Master of Business Administration (Health Management)
2 years part-time
MBAHM
Eligible for Fee-HELP. Learn more
Jan, Mar, May, Jun, Aug, Oct
Online
Course Overview
The University of Adelaide 100% online Master of Business Administration (Health Management) has been co-designed by esteemed business, economics and health experts to provide a flexible pathway to transformational growth.
Build the confidence to lead, expand your network, and advance your career in the healthcare industry—all on your terms. You will emerge with the vision and confidence to drive real organisational, industry or even societal change.
Our innovative online learning environment has all the support, networking and flexibility your busy work and family life demands. Open doors in public health sector and apply now for an online MBA (Health Management) with South Australia’s leading university for graduate employability*.
*QS Graduate Employability Ranking, 2022.
Why study business with us?
Focused learning
Minimise multi-tasking and regularly achieve goals by studying one course in 6-week teaching blocks. You have the flexibility to start when you’re ready and scale back if you need.
Fee-HELP
Enrol in a business certificate today and you can get a FEE-HELP loan to pay all or part of your tuition fees (subject to eligibility). Learn more
Free coaching
We provide time management tips, helpful resources or administrative guidance when you most need it.
Start now
With six intakes a year, you decide when to start. Access your program 24/7 — and complete your research online.
100% online
Collaborate through interactive sessions and video seminars. Work, study and play whenever suits you.
International reputation
Get noticed with a formal qualification from a Go8 university in the top 1% globally*.
Flexible online learning
Enhance your performance in every aspect of health-care leadership, and change how you think about your own potential. Here’s how an online MBA specialising in health management works:
100% online: Save time and complete your postgraduate health management program whenever it works for you, from any Internet-connected device. Learn more about online learning here.
Focused learning: Minimise multi-tasking and regularly achieve goals by studying one course in 6-week teaching blocks. You have the flexibility to start when you’re ready and scale back if you need.
World-leading education: Study with a member of Australia’s prestigious Group of 8 research-intensive universities and leverage the University of Adelaide's world-class health and biotech expertise. We are in the top 5% of business schools attributed with AACSB accreditation, the largest and most recognised specialised accreditation worldwide.
Continuous support: You’ll have access to our expert advisors for academic, personal and career support from day one and every step of the way.
The University of Adelaide has partnered with Boundless Learning, a leading global learning company, to deliver this degree 100% online. The Partnership has been established to deliver the very best experience and learning outcomes to all our students. Students will be awarded a University of Adelaide qualification and this degree meets the University's highest quality standards.
Your career path in health management
Create vast career opportunities in health management by supplementing your technical skills with in-demand management abilities. Transform health-care delivery with a new venture, spearhead internal efficiencies or foster innovative approaches to old problems.
Our online MBA (Health Management) will equip you to lead in virtually any health context—a private company, public health government department or non-government setting anywhere in the world. The qualities and skills you gain will be transferable to many sectors, including:
- hospital and clinic management
- residential care
- oral health
- health promotion
- allied and community health
- private health insurance
- pharmaceutical.
Wherever your career takes you, our proven academic quality will ensure you’re recognised.
What skills will I gain?
What skills will I gain?
Acquire qualities that will truly set you apart in the health industry, such as:
- socially responsible and future-focused health management, leadership and entrepreneurial skills
- in-depth understanding of health-care economics and the industry’s key challenges and solutions
- the ability to influence internal health and government stakeholders
- the capacity to set, adapt and achieve enterprise-wide objectives
- highly developed capabilities in collaboration, interpersonal communication, and staff motivation
- high-level skills in innovation, business strategy, marketing, and systems thinking
- a thorough grasp of how to employ basic and applied research to support sustainable.
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Leadership and Influencing - MANAGEMT 7123OL
The types of challenges that business leaders face today need individuals, including ourselves, to change. Understanding yourself is therefore paramount.
In this subject, you will explore your leadership story, philosophy, and areas for improvement.
Using current development models, you will deepen your intellectual and emotional self-awareness. You will also learn how to adapt your leadership style, tools and behaviours to motivate your entire team.
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Accounting and Financial Management - MANAGEMT 7126OL
The purpose of this course is to improve your financial literacy and your capacity to assess the financial performance of an organisation.
You will be introduced to the language and key concepts of accounting including:
- time value of money
- capital budgeting
- risk-return paradigm
- financing capital expenditure.
You will grow your foundational knowledge of balance sheets, cash flow reports and earnings statements.
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Marketing for Managers - MANAGEMT 7124OL
Generating revenue, no matter the source or sector, requires marketing. This course offers an introduction to the purpose, nature and roles of the marketing discipline and how it applies to managers.
This course will equip you with the skills to:
- evaluate markets
- uncover consumer and buyer behaviour
- target specific opportunities
- keep adjacent functions customer orientated.
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Entrepreneurial Mindset - MANAGEMT 7125OL
An entrepreneurial mindset is now essential for more than just those in the start-up sector. This course will enable you to cultivate and evaluate profitable opportunities, no matter the business setting. The aim of this course is to empower you with the entrepreneurial attitude and skill set, such as:
- the ability to recognise opportunities
- fluid and adaptive decision-making skills
- the agility to experiment and problem solve
- the resilience to navigate ambiguity and uncertainty
- a strong bias to action.
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Innovation Management - MANAGEMT 7127OL
Innovative enterprises outperform their non-innovative counterparts in terms of growth, financial performance, and employment. This course will equip managers with the know-how and tools to create, develop and manage breakthrough innovations. This course primarily explores the ways to turn ideas into successful outputs.
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Managing People and Organisations - MANAGEMT 7128OL
Smart processes, structures and a positive workplace culture can amplify your vision as a leader. In this course, you will examine the key influences and tools to enhance effective management action.
The course will primarily focus on human factors that are dealt with by managers on a day-to-day basis including:
- ethical decision-making
- mobilising and developing staff
- managing interdependencies
- analysing issues.
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Managerial Economics - ECON 7244OL
External environmental factors have major implications for your business. Managerial Economics will teach you the link between economic principles and everyday decision-making. For example, how to allocate scarce resources to meet enterprise goals will be addressed. Other economic theories covered include:
- contract theory
- managerial behavioural economics
- game theory
- pricing.
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Research for Managers - MANAGEMT 7131OL
This course introduces research tools you can use to reduce uncertainty when making important managerial decisions. You will be provided with an overview of:
- the research process, framework, structure, and methodology
- the difference between basic and applied research
- research for strategy development.
The course concludes with your final research project proposal, which University staff will use to assign you a supervisor for your final unit.
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Management Challenges in Health - PUB HLTH 7500OL
Healthcare organisations are challenged in the 21st century by rapid changes. In this course, you will learn management concepts, tools and techniques that will help you address these common challenges as a future leader in the healthcare sector. Course content will cover:
- meta management
- managing complexity
- managing organisational transformation
- managing change
- managing strategy
- managing organisational behaviour
- managing knowledge
- managing employee performance.
This course uses real-world scenarios in its coursework and assessments to equip you with strong problem solving and decision making skills.
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Doing Business in Health - PUB HLTH 7501OL
This course gives an overview of the Australian health system and describes how different providers intersect to deliver primary, secondary and tertiary health care to the community. The different approaches to ‘doing business’ by public and private health care providers is explored as well as the funding models that affect the health sector. Methods of delivering sustainable and quality healthcare will be addressed, including:
- value-based funding
- use of technology
- workforce development and training
- early intervention models
- strengthening regional infrastructure.
In addition to the above solutions, this course will cover the main drivers and stakeholders of the health ‘business’. You will also learn about health sector service quality, human resource management, risk management, and governance.
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Research Project - MANAGEMT 7133AOL & 7133BOL
The purpose of the final research project is to take the learning out of the classroom and into the workplace. Students are able to work in teams (from two to three students) or one-on-one with supervisors.
The final research project is the equivalent to two courses and will span two online teaching periods.
The research project will involve:
- conducting unique research
- analysis
- preparing a report
- making a final presentation.
Academic entry requirements
Collaborative learning is at the core of our online MBA (Health Management). Activities and exercises will require you to solve problems by drawing on real-world examples. As such, relevant work experience is important for your success.
To be eligible for online study the MBA (Health Management), you need to meet one of the following requirements:
- A completed undergraduate bachelor degree (or equivalent) and a minimum of 2 years’ relevant work experience.
- No degree, completed GMAT with a score of >500 and a minimum of 2 years’ relevant work experience.
- A complete University of Adelaide Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.
If you do not meet the above entry requirements, you may be eligible to study our Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.
English language requirements
In order to meet the English language proficiency requirements for our 100% online postgraduate programs, you must be able to demonstrate that you meet the minimum English Language requirements.
Typically, if English is your first language you will not be required to provide evidence of English language proficiency. You will also not be required to provide evidence of English language proficiency if you are an Australian citizen, Australian Permanent Resident (visa status) or hold a passport from one of the following countries: Canada (English-speaking provinces only), New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
To learn more, visit the English Language Proficiency Requirements for detailed information about these requirements, including acceptable English language tests.
We also recommend that you speak to an Enrolment Advisor to discuss options that are specific to your circumstances. You can schedule a call here.
How to apply
To apply for the University of Adelaide’s online MBA (Health Management), you first need to create an account via the University of Adelaide Application Portal.
Once you have verified your account, complete your online application form and upload the following supporting documents:
- valid photo ID (passport or driver's licence)
- proof of citizenship / permanent residency (this can also be a passport)
- transcripts from your completed bachelor degree or equivalent
- change-of-name documents, if applicable (e.g marriage certificate)
- English language requirements (if you are an international applicant).
For assistance with your application into the online MBA in Health Management, contact us on 1300 293 830.
When can I start?
There are six intakes into our MBA specialising in healthcare management throughout the year: January, March, May, July, August and October. Applications typically close four weeks before the online teaching period commences. Check out the Important dates section for further details.
What is the total cost?
$59,832 or $4,986 per course (2025 fees).
Find more information on fees for domestic students, including annual fees and fee increases, in the Fees (domestic students) section.
Is there FEE-HELP available?
Yes, Australian citizens are eligible for a HELP loan. You must also be enrolled in a program with the University of Adelaide by the enrolment deadline (census), and have not reached the HELP loan limit.
Once you have been offered a place in the University of Adelaide program, you will be able to apply for a HELP loan as a part of the enrolment process. Please see our FAQ section for further details.
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Should I get an MBA or MHA?
When deciding whether to get an MBA on an MHA you need to first understand which skills you want to gain. Typically, an MBA teaches business and leadership skills whereas and MHA is a more specialised health degree.
While some MBAs can lack the specific focus on healthcare management that an MHA offers, the University of Adelaide's online MBA (Health Management) teaches students the desirable business and leadership skills of an MBA, through a health lens, providing students with learnings that are tailored to their industry.
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What bachelor’s degree do I need for healthcare management?
To be eligible for an MBA (Health Management), you need to hold a completed undergraduate bachelor's degree (or equivalent) and a minimum of 2 years’ relevant work experience.
However, if you do not hold a degree, a completed GMAT with a score >500 and 2 years’ relevant work experience, or a complete Graduate Certificate in Business Administration with the University of Adelaide will also provide you entry to the MBA (Health Management).
Get in touch
Get in touch
Our Expert Advisors are available
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8.30am to 5pm (ACST/ACDT), Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm (ACST/ACDT).
We can help you with:
- entry requirements
- curriculum
- key dates & intakes
- your unique situation
- finance.
Download a brochure now
Download a brochure now
Request our business administration brochure to learn more about:
- the University of Adelaide
- program directors
- MBA pathway
- online learning experience
- course content and learning outcomes
- assessments and more
Apply now
Create an account to start your application
Applying for the online Master of Business Administration (Health Management) is a quick and easy process. Find out if your application was successful in as soon as 2-5 days.
Want to better understand the application process?
Book a 1:1 call now with our enrolment advisors and we can walk you through the application process — from how to meet the entry requirements through to enrolling in your first subject.
