A Master Qualifying Program (MQP) in Professions — Management and Commerce is a preparatory or pathway postgraduate program designed to equip students with the foundational academic, analytical, and professional skills required for entry into a full master's degree in a management or commerce discipline. Typically spanning one semester to one year, the program bridges the gap for students who hold a prior undergraduate qualification but who do not yet meet the direct entry academic standard for a master's degree, or who come from a non-business background and need to build domain literacy before commencing advanced study. The MQP focuses on developing digital, information, and academic literacies, numeracy, critical thinking, research skills, and postgraduate-level study practices — all contextualised within the world of business, management, accounting, finance, and commerce. Upon successful completion, students gain a guaranteed or preferred pathway into a wide range of master's degrees including the Master of Commerce, Master of Management, Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Professional Accounting, Master of Marketing, Master of Project Management, and Master of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, among others. The qualification is offered by a range of Australian universities, university colleges, and pathway providers, either as a non-award program or as a Graduate Certificate that contributes credit toward a subsequent master's qualification. Employers who ultimately recruit graduates from these onward master's degrees span virtually all sectors of the Australian economy, including financial services, consulting, technology, government, retail, healthcare administration, education, and multinational corporations. Professional bodies such as CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI), the CFA Institute, the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), and the Institute of Managers and Leaders (IML) are aligned with the programs into which MQP graduates typically progress.

The primary entry requirement for a Master Qualifying Program in Professions — Management and Commerce is completion of a recognised bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification from an accredited tertiary institution. Unlike direct-entry master's programs, the MQP is specifically designed for students whose undergraduate results or discipline background does not meet the standard master's entry threshold — making it accessible to a broader range of applicants. Some providers accept applicants with a minimum GPA of 1.0 out of 4.0 on their undergraduate qualification, while others use the GMAT (typically a minimum score of 550) as an alternative pathway. Certain programs may also accept applicants on the basis of significant professional work experience — for example, a minimum of five years full-time equivalent work experience — in lieu of a recent or high-achieving undergraduate degree, with a detailed curriculum vitae (CV) required. Depending on the prior qualification and professional background, students may enter either a standard or accelerated version of the program. The standard pathway typically involves two terms of study across one year, while the accelerated pathway can be completed in a single semester. Upon successful completion, students progress to their nominated master's degree, sometimes with advanced standing or credit recognition for relevant completed units. For international applicants, English language proficiency is required and is typically demonstrated through IELTS Academic (minimum overall score of 6.0 to 6.5), TOEFL iBT (minimum 79 to 87), PTE Academic (minimum 54 to 64), or equivalent approved tests taken within the past two years. Students from countries where English is the primary language of instruction may be exempt from formal English testing.