Degree Programs Graduate Diploma in Applied Business Analytics

Graduate Diploma in Applied Business Analytics

Discover how to apply business analytics to elevate your career impact with a flexible program designed for working professionals.

Next Intake: March 2025
Online or Blended (Carlton, Online)
2 years

Advance your skill set or transition into a new data career with our Graduate Diploma in Applied Business Analytics, designed to fit around your professional commitments.

Our program caters to working professionals seeking to enhance their skills without interrupting their careers. Classes are held in the evening, with the option to study online or through a blended model.

The curriculum covers key areas such as AI-driven tools, including machine learning, to enhance productivity and optimise data modelling. You’ll also delve into statistics, mathematics, algorithms, programming, platforms, decision-making and data visualisation. Upon successful completion, you will have the option to continue your studies and apply for the Masters of Applied Business Analytics program. For more information about this pathway, please see How to Apply.

Why Applied Business Analytics at Melbourne Business School?

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#1 Master of Business Analytics in Australia

Melbourne Business School
QS Business Master's Rankings, 2025

Number 1 University icon

#1 University in Australia

The University of Melbourne
Times Higher Education, 2025
A True Peer Cohort of CEOs for ASX150 Companies icon

Practical Skills for Tomorrow’s Roles

Gain supply chain, predictive analytics, machine learning and AI skills for new opportunities at top companies.
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Enriched Learning

Study alongside experienced professional entirely online or through a blended model.

The Program is For Those Who Are

New to Data

  • This flexible program welcomes individuals from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds.
  • If you haven’t previously studied fields like commerce, mathematics, or science, we encourage you to apply - you’ll be considered for entry via the Graduate Certificate. Successfully completing this path allows you to advance directly to the Masters program.

Experienced Data Professionals

  • This program is ideal for experienced data professionals with an undergraduate background in quantitative disciplines who are looking to advance their careers in data analytics by deepening their expertise in a specialised area.

Seeking Flexible Options

  • We offer a range of study options to suit your time commitment, including the Masters program (3 years), Diploma (2 years), and Graduate Certificate (1 year), each with flexible entry and exit points.

How You'll Study

Interactive Learning

  • Learn through a mixture of lectures, case studies, direct instruction, exercises, and syndicate projects.
  • Academic experts and business leaders are invited to speak about a range of subjects.

Online or Blended

  • Choose to study online or through a blended model with some classes available in person.

Part-time Study

  • All classes are in the evening and only once a week.
  • There are four ten-week terms per year, with one subject undertaken per term.

Student Experience

Drawing on lessons from lectures, workshops, exercises, and syndicate group projects you will understand how business analytics can drive a competitive advantage.

You have the option to study online or choose a blended model. A schedule featuring on-campus and live-streamed classes will be available.

We offer opportunities for self-development via a wide range of electives, co-curricular activities, student clubs, prizes and networking events with Melbourne Business School students, alumni, faculty and industry partners.

Success Stories

Katie Zhang
"It empowered me to pivot from business consulting to an analytical career, perfectly aligned with my passion for optimising business decisions using data."
KATIE ZHANG
Full-time Master of Business Analytics
Commercial and Data Insights Manager,
Bupa
Cameron Lyon
"The program seamlessly blends advanced technical skills with the language of business."
CAMERON LYON
Full-time Master of Business Analytics
Insights Analyst,
Carlton Football Club
Viplav Vadlamani | Melbourne Business School
"It hones my ability to fuse technical prowess with business insight to craft compelling narratives."
VIPLAV VADLAMANI
Full-time Master of Business Analytics
Senior Insights & Reporting Analyst,
REA Group

Subjects and Structure

Classes are held once a week in the evenings, with all sessions accessible online and a number available on campus.

Students will complete the below Foundational Core Subjects and Compulsory Core Subjects.

100 credit points total required to complete the program.

Foundational Core Subjects

Statistical Learning Foundations

Statistical Learning Foundations is designed to either refresh or introduce students to foundational probability and statistics. The subject covers both theoretical concepts and practical exercises to help students solidify their statistical knowledge and be prepared for further subjects within applied business analytics. As part of the subject, students will be introduced to R, a statistical computing environment.

Math Foundations & Algorithmic Thinking

Mathematical Foundations & Algorithmic Thinking is designed to provide students with a solid understanding of the key mathematical and algorithmic concepts essential for analytical modelling of business problems. Students will be introduced to a range of fundamental topics, including calculus, functions, matrices, and eigenvalues, as well as linear programming, graph theory, conditionals, sequences, Booleans, and algorithmic processes.

Programming for Analytics

Addressing business challenges often involves using computer programming to manage, analyse, and present data. Designed for working professionals who may have no prior programming experience, this subject introduces students to programming using a high-level procedural language. Additional topics include cybersecurity, ethics, and data privacy in the context of data collection.

Data Platforms for Analytics

Decision-making within organisations is often elevated through purpose-built data warehouses. In this subject, students learn, via hands-on examples, to design dynamic, multi-dimensional data systems that fuel insights. The subject delves into decision-centric data warehouse design and implementation, the requirements of large-scale cloud computing, data curation, OLAP (online analytical processing) techniques, CRM-orientated warehousing and dashboards.

Compulsory Core Subjects

Decision Making for Analytics

In this subject, students learn to transform business problems into mathematical models and employ computational tools to solve them effectively. Topics may include uncertainty-based decision making, resource allocation optimisation, decision trees, linear and integer programming and Monte Carlo simulations with a focus on real-world applications.

Statistical Learning for Analytics

Statistical modelling and prediction are applied in a wide range of sectors, including marketing, finance, and human resource management. This subject equips students with the preliminary skills to extract insights from complex datasets, facilitating informed business decisions. Students learn methods ranging from traditional regression and time-series analysis to multivariate models and emerging approaches using historical data. With a focus on case-based studies and industry applications, topics include data exploration, resampling, regression, classification, and model selection.

Data Visualisation for Analytics

Data visualisation serves as a powerful tool to analyse, comprehend and communicate business insights from complex datasets. In this subject, participants will delve into the art and science of data visualisation, using industry standard tools and techniques to transform complex datasets into compelling visual narratives. Topics include: design principles and best practices, visualisation tools and techniques, visual analytics and exploration, dashboards and their pitfalls, case studies and practical applications.

Advanced Business Analytics: Machine Learning

With massive increases in the amount of data becoming available in almost all areas of business (and on the web), there is an ever greater need for methods to detect important patterns in data and classify novel data points based on curated data sets. Learning techniques provide the means to perform this analysis automatically, and in doing so to enhance understanding of general processes or to predict future events.

Download Brochure

Explore further details about the curriculum, career support and more.

Study Options

Commence your studies in masters program, with the flexibility to exit the program with a graduate certificate or diploma award if your goals change.

Shape the future of your career by mastering the skills to unlock opportunities through business data.

What will I study?

  • Four Foundational Core subjects
  • Four Compulsory Core subject
  • Three Elective streams

Graduate Diploma

Discover how to apply business analytics to elevate your career impact.

What will I study?

  • Four Foundational Core subjects
  • Four Compulsory Core subject

Equip yourself with essential, foundational business analytics skills.

What will I study?

  • Four Foundational Core subjects

World Leading Faculty

Our business pedigree distinguishes our business analytics degree programs from other data science degrees and makes it so highly valued in the marketplace.

DR. SIMON HOLCOMBE
Academic Director, Master of Applied Business Analytics
Faculty Profile

Yalcin Ackay | Melbourne Business School
Director of the Centre for Business and Professor Operations Management PhD (Penn State University) MBA, BSc, Middle East Technical University
Tomohiro Ando | Melbourne Business School
Professor of Management PhD, B.S (Kyushu University)
Gerardo Berbeglia
Associate Professor (Operations Management) PhD (HEC Montreal) MSc and BSc (Buenos Aires)
Professor of Statistics PhD (Melb)
nico neumann
Assistant Professor (Marketing) PhD (UNSW), Dipl. (Wirtschaftsing. Uni Kaiserslautern)
Michael Smith
Chair and Professor of Econometrics PhD (UNSW), BA Hons (UWA)
Ping Xiao
Associate Professor (Marketing) PhD (Washington University), BSBM (University of Science and Technology of China)

Meet With Us

The best way to learn more about studying at Melbourne Business School is to attend an upcoming information session.

We hold sessions monthly, providing a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know about the program, along with an opportunity to participate in a group Q&A session. After this, if you need more specific information on subjects and study materials, campus life or assistance with your application, please book a one-on-one session. We are available to meet in person at our Carlton Campus or online.

Investment

Program Fee

The program fee for our Graduate Diploma in Applied Business Analytics program is $5,150 (2025) per subject (12.5 credit points equivalent) with fees paid per module.

FEE-HELP

FEE-HELP is available for those who meet the eligibility criteria.

How to Apply

Application Process

Apply

  1. Commence an application to become familiar with the application process.
  2. Meet with us to find out more about the School and program.
  3. Complete and submit your application by the application closing dates.


Offer

Applications will be processed as soon as all materials are received. We strive to respond to applications as quickly as possible, usually within four weeks of receipt. Successful applicants will receive a formal Letter of Offer. Unsuccessful applicants are notified in writing.

Application Deadlines

Closing dates for 2025 are as follows: 

Term 2 Intake (26 March 2025) 
Final Application deadline: 3 March 2025

The deadline for all applications is 11.59pm AEST. 

Late applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us for further advice.

Application Requirements

Required Documents

You will need the following supporting documents: 

  1. An up-to-date CV showing a minimum of two (2) years of full-time professional work experience. 
  2. Evidence of all qualifications completed or incomplete including academic transcripts with grading schema. 
  3. A passport or verified document showing current citizenship/residency status. 
  4. For non-Australian citizens residing in Australia: A valid visa with unlimited study entitlements. 


Minimum Admission Requirements

In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have:

  • Completed an undergraduate degree of 3 or 4 years minimum in any discipline and achieved a minimum weighted average mark (WAM) of 65% in the Graduate Certificate in Applied Business Analytics; 
  • An excellent command of English, with a copy of your IELTS or TOEFL score if you are a non-native speaker*. 

OR 

  • Completed an undergraduate degree of 3 or 4 years minimum in one of the following relevant areas; commerce, mathematics and/or physics, computer science or information system, engineering and/or science, taken at a third-year university level from a recognised institution, with a minimum weighted average mark (WAM) of 65% or equivalent.
    Those from non-quantitative backgrounds are encouraged to apply and will be considered for appropriate program entry options.
  • Two years of documented full time professional work experience.
  • An excellent command of English, with a copy of your IELTS or TOEFL score if you are a non-native speaker*. 


*IELTS: Academic English test with a minimum score of 7.0 overall and with no individual band less than 7.0. 
TOEFL iBT, with a minimum score of 94 (written score minimum 27 and no individual score lower than 24) 
PTE: Overall score minimum of 72+, with writing skills of minimum 75 and no other communicative skill below 72  

Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

It is a university requirement that applicants provide evidence that they meet the published entry requirements. Uncertified documentation does not provide this evidence; however we accept uncertified documents for the purpose of selection, and reserve the right to request your original certified documentation at any time.

Entry Requirements

  • An undergraduate degree with a relevant major or 
  • Completion of the Graduate Certificate in Applied Business Analytics 
  • A WAM of 65% or higher and 
  • Two years of documented full time professional work experience


For more information, visit our application FAQ's page.

Apply Now

Term 2 (March 2025)
Applications close 3 March 2025
APPLY 2025

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