University of New South Wales
Master of Capability Management
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
- Course Type: Master's
Strengthen your capability management expertise by developing the technical, strategic and managerial skills to plan, acquire and manage complex systems across their lifecycle.
Course overview
The Master of Capability Management at UNSW Canberra develops the technical and managerial expertise needed to plan, develop and manage complex technologies and systems across their lifecycle. The program prepares professionals to address complex capability challenges across organisational environments including Defence, government and industry.
Your studies will strengthen your ability to analyse capability requirements, integrate technical and management considerations and make informed decisions across the development, acquisition and sustainment of complex systems. You'll develop the systems thinking, problem-solving and leadership capabilities needed to manage projects, programs and portfolios while balancing performance, logistics, technical integrity and organisational requirements.
Available through face-to-face delivery that may include blended study at UNSW Canberra, the program draws together capability management with relevant business, technology and systems disciplines. UNSW Canberra's established connections with Defence, government and industry provide a distinctive context for developing capability management expertise with practical relevance.
Key facts
24th May, 2027
What you will study
To earn the Master of Capability Management, you must successfully complete units totalling 48 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 6 credit points.
Complete the following:
- Requirements Practice
Complete 12-18 credit points from the following:
- Logistics Management OR Sustaining Capability
- The Business of Managing Projects OR Delivering Capability
- Capability Development OR Systems Engineering Practice
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
To gain entry into the Master of Capability Management, applicants must meet one of the following entry requirements:
- Completion of a bachelor's degree with honours in the same or a related discipline* from a recognised institution.
- Completion of a graduate diploma or graduate certificate in the same or a related discipline from a recognised institution.
- Completion of a bachelor's degree in the same or a related discipline from a recognised institution; and completion of at least three years of relevant full-time professional experience.
- Completion of a bachelor's degree in a non-related discipline; and completion of at least four years of relevant full-time professional experience.
- Evidence of other qualifications and professional experience to be assessed as acceptable grounds for admission into the program by the relevant program authority. In certain circumstances, students may be required to undertake and successfully complete a relevant non-award course as a condition for admission into the program. This non-award course may also be credited towards the program upon admission.
*Related discipline/s: Management.
English language requirements
You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency to study at UNSW, depending on your educational background and citizenship. UNSW requires a minimum level of English language competency for enrolment. English language skills are essential for webinar comprehension and the completion of coursework, assignments and examinations.
If English is not your first language, you will need to provide proof of your English proficiency before you will be given an offer to study at UNSW. You can do this by providing evidence that you meet one or more of the following criteria:
- English language tests and university English courses.
- Prior study in the medium of English.
- Other qualifications.
Contact the university or visit its website for more information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Oversee and lead planning and execution of a capability management project, program or portfolio, to deliver outcomes in accordance with institutional needs, government direction and industry capability.
- Collaborate and communicate with influence to produce efficient and effective outcomes, to audiences across whole of government, industry, and departmentally.
- Use advanced systems and grayscale thinking to provide problem solving that allows for innovative procurement solutions that produce timely capability outcomes.
- Apply capability management and technical knowledge to ensure innovative, timely, efficient and effective outcomes throughout the capability lifecycle across industry, whole of government and Defence.
Career outcomes
Potential roles:
- Acquisition Manager
- Capability Development Manager
- Capability Integration Specialist
- Defence Acquisition Consultant
- Defence Project Manager
- Logistics Manager
- Materiel Systems Engineer
- Operations Manager
- Program Manager
- Project Director
- Risk Management Consultant
- Senior Systems Engineer
- Systems Architect
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $41,000 (Full-fee paying place)
Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.
A student’s annual fee may vary by:
- The number of units studied.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university program.