Internships

Complete a professional work placement to develop practical business skills and explore career pathways, whilst earning credit towards your degree. Choose from three internship streams: uni-sourced, self-sourced or international (Semester 1, Semester 2, Summer intakes).

What is a Business and Economics Internship?

BUSA90525 Business and Economics Internship is a general elective or capstone* subject for Melbourne Business School (MBS) students. This subject enables you to gain valuable experience and explore your career path, while earning credit toward your degree.

By completing an internship, you will develop skills that are highly sought after by employers, build a professional network, and enhance your marketability in the job market. Internships can be completed during the summer break - often referred to as a Vacation Program - or part-time throughout the academic semester.

Subject details

Credit points: 12.5 (pass/fail grading)
Intakes: Semester 1, Semester 2, Summer
Available streams: Self-sourced, Uni-sourced, WorkHub

To complete the Business and Economics Internship subject, you must:

Be an MBS student in an eligible course (refer to the Handbook for details)
Be able to enrol in a general elective subject if your application is successful. *If you're considering completing the subject as a capstone, BUSA90525 must be listed as an available capstone in your course's 'Course structure' page in the Handbook
Submit an application form for your chosen internship stream, receive an offer, and accept it by the specified deadlines
Undertake a minimum of 90 hours with your host organisation within the teaching period
Complete learning activities and assessment tasks within the teaching period to meet the intended learning outcomes

Explore internship streams

Compare our three internship streams to find the one that's right for you.

Key dates: Semester 2, 2026

30 March to 12 April: Priority uni-sourced applications open (eligible students only)
27 April to 10 May: Applications open 9am (uni-sourced internships)
4 May to 31 May: Applications open 9am (WorkHub internships)
From 4 May: Self-sourced internships applications open. Please refer to self-sourced tab for further details
29 June to 23 October: Teaching period (note, start and end dates will vary depending on stream)

Maximise your success

To make a strong impression with employers, we strongly encourage you to access the resources, tools, and services provided by the University's Careers team.

Attend an FBE Employability Drop-In

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

We'll be available at the Student Lounge (Level 1, The Spot) between 11:30am - 12:30pm every Thursday in Semester 1, 2026. Find out more here.

Internship requirements

If you hold a student visa, you must comply with the work restrictions of your visa.
- Work restrictions: You can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying.
- Internship hours: Internships undertaken as elective subjects while your course is in session (while you are studying) may count towards your student visa work hour limits, even if your internship is unpaid.
For further details, visit the Working on a student visa webpage and the Department of Home Affairs website. Please note we are not able to provide you with personal visa guidance or advice.
If you undertake an unpaid internship in Australia, you must follow the guidelines set out by the Fair Work Ombudsman. Visit the Fair Work Ombudsman website for the guidelines.
Unpaid internships must be taken within the subject teaching period dates and consist of a total of 90-120 internship hours.

Financial support

You can apply for an FBE Internship grant valued at $2500 AUD if you're a domestic student undertaking an unpaid internship through the Business and Economics Internship subject. A grant helps cover extra costs and compensates for lost income.

Applications for FBE Internship Grants are now closed for Semester 1 and will and will reopen for Semester 2.

After you have been enrolled in the subject, submit a confidential Internship Grant Application Form. To support your application, provide evidence of financial impact such as payslips showing loss of paid work. If you are not employed, submit a personal statement detailing any changes in your circumstances that have affected your income.
Deadline for Semester 2
Applications open at 9:00am on Monday 27 July (AEDT) and close 11:59pm Sunday 16 August (AEDT).
- Grants are valued at $2,500 AUD.
- Payment is made in two parts: half before your internship begins and half after you have passed the subject.
- Payment must be returned if your internship is not completed.
- Enrolment as a domestic student in BUSA90525 Business and Economics Internship (self-sourced or uni-sourced) with an unpaid internship.
- Identification in one or more of the following categories (based on data provided during enrolment)*:
  - Recognition as an Indigenous Australian
  - Resident of a low socioeconomic area
  - Resident of a regional, rural, or remote area
  - Disadvantaged financial background
  - First in family
^{*Eligibility is based on the data students provided at enrolment. Students are eligible if they meet one or more of the following specific categories: Recognition as an Indigenous Australian, home address is in a low socioeconomic area (as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics) and resident of a regional, rural or remote area. Access Melbourne students who meet one or more of the following Access Melbourne categories are also eligible: disadvantaged financial background, resident of a regional or remote area, first in family, recognition as an Indigenous Australian and graduate of an underrepresented school.}