What Kaplan Business School does

Kaplan Business School (KBS) is an Australian private higher education institution incorporated as Kaplan Business School Pty Ltd (ABN 86 098 181 947), operating since 2008 across six campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Gold Coast. It is wholly owned by Kaplan Inc., which sits within the Graham Holdings Company group, giving KBS access to a global education network serving roughly one million students annually across 27 countries and relationships with over 15,000 corporations. KBS holds TEQSA registration as an Institute of Higher Education and is one of only 13 of more than 160 Australian HE providers authorised to self-accredit its own business courses, with CRICOS registration enabling delivery to international students.

The school delivers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in business, accounting, business analytics, information technology, and tourism and hospitality, with the MBA (eight specialisations, available fully online) as its flagship. Teaching is supported by the proprietary MyKBS learning management system integrating live online workshops, Tableau and Power BI analytics tools, and an ELICOS English pathway feeding international enrolment. Revenue is generated primarily through full-fee domestic and international tuition (per-subject fees ranging from $2,100 to $4,910), augmented by a $300 international enrolment fee, study abroad short courses, and English preparation programs at $480/week. Domestic students access the Australian Government FEE-HELP loan scheme, while international students are recruited through a global authorised education agent network supplemented by direct online applications and digital marketing.

Distinctive commercial infrastructure includes Careers Central for lifetime career support, the Lifetime of Learning Guarantee granting alumni free ongoing access to live classes of their graduated course, and pathways to professional accreditation through CPA Australia, CA ANZ, and ACCA. The school has been recognised by PIEoneer as Business School of the Year 2023 and ranked by QILT 2023 above all Australian public universities for postgraduate Quality of Entire Educational Experience and Student Support.

Name

Kaplan Business School

Legal name

Kaplan Business School Pty Ltd

Website

https://kbs.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Kaplan Business School is a TEQSA-accredited Australian higher education provider operating six campuses and online, delivering undergraduate and postgraduate business, accounting, analytics, and IT programs to domestic and international students, backed by the global Kaplan network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Business and Secretarial Schools (611410), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Professional Schools (MBA/MPA/MPH/Etc.) (EDAHALAE), Finance, Accounting & Economics Schools (EDAHAHAD)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Business degree programs
• Postgraduate education
• Professional accounting courses
• Information technology degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Domestic Student Tuition: Full-fee paying tuition for Australian citizens, permanent residents, and eligible visa holders. Eligible students can access FEE-HELP government loan scheme. Per-subject fees ranging from $2,100 to $3,990 depending on course level and discipline.
2. International Student Tuition: Full-fee paying tuition for international students on student visas. Higher fee structure than domestic, ranging from $2,880 to $4,910 per subject. Compulsory enrollment fee of $300 plus additional service fees.
3. Study Abroad Programs: Short-term study abroad trimester programs for 3 or 4 subjects at $8,640 and $11,520 respectively for international students.
4. English for Academic Purposes: Pre-requisite English language preparation course at $480 per week ($4,800 for 10-week program) for students not meeting direct entry requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kaplan Business School is an Australian higher education institution delivering accredited undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, diplomas, graduate certificates, and English language programs in business, accounting, information technology, and business analytics. Programs are delivered across six Australian campuses (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast) and online, supported by a proprietary learning platform (MyKBS) and bundled career services.

Product overview

Kaplan Business School is a higher education institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of business, accounting, information technology, and analytics programs. The core product portfolio includes undergraduate diplomas and degrees (Diploma of Business, Diploma of IT, Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of IT), postgraduate certificates and diplomas (Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas in Business Administration, Business Analytics, Accounting, and IT), and master's degrees (MBA with 8 specialisations, Master of Business Analytics, Master of Accounting, Master of Professional Accounting, Master of Information Technology). The institution differentiates through integrated support services including Careers Central for career support, the Academic Success Centre for tutoring, the Lifetime of Learning Guarantee for alumni, and the Kaplan Community Podcast for industry insights. Programs are delivered across six Australian campuses (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast) and online, with the MBA being the only program fully available online.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) Flagship postgraduate degree program offering eight specialisations including Project Management, Health Services Management, Tourism and Hospitality Leadership, Digital Management, Entrepreneurship, Data-driven Leadership, Women in Leadership, and International Leadership. Can be studied entirely online for domestic students.
• Master of Business Analytics Postgraduate degree focused on business analytics including data visualisation, acquisition, security, ethics, and AI/machine learning applications in business contexts.
• Master of Accounting 2-year postgraduate degree (16 subjects: 13 core + 3 electives) extending beyond traditional accounting to encompass business analytics, with industry accreditation from CPA Australia, CA ANZ, and ACCA.
• Master of Professional Accounting 1 year 8 month postgraduate degree (12 core subjects) providing internationally recognised qualification with pathway to professional accreditation through CPA Australia, CA ANZ, and ACCA.
• Master of Information Technology Postgraduate degree in information technology with extension options, covering cyber security and other IT specialisations.
• Bachelor of Business Undergraduate degree with specialisations in Accounting, Hospitality & Tourism Management, Management, and Marketing.
• Bachelor of Information Technology Undergraduate degree in information technology launched in 2022.
• Diploma of Business Undergraduate diploma providing foundational business education and pathway to Bachelor of Business.
• Diploma of Information Technology Undergraduate diploma in information technology launched in 2022.
• Graduate Diploma Programs
• Graduate Certificate Programs
• English for Academic Purposes
• Study Abroad Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Rated #1 for Quality of Entire Educational Experience and Student Support for postgraduate students compared to all Australian public universities (QILT 2023)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CPA AustraliacoreOthersProfessional accounting body partnership providing graduates of Bachelor of Business (Accounting), Master of Professional Accounting, and Master of Accounting with numerous exemptions eligible for foundational membership of CPA Australia.
• CA ANZ (Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand)coreOthersProfessional accounting body partnership providing graduates with exemptions making them eligible for foundational membership and the Chartered Accountant designation.
• ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)coreOthersGlobal professional accounting body (UK headquarters) partnership providing graduates with exemptions eligible for foundational membership and Chartered Certified Accountant designation.
• Dublin Business SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual reciprocal staff exchange program between KBS and Dublin Business School (sister schools within Kaplan network). One staff member from each school travels annually for a weeklong immersive experience to collaborate on initiatives, share ideas, and drive best practice.
• BROWNS English Language SchoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerELICOS provider with direct entry agreement to KBS. Students completing English for Academic Purposes (CRICOS 080398K) with minimum Pass grade meet KBS English entry requirements for Bachelor and above programs.
• Discover EnglishminorGTM or Marketing PartnerELICOS provider with direct entry arrangement. Students completing EAP Advanced (min 65%) or EIAP Upper Intermediate Pass B grade eligible for KBS entry.
• English Language CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerELICOS provider with direct entry agreement. Students completing EAP2 Upper Intermediate meet KBS English requirements.
• Universal English CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerELICOS provider with direct entry. Students completing AEP2 (Credit/A grade) or AEP3 (Pass/B grade) eligible for KBS entry.
• Greenwich English CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerELICOS provider with direct entry arrangement. EAP Pass (50-64%) meets KBS English entry requirements.
• ILSC Language SchoolsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerELICOS provider with direct entry. Students completing Intermediate 4 EAP course with Advanced 1 proficiency level eligible for KBS entry.
• Language LinksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerELICOS provider with direct entry arrangement. Upper Intermediate with minimum B grade meets KBS requirements.
• Langports English Language CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerELICOS provider with direct entry. EAP with minimum 70% grade eligible for KBS entry.
• Lexis EnglishminorGTM or Marketing PartnerELICOS provider with direct entry arrangement. EAP2 with overall 65% minimum and no individual component less than 60% meets KBS English requirements.
• SA College of English (SACE)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerELICOS provider with direct entry. English for Tertiary Studies Part 2 Pass meets KBS English entry requirements.
• Kaplan Business School (Own ELICOS)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOwn English for Academic Purposes course (CRICOS 105225K) with direct entry arrangement. EAP 2 at 65% meets KBS Bachelor and above English entry requirements.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Think Education: Australian private higher education provider offering business, design, and hospitality programs across multiple campuses. Comparable as a privately-operated, multi-campus HE competitor with similar international student recruitment model.
• Dublin Business School: Kaplan network sister school operating in Ireland with a comparable portfolio of business, accounting, and IT programs plus active staff exchange with KBS. Direct comparable within the Kaplan global ecosystem and a meaningful peer for international business education model benchmarking.
• Torrens University Australia: Australia's largest private higher education provider, operating multiple campuses across Australia with a similar portfolio of business, design, health, and hospitality degrees. Most directly comparable private HE competitor in target market, business disciplines, and international student focus.
• International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS): Private HE provider in Sydney specialising in business, hospitality, and management programs with strong international student enrollment. Comparable as a non-university business and management school competing for the same international and domestic postgraduate cohort.
• S P Jain School of Global Management: Private business school with Australian campuses (Sydney, Melbourne) focused on MBA, Master, and Bachelor programs heavily skewed toward international students. Comparable in target segment (international business students), delivery model, and proprietary technology-enabled learning.

Broad incumbents

• Laureate International Universities (Australian operations): Large global network of for-profit higher education institutions that historically operated Australian campuses in the business and hospitality space. Relevant comparable for the multi-campus, international-recruitment private HE model even as Australian operations have been restructured.
• Kaplan International (UK/Europe): Sibling Kaplan-branded business and higher education operations in the UK and Europe, sharing curriculum, technology, and brand infrastructure with KBS. Comparable broader incumbent within the same parent company portfolio targeting international students.
• UNSW Business School: One of Australia's largest and most established university business schools offering undergraduate, postgraduate, MBA, and executive programs. Comparable incumbent competing for the same postgraduate business student pool in Sydney and nationally.
• Melbourne Business School (MBS): University-affiliated business school offering MBAs, executive education, and specialist masters. Relevant incumbent comparable for premium postgraduate business education, particularly in competing for the same Melbourne-based international and domestic MBA candidates.

Emerging players

• Ducere Global Business School: Australia-based online-first private business school focused on MBA and executive programs for working professionals. Comparable as an emerging player in the same online postgraduate business segment where KBS's fully online MBA competes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/KaplanBusinessSchool
• Facebookfacebook.com/studykbs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/kaplan-business-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/studykbs
• TikToktiktok.com/@studykbs
• Xx.com/StudyKBS

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kaplan Business School