If you’re a high school student interested in entrepreneurship, leadership, or the world of business, Australia can be an exciting place to explore those interests more deeply. You may already be curious about how companies grow, how marketing works, or how entrepreneurs turn ideas into successful ventures. Business programs in Australia for high school students give you the chance to move beyond theory and see how these concepts apply in real settings.

Imagine spending your summer in cities like Sydney or Melbourne, attending business workshops, developing startup ideas, and collaborating with students from around the world. You could learn about marketing, finance, management, and innovation while building practical skills through projects and case studies.

How do you choose the right business programs in Australia for high school students?

With many options available, it’s important to look for programs that emphasize practical learning, collaboration, and mentorship rather than only lectures. Some programs focus on entrepreneurship and startup culture, while others introduce broader business concepts such as economics, leadership, and management.

Across these programs, you might participate in group projects, business simulations, case competitions, and presentations. You could analyze market trends, create business plans, or pitch ideas to mentors, experiences that mirror university-level business education and real entrepreneurial workflows.

You’ll learn from experienced instructors and business professionals, and collaborate with motivated peers from diverse backgrounds. Along the way, you’ll strengthen skills such as leadership, communication, analytical thinking, and adaptability.

To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of 15 Business Programs in Australia for High School Students. They’ve been selected for their academic quality, hands-on learning opportunities, and ability to provide meaningful exposure to the world of business.

For related opportunities, consider the online business program and summer programs in Australia.

15 Business Programs in Australia for High School Students 

1. BizQuest: Unlock Your Future Potential 

Location: UNSW Parramatta Campus, Parramatta, NSW
Cost: Free
Dates: September 29-30
Application Deadline: Registrations open until the day of the event
Eligibility: Years 10 and 11 students from the Greater Western Sydney Region 

As one of the outreach programs offered by UNSW Business School, BizQuest is a two-day program that lets you discover your potential in running a business by facing some simulated business challenges. During your participation in the camp, you will complete some hands-on business activities that give you practice in creative problem-solving and working in groups.

One such activity would be to create a business along with other participants in your group. You brainstorm business ideas by identifying a particular problem and coming up with a product or a service to solve it. Instead of your typical lectures, classes are engaging. The program also gives you a clear understanding of entrepreneurship, finance, strategy and innovation. 

Why it stands out: Rather than teaching you business jargon or terms, the classes take a much more logical approach, thus equipping you with the practical knowledge in running a business.

2. Immerse Education’s Sydney Business Management Summer School

Location: St. Paul’s College (University of Sydney), Camperdown, NSW
Cost: Varies by format; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Dates: 2 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 15 to 18

If you want one of the more immersive business programs in Australia for high school students, Immerse Education’s Sydney Business Management Summer School gives you a strong starting point. You’ll explore business strategy and management principles while developing practical skills in leadership, strategic thinking, and decision-making.

Given that you will be taught by tutors from diverse backgrounds like entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and corporate leadership, you will form a better understanding of the business industry, especially in today’s modern context. You will participate in discussions and learn business theories using real-world examples. This university-level exploration program ensures that you step into business school with confidence.

Why it stands out: Tutors also become mentors who give you personalized feedback and guide you in coming up with a career plan based on your goals.

3. Frankston City Council’s Work Ready Program

Location: Frankston City Council, Frankston, VIC
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Dates: Opportunities available all year round
Application Deadline: Students should inform the council of their interest in the program at least 5 weeks in advance of the work experience opportunity
Eligibility: Years 9 and 10 local students who are at least 15 years old and require participation in a work experience program as part of their studies

This program is an initiative by the Frankston City Council that ensures that you can step into the workforce with confidence by providing you with hands-on work experience and equipping you with professional skills. These work-ready programs are often in the form of apprenticeships, traineeships, or others. You will be working in one of the city council departments where you contribute to the day-to-day activities.

Simultaneously, a mentor will guide you throughout your participation in the program, teaching you to perform well in the role and helping you build related and essential skills. The ultimate goal of the program is to ensure that the local students gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in their future careers, no matter what field they choose, including business. 

Why it stands out: Some work-ready programs offered by the Frankston City Council will provide you with nationally recognized credentials that make your resume stand out. 

4. Bond Business School Year 12 Extension Program: Business Stream

Location: Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: April 16th & 17th, April 27th & 28th, or May 6th & 7th
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Year 12 (Australia) or Year 13 (New Zealand) students with an interest in enrolling in Bond University; you should be nominated and supported by a teacher, career advisor, and parent 

Hosted by Bond University, this program welcomes academically talented high schoolers to participate in its two-day workshop that prepares them for their move from high school to college. Depending on your interest, you will be able to choose from business or math streams. The Business Stream targets students who are considering careers in accounting, business, or economics.

In it, you will learn about different business challenges while gaining the practical skills needed to overcome them and run a successful business. You also gain an advanced understanding of Excel. Moreover, you will complete a group project under the supervision of academics. Top-performing participants in this program will earn partial scholarships towards their undergraduate degrees at the university. 

Why it stands out: The main purpose of the extension program is to teach you the real-world applications of the different topics you learn at school and it also helps you prepare for your final exams. 

5. Griffith BUSINESS Schools Program: Ambassador Program

Location: Brisbane City and Gold Coast
Cost: Free
Dates: Various dates across April to July and November
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Years 9 to 11 domestic students 

The Ambassador Program gives you an outlook of what studying business at university entails and introduces you to the wide range of career possibilities with a degree in business, including stepping into working in tech start-ups, global fashion houses, finance, or social enterprise.

You will explore the different aspects of running a business, especially in Australia or the Asia Pacific region, diving into topics such as the importance of money, making business-related decisions, tackling business challenges, and more. Year 11 students will be able to participate in the Careers in Business and Beyond Money: Careers in Accounting, Finance, and Economics sessions with a stronger focus on careers. 

Why it stands out: The Ambassador Program instills you with team building, conflict management, negotiation, ethical behavior, and other skills that are invaluable in today’s modern workplace. 

6. Griffith Business School’s Program: Leaders Who Matter

Location: Hosted at high schools
Cost: Free
Dates: Offered all year long; high schools can arrange the dates that best suit them
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to high school students; international eligibility not specified

Understanding the importance of leadership in running a successful business, the Griffith Business School offers four workshops as part of its Leaders Who Matter program. The Goodness Within workshop explores the different personality traits a good leader possesses and helps you identify your strengths based on the Big 5 personality traits.

Emotional Uprising focuses on enhancing the emotional intelligence that helps you form strong connections. It’s a Team Thing dives into teamwork, addressing team management, group behavior, and understanding how to ensure your team performs well. Instrument of Influence gives you tips on becoming an influential leader. Each workshop is about 90 minutes.

Why it stands out: Given that these workshops are conducted in your school, the Leaders Who Matter program can customize the workshops according to your class’s needs. 

7. ABW (Australian Business Week) Enterprise Education Secondary School program

Location: Various locations across Australia
Cost: A registration fee of AU$330 plus AU$62 per student (1-100 participants), AU$52 per student (plus next 101-200 participants), and AU$42 per student (plus next 201+ participants)
Dates: One week with the possibility for extension
Application Deadline: Open all year-round; students apply as part of a class and not as individuals
Eligibility: Years 9 to 12 students; must be enrolled at a participating school

Among business programs in Australia for high school students focused on enterprise learning, ABW stands out for its virtual company model. You’ll work with four to 10 peers to build and run a business, taking on roles across management, operations, marketing, or finance.

You and your teammates would be responsible for making business decisions for your company. Each team will also take on other tasks such as writing a company report, producing a video commercial, mounting a trade display, and more. In the process, you will not just expand your business knowledge but also acquire teamwork, problem-solving, communication, money management, and other skills.

Why it stands out: What makes the program more exciting is competing with the other teams’ businesses to make your business the best in your cohort.

8. Discover FAD: Brain Blast: An Overview of the World of Branding and Communications

Location: University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT
Cost: $39
Dates: July 15th & 16th (2.00 pm – 5.00 pm)
Application Deadline: June 30th
Eligibility: Years 10 to 12 students; international student eligibility not disclosed

Part of the University of Canberra’s DiscoverFAD program is this short two-day course that dives into the fundamental concepts of branding. Given that this program is offered by the UC’s Faculty of Arts and Design, the syllabus will particularly focus on the different ways design thinking can drive brand innovation.

You will have UC professors teaching you about managing brands using real-world examples that address both the wins and the obstacles involved. The ultimate goal of the program is to ensure you form a basic understanding of branding while getting a glimpse of what studying the subject at the University of Canberra looks like, so that you can decide if it is the right choice for you in the future. 

Why it stands out: In addition to being a stepping stone to a marketing communications degree, this program also gives you the confidence to create a powerful brand experience. 

9. U@Uni Academy

Location: Online or University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, depending on the session
Cost: Free
Dates: June 23rd (in Year 11) – November 19th (in Year 12); Winter school is held July 6-10
Application Deadline: Around March, for Year 11 students, and is organised through the schools
Eligibility: Year 11 students who are enrolled in one of the UTS U@Uni partner schools; see the list here

U@Uni Academy brings a longer-term structure to business programs in Australia for high school students, supporting you across Years 11 and 12 as you prepare for university study. After orientation, you’ll attend a one-week winter school where you can choose a subject such as business and begin building university-level skills. In it, you will learn the skills needed to succeed in today’s fast-paced business world and dive into topics in management, finance, accounting, law, and economics.

While in Year 11, you will also engage in a series of on-campus workshops. Then, in Year 12, you will be participating in the UniPrep, getting further assistance with college enrollment, such as getting tips on choosing the right courses and scholarships for you. Check the exact schedule and location for each session in the program here. 

Why it stands out: During the two years, you will be working closely with professors from the University of Technology Sydney on university-level projects, thus gaining a realistic outlook of the college rigor

10. University of Wollongong Summer Master Class:  Responsible Business Decision-Making 

Location: University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW
Cost: AU$470; scholarships and reduced course fees are available for eligible students
Dates: January 5-23
Application Deadline: October 26th
Eligibility: Students who will be completing Year 12, are enrolled in an Australian High School, and completing the HSC, International Baccalaureate (IB), Big Picture Credential or other assessable senior secondary qualification plus meet the specific grade criteria of your chosen course

This three-week Summer Master Class program offered by the University of Wollongong is your opportunity to study a particular subject at a university level. With the program offering various course options, you can choose Responsible Business Decision-Making with your interest in business.

The course will primarily give you an in-depth understanding of how decision-making is interconnected with different aspects of a business. In other words, it exposes you to the different ways your decision regarding your business can influence company strategy, disciplinary functions, stakeholders, and customers. Beyond that, you will also explore the impact your business can have on the environment and society.

Why it stands out: Students who complete the course earn 6 unspecified credits that can be used towards most UOW undergraduate degree programs.

11. sheCommerce

Location: The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC
Cost: Free
Dates: Runs across Years 9 to 12 of your high school years
Application Deadline: Opens in February
Eligibility: Year 9 students from Victoria who identify as cis-women, trans women or non-binary

Organized by the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Business and Economics, the sheCommerce program is designed for students who dream of taking up leadership roles in the future. You will join sheCommerce in Year 9 of your high school and get to participate in various activities offered by the program throughout your high school years.

This includes workshops and camps related to studying business, leadership, communication, academic skills building, career opportunities, and more. Plus, the program will introduce you to topics in economics, actuarial studies, business analytics, finance, marketing, accounting and management.  It also gives you the opportunity to meet with different people who are making an actual impact in the industry through their contributions and research.

Why it stands out: By the end of the four-year program, you will become confident in your ability to make responsible business decisions with a positive, ethical, and sustainable impact.

12. University of Newcastle High-Performing Students Program 

Location: Online
Cost: AU$400
Dates: The week commencing  February 9th until the week ending May 29th 
Application Deadline: December 16th
Eligibility: High school students who are citizens, permanent humanitarian visa holders, permanent residents of Australia, New Zealand citizens, or Dual citizenship holders of Australia or New Zealand; you should also demonstrate high performance in one or more areas in your education 

For those who like to plan ahead and get an early start to university, this program allows you to attend a college-level course in the subject of your interest and earn transferable college credits for it. Given your interest in the business field, you can consider the Globalization and International Management course. It explores the benefits and drawbacks of globalization and its impact on businesses while introducing you to the various factors, such as culture, politics, economics, and more, that continue to influence globalization.

Upon completing this course, you may use the credits earned towards one of the following degrees: Bachelor of Business and associated combined degrees, Bachelor of Tourism, Hospitality and events, Bachelor of Tourism, Hospitality and events, and Bachelor of Business Analytics. You will be taught by professors with a lot of experience in the field of their teaching, in your case, business. 

Why it stands out: As a result of attending the 15-week course, you will also develop your critical thinking and independent learning skills that are essential for academic success. 

13. University of Newcastle Summer Down Under Program

Location: University of Newcastle (NUSpace campus and Callaghan campus), NSW
Cost: 10-Unit (1 Course) Program – AU$6,999  or 20-Unit (2 Courses) Program –  AU$8,999
Dates: May 24th – July 4th
Application Deadline: May 1st
Eligibility: High school students worldwide with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale

Another program offered by the University of Newcastle is this one, which invites international high school students to its campus to give them an insight into studying at an Australian university. If you are enrolled in the program, you can choose to take one or two 10-unit courses (≈ 3 US credits / 7.5 ECTS).

With a wide range of course offerings across various disciplines, you can consider options like Business Communications that dives into the core concepts of professional communications; Ethical Principles for Responsible Business that primarily focuses on ethics in business and international relations; Economics for Business Decisions that introduces you to the economic factors that influence businesses; and Foundations of Marketing that gives an in-depth understanding of different marketing strategies. As part of the course, students also go on educational field trips.

Why it stands out: In addition to the academics, students are also encouraged to explore Australian culture by interacting with locals and participating in activities and excursions scheduled for this purpose. 

14. InspireU Extend

Location: University of Queensland St. Lucia campus, Brisbane, QLD
Cost: Free
Dates: June 29th – July 3rd
Application Deadline: March 16th – May 17th
Eligibility: Years 10 to 12 students who are preparing for ATAR or considering ATAR-specific career pathways; must be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students

The University of Queensland calls Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students to participate in its five-day InspireU Extend program that lets them focus on a particular subject of their interest. If selected for the program, you will be able to choose from a list of undergraduate majors at UQ, including Business and Economics.

You will participate in academic enrichment and career exploration activities that are catered toward the discipline you choose. The program will also schedule workshops and industry engagement sessions. As a participant, you will also benefit from expert tips in preparing for ATAR, QTAC, and subject selection.

Why it stands out: The program creates a space for you to network with students, professors, and industry experts with whom you can make long-term connections that would be valuable to your career.

15. Rice University Pre-College Online

Location: Online
Cost: $1,795 per course
Dates: Year-round sessions available
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 13+

Rice University has an engaging online course titled “Entrepreneurship: One Day You Will Change the World” to develop your innovative potential.

You will watch high-quality lectures in video format and undertake home assignments that will lead you through the process of problem identification and development of a business solution that can work in the real world. The course involves mentorship with Rice faculty. At the end of the class, students will develop a business model canvas. 

Why it stands out: It leverages a project-based learning model that walks you through creating a business model canvas, which is a standard tool for real-life startups.

Take Your Business Interests Further In Sydney

Business can feel very different once you stop only reading about it and start building ideas, testing markets, and presenting decisions.

These 15 business programs in Australia for high school students introduce you to real tasks, from creating business plans and analysing markets to working with mentors.

Through startup challenges, virtual companies, branding workshops, Excel tasks, and leadership sessions, you can see which parts of business genuinely interest you.

If Sydney feels like your next step, explore our Ultimate Guide to University of Sydney for course pathways, campus life, admissions, and planning support.