Social Impact
Overview
Get immersed in the world of social impact practice, policy and research delivered by a team of active social impact practitioners at the Flinders Centre for Social Impact (CSI).
Learn how to apply a social impact mindset to design innovative social impact solutions to real-world scenarios and identify opportunities for creating social impact beyond ‘business as usual’. Expand your capacity to lead transformational change in for-purpose, for-profit and government sectors.
The Graduate Certificate in Social Impact is for professionals and emerging and established leaders seeking to drive and influence social impact.
Up to 80% off fees due to Government subsidies*.
*Government subsidies enable Flinders to offer Domestic applicants a reduction of up to 80% off full course fees through Commonwealth Supported Places. Offer subject to change.
Scholarship opportunity
Flinders University has been granted $30,000 for scholarships within the Centre for Social Impact, supporting programs such as the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact.
Applications for the 2025 scholarship open 31st October 2024 and close 15th December.
I am an
International Student
Australia or New Zealand.
I am a
Domestic Student
I'm an Australian Permanent Resident
(including Humanitarian Visa holders).
Courses
Graduate Certificate in Social Impact*
Duration: 0.5 years
Delivery mode:
In person
Online
Location:
City
Availability:
Part-time
Full-time
Start dates:
March
July
October
SATAC code:
2GC810 (City, Commonwealth supported place)
2GC910 (City, Full fee paying)
Annual indicative fees (2025)
$8,496 (Commonwealth supported)
$17,820 (Full fee paying)
Apply via SATAC
(CSP): Commonwealth Supported Place
(FFP): Full fee paying
Graduate Diploma in Business Administration
Duration: 6 months
Delivery mode:
In person
Online
Location:
City
Availability:
Full-time
Part-time
Start dates:
March
July
October
SATAC code: 2GD901
Annual indicative fees (2025):
$35,640 (Full fee paying)
Apply via SATAC
Master in Business Administration (Social Impact)
Duration: 2 years
Delivery mode:
In person
Online
Location:
City
Availability:
Part-time
Full-time
Start dates:
March
July
October
SATAC code:
2CM924 (City)
2CM616 (Online)
Annual indicative fees (2025):
$35,640 (Full fee paying)
Apply via SATAC
Graduate Certificate in Social Impact
Duration: 6 months
Delivery mode:
In person
Location:
City
Start dates:
February, July, Ocotober
CRICOS code:
111906A (Full fee paying)
Annual indicative fees:
2024: $18,800
Master in Business Administration (Social Impact)
Duration: 2 years
Delivery mode:
In person
Location:
City
Start dates:
February/October - commencing from 2024
CRICOS code:
107691A (Full fee paying)
Annual indicative fees:
2024: $39,400
Stand out from the crowd
Study a combined Master of Accounting / Graduate Certificate in Social Impact.
Students that study this course will learn accounting skills plus be able to arrive at sustainable and ethical solutions. You can also study now and pay later with a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) because this course receives funding from the Australian Government. Plus, you can become an accountant with a social impact focus in just two years of study.
Why study Social Impact at Flinders?
- Learn how to apply the principles of social impact to social innovation, service and system design, people-centred solutions, community place-based approaches, social entrepreneurship and governance.
- You will access both Australia-wide and international examples plus extensive social impact work happening in South Australia.
- Take part in real-life industry projects and meet your future colleagues with industry partners from across the for purpose and government spectrum.
- Build capabilities in leadership in the context of social impact, with a focus on collaboration, equality and diversity, design thinking and technology for social impact, and how to deliver strategic solutions to complex social issues.
- The course is offered in person in the Adelaide CBD and online featuring intensive workshops to immerse students into the world of social impact.
- Complete four subjects and you receive a Graduate Certificate, and after finishing a further eight subjects, you will be awarded a Master of Business Administration (Social Impact).
Your career
The course aims to provide current and future leaders and professionals with the fundamental understanding and skills they need to achieve positive social impact.
The program of study is designed specifically to enhance the skills of people working or seeking to work in the social purpose or for-purpose landscape, including leaders and professionals within not-for-profits, for-purpose commercial organisations, the philanthropic sector, universities, or governments.
Potential occupations include:
- program director
- general manager
- relationship manager
- social impact specialist
- business analyst
- social impact & stakeholder engagement specialist
- community development planner
- policy advisor.
Potential employers include:
- community services & development
- consulting businesses
- international development organisations
- environment and sustainability businesses
- community development
- community health organisations
- for purpose sector.
Professional accreditation/recognition
These courses count towards professional learning.
Practical experience
Each topic includes industry guest speakers, opportunities for laboratory sessions with social impact leaders and exposure to social impact research, policy and practice through the team of active social impact researchers both at Flinders and nationally.
What you will study
The Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration (Social Impact) provide a structured pathway containing 16 topics. There is flexibility but generally students undertake four topics relevant to social impact, eight business and management core topics, and four elective topics.
You can also choose an industry placement instead of a topic and you could extend your industry exposure by electing to undertaking an industry entrepreneurial program: the Defence Entrepreneurship Program, the Advanced Manufacturing Entrepreneurship Program or the Wine and Tourism Entrepreneurship Program.
Graduate Certificate in Social Impact
In the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact you will study four core topics. These topics equip students providing in depth knowledge about positive social impact and social change and how to apply these principles in the workplace. Core topics include:
- Social Impact in Context
- Leadership for Social Impact
- Innovation for Social Impact
- Demonstrating Social Impact
This is an intensive course. Topics consist of 5 Modules across 5 weeks, including a weekly 3 hour tutorial that you are expected to attend in person or online. If you are working full time, taking one Topic at a time is highly recommended, as the anticipated workload is a total of 135 hours of study (in person and self-directed).
Graduate Diploma of Business Administration
In the Graduate Diploma of Business Administration, you will study eight topics including study in human resource management, marketing, economics, finance, ethics, sustainability, and the law. Second year introduces digital marketing, export management and consumer behaviour.
Master of Business Administration (Social Impact)
In the Master of Business Administration (Social Impact) you will undertake eight business and management core topics, four elective topics and four topics relevant to social impact.
View study program
“The thing I enjoyed most about the course was the interactions with the whole team. It was always good to have discussions with people who are in the same field ... it's not a lot of times when you do studies that you can actually relate it to real-world experience."
Entry requirements
Graduate Certificate
Applicants must either:
- hold a degree or equivalent qualification OR
- have at least one years’ experience in a related context or two years’ experience in a non-related field.
Graduate Diploma
Applicants must either:
- hold a degree or equivalent qualification OR
- hold the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.
Master
Applicants must either hold a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification; or hold the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact or Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Flinders University or equivalent qualification.
Select your preferred course.
Check entry requirements.
Check individual course entries on SATAC for information on important dates.
Apply online at SATAC.
Flinders students can apply to transfer to this course internally. Visit: www.flinders.edu.au/internaltransfer for more information.
Select your preferred course and apply directly through the MySATAC application portal.
Graduate Diploma in Business Administration
Master of Business Administration (Social Impact)
(CSP): Commonwealth Supported Place
(FFP): Full fee paying
Entry requirements
Graduate Certificate
Applicants must normally hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution.
Admission may also be granted based on prior work experience. This will usually include 1 year of relevant work experience in a related field or 2 years of relevant work experience in a non-related field.
Admission will be based on the extent to which work experience has enabled the applicant to develop a foundation understanding of either one of the five areas – Marketing, Accounting, Economics, Finance or Management.
Applicants who wish to be admitted on this basis need to provide:
- A curriculum vitae
- A description of job roles, skills and abilities that demonstrate the work experience requirement
- Name(s) of two referee(s) who can verify work experience.
Graduate Diploma
Applicants must either:
- hold a degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution OR
- hold the Flinders University Graduate Certificate in Business Administration.
Master
Applicants must either hold a bachelor degree or equivalent qualification; or hold the Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Flinders University or equivalent qualification.
Select your course.
Check entry requirements.
Check your eligibility for credit.
Obtain certified documents.
Submit your application and documents.
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