UNSW Master of Business & Technology -Program Structure

Program Structure
MBT Program Planner
Semester structure
Course load and completion times
Immediate relevance and benefit
Services and Support

Course choice - tailor your program to suit your needs
The MBT Program structure is designed to allow you to study the courses most relevant to you. There are no set core courses; you can tailor your study from the 23 courses on offer to be most beneficial to you and your career. The online MBT Program Planner tool will guide you in mapping your individual path through MBT’s very flexible structure.

Courses flagged as 'recommended starting courses are those which have the least presumed knowledge and are therefore good starting points. The recommendation is that you commence with business or technology specific courses, or a selection of each, before progressing to more integrative courses and concluding with at least one of the two capstone courses.

The two MBT capstone courses have been specifically designed to be undertaken towards the end of either the Graduate Diploma or Master of Business and Technology. The aim of the capstone courses is to enable graduates to synthesise all their learning across the MBT Program, and to achieve a common understanding of the Master of Business and Technology qualification. Both capstone courses assume knowledge of concepts encountered in a number of other MBT courses and the assignments have been designed to apply your learning not only from the capstone course, but also across your program coursework completed to date.

Program Structure

12 courses	72 units of credit	Master of Business and Technology (MBT)
8 courses	48 units of credit	Graduate Diploma in Business and Technology (GradDip BT)
4 courses	24 units of credit	Graduate Certificate in Business and Technology (GradCert BT)

Applicants without a degree commence at the Graduate Certificate in Business and Technology level. Upon completion of four courses they have the option to graduate with the GradCert BT or, if they have achieved an average of 65% across the four courses, upgrade to the Graduate Diploma in Business and Technology. On completion of another four courses they again have the option to graduate with a Graduate Diploma in Business and Technology or continue on to the Masters level.

Applicants with a degree commence at the Masters level and complete 12 courses to graduate with an MBT. Alternatively they can graduate with a GradCert BT or GradDip BT should they choose to do so.

MBT Program Planner
This online tool enables you to make use of a matrix of professional competencies and MBT courses to determine which courses have content addressing particular competencies. Competencies are the skills and knowledge you need to be effective in your work, for example managing people, managing projects, managing resources etc.

Although all competencies are addressed to some extent in most courses, the Program Planner shows those courses that have a key focus on particular competency development.

MBT participants come from a wide range of backgrounds and industries, with different existing knowledge, skills and experiences, and have different objectives or career outcomes in mind for their learning journey. The Program Planner is intended to guide you in mapping your individual path through MBT’s very flexible structure.

You can use the Program Planner at any time during your learning path as your specific learning needs change. The Program Planner is modified as courses are revised, ensuring its currency.

NOTE: You will need Macromedia Flash Player to use the MBT Program Planner tool, if you don't have Flash simply download it from the Macromedia site download page (880k file size download).

View Program Planner information as PDF

Semester structure
There are three Semesters each year. Participants will be given the choice of approximately 15 courses in Semesters 1 and 2, and approximately 6 courses in the Summer Term.

The Course Plan lists which courses are offered in each Semester.

Semester 1
March - June

12 teaching weeks, plus a 1 week mid-Semester recess and a 2 week period of exams

Semester 2
July - November

12 teaching weeks, plus a 1 week mid-Semester recess and a 2 week period of exams

Summer Term
November - February

6 teaching weeks, plus a 3 week mid-Semester recess, and a 1 week period of exams.

It is expected that participants will work on assignments, plus coursework, during at least 2 weeks in the mid-Semester break.

Course load and completion times
The MBT Program is designed as a part-time program to fit into the busy lifestyles of working professionals, many of whom have to balance work commitments with family and other commitments. While it is possible to enrol in two courses per Semester we strongly recommend that participants commence with only one course in their first Semester. It is expected that participants will spend 8-10 hours per week per course.

Due to its condensed delivery, a maximum of one course is recommended for Summer Term for all participants.

It is also possible to take course leave. If you know, for example, that the next 6 months will be particularly hectic and you would like to take a break from study, it is possible to take a Semester off.

As different participants undertake different course loads each Semester, there is no standard completion time for the MBT Program. The program can be completed part-time in as little as two and a half years, however, you have up to six years to complete.

Immediate relevance and benefit
MBT courses cover many topics which are not addressed in most conventional business programs, but which are crucial in today's technological environment. The MBT learning environment reflects the real-world work environment with activities and assignments providing you with the opportunity to transfer theory to the workplace. For academic assessment purposes, assignments can be applied to work projects in the relevant area of study. The acquisition of relevant, up-to-date knowledge and skills that can be applied immediately in the workplace benefits both the participant and their employer.

Services and Support
One of the many benefits of the MBT Program is that it has its own dedicated program office and support team. The Student Services Team understands the pressures often faced by MBT participants, who are combining part-time study with many other commitments and are often studying by distance. MBT staff aim to ensure participants feel supported in their learning, recieve a high quality of service throughout their enrolment and stay connected with the program after graduation.

Participants are also encouraged to provide regular feedback on the quality of their experiences in each course and across the program, which feeds into regular course and program revisions.

Michael Gannon

I have completed previous Master's programs and would rank this program as the best in terms of its quality content and teaching staff. The program delivers what is required for professionals and organisations to grow.
As a senior executive I encouraged technical and non-technical people to undertake the program.
Michael Gannon (MBT)
General Manager, Corporate Services, QPL Recruitment

Darren Maloney

Self improvement and life-long education is important in, this, the Information Age. The MBT offered courses that were relevant, thought provoking, up to date and based in the real world. All these attributes were important to me when I was shopping for a solution that would challenge me and benefit my career. The MBT Program exceeded my expectations on all fronts. I was so impressed I offered my services to the MBT team when they came to my town helping to encourage students to take up the challenge. I have already convinced a work colleague of the benefits of an MBT and he is now in his second Semester and enjoying it.
Darren Maloney (MBT)
Service Delivery Manager, Unisys Aust Pty LTD

Page Last Updated : Thursday, 14 August, 2008