Graduate Diploma of Applied Business
The Graduate Diploma of Applied Business (GDAB) is an additional entry point of the Master of Business Administration (Innovation and Leadership). This GDAB program seeks to equip students with real-world insights underpinned by relevant business frameworks. By engaging in live Industry Projects, students develop a practical understanding of how to address and manage challenges faced by major organisations, whilst developing their core understanding of key business concepts and benefiting from the flexibility of online delivery.
Select
Full time - 6 months Part-time - 18 months
100% online
Fully accredited
June
October
November
AU$38,400*
*Various scholarships and financial aid opportunities. Consult with an Enrollment Advisor to explore your eligibility and options further.
8 Subjects
The Ducere Advantage
Exclusive access to insights from global and elite business leaders
Sharpen your business smarts with insights from hundreds of global leaders and business innovators.
Work with the world’s top employers
Showcase your know-how in real-world scenarios, working for the world’s leading employers or in your own organisation.
Fully-accredited online Graduate Diploma of Applied Business (GDAB)
Earn your globally-recognised MBA degree from Torrens University Australia.
100% online
Study for your online MBA degree from anywhere, anytime. Manage your work and family commitments while studying remotely.
No exams
We assess you only on your real-world assignments and an applied project. There’s no need to memorise mindless theory purely to pass an exam. Assessments are based on practical project-focussed work.
What's Your Return On Investment (ROI) From Earning A Business Degree? Find Out!
Don't just take our word for it, hear from our students
I have built a global network of peers, with colleagues in Italy, London, New Zealand and across Australia.
Peter N. Bachelor of Entrepreneurship Graduate
You have to know business and I’ve learned the hard-way as an entrepreneur that not having a Masters education has prevented me from participating in multi-million dollar deals.
Adrian D. Ducere MBA Student
Programme Overview
- Critically evaluate the role of strategic planning, marketing, human resources, technology, and leadership within a contemporary business environment.
- Identify and apply appropriate methodologies, frameworks, concepts, and tools to analyse, and problem solve complex business challenges and issues.
- Use strategic planning frameworks and tools to assess competitors, human resources, technology systems and infrastructure and formulate strategies to create a competitive advantage.
- Demonstrate strategic leadership by developing and communicating innovative business strategies, processes, and practices.
- Apply research design principles and methodologies to conceptualise solutions relevant to a real-world business problem.
Advance Your Career with a Professional Certificate in Leadership and Strategy
This immersive online program offers a comprehensive Professional Certificate in Leadership and Strategy, designed to equip working professionals with in-demand business skills.
Align with Core Business Principles:
The program delves into the five core pillars of business: strategic planning, marketing, people, leadership, and technology. This aligns with the foundation of an MBA curriculum, providing a strong base for your future endeavors.
Develop Leadership and Strategic Expertise:
Through this Professional Certificate, you’ll gain focused knowledge in leadership and strategy, essential for navigating today’s dynamic business landscape.
Stepping Stone to Your MBA:
Upon successful completion, you may be eligible to transfer credits from this Professional Certificate towards your CDP MBA degree, reducing your overall program time and tuition costs.
Benefits of Our Online Program:
- Learn from experienced instructors and a global community.
- Deepen your knowledge in critical business areas.
- Develop strong foundational business skills.
- Prepare for success in the CDP MBA program (optional: if you plan to pursue one).
- Every class is specifically designed for online learning, making it accessible and rewarding for working adults.
The Professional Certificate in Leadership and Strategy encompasses topics within:
- Business Strategy Planning
- Strategic Marketing
- People and Culture
- Technology Leadership
- Strategic Leadership
Course Details
CORE SUBJECTS
MBL501 Ethics and Decision Making
This subject enables candidates to critically explore the ethical viewpoints and moral standards that are relied upon to reach conclusions and make decisions within a business and organisational context. Although some ethical viewpoints are considered universal and consistent across cultures, others are of a local or personal nature. As ethical viewpoints continue to evolve and change over time through interactions with different people and contexts, the ability for managers and leaders of organisations to evaluate these changes, make ethical decisions and responds appropriately is paramount for contemporary organisations.
MBL502 Finance for Managers
This subject introduces core concepts and practices relating to Finance, Managerial Accounting and Managerial Economics. Candidates will develop the ability to interpret and critically evaluate Interpret organisational financial information and extract data from financial statements and reports for reporting and decision-making purposes. The fundamental concepts in corporate finance and capital markets are explored and investigated and models and tools based on decision science are applied to achieve organisational objectives efficiently.
MBL603 People and Culture
This subject explores how human factors influence organisational effectiveness and productivity. Candidates explore how human, cultural and social dynamics influence organisational culture, individuals and teams. Students will critically examine these dynamics and formulate strategic approaches to be able to balance between organisational and human demands in an increasingly diverse and global environment. Managers and leaders must be equipped with the necessary frameworks and mind-set to ensure an organisational culture is conducive to value creation.
MBL604 Industry Project – Learner
Candidates commence the Graduate Diploma of Applied Business program at the Learner stage with Industry project responsibilities. In collaboration with additional Learners in the project team, they must explore and critically evaluate the Industry Project deliverables under the supervision of candidates at Manager and Leader stages of the course. Learners benefit from mentorship of these peers who have already orientated to the delivery style of the course through their first and second projects and have demonstrated a proven track record of successfully delivering value to project partners through the program.
MBL605 Marketing and Communication
This subject enables candidates to critically examine marketing management from a customer-driven perspective. This includes evaluating and designing frameworks for fundamental concepts such as segmenting, targeting and positioning. Customers, due to increased connectivity, have access to information and option from around the globe in a matter of seconds. As a result of this, customers are educated and have increased power and choice. Managers and leaders must move towards a customer and market-driven management approach which recognises the value of the and how to translate this into competitive advantage.
MBL606 Digital Operations and Project Management
This subject enables candidates to evaluate and analyse the functions and make-up of operations management, the ways in which operations can be optimised, and the key challenges operations managers face in the modern economy. Digital operations and project management aims to ensure that resources are used as efficiently as possible. As organisations face variability and uncertainties, managers need to be able to respond to those challenges with effective processes and structures. Operations management provides another opportunity to foster and deliver unique competitive advantage. This provides another key place for competition in the market place.
MBL607 Business Strategy
This subject articulates the fundamentals of and approaches to the design and implementation of an effective business strategy. Candidates critically analyse the fundamentals of strategy and the role it should play in business operations. Various strategic frameworks and concepts are evaluated for various organisational contexts conducive towards fostering successful business outcomes. The role of strategy in developing competitive advantage will be further examined in order to frame the various ways in which strategy can drive growth and effective business performance. Students will formulate methods for managing strategic change to gain a comprehensive understanding of how and why to implement effective business strategy.
MBL608 Industry Project – Manager
Candidates enter this Industry Project at the Manager Level with industry project responsibilities across marketing and communication, digital operations and project management, and business strategy. In collaboration with other managers, they also focus on the successful functioning of team processes between the Industry Project members. Managers also begin developing their mentorship skills by assisting Learners in their orientation to the program and the Industry project processes. Working closely with project Leaders, the Managers facilitate the project management functions to successfully deliver project outcomes. Managers are able to draw on their previous Industry Project experience to provide direction to Learners in meeting project deliverable requirements and academic assignments.
Industry Project Partners
Bridging the gap between academic studies and applied, industry‑relevant learning.
Career Outcomes
- Account Manager
- Program Manager
- Operations Manager
- Senior Project Manager
- Senior Manager
Entry Requirements
Bachelor Degree or 5+ years of professional experience
Tuition, Payment Plans, Loans
Tuition
AU$38,400*
Payment Plans
Speak to an Enrolment Advisor
FEE-HELP is available
FEE-HELP is an Australian Government’s loan scheme for higher education degree courses. It can assist you in paying for all, or part of, your course fees. Repayments commence via the tax system once your income rises above a minimum threshold. Just like with any other debt, a FEE-HELP debt is a real debt that impacts your credit rating. Further information about FEE-HELP, including eligibility, is available at Study Assist
Students enrolled in this course may be eligible for government assistance, such as Austudy or Abstudy.
Skills Outcome
Presentation
Woo your audience with improved persuasion and presentations skills.
Creativity
Show your creative streak by approaching business challenges in a new way.
Collaboration
Harness the skills and abilities of others while working together to create better results.
Problem-solving
Use your creativity to find a solution that will give you the best outcome.
Critical Thinking
Evaluate and assess research to make the right decision to get the best result.
Digital Literacy
Become more tech-savvy and understand the impacts of the digital world on your workplace.
Financial Literacy
Sharpen your numbers game and learn how financial analysis can help steer your decision-making to boost your bottom line.
Initiative
Know what you need to do to get the result you want and take the steps to make it happen.
Our Student Voice
Ducere Global Business School is an online education provider – recognised as one of the most student-focused and industry-relevant business school in Australia, The UK and The USA. We partner with established universities to deliver internationally recognised qualifications.
Learn from 250+ world leaders
Ducere Global Business School is an online education provider – recognised as one of the most student-focused and industry-relevant business school in Australia, The UK and The USA. We partner with established universities to deliver internationally recognised qualifications.