Top Australian business schools are adapting to offer flexible study options that support both career development and wellbeing. This reflects a growing demand for portfolio careers, where professionals choose varied income sources over traditional roles. Institutions such as Macquarie and UNSW are redesigning courses to enhance employability while promoting adaptability, emphasising that career success now includes personal fulfilment as much as financial gain.
While many students still value job offers and pay rises, there is a clear shift towards choosing meaningful, passion-driven work. Macquarie Business School (MQBS), which once again topped the Career Impact rankings, credits its results to aligning all coursework with real-world opportunities. Nearly 90% of Macquarie graduates secure employment after completing their studies. UNSW, ranked second, also shows strong outcomes with 83% of MBA graduates employed within three months and most receiving salary increases.
Macquarie’s approach involves embedding industry participation directly into course delivery. Each subject includes practical placements in either professional or community settings, giving students relevant experience that often leads to employment. UNSW maintains strong ties with over 300 industry partners and facilitates hundreds of internships each year, helping students gain practical skills and create valuable networks while they study.
The move towards flexible, practical learning accelerated during COVID when universities had to adapt their delivery methods. Students from this period, including those at Macquarie, benefited from the introduction of customisable degrees, online learning and cross-disciplinary subjects. This flexibility allowed them to combine study with travel and creative pursuits, boosting confidence and expanding career pathways.
Despite a general decline in university enrolments across Australia, particularly in traditional two-year MBA programs, leading institutions like UNSW and Macquarie are going against the trend. Their focus on innovation is yielding positive results. UNSW launched a fully online globally ranked MBA and Macquarie has introduced new degrees and revamped its bachelor of commerce. These changes are leading to rising enrolments.
To remain competitive, business schools are increasingly investing in micro-credentials and stackable courses that cater to professionals wanting to update their skills without committing to full degrees. Macquarie is exploring collaborations with education technology providers to deliver these short courses alongside traditional programs. While interest in areas such as AI and emerging tech is growing, educators maintain these topics build on core principles taught in MBAs rather than replacing them.
Ultimately, business schools are responding to a new generation of students who see work as part of a broader lifestyle. They want to understand finance, manage teams and launch ventures while also maintaining personal meaning and balance. The top schools now agree that success is no longer based solely on high salaries but on how well education prepares students for an ever-changing world.
