Business Practicum

Collaborate in a multi-disciplinary team on real business challenges for Australian clients, developing critical skills in research, analysis, and solution design. Benefit from constructive feedback from academic and industry mentors and gain valuable experience for your resume.

What is the Business Practicum?

BUSA90473 Business Practicum provides an insight into the complexities and challenges of making business decisions in an Australian setting. Working in small teams, students will conduct research, analyse, evaluate and propose practical solutions to an assigned business planning or business development exercise.

Students will learn to:

  • work with unstructured and incomplete information in Australian business settings
  • develop research and networks to support their enquiry
  • work successfully in teams
  • present their findings and seek and receive constructive feedback in a range of settings.
  • Students will also be encouraged to plan, reflect and modify their approaches to improve the outcomes of their efforts in managing the business project.

Each year, the Business Practicum is offered in during Semester 1 (extended) and Semester 2 (extended). Please note that an extended semester means that there are compulsory activities related to the subject that take place prior to the official start of semester. Please see the key dates section below and/or the handbook for more information.

Further information

View the Handbook to learn more about subject learning objectives, assessment tasks and more.
Read about the experiences of MBS students who completed a consulting subject in Student Stories.

Why take the Business Practicum?

Work in a student team to solve a real business challenge with an Australian organisation.
Business Practicum is designed to develop your critical thinking and enhance your communication and management consulting skills.
Apply your skills, gain work experience and receive mentoring while expanding your professional network and boosting your employability.

“Completing the Business Practicum has been the highlight of my degree and I would strongly recommend the subject to any student who is keen to put their degree to the test by taking on the challenge of a real-life business problem”

- Conor Grace, Master of Management (Marketing)

Read about Conor's experience

Key Dates

Key dates for each upcoming intake can be found below. Students offered a place in the Business Practicum are required to participate in all listed activities. If you are unable to commit to one or more of these dates, please do not apply.

  • Activity

    		Date
    Applications openMonday 27 April
    Applications closeSunday 17 May
    Selection outcomesAfter Friday 22 May
    Induction Training Day

    Thursday 23 July
    Approx 8.45am - 4pm 

    Hurdle requirement. Attendance is mandatory

    LMS modules due

    Friday 24 July

    Subject teaching datesMonday 27 July -  Friday 23 October

  • Activity

    		Date
    Applications openMonday 5 October
    Applications closeSunday 25 October
    Selection outcomesAfter Friday 30 October
    Induction Training Day

    To be confirmed

    Hurdle requirement. Attendance is mandatory

    LMS modules due

    To be confirmed

    Subject teaching datesTo be confirmed

Client visit days

Students should be aware that participation in Business Practicum requires availability for a weekly client in-office day. In-office days will take place on either a Wednesday OR Thursday, and students must ensure prior to applying for the subject that they will not have any commitments scheduled for these days during the Business Practicum delivery dates.

Company and team allocations are finalised approximately 3 - 4 weeks before the subject commences, and students will be advised of their allocated host organisation and confirmed in-office day (e.g. either Wednesday or Thursday) at that time. Flexibility is essential, as changes to in-office days are not typically possible once allocations have been confirmed.

More information will be provided to students who successfully gain a place in the subject.

Selection Criteria

We are looking for a diverse group of students who will be ambassadors for the University of Melbourne. Entry is competitive as there are limited places available in each intake. The below criteria should help you determine whether you would be a strong candidate for the Business Practicum program. Please note that all entry requirements below must be fulfilled to be considered:

  • FBE / MBS students
    Students enrolled in an approved FBE/MBS graduate degree may apply.

    • Check the University of Melbourne Handbook (Further information → Related Handbook entries) to confirm your course is listed
    • If not listed, seek approval from your Program Director or check with Stop 1

    Note: Master of Commerce (Finance) students are generally not eligible due to limited electives.

    Non-FBE (non-MBS) students

    No approval required:

    • Master of Engineering (Biomedical, Electrical, Mechanical, Software)
    • Master of Information Technology (all specialisations)
    • Master of Software Engineering (Business, General)

    Approval required (before application close):

    • Master of Information Systems (General)
    • Master of Software Engineering (AI, Cyber Security, HCI, Distributed Computing)
    • Master of Digital Marketing

    Not eligible:

    • Master of Marketing Communications

  • Due to limited spaces, entry into the BP is competitive. Selection is based on a WAM for all postgraduate subjects successfully completed at the selection date, and is contingent on permission from the Subject Coordinator.

    The minimum WAM requirement for the subject is 70% and the Selection Committee considers the following when allocating places:

    • academic performance
    • an overall match of skills, experience and interests to the available projects.

  • Students enrolled in an MBS program or eligible non-MBS program must have completed a minimum of 50 points of their program at the time of application.

  • Before applying, you should ensure there is space in your study plan for this subject. You can do this by adding the subject as ‘planned’ although this is not a requirement at the time of application.

  • At time of application:
    Students are required to submit an updated CV to their BP application. The selection committee will use your CV to assess your suitability for the subject.

    If you receive an offer:
    Students who receive an official offer for the BP must also submit their CV with evidence that the CV has scored a 'green' rating on the University of Melbourne's Smart Resume platform. View the sample CV guide and find out more about preparing your CV.

    The Careers & Employability Team has produced a video which demonstrates how to use the Smart Resume platform and its Smart Editor tool to achieve a green zone rating. Access the video on the Resources page in MBS Career Elevation.

    EmployMe provides tools, resources and videos to build your skills in job seeking, resume building, interview performance and more.

  • We recommend you take some time to consider these questions and prepare your answers before you commence your application.

    Question 1:
    In your view, what positive impact should professional management consultants aspire to have on business and society? (max 200 words)

    Question 2:
    What capabilities and experiences will you personally contribute to your Business Practicum team that will create value for your consulting client. (max 300 words)

    Question 3:
    What personal development and growth outcomes do you aim to achieve by completing the Business Practicum subject. (max 300 words)

Applications

Please follow the steps below to complete your application for the Business Practicum. Application dates for each Business Practicum intake can be found under the Key Dates section above. Please note that you will only be able to access the SONIA placement group and application form while applications are currently open for an intake.

  • Access the Sonia Live platform: https://unimelb.sonialive.com/

    Click into Faculty of Business and Economics, and then log in using your University of Melbourne student credentials.

  • Click on the Placements tab on the menu bar at the top of the page and search for the placement group for the Graduate Practicums subjects.

    Please note that the Business Practicum placement group will only be open for you to join if applications are currently open for an upcoming intake. If the placement group does not allow you to join, it is likely that applications have not yet opened or have already closed. Check the key dates section above to find out when applications are open for this intake.

  • Click the green + Join option. This will give you access to the subject application form which can be found on the Forms tab. You may need to refresh your browser for this to appear.

  • Complete all fields of the application form and click submit. Please ensure you take note of the application due date as we do not accept late submissions.

  • After the subject application closing date, applications will be shortlisted and applicants will receive an outcome via email.

Find out more

Come along to an FBE Employability Drop-In session to learn more about the Business Practicum and ask any questions you might have about the program or the application process.

Drop-In sessions will run every Thursday during Semester 1 & 2. Please see details below:

WhenEvery Thursday during semester
11.30am - 12.30pm
WhereLevel 1 Student Lounge, The Spot Building

Find out more here

Frequently asked questions

  • Yes, there is a full selection process to determine your eligibility and suitability for the program. Selection is not based on existing consulting experience.

  • No, students are allocated by us to teams and companies with specific projects just prior to the subject start date. However, students are given the opportunity to advise their areas of interest which we endeavour to consider when allocating teams. Students will not be allocated to a project where they do not have the technical skills required. Most projects are multi-disciplinary.

  • Exchange students can apply. However, they will be placed on a waitlist and only receive an offer if there is spare capacity in the section.

Contact us

If you have any questions about the Business Practicum please email: mbs-practicums@unimelb.edu.au