MBA without Work Experience in Australia: Universities, Admission Process, Eligibility, Tuition Fees & Benefits

MBA in Australia is a professional degree and one of the most demanded fields of study among international students. More than 20,000 international students are recorded to be currently pursuing MBA in Australia. Generally, over 80% of the MBA class of any Australian institution comprises international students, mainly from India, China, Malaysia, South Korea and Vietnam. One of the major questions around MBA courses is pursuing the degree without work experience. It is possible to apply for admission to MBA without work experience in Australia. However, given the level of competition among applicants it can be difficult.

To have such a profile that distinguishes you from the others, you will need to balance a good undergraduate degree with scores standardized tests required to study in Australia. Applicants are expected to have at least 55-65% in their bachelor’s degree and a GMAT score of 700 or above is highly valued. A minimum IELTS score of 6.5 is required for admission while a score of 7.5 or above can be a great addition to the application.

Since the number of institutions offering MBA without work experience in Australia are limited, international applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. At some institutions, non-executive programs are offered to students with less or no work experience while the Executive MBA programs are offered exclusively to students with extensive work experience.

The total program cost of an MBA in Australia is between 50,000 AUD to 90,000 AUD. International students can apply and avail a number of scholarships to study in Australia offered by the institution or the government. Institutions that offer MBA to students with no work experience have a specially designed curriculum that usually include internships and real-life work experience that help them apply classroom knowledge in the professional world.

Universities Offering MBA without Work Experience in Australia

While applicants are expected to have at least 2-3 years of relevant professional work experience for admission to MBA in Australia, some of the top business schools in Australia are considerate of the fact that students without work experience are also competitive enough for the MBA program. The table below gives details regarding some of the top universities for MBA without work experience in Australia:

Check how to pursue MBA without GMAT in Australia

How to get admission into an MBA without Work Experience in Australia?

Given that MBA is one of the most demanded programs in Australia, admissions are generally based on a holistic evaluation including academic as well as non-academic factors such as extracurricular participation.

• Admission to MBA in Australia without work experience is offered to students who have bachelor’s degree with high GPA from an accredited institution.
• Competitive scores on GMAT or GRE as required by the institution. On an average, a GMAT score of 550-590 is considered competitive for admission.
• Institutions also take a close look at the statement of purpose so you must bring forward your true self in the statement.

Check out related documents that can help you improve your chances of admission to MBA courses in Australia without work experience:

You must understand that even if you do not have relevant work experience, your application must show efforts and motivation to join the program. In a program like MBA, leadership skills matter a lot. Any previous experience that demonstrates your leadership skills can be a plus point for your application. Many institutions conduct an evaluative interview as a part of the selection process. The interview is used to judge the applicant’s potential, communication skills as well as English language skills.

Eligibility for MBA without Work Experience in Australia

The admission process for universities in Australia offering MBA without work experience in Australia are discussed below:

MBA at James Cook University

James Cook University offers a 2 years full-time MBA program that operates on a trimester system with intakes in February, May and September. The application for MBA at JCU can be submitted through the online application portal. The program has a very high outcome in terms of employment after graduation. Nearly, 89% of the graduates were employed within 4 months from graduation with a median salary of 98,000 AUD.

Admission Criteria:

• Completion of AQF level 7 (3-4 years bachelor degree) in a related discipline from a recognized university; or
• Completion of AQF level 7 in any discipline from a recognized university with 2 years of managerial work experience; or
• Completion of AQF level 8 (1 year bachelor honours degree) in any discipline; or
• Completion of Graduate Certificate in Business Administration at AQF level 8 (0.5 to 1 year graduate certificate) from a recognized institution; or
• Minimum 4 years of work experience on a managerial position as specified by the course coordinator; or
• Relevant practical experience recognized by the Dean of the College of Business Law and Governance; and
• Minimum IELTS score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0 or TOEFL score of 86

MBA at Southern Cross University

MBA at Southern Cross University is a two years full-time program with start dates in February, June and October. The program can also be completed in four years as a part-time program. MBA at SCU is available across its four campuses in Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney in three intake sessions.

Admission Criteria:

• Completed 3-year bachelor’s degree from any Australian university or equivalent qualification.
• Minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent
• Application process for first and second session have been closed, though international students can apply for the third session till October 2021.
• Specializations available at Sydney, Perth and Melbourne campus are accounting and managing and leading people. In addition to this Gold Coast campus also provides specialisation in tourism and hospitality management, and research.
• Annual fees at Gold Coast campus is 29,200 AUD, slightly lower than the other three locations where students have to pay 32,400 AUD annually.

MBA at RMIT University

RMIT University is home to one of the largest business schools in Australia. MBA at RMIT can be studied as a 2 years full-time program or 1.5 years accelerated program. The program is offered in Melbourne City with intakes in February and July. It is suited for individuals in the early stages of their career or with no professional experience. Candidates with professional experience should explore the Executive MBA program at RMIT University.

Admission Criteria:

• Completed Australian bachelor’s degree or equivalent international qualification in any discipline with a minimum GPA of 1.0 on 4.0 i.e. around 65% according to the Indian education system; or
• Completed Australian bachelor’s degree or equivalent international qualification in any discipline and a minimum GMAT score of 550.
• Submit an updated CV
• To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
  • IELTS: minimum overall band of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0)
  • minimum overall score of 79 (with minimum of 13 in Reading, 12 in Listening, 18 in Speaking and 21 in Writing) in TOEFL (IBT)
  • PTE: minimum score of 58 (with no communication band less than 50)
  • Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 176 with no less than 169 in any component.

MBA at University of Newcastle

University of Newcastle offers a 2 year full-time global MBA program. The program has two start dates in trimester one starting from January 25 and trimester two starting from August 23. Newcastle Business School is associated with Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accredited which makes it one of the top 5% business schools in the world.

Admission Criteria:

• Completed bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in any discipline.
• Minimum IELTS score of 6.5 with no score less than 6.0
• In addition to the core courses, international students can specialise in marketing, human resource management, health services management, applied finance and international business while pursuing MBA at University of Newcastle.
• Moreover, students can opt for six combined degree options, making them more suitable for the highly competitive global business environment. They are: Master of applied finance, Master of health economics management and policy, Master of human resources management, Master of international business, MBA with Master of marketing and Master of Professional accounting

MBA at Victoria University

The MBA (Professional) program offered at Victoria University is a 2 years full-time program with 3 yearly intakes in March, July and November. Applications for the upcoming intake are currently being accepted. Students who successfully complete the program can expect to work at the general or middle level management in a variety of industries such as finance, marketing, engineering, construction, tourism, etc.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Completed Australian bachelor’s degree in any discipline or Australian Graduate Diploma or equivalent in a similar discipline.
• Students from India are expected to have a completed bachelor's degree with second division degree classification i.e. 50% or above.
• Minimum IELTS score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0

Note: In case the program receives a lot more applications than the number of places available, Victoria University might look into the professional experience of the candidate besides the academic profile.

Cost of MBA in Australia for Indian Students

MBA in Australia is definitely an expensive degree for Indian students. The tuition fee for an MBA in Australia without work experience can be as high as 50 lakhs at some of the most prestigious institutions. Tabulated below are the cost of MBA in Australia for Indian students at some of the best universities in Australia giving admission without work experience:

Applicants seeking admission to MBA in Australia without work experience are advised to check the program structure and curriculum offered by their choice of institution. It may be possible that institutions do admit students without work experience, however their program may not completely suit students in the early stages of their career. An ideal MBA for applicants without work experience should provide a basic structure about the management practices prevalent in the professional world before diving deep into the areas of expertise.

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