Top 10 MBA Programs in Oceania 2019

The QS Global MBA Rankings 2019 have been released today, ranking over 250 of the best MBA programs worldwide. Factors considered in compiling the ranking include employability, entrepreneurship and alumni outcomes, return on investment, thought leadership, and diversity. You can find out more about the methodology used to produce the rankings here.

The Oceania region has 14 schools in the table, with 13 programs from Australia and one from New Zealand featured. Interestingly, the Oceania rankings have a significantly higher average student age and average years of work experience than in the global rankings, with an average age of 35 compared to the global average of 29, and an average of 9.6 years of work experience compared to the global average of 5.6 years.

Read on as we count down the 10 top universities in Oceania for an MBA in 2019 or click here to view the full interactive table.

10) RMIT University School of Business

In 10^th place in the Oceania rankings is the MBA program at RMIT University School of Business, located in Melbourne, Australia. The 24-month program has tuition fees of US$56,678, and RMIT offers a wide range of scholarships for fee assistance.

There are around 202 students in the class, made up of 14 nationalities with 38 percent of the students being international, and near gender parity with 48 percent women on the program. Graduates can expect a healthy pay rise after graduation of around 43 percent.

Students can unleash their creative side on Australia’s most established design thinking course on the university’s renowned Design Thinking for Business module. There are also international study opportunities, with the Graduate School of Business and Law conducting intensive study tours to Vietnam, Spain and France every year, which is equivalent to one 12-credit elective.

9) Otago

At ninth place in the Oceania rankings is Otago, the only New Zealand based school in the Oceania top 10. It is in Dunedin, recently voted the most beautiful cities in New Zealand, with relatively low living costs.

The program takes between 15 months and two years to complete (depending on elective choices), with tuition fees of US$31,596 for the full program. The MBA program at Otago has one of the highest average ages of schools in the rankings (36 years), as well as one of the highest average years of work experience (14 years). There are 22 students in the class, of which 32 percent are female and 74 percent are international.

Otago has international exchange partnerships with 21 top business schools worldwide, including Kelley School of Business (Indiana, U.S) and Copenhagen Business School (Denmark). Students can undertake an international exchange in their second semester at no extra tuition fee.

Graduates of the Otago MBA can expect a salary boost after completing the program, of approximately 23 percent.

8) Deakin

Deakin University, based in Melbourne, Australia, takes eighth place in the Oceania rankings. The tuition fees for the program are US$45,474, with a program length of 18 months consisting of eight core units and four elective units.

The MBA class is made up of 126 students, with 20 nationalities represented. The average age is high compared to the MBA programs in the global table, at 38 years, with an average of 14 years work experience. 39 percent of the course is made up of female students.

Alumni of Deakin’s MBA have gone onto some seriously impressive roles at top companies, including Global Marketing Manager at Glaxo Smith Kline and Managing Director (Australia) at Twitter.

7) Australian National University

The MBA program at the Australian National University, located in the nation’s capital, Canberra, is 18 months in duration, with tuition fees of US$52,937. Although their MBA program is ranked seventh in the Oceania rankings, the ANU is ranked first in Australia in the QS World University Rankings 2019, something that is reflected in their high score in the thought leadership ranking indicator.

There are around 31 students in the MBA cohort, with an average age of 35 and with an average of 15 years of work experience. Female students make up 26 percent of the class, and international students are around 32 percent of the class.

The MBA program at ANU also has the option for high performing students with a distinction (70 percent plus) grade average to extend their MBA by undertaking a 24-unit optional thesis component. On successful completion of their thesis, students will be awarded an MBA (Advanced).

6) University of Western Australia Business School

Sixth in the Oceania table is the University of Western Australia Business School. Located in Perth, this 12-month program has tuition fees of US$57,428. Students can enjoy a significant salary uplift post-graduation, with an average increase in salary of 24 percent.

The class profile of the average MBA cohort at the University of Western Australia Business School is older and more experienced than the average MBA program, with an average student age of 36 with 10 years work experience. The class is made up of around 20 percent female students and 40 percent international students.

There is an international element to the program, with students having the opportunity to take part in Global Collaboration modules with teams around the world, in locations such as Stanford University and ESADE Business School.

5) MGSM Macquarie

Coming in at fifth in the table is the MBA program at MGSM Macquarie in Sydney, Australia. The 24-month program has tuition fees of US$62,507. Students can undertake modules at the university’s Hong Kong campus as well as at their two campuses in Sydney.

Graduates of MGSM’s MBA program can expect a substantial salary uplift of around 48 percent on average. Like many programs in the Oceania rankings, students on MGSM’s program are more mature, with an average age of 33, and 8 years average work experience.

There are around 26 nationalities represented in a class of 130 students (with 72 percent of students classed as international) and 32 percent of the cohort are female.

4) UQ Business School

Brisbane’s UQ Business School narrowly misses out on a place in the top three of the Oceania rankings, coming in at fourth place. The 18-month program has tuition fees of US$56,988.

Class sizes at UQ are small, with 34 students on the current MBA cohort. 32 percent of the class are international students and 31 percent are women. There is an average age of 35 with an average of 10 years work experience.

MBA students at UQ have the chance for international study opportunity, with the short-term global experiences. These are 2-5-week optional programs studying at an international partner institution, such as Harvard Summer School and Copenhagen Business School. On completion of these short-term programs, students will receive credit towards a UQ program.

3) Monash

Monash University’s MBA program takes the bronze medal position in the Oceania rankings, with their Melbourne based course. The program takes 22 months to complete and has tuition fees of US$62,507.

The school has a strong international standing, reflected in their ‘triple crown’ accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the European Foundation for Management Development (EQUIS) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).

There around 50 students per cohort, with an average age of 30 with 8 years of work experience. International students make up 38 percent of the class and is the only program in the Oceania rankings to have a higher proportion of female than male students at 52 percent.

Graduates of the Monash MBA can expect a great salary uplift of around 38 percent after completing the course.

2) UNSW (AGSM)

The Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales is the second highest ranked program in Oceania, achieving impressive scores in return on investment and thought leadership. The Sydney-based program has tuition fees of US$65,633 and takes 16 months to complete.

Dr Michele Roberts, the Academic Director of AGSM, describes what sets their MBA program apart:

“We focus on the fundamental skills that underpin leadership success, such as understanding your own strengths and weaknesses as a leader; understanding financial and accounting principles; and understanding group dynamics. We have added to this much more focus on the skills for leadership success in the digital age, such as digital strategy and data analytics.

“AGSM rigorously selects each cohort to have representation from different countries, cultures and professional backgrounds, so that students can better learn from each other. Each cohort is designed for 50-70 students every year, to better provide each student with a unique customised experience. The smaller cohort size helps students get to know each other easily and develop close and enduring relationships.”

She also emphasizes the impact that the Sydney location has on the program’s success:

“There is no better place on earth to study than Sydney, it’s a vibrant, diverse city with unparalleled lifestyle and beautiful weather all year round! Sydney is also a great place to be located for your career. It is headquarters to almost 40% of the top 500 Australian corporations and one of the world’s largest financial and technology hubs. For those interested in start-ups, Sydney is the start-up capital of Australia, with over 40% of Australian start-ups based here.”

1) Melbourne

Top of the Oceania rankings table is the MBA program at the University of Melbourne. This 12-month program has tuition fees of US$66,781 and achieved very high scores in the return on investment and thought leadership ranking indicators.

Students on the Melbourne MBA program have an average age of 30, and an average of six years work experience. There are around 39 students per class, of which 77 percent are international students and 39 percent are female.

Melbourne’s MBA program has a myriad of international study opportunities, with partner schools including the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, HKUST, and Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Graduates of Melbourne’s MBA program can enjoy a staggering average salary uplift of around 75 percent after completing their degree.