0]

Equivalent English qualifications (PDF)

International Admission by Country
See full entry requirements

CRICOS Code
091996G

Entry requirements

Applicants are required to have one of the following:
- A completed bachelor degree from a recognised higher education institution or equivalent; or
- A completed graduate diploma from a recognised higher education institution; or
- A completed graduate certificate from a recognised higher education institution.
Applicants who have:
- completed a bachelor degree in a business discipline; or
- completed a bachelor degree which includes a major in business, commerce, marketing or management; or
- completed a graduate certificate in a business discipline,
  
  are eligible to enter the program with 0.5 EFTSL (18 units) Advanced Standing and complete the program in 1.5 years of full time study or equivalent part time study.
English language entry requirements
International students who speak English as a foreign language must have obtained one of the following standards within the last two years prior to admission. Possession of one or more of these qualifications, in addition to the academic entry requirements, does not, in itself, guarantee a place at the University of South Australia. Applications are considered on an individual basis and selection is competitive. Where previous study/work experience was conducted in English, the application must be accompanied by certified documentation from the educational institution/employer certifying that the language of instruction/employment was English.
English language test
- IELTS total [6.5]
- IELTS reading [6.0]
- IELTS writing [6.0]
Please access the following link for a comprehensive list of English language tests accepted by UniSA and other important information in relation to meeting the University’s language requirements: English Language Equivalence Table (PDF)
View full entry requirements Hide full entry requirements

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Degree overview

Study at a university recognised globally in Business. UniSA Business is ranked in the top one per cent worldwide and has been awarded an overall five stars for excellence¹.
UniSA Business is accredited by both AACSB International and EFMD (EQUIS) – the world’s leading accreditation bodies.
A two-year International MBA (IMBA) with a global focus that does not require previous work experience.
Provides early-career professionals with advanced management knowledge and skills to excel in international business.
Learn about business strategy, leadership, data analytics, global marketing, accounting for management, and much more.
Both on campus and mixed mode study options are available, providing you with flexibility throughout your studies.
Gain real-world experience as part of your studies through an optional internship, student exchange or mentorship opportunity.
Qualify for Advanced Standing from previous qualifications and complete your degree in just 1.5 years.
Receive mentoring from a senior business leader through the Executive Partners Program.
Study a curriculum informed by above world-class research in Human Resource Management².
Access the latest human resource management research and study courses that are relevant, practical and applicable to today’s environment.
Study at a Top 5 business school in Australia for quality.³.
Experience UniSA’s campus facilities, ranked in the Top 5 in Australia for Business and Management⁴.

¹UniSA Business is one of just 13 institutions in Australia and approximately 200 globally (from over 25,000 universities) to be EQUIS accredited. EFMD, March 2024. 2023 QS Stars Business School Ratings.²2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA). ³Ranked #3, Australian Financial Review BOSS Best Business Schools List 2024. ⁴Ranked #4 (Undergraduate) and #5 (Postgraduate), ComparED (QILT) Student Experience Survey 2021-22, Learning Resources Indicator. Public universities

Snapshot

SNoonan_UniSA BusHub_231017_004.jpg Are you an early-career professional looking to progress your career in an international business context?

This degree will develop your knowledge of the global business environment and enable you to maximise your career development opportunities and employment prospects. You will benefit from a range of experience-based learning opportunities, including overseas study and business mentoring by a senior business leader through the Executive Partners Program.

Your studies will focus on international business strategy, international trade, global marketing, and employment law – the knowledge you will need to accelerate your career as a business professional in an international context.

What you'll learn

Postgraduate Business students

The two year program comprises 16 courses, including 4 electives and an industry placement/project. You will start with seven core courses common to all specialisations in the IMBA. Through these you will develop advanced skills and expertise in areas of international management including:

global business environment
people leadership and performance
economic principles for business
fundamentals of data analytics

You will then move into your human resource management specialisation studying areas such as recruitment and selection, people analytics and strategic management of human resources.

Degree structure

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units	Reference
Course name BUSINESS CORE COURSES			Reference
Course name Marketing Management	Area and cat no. MARK 5025	Units 4.5	Reference	Rule(s): 3
Course name Accounting for Management M	Area and cat no. ACCT 5011	Units 4.5	Reference	Rule(s): 3
Course name Economic Principles for Business	Area and cat no. ECON 5020	Units 4.5	Reference	Rule(s): 3
Course name Global Business Environment	Area and cat no. BUSS 5300	Units 4.5	Reference	Rule(s): 3
Course name PROGRAM CORE COURSES			Reference
Course name Fundamentals of Data Analytics for Business	Area and cat no. INFS 5130	Units 4.5	Reference
Course name Managing the Global Workforce	Area and cat no. BUSS 5302	Units 4.5	Reference
Course name People, Leadership and Performance	Area and cat no. BUSS 5114	Units 4.5	Reference
Course name HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SPECIALISATION			Reference
Course name Talent Acquisition and Development	Area and cat no. BUSS 5351	Units 4.5	Reference
Course name Managing Employee Performance and Rewards	Area and cat no. BUSS 5398	Units 4.5	Reference
Course name People Analytics	Area and cat no. BUSS 5450	Units 4.5	Reference
Course name Strategic Management of Human Resources	Area and cat no. BUSS 5316	Units 4.5	Reference
Course name Leading and Managing Organisational Change	Area and cat no. BUSS 5065	Units 4.5	Reference
Course name Specialisation Elective		Units 4.5	Reference Note(s): 1,2	Rule(s): 6
Course name BUSINESS ELECTIVES			Reference
Course name Elective		Units 4.5	Reference Note(s): 2	Rule(s): 6
Course name Professional Consulting Project	Area and cat no. BUSS 5434	Units 4.5	Reference
Course name OR			Reference
Course name Business Practicum G	Area and cat no. BUSS 5396	Units 4.5	Reference
Course name International Business: Strategy and Ethics	Area and cat no. BUSS 5034	Units 4.5	Reference	Rule(s): 4

Electives

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units
Advanced Business Electives
Course name Doing Business in Asia	Area and cat no. BUSS 5347	Units 4.5
Course name Issues in International Trade	Area and cat no. BUSS 5348	Units 4.5
Course name Research for Business Decision Making	Area and cat no. BUSS 5397	Units 4.5
Course name Business Virtual Study Tour - Postgraduate	Area and cat no. BUSS 5411	Units 4.5
Course name Forecasting for Decision Making	Area and cat no. BUSS 5427	Units 4.5
Advanced Specialisation Electives
Course name Service Management	Area and cat no. BUSS 5428	Units 4.5
Course name Australian Industrial Relations	Area and cat no. BUSS 5308	Units 4.5
Course name Negotiation	Area and cat no. BUSS 5355	Units 4.5
Business Electives
Course name Startup Studio G	Area and cat no. BUSS 5448	Units 4.5
Course name Data Visualisation and Communication for Business Professionals	Area and cat no. INFS 5128	Units 4.5
Course name Enterprising Asia: Innovation, Strategy & Impact	Area and cat no. BUSS 5453	Units 4.5
Course name Tourism and Indigenous People and Stakeholders	Area and cat no. TOUR 5010	Units 4.5
Specialisation Elective
Course name Employment Law F	Area and cat no. COML 5015	Units 4.5
Course name Workplace Learning and Development	Area and cat no. BUSS 5069	Units 4.5

Rules & notes

Rules

1. Students, who have taken, for another award, a course which is substantially equivalent to a course from the program schedule, may be granted up to one third of the program in credit or may substitute a course of equal standing and unit's value, with the approval of the Program Director. Credit will only be granted for courses undertaken at postgraduate level in a qualification that has not been used as the basis for Advanced Standing.

2. The Program Director may approve variations to the program of studies for a student by substituting courses from the program schedule with courses from other graduate level programs in this or another university.

3. Applicants who have completed a bachelor degree in a business discipline or who hold a bachelor degree which includes a major in business, commerce, marketing or management or applicants who have completed a graduate certificate in a business discipline are eligible to enter the program with 0.5 EFTSL (18 units) Advanced Standing in lieu of these courses and complete the program in 1.5 years of full time study or equivalent part time study.

4. This is a capstone course and should be completed at the end of the program.

5. Students enrolled in the International Master of Business Administration are eligible to transfer into Master of Management or any of the Master of Management specialisations after a semester of study.

6. One course has to be at an advanced level and can be chosen from the Advanced Specialisation Electives or Advanced Business Electives list.

Notes

1. To be selected from the specialisation elective list or may be used to complete a short term international exchange, internship or UniSA Business electives approved by the Program Director.

2. The Australian Industrial Relations course listed in the electives is strongly recommended for students who intend to work in the human resources field in Australia.

Study hours

For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for various classes such as lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Plus you will need additional hours to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings and projects, as well as to contribute to online discussion forums (independent study). So as a general rule, if you are studying full-time you would need to allocate 12–26 hours of study when at university and 14–28 hours of independent study per week.

Assessment

Your courses will incorporate practical, professional and research-based learning. Assessments may include:

case studies and reports
essays and assignments
examinations
industry-relevant project
oral or online presentation
journals or portfolios
work placements

Global opportunities

Enrich your studies and your life – make overseas study part of your qualification. You may have the option to undertake an exchange, short-term program or study tour overseas while you study. We have links with universities worldwide, as well as a range of travel grants available to make going overseas much more accessible.

You can choose short-term or semester-long study from a range of universities and countries depending on your area of study and cultural interests.

Take a look at the global opportunities available.

Research

Working closely with industry, UniSA generates high quality enterprising research that informs our curriculum and tackles real world problems. We are renowned for our concentration of global thought-leaders and academic experts in the areas of marketing, human resource management, tourism and events management, logistics and supply chains, applied economics, business analytics, and international business.

Our curriculum is informed by our research expertise which is ranked ‘Above World-Class’ in Business, Management, Marketing and Tourism in the 2018 Excellence in Research (ERA) rankings. This program is taught by leading business experts from our broad range of research concentrations, institutes and centres.

Why International Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management)

This two-year IMBA provides professionals with advanced knowledge and management skills for international business. It does not require previous work experience.

Courses are designed in consultation with industry professionals, so you’ll learn through real-life case studies and develop the knowledge and expertise you need to address today’s global business challenges.

You'll gain real world insights through UniSA’s global business focus, executive knowledge and networks. Graduate with the knowledge, skills and experience to succeed in your future career—no matter where in the world you choose to work.

UniSA Business is the only business school in South Australia accredited by both AACSB International (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) and EFMD (EQUIS) – the world’s leading accreditation bodies recognising excellence in business education and research at a global level. These dual accreditations demonstrate the high standards we hold across all areas such as teaching, student learning and research, as well as our commitment to continually improving the quality of our programs.

The Human Resource Management (HRM) specialisation is designed and taught by academics actively involved in collaborative industry research. Courses draw on international research and professional experience both locally and abroad, so they are relevant, practical and applicable to today’s environment. You will develop the expertise and skills for effective professional practice as an HRM specialist.

An enriching student experience

Our flexible delivery and extra-curricular opportunities are designed to suit your lifestyle, preferred way of learning and career interests. You can benefit from a blend of online and on-campus study, part-time or full-time learning, Summer and Winter School intensive courses, mentoring and networking opportunities with industry, and leadership skill development. You can also explore accelerated learning pathways and seek program support from our Business Student Hub.

Real-world connections

Placements and internships bridge the gap between study and work. Our connections to industry create opportunities for you to grow. These experiences build confidence in the business world and give you a competitive edge.

Executive Partners Program

Have you ever considered having a business mentor? As part of your studies, you can apply for our Executive Partners Program.

This is a unique opportunity for our postgraduate students to engage with highly successful industry executives to enhance your study and career. Our Executive Partners are either active, semi-retired or recently retired business professionals who have a wealth of knowledge and want to help you achieve your goals.

Discover more

Hear from Executive Director: MBA and Executive Education about what makes our International Master of Business Administration unique, and what opportunities you can make the most of as a UniSA student.

Career outcomes

Your career

An International Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management), will provide you with specialist skills in human resource management and equip you to pursue international career opportunities in roles such as:

Chief HR officer: working with senior management teams; developing and implementing workforce policies and practices; creating competitive remuneration strategies and performance management frameworks; acting as regulatory adviser for complex industrial relations matters
Human resources manager: designing, organising and implementing human resources strategies, policies and programs; overseeing recruitment, performance management, and learning and development
People and culture manager: overseeing day to day people and culture activities; talent acquisition; employee relations and training and development; implementing and executing strategic employee engagement initiatives

Industry facts

By 2024, employment for human resource and training professionals in Australia is projected to increase by 11,900 by May 2024.

Australian Government Department of Employment, Occupational Employment Projections 2019.

How to apply

How to apply for international students will give you helpful information about the application process at the University of South Australia. When you are ready, apply through our International Application System. If you would like to talk to someone near you about studying at the University of South Australia, we have agents all over the world who can assist you. Find an Education Agent in your country.

Alternative Pathways

Australian
If you would like to strengthen your business knowledge with a shorter qualification, the Graduate Certificate in Business (four courses) may suit you. This provides an entry pathway into the International Master of Business Administration Program.

International
If you would like to strengthen your business knowledge with a shorter qualification, the Graduate Certificate in Business (four courses) may suit you. This provides an entry pathway into the International Master of Business Administration Program.

Credit transfer

You could be eligible for credit for previous studies you have undertaken. Find out online.

Go to credit assessor

Life in Adelaide

Current international students talk about living in Adelaide and studying at UniSA.

Hear from our students

Scholarships

Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.

More scholarships

Vice Chancellor's International Excellence Scholarship

Recipients can get a 50% reduction on tuition fees for up to four years of full-time study for selected degrees.

Learn more

International Merit Scholarship

Recipients can get a 15% reduction on tuition fees for the duration of their chosen degree.

Learn more

Your study experience and support

As a UniSA student, you will have unique access to work placement opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events, internships, guest speakers and more.

Our campuses are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform. We have health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and great student lounges. You will also gain access to a range of community clinics, which provide professional and cost effective services in areas of health, business, law and psychology. There are campus sport activities to keep you active, and if you are keen to explore the social side of university life, there are movies, cooking demonstrations, parties and lots more.

Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation and private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages, or explore our student accommodation by Scape on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.

Student services

The Business Student Hub is a dedicated and convenient support service for business students, from first year right through to graduation. The team provides expert advice on study options, elective choices and any academic difficulties, and can help with referrals to support services across the University. The Business Student Hub is there to facilitate your life at university, so you get the most out of your UniSA experience.

You can also access a range of other international student services including

careers advice
help with student visas and health cover
personal counselling
academic counselling
fees and finance help
common rooms
prayer rooms
security officers
accommodation services
UniSA’s Student Association, USASA, also provides a range of other services.

We also offer study support from our Learning Advisers which you can work with face-to-face or online. They are here to help you develop academically and professionally during your studies, and can also offer help with the English language.

When you become a UniSA student you can contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your ID cards, fees and any other questions you might have.

24/7 digital environment

With interactive online course materials and a 24/7 learning environment you can organise your study to suit your lifestyle. You can:

study online, including accessing videos and course resources
participate in virtual classrooms
submit your assignments and get feedback online
use forums and discussion boards for team work and communication

Our learnonline facilities include a personal learning environment with virtual classrooms, lecture recordings, emails, learning support, administration, library access and results. The environment is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can tailor your learning to your life. We are continually investing in innovative digital technologies for a high-quality student learning experience.

Please note, all student visa holders are required to meet their visa condition to study no more than one-third of their program in an online mode and maintain enrolment in at least one internal (face-to-face) course per compulsory study period, unless it is their final course and not available internally. If you are currently residing in Adelaide, on-campus attendance (such as seminars, workshops or examinations) and/or placements would apply, as outlined on individual course pages. If you are currently overseas, online study may be available following your individual study plan.

Your campus

We have six campuses in metropolitan and regional areas, each with modern facilities including lecture theatres, libraries and laboratories, as well as spaces that simulate real work environments.

Your program director

With well over 30 years of extensive business-linked experience both nationally and internationally, I maintain a long held commitment to preparing students to become the business professionals and leaders of the future. As the Program Director I see how students who undertake this program develop advanced knowledge and skills in business but are also empowered with the confidence to graduate career-ready and achieve their future career goals.

Mr Stan Astachnowicz

Program Director

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Mr Stan Astachnowicz

Program Director

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What others are saying

When hiring staff, I look for a suite of five skills. I look for their ability to communicate and engage in meaningful conversations, their commitment to learning, team orientation, personal leadership, as well as their professional skill set. My advice for HR professionals is to invest in your own development - whether that be through studying, reading, attending presentations or being great at asking questions!

Samantha Wilkinson

Owner and Principal Consultant | Samantha Wilkinson Human Resource Consulting