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Associate Degree in Business

This is a short business qualification that covers the main areas of running an organisation, including accounting, marketing, finance and management.

Compare 3 providers
How long it takes
2 years
full time
Entry ATAR
From 35.3
Lowest offered at RMIT University, 2026
How you can study
Online or on campus
Taught by
3 providers
VIC, QLD

Is this course right for you?

What the Associate Degree in Business asks of you, and what you might want to check first.

It helps to have

  • an interest in how businesses operate
  • good communication skills
  • a practical approach to solving problems
  • an interest in working with people

Before you start

Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.

Associate Degree or Undergraduate Certificate?

The Associate Degree in Business is the higher level. The Undergraduate Certificate in Business sits at the other undergraduate award course level.

See the course

Where this course can take you

No job needs this course on its own, but it can help with the work below.

Jobs a degree can help with

None of these jobs needs a set qualification.

  • Office Manager

    Office managers keep a workplace's day-to-day administration, facilities and staff running so everyone else can focus on their own jobs.

    Median pay$90,000

  • Retail Supervisor

    Retail supervisors run the shop floor, organising staff, stock and service standards so a store trades smoothly through the day.

    Median pay$65,900

If you study further

Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list.

Where you can study this course

There are 3 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.

What you’ll learn

The main topics covered in the Associate Degree in Business.

  • Accounting fundamentals
  • Marketing principles
  • Finance basics
  • Management and organisations
  • Work-integrated learning

Questions to ask before you enrol

Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.

  1. When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
  2. What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
  3. Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
  4. Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?

Questions people ask

Do I need experience or other qualifications first?

Entry requirements are set by each provider, so check with the provider you choose before you apply.

How is it different from Undergraduate Certificate in Business?

The Associate Degree in Business is the higher level. The Undergraduate Certificate in Business sits at the other undergraduate award course level.

How is it different from Diploma of Business?

The Associate Degree in Business is the higher level. The Diploma of Business sits at the diploma level.

How is it different from Graduate Certificate in Business?

The Graduate Certificate in Business is the higher level. The Associate Degree in Business sits at the associate degree level.

Related courses

Course Seeker, run by the Tertiary Admissions Centres and the Australian Government Department of Education. Google reviews. Pay and shortage status from Jobs and Skills Australia.