How to successfully apply for an MBA

Earning a Fast-Track MBA from the Australian Institute of Business (AIB) opens up a world of opportunities for your career and will set you on a path to success. It will give you the skills and confidence to make informed and educated business decisions. Or to become a leader in your organisation. Or own your business. The possibilities are endless, but it all starts with applying.

Going back to study after a break can be daunting, but the application doesn’t have to be difficult, and thankfully you don’t have to do it alone. Course Advisor Trevor Mann believes his role is to “build a bridge to the student to encourage them to apply.” We spoke to Trevor to find out how simple the process is.

Talk to a Course Advisor.

What are the entry requirements?

According to Trevor, there are two main pathways to apply for our MBA. The first is through managerial experience.

“It doesn’t have to be through a people leadership role. It can be project-based,” Trevor clarifies. “That means your experience doesn’t have to be title-based. It can be based on what you actually did for the company, rather than the official role you were given.”

Applicants need at least five years of management experience in order to be eligible.

The second pathway, Trevor explains, is via academic achievement. To meet this requirement, candidates are asked to have a minimum of three years of working experience and a minimum of an advanced diploma.

View our MBA entry requirements.

Check your eligibility to apply. 

Should I choose a general or specialised MBA?

At AIB, we offer two kinds of MBAs – general and specialised.

General MBA

The core subjects for the general MBA are:

• Leadership
• Marketing Management
• Operations Management
• Strategic Human Resource Management
• Corporate Governance
• Financial Management
• Project Management
• Strategic Management

After these core topics are completed, students can then move on to the electives of their choice. This allows students to mix and match courses to tailor their own study program.

General MBAs are an excellent option for those looking to broaden their horizons, enhance their skill set or transition out of a niche industry. According to Trevor, approximately 80% of new students choose to apply for the general MBA.

“The vast majority of students choose the general MBA rather than the specialised options,” Trevor states. “If you choose to do a specialised MBA, you can’t choose your electives. But if you decide to apply for the general stream, you can.”

However, you can always make the switch if you decide to specialise your MBA later on. “At the end of the first stage, you can change courses without any extra cost.”

Specialised MBA

Our MBA allows you to specialise in several key fields:

Entrepreneurship Management

Choose this course if you’re starting a new business, or wish to incorporate entrepreneurial thinking, behaviours and competencies into an existing corporation.

Finance

Become a financial specialist in your field and boost your career in the financial industry. Gain knowledge of theoretical frameworks and data-driven techniques relevant to modern private sector companies, the public sector, and not-for-profit organisations.

Human Resources

Advance your career in HR as a valuable strategic partner by developing skills to maximise the deployment of human capital to meet the short and long-term goals of an organisation.

Logistics & Supply Chain Management

The ideal course for managers, change leaders and those wishing to pursue a high-impact career in operations, logistics and strategic supply chain management.

Marketing Management

Move rapidly into more senior roles with the tools to develop an organisation’s marketing strategy, oversee new-product or new-service launch campaigns, manage the customer experience or deploy digital and social media marketing.

Want to learn more about our MBA programs? Download our brochure.

Focus areas

Our MBA allows you to focus in the following key field:

Digital Business Focus

Tailored to digital-focused subjects, this course helps you to develop skills in Business Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security and Digital Business Startup.

How do I apply?

Once you know which MBA you want to apply for, it’s time to reserve your spot. From there, you will receive a link to an online application form via email to start your application.

“The application process is very straightforward,” Trevor explains. “It only takes about 30 minutes.”

Applicants then need to provide simple documents – such as their passport and resume. If an applicant doesn’t have a prior degree, they’ll need to send references. For those who have studied before, a transcript is ideal.

Once all the paperwork has been submitted, a dedicated Course Advisor will then call you for an informal chat to determine your fears, wants and objections. “I call as many students as I can – but I’m not interested in rushing through the conversation,” says Trevor. “This is my chance to understand you. My aim is to give you perspective on what studying an MBA is like and give you confidence.”

To Trevor, confidence (or lack of it) is the driving force for many new MBA students. “Confidence is something no one wants to talk about. No one wants to admit as a successful, working professional that they aren’t confident enough. That’s why I’m here to guide them onto the right path.”

From there, Trevor sends your application to the Admissions Team. “There are certain roadblocks when it gets to this stage,” Trevor mentions. “Not having enough managerial experience, for example. Or poor English skills. But most people who are eligible will be accepted into the MBA.”

Apply for our Fast-Track MBA.

What happens next?

Successful applicants will receive a letter of offer. This offer is valid for 12 months – although Trevor states that most people enrol straight away. “Most of the new students will be in the next intake. It’s good to strike while the iron’s hot and keep that momentum.”

Trevor also makes the time to call his successful applicants to congratulate them on starting a new chapter of their careers. “Some people have never studied before, or not for a long time. It’s a big choice – a big decision to make.”

Once you’ve decided to start your studies, you can enrol online. New students will need to create a single-use account for the Student Learning Portal to accept their offer, set up their timetable and arrange their funding. Need help? Reach out to our community and ask for advice.

Delivered online with continual updates, innovations, and new releases, the Fast-Track MBA offers flexibility, industry insights, practical skills, and support to achieve your career goals. Learn how your new MBA skills can accelerate your career .

*AIB is Australia’s largest provider of Online MBAs; Source: 2019 Higher Education Statistics, Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) (provided December 2020)