Top Business Universities in Australia for Undergraduate Students
Did you know that more than 30% of international students in Australia study programs in business, management, and commerce? The top business universities in Australia produce graduates with qualifications in high demand, both in the country and around the world. With over 20 Australian universities in the global top 500 for Business and Management students, this is not surprising. Along with these high academic standards, Australia sees a continuous demand for business professionals with the right skills to contribute to the country’s skill shortage areas.
In this blog post, we run you through some of the best business schools Australia has to offer as well as the prospects you can expect after graduating.
Business Majors You Can Study in Australia
One of the most popular business degrees worldwide is the BBA or Bachelor of Business and Administration degree. This degree can land you a variety of jobs and let you explore independent careers. You can also work towards an MBA in Australia to take your career to the next level. Your BBA degree can add value to your career and open up specific professional pathways depending on the subject you choose to major in.
The types of majors available to you will differ from one university to the next. When choosing the right program for you, think about your future career goals and which program offers outcomes aligning with them. Make sure you also research the job prospects of your career path in the future, so you can take advantage of growth trends and avoid stagnating or declining career pathways.
If you plan to study in Australia, a quick search for business programs through the GRADSearch course finder will show you the following common business majors:
Accounting:
Focuses on recording, analyzing, and reporting of financial transactions, ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulations.
Business Administration:
Covers the fundamentals of managing a business, including operations, management, marketing, and finance.
Business Analytics and Analysis:
Involves using data analysis and statistical methods to solve business problems and make data-driven decisions.
Entrepreneurship and Innovation:
Concentrates on creating and managing new business ventures, fostering innovation, and developing business strategies.
Finance:
Deals with the management of money, including investing, borrowing, budgeting, and forecasting.
Financial Planning:
Focuses on creating strategies for managing personal finances, including investments, retirement planning, and tax management.
Human Resource Management:
Involves recruiting, training, and managing employees, as well as developing policies and strategies to maximize workforce performance.
Logistics and Supply Chain Management:
Focuses on the efficient flow of goods and services from production to delivery, optimizing the supply chain and logistics processes.
Management:
Encompasses planning, organizing, leading, and controlling an organization's resources to achieve its goals.
Marketing:
Involves promoting and selling products or services, including market research, advertising, and strategic planning.
Many of the above program majors share functions with each other. In the real working world, several of these specializations overlap in professional roles as well. As a result, many top business universities in Australia offer inter- and multidisciplinary programs to deliver a holistic education, to produce all-rounder graduates.
Unique Business Majors to Study in Australia
Alongside the popular majors in the business sector worldwide, you will find some majors unique to Australian universities. These majors focus on specific sectors of the Australian economy, aiming to address skill shortages and demand in relevant job fields. You may enjoy lower competition and higher prospects for these niche specializations, so keep them in mind when exploring your higher education options. For example, you can consider:
Sports Management:
Offers insights into managing sports organizations, events, and facilities. This major has a particular emphasis on sports popular in Australia, such as cricket, rugby, and Australian Rules Football.
Mining and Resources Management:
Addresses business and management issues in the mining and resources sector. The mining sector is a key industry in Australia's economy. The major covers topics such as resource management, sustainability, and regulatory compliance.
Asia-Pacific Business:
Focuses on business practices, economic environments, and cultural factors specific to the Asia-Pacific region. This major focuses on leveraging Australia's geographic proximity and trade relationships.
Career Prospects for Business Professionals
Australia is one of the most active hubs of international business, with a vibrant start-up scene alongside the strong presence of multinationals. Because all businesses in virtually every sector require business professionals to run them, there is consistent demand for people with the right qualifications. Between 2021 and 2026, the government projects growth in the following roles:
• Financial and Insurance Services – 6.3% growth
• General Manager Roles – 12.9% growth
• Human Resources Roles – 9.6% growth
• Accountant Roles – 9.2% growth
• Advertising and Marketing Professional Roles – 11.4%
Top Business Schools in Australia for Undergraduate Programs
Australia is one of the best study destinations for business, especially for international students. With more than 90% of its universities ranking among the global best, the top business universities in Australia offer industry-relevant programs to students. Industry experts, trends, and insights inform program design, with opportunities for practical learning like capstone projects and internships built into the curriculum. The high graduate employment outcomes of these universities reflect the future career success students of these universities enjoy.
Some of the best universities to consider getting a business degree from in Australia are:
| University Name | QS World University Rankings in Business & Management Studies 2024 |
| University of New South Wales | =35 |
| Monash University | #62 |
| Australian National University | =70 |
| Macquarie University | 151-200 |
| University of Wollongong | 151-200 |
University of New South Wales
The UNSW Business School consistently ranks in the top 1% worldwide, making it an easy first place in our list of top business universities in Australia. It also snagged the AFR BOSS Best Business School award two years in a row, making it the best business school in Australia. What future business students may be most keen to know, though, is that the UNSW Business School is #1 in Australia for employability! The AFR Top100 Future Leaders Awards voted UNSW graduates as the most employable students four years in a row.
Undergraduate business and management degrees at UNSW are very popular among international students. Some of the best business professionals emerge from this university. Some exciting majors to explore here include:
● Business Analytics
● Financial Technology (FinTech)
● Human Resource Management
● Innovation and Entrepreneurship
● Risk and Actuarial Sciences
Monash University
Monash University is another heavy-hitter among the top business universities in Australia. Alongside UNSW, Monash University is a Group of Eight member, one of Australia’s prestigious research leaders. The Monash Business School stands out in its own right, ranking in the global top 100 according to both Times Higher Education and QS Top Universities.
This triple-accredited business school offers Australia’s most extensive range of degrees, including double degrees. Among its efforts to craft the right education experience for you and your goals is its business personality rubric, which helps students approach their program choice with purpose.
The Monash Business School offers programs under seven multidisciplinary departments:
● Accounting
● Banking and Finance
● Business Law and Taxation
● Econometrics and Business Statistics
● Economics
● Management
● Marketing
● Leadership and Executive Education
Some of your program options at the Monash Business School include bachelor’s degrees in:
● Accounting
● Actuarial Science
● Banking and Finance
● Economics
● International Business
● Marketing
Australian National University
The College of Business and Economics at Australian National University makes it one of the top business universities in Australia. It also continues consistently to place among the best universities in the world. According to Times Higher Education, Australian National University is #1 in the country for graduate employability. It is also the most international university in Australia and the top 20 most international universities in the world.
CBE commits to and insists upon academic excellence and industry-leading research. Students enrolling in business programs at this university study under some of the foremost experts in their fields. Some of your undergraduate program options at ANU include bachelor’s degrees in:
● Finance, Economics & Statistics (Honours)
● Commerce
● Business Administration
● International Business
● Actuarial Studies
Macquarie University
The Macquarie Business School in Sydney lands in the top 1% of the best business schools in the world. Several of its master’s programs rank in the top 5 in Australia, with its Master of Marketing and MBA programs snagging the #1 spot according to various prestigious publications. This is unsurprising, thanks to Macquarie University’s emphasis on industry-relevant programs, optimizing the curriculum with a focus on in-demand skill development and its Co-Operative Education Program.
The university also stands out for its award-winning PACE (Professional and Community Engagement) program. Through this program, the university creates almost 300 internship opportunities every year for its business school students across its network of industry partners.
At Macquarie University, you can explore program opportunities in business fields such as:
● Accounting
● Actuarial Studies
● Business Administration
● Business Analytics
● Commerce
● Economics
● Finance
● Human Resources
● International Business
● Management
● Marketing
University of Wollongong
One of the standout aspects of studying business at the University of Wollongong is its Business Internship program. Professional experience through this program prepares you for the competitive job market even before you graduate. You benefit from the University of Wollongong’s extensive network of industry partners, getting hands-on work experience to convert academic learning to real-world experience.
UOW is one of the top 200 universities in the world for business studies and management and is a 5+ QS Star university. Teaching, employability, and global engagement are just a few of the areas where UOW demonstrates standout performance, scoring a full 5 stars under the QS Stars rating system of excellence. Bachelor’s programs you can explore at the University of Wollongong include:
● Business Analytics
● Business Law
● Human Resource Management
● International Business
● Management
● Marketing
● Supply Chain Management
Post-Study Work Opportunities for Business Graduates
Business careers depend heavily on the experience you gather to climb the corporate ladder. One of the excellent opportunities you unlock by graduating from one of the top business schools in Australia in this regard is the post-study or Temporary Graduate Visa pathway.
Once you complete your undergraduate degree, you will be eligible for the Subclass 485 visa to continue living in Australia for work. The temporary graduate visa allows you to explore job opportunities, build up experience, and access longer-term work and immigration opportunities. Graduating from the best business schools in Australia boosts your employability success immensely.
The duration of your stay depends on your undergraduate degree:
| Degree | Duration |
| Bachelor’s Degree with Honors | 2 years |
| For Indian passport holders: Bachelor’s Degree with first-class honors in STEM and ICT |
3 years |
| Some specified Bachelor’s Degrees with Honors | 4 years |
Rounding Up
Finding the right university to get a business degree is the first step towards jumpstarting a successful corporate career. Luckily, you have plenty of options to explore among the top business universities in Australia for your field. Our brief overview barely scratches the surface of the opportunities available in Australia for your program preferences and career goals. Consider exploring and comparing multiple options across key decision-making factors like tuition fees and scholarship availability. GRADSearch, our complete course toolkit, overviews tuition fee ranges and scholarships for all the programs in our database, including Australia’s best business schools.
