FAQs

Yes, you are encouraged to apply for multiple internship streams. If you are successful in securing offers for more than one stream, you will be required to select one to accept. Once you have made your selection, we ask that you fully commit to the chosen stream.

The Business and Economics Internship involves a total estimated time commitment of 170 hours, comprising:

• Workplace attendance: 90 hours minimum
• Learning activities (non- assessment): 36 hours
• Assessment tasks: 44 hours

Overall, the 170 hours are designed to provide a comprehensive learning experience while balancing your academic and professional responsibilities.

Internships can be either paid or unpaid, depending on the nature of the placement:

• Paid Internships: Most internships are paid, as required by the Fair Work Act. Your employer usually provides insurance cover in these cases.
• Unpaid Internships: Some internships may be unpaid if they fall into one of the following categories:
  • The internship is with a not-for-profit organisation.
  • The internship is classified as a ‘vocational placement’ under the Fair Work Act (2009), meaning it is a required or assessable part of your course. In these cases, the University will provide insurance cover.

It's crucial to understand the terms of your internship before starting, so you know whether it will be paid or unpaid and who is responsible for your insurance cover. We do not recommend exceeding the required 90 hours if you are completing an unpaid self-sourced internship.

The Business and Economics Internship is subject to a standard University course fee. An additional program fee applies for the international internship stream.

Placements in regional or interstate areas may also incur additional costs for travel and accommodation.

In some teaching periods, there may be grants or scholarships available to support students undertaking unpaid internships as part of the Business and Economics Internship subject. These are usually competitive, have specific eligibility criteria, and must be applied for within the relevant application window.

Please visit https://students.unimelb.edu.au/student-support/scholarships-and-financial-support/financial-aid for further information on the support available.

There is no guarantee of a job offer at the end of the internship. The primary purpose of the Business and Economics Internship subject is to support your learning and skill development, not to secure employment.

We encourage you to treat the internship as an opportunity to learn, perform well and build relationships. Any employment outcome should be seen as a possible bonus, not an expectation.

No, you may only complete the Business and Economics Internship subject once.

You will not be able to enrol yourself directly into the Business and Economics Internship subject. You may add the subject to your study plan as ‘Planned’, and our team will request your enrolment once you have secured and accepted an eligible internship and your application has been approved.

If you have already been approved, please allow a few business days for this to be reflected in your study plan.

The Business and Economics Internship subject counts as  a 12.5 credit point  general elective subject. You must have enough study points remaining and an appropriate spot in your course structure for a  general elective subject.

For some MBS degrees, this subject may be taken as a capstone, if both your course structure and your specific role have been approved.

If you are unsure whether you have space, you should check your course structure in the Handbook and use My Course Planner to see if you have space and can satisfy all other core  requirements.

The internships team cannot provide detailed course planning advice so it is important to confirm your space before applying.

No, uni-sourced and WorkHub internships are only available for students who are able to enrol in the internship subject.

You are welcome to arrange and complete paid internships outside the subject. Students should not be completing unpaid internships without enrolling in the internship subject. Please see the FairWork website on unpaid work for further information.

The University is unable to provide support/sign documents for unpaid internships. Students should not be completing unpaid internships without enrolling in the internship subject. Please see the FairWork website on unpaid work for further information.

If you are undertaking a paid internship, the University can provide a letter of support but cannot sign any host documents.

Yes, your internship must include a minimum of 90 hours within the teaching period to meet the subject's assessment requirements. While you may undertake additional hours, all assessments must be completed by the end of the teaching period.

If you are arranging a self-sourced internship, it is a requirement that a minimum of 90 hours are completed within the same teaching period. You have flexibility in how you schedule these hours; for example, you could work one 7.5 hour day per week for 12 weeks, or two 7.5 hour days per week for 6 weeks.

The Business and Economics Internship subject has assessment tasks that are linked to your internship timing and supervisor feedback. In some cases, final marks may be released later than for standard subjects, particularly if your internship finishes towards the end of the teaching or exam period.

If the required assessments or internship hours are not completed within the teaching period, this could delay finalisation of your results and therefore your graduation timing. However, provided you meet all subject requirements within the semester, there should be no issue with your graduation being processed in the usual timeframe.

Due to the intensive nature of Global Business Practicum (BUSA90485), which include an overseas travel component, it may not be feasible to undertake the Business and Economics Internship (BUSA90525) simultaneously if the internship period overlaps with the travel dates. However, you can complete these subjects in different semesters.

Yes, in-company, hybrid, and remote internships are all considered.

Your self-sourced internship can be based in Australia or overseas.

If you choose to complete an international self-sourced internship, it is your responsibility to mange your study plan and any on-campus subject commitments (including class attendance and assessment deadlines). Please note that undertaking an international internship is not grounds for special consideration.

In some Master’s degrees, the Business and Economics Internship subject can be taken as a capstone. You can check whether this applies to your degree on the 'course structure' page in your degree’s Handbook entry.

Not all internships can be used for capstone - your specific internship must be approved as capstone appropriate for you to enrol in BUSA90525 as capstone.

• University-sourced: individual internship opportunities are pre-approved as capstone for specific Master’s degrees and are flagged during the application process in SONIA.
• Self-sourced: you will need to indicate in your application that you intend to complete the subject as a capstone, and eligibility will be assessed as part of the application review process.
• WorkHub: not available to be taken as capstone.

If your internship role is not approved as capstone-appropriate, you cannot enrol in the subject as a capstone, even if the subject is listed as a capstone option in the Handbook. In this case, you can still complete the internship subject as an elective if that is an option in your degree.

Unfortunately, exchange students cannot enrol in the Business and Economics Internship subject.

All applications are submitted and managed via the relevant Sonia placement group for that semester, and students receive email instructions and links when applications are open.

All are great options and it depends on your preferences and circumstances. Which is best depends on your goals, availablity and how comfortable you feel.

• Uni‑sourced internships
  Our team sources opportunities with partner organisations and you apply to specific roles. This can be a good option if you prefer a more structured process and clearly defined roles.
• WorkHub
  You work in a student team on a real project for a client, based on campus. This suits students who enjoy teamwork, project‑based work and exposure to multiple aspects of a business.
• Self‑sourced internships
  You find your own host organisation and apply directly, then seek approval for the internship to count towards the subject. This can give you greater flexibility in role, industry and timing, but requires more initiative in your job search.

There is a maximum capacity for University‑sourced and WorkHub  internships each semester. This means that even if you meet all eligibility criteria and submit your application on time, your application may still be unsuccessful if there are more eligible applicants than available places.

For self‑sourced internships, there is no set cap on the number of places. However, your internship must still be approved as suitable for the subject. If the role does not meet these requirements, your application may not be approved.

If you interviewed for the internship through the Uni‑sourced application process you would complete the subject as Uni‑sourced.

If you approached the organisation independently and then requested it count for credit, you should apply as Self‑sourced, even if the organisation also partners with the University.

You will not be required to interview for WorkHub. Instead, you will complete an application form, and based on this you will be matched to a suitable project team. Each WorkHub project has a limited number of student places, which varies depending on the size and scope of the project.

Applications must be submitted at least three weeks before your self-sourced internship start date. If the submission deadline falls during University holidays, you should extend the deadline by the number of days the University is closed.

For example:

• If your internship begins on Monday 2 December, your application is due by Friday 15 November.
• If your internship begins on Monday 6 January, and there is a 5-day University holiday during Christmas, your application is due by Friday 6 December.

Please note that late applications will not be accepted.

Yes, all documents must be submitted in English. Additionally, please include the original documents in their native language, along with any official company logos, seals, or letterheads.

Evidence may include: a .pdf copy of your internship contract, or a screenshot of your internship offer containing the details (start/end dates, hours).

The host organisation and supervisor are expected to provide a structured, supportive internship experience. This includes signing the University’s internship agreement, providing an appropriate induction to the workplace, develop a learning plan setting clear tasks and expectations for your role, offering regular feedback, and completing a formal end‑of‑internship performance review.