AIB MBA and GCM course duration explained

The entry pathway and study load will determine how quickly the course can be completed. Below is a breakdown of the available options based on selected course and whether an accelerated, full-time, or part-time study load is selected.

Study modes explained for MBA students who meet MBA direct entry requirements

1. Accelerated study (12 months)

• This is the fastest option, where 12 subjects are completed in just 12 months.
• A higher workload than what is considered “full-time” is undertaken:   two subjects are studied at the same time (concurrent study)
  • Normally, a full-time student can only take a maximum of 8 subjects in a year (1 Equivalent Full-Time Student Load (EFTSL).
  • Concurrent study eligibility criteria needs to be met to qualify for studying subjects concurrently which includes not working full time and successfully maintaining academic progress.

In this option, the Graduate Certificate of Management (GCM) stage, consisting of 4 subjects, is completed in 4 months, followed by the Graduate Diploma of Management (GDM) stage, which includes the GCM and 4 additional subjects, completed in 8 months total. (If you’d like certificates to commemorate these milestones on the way to the MBA, they are not automatically granted, but you can request them.)

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2. Full-time study (18 months)

• Full-time study means you complete the course at a standard, more manageable pace while adhering to the 1 EFTSL per year study load which is a maximum of 8 subjects a year.
• The 12 subjects are completed over 1.5 years (18 months), usually by studying 8 subjects in the first year and the remaining 4 in the next half-year.
• This still involves some concurrent study, but not as intense as the accelerated option.
  • To undertake concurrent study, the concurrent study eligibility criteria will need to be met, which includes not working full time and successfully maintaining academic progress.

In this option, each embedded stage of the MBA, the GCM is completed in 6 months and the GDM (GCM plus 4 more subjects) in 12 months. (If you’d like certificates to commemorate these milestones on the way to the MBA, they are not automatically granted, but you can request them.)

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3. Part-time study (24 months)

• Part-time study is the longest option, taking 24 months (2 years) to complete the course.
• This option is designed for those who prefer to studying just 1 subject per term, which keeps the pace even more manageable.
• This schedule is less than the 1 EFTSL per year study load, focusing on just 6 subjects per year.

In this option, each embedded stage of the MBA, the GCM is completed in 8 months and the GDM in 16 months. (If you’d like certificates to commemorate these milestones on the way to the MBA, they are not automatically granted, but you can request them.)

Study modes explained for the GCM students and students enrolling in MBA through a GCM entry pathway

The Graduate Certificate in Management (GCM) course consists of 4 subjects. The GCM course can be completed as a standalone qualification and/or provide a pathway towards the next stages of the MBA.

GCM Entry Pathway (‘GCM Entry’) students:

If you are enrolling in the MBA and do not meet the eligibility criteria for direct entry into the MBA, you may be offered GCM Entry. This requires successfully completing the GCM course before progressing to the remaining MBA subjects.

GCM Entry students cannot accelerate the program to finish in four months, as is possible with MBA Direct Entry. Instead, the first two subjects, Leadership and Strategic Management, must be completed one at a time. This is to ensure the start of your study journey is a success!

As only full-time study and part-time study are available in the GCM Entry, this means the time required to complete the GCM—and consequently the MBA—slightly varies to the MBA Direct Entry option.

1. Full-time study (6 months)

• Full-time study means you complete the course at a standard, more manageable pace in a shorter duration of 6 months.  
• Over 6 months, you’ll complete 4 subjects (in three terms), by studying the first 2 subjects in the first 4 months (two terms) and the remaining 2 concurrently in 2 months (one term).
• For the GCM course, the full-time study is 0.5 EFTSL, reflecting its shorter duration of 6 months and comprising 4 subjects within that period.

As this option also includes some concurrent study like the accelerated option, you’ll need to meet the concurrent study eligibility criteria. 

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2. Part-time study (8 months)

• Part-time study is a slightly longer option, taking 8 months (four terms) to complete the course.
• This option is designed for those who prefer a lighter workload, studying just 1 subject per term, which keeps the pace even more manageable.
• Under this schedule, the 0.5 EFTSL workload is spread over 12 months, allowing you to focus on completing 4 subjects one at a time within 8 months.

MBA Eligibility criteria and course duration at a glance:

Entry Pathway	Eligibility criteria	Accelerated	Full-time	Part-time
GCM Entry (MBA applicant has not met MBA Direct Entry criteria)	– Work Experience: Minimum 5 years relevant, including 3 years management or significant technical experience. – Qualification Options: 1. Advanced Diploma/Associate Degree (AQF Level 6) + 3 years relevant work experience. 2. Bachelor’s Degree (AQF Level 7) + 2 years relevant work experience. 3. GMAT score ≥ 550 + 3 years relevant work experience.	N/A	6 months	8 months
MBA Direct Entry (MBA applicant has met criteria)	– Qualification Options: 1. Bachelor’s Degree (AQF Level 7) + 3 years relevant work experience. 2. AQF Level 8 Qualification + 3 years relevant work experience. 3. Graduate Certificate in Management + 3 years relevant work experience.	12 months   (GCM stage completed in 4 months, GDM stage completed in 8 months)	18 months   (GCM stage completed in 6-8 months, GDM stage completed in 8-10 months)	24 months   (GCM stage completed in 8 months, GDM stage completed in 16 months)

Ready to find out if you meet the eligibility criteria for your chosen pathway? In less than a minute you can check your eligibility!

Note: The timeframes on this page are based on completion without term breaks.