Self-sourced

A suitable placement should involve engaging in relevant industry tasks while receiving quality support and supervision from your host organisation. Your tasks and responsibilities should provide meaningful learning opportunities that enhance your disciplinary and workplace knowledge and skills.

Ideal placements offer a structured environment, exposing you to various formal and informal industry activities that enrich your learning experience and contribute to your future career planning and development.

A placement must also meet the following criteria:

• Enable you to complete a minimum of 90 hours with the organisation during the teaching period (e.g. one day per week for 12 weeks or two days per week over 6 weeks). Unpaid interns must not exceed a total of 120 hours during the subject teaching period.
• Unpaid internships must start and end within the teaching period.
• The organisation is a genuine business with an Australian Business Number (ABN), or be registered with appropriate regulatory authorities if overseas.
• Your host supervisor is willing to provide the necessary supervision and support. This includes providing:
  • A signed internship agreement
  • An internship induction
  • Clear tasks and expectations
  • On-the-job training and regular feedback
  • A formal end-of-internship performance review

The following situations are not suitable placements for this subject:

• Supervisor is a relative: Your supervisor must not be a member of your family, including parents, step-parents, spouses, partners, siblings, grandparents, aunts, or uncles. This helps maintain a professional boundary and ensures impartial evaluation.
• Non degree relevant roles: Roles in retail or hospitality (e.g. retail assistant, front-of-house, bar attendant, waitstaff).
• Administrative roles: Roles focused around routine administrative tasks including note taking, data-entry, photocopying, checking emails.
• Excessive hours: Unpaid interns must complete a total of 90-120 hours during the subject teaching period. Unpaid internships with more than a total of 120 internship hours will not be approved.

Generally, internships should provide new and distinct experiences from your current role. However, exceptions may be considered if:

• Higher level responsibilities or a different role: The placement must be substantially different from your existing role. This means taking on higher-level responsibilities or engaging in tasks within a different team or/or field. Your internship should allow you to develop new knowledge and skills.

In your application, you need to:

• Demonstrate significant differences: Clearly explain how the proposed internship activities differ from your regular tasks.
• Show alignment with learning outcomes: Illustrate how these activities will help you achieve the Intended Learning Outcomes outlined in the handbook.

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

If you choose to complete an international 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.

Pre-approved internships are with host organisations that already have a legal placement agreement with the Faculty. This simplifies and speeds up the application process if your self-sourced internship is with a pre-approved organisation in Australia.

Pre-approved host organisations include: Deloitte, EY, Grant Thornton, KPMG, PwC, Students@Work

Business and Economics Internship is available to be taken as a capstone in some degrees. BUSA90525 MUST be listed as an available capstone in your course's 'Course structure' page in the Handbook for you to be able to enrol in BUSA90525 as a capstone subject.

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, and your capstone request must be approved by the Subject Coordinator. The details you provide in your self-sourced internship application form will be assessed by the Subject Coordinator to determine whether it is suitable for enrolment into BUSA90525 as a capstone. This is because your internship needs to be directly related to your degree for the subject to be a capstone.

You need to submit your application form to us by the deadline based on your start date to allow for application assessment and necessary administration for enrolment. Please view the key dates below.

We strongly encourage you to make use of the careers support available at the University.

Visit the Careers & Employability webpage to access tools and resources to support your internship search. You can also join the Careers & Employability LMS Community, which offers modules on topics such as preparing your resume, interview skills and how to find an internship.

Allow ample time
Start your internship search well in advance to give you enough time to research potential opportunities, prepare professional application documents, and submit your applications without rushing.

Understand requirements
Before contacting employers, familiarise yourself with the subject requirements, including what qualifies as a suitable placement. This will enable you to target your search on eligible roles that will meet both your academic and career objectives.

Identify target organisations
Make a list of organisations that align with your career interests. Research their values, culture, and current projects to tailor your approach.

Understand the industry
Stay updated on trends and challenges within the industries that interest you. Demonstrating industry knowledge to potential employers can set you apart from other candidates.

Explore job sites
While job boards are useful for finding advertised opportunities, don't rely on them exclusively. Use these platforms to identify companies of interest, understand hiring trends, and uncover potential openings that might not be widely promoted. Some recommended job sites include:

• The University of Melbourne's Careers Online Job Board
• LinkedIn
• Seek and Seek Grad
• Indeed
• Prosple

Connect at events
Attend networking events and career fairs to make direct connections with industry professionals.

Leverage professional associations
Professional associations often offer student memberships, giving you access to valuable resources, networking opportunities, and job listings.

Utilise your network
Reach out to family, friends, lecturers, tutors, and alumni who might have connections in your chosen career area. A personal introduction can increase your chances of securing an internship, as employers often value referrals from trusted connections.

Develop a strong introduction
When contacting employers, ensure your cover letter and resume are polished and tailored to each company. Clearly articulate your interest in the company, highlight how your skills and experiences make you a strong candidate, and specify what you hope to gain from the internship.

Follow-up thoughtfully
After submitting your application, thoughtful persistence can demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment. However, approach follow-up tactfully — avoid hounding employers and space out your communications to maintain professionalism.

Track your applications
Make note of where you’ve applied, contact details, and important dates like submission deadlines and interview schedules. This will help you stay on top of your internship search.

Ensure your study plan has room for a general elective or capstone* before submitting your application. If you need more information or guidance, please seek course advice from STOP 1.

*Note: 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, and your capstone request must be approved by the Subject Coordinator. The details you provide in your internship application will be assessed by the Subject Coordinator to determine whether it is suitable for enrolment into BUSA90525 as a capstone. This is because your internship needs to be directly related to your degree for the subject to be a capstone.

You will need to provide evidence of your internship offer. This can be in the form of an internship contract or an email thread confirming the internship details from your host organisation.

You must upload a Placement Schedule in your application form. Please ask your host organisation to complete and sign this document.

Submit your application form only after confirming your internship.  Ensure all documents are complete to avoid assessment delays.

You must submit  your application by the application deadline based on your start date. Please note that incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

1. Access Sonia Live and click 'University Sign In' to log in using your University of Melbourne student credentials.
2. Click on the Placements tab and search for the BUSA90525 & CMCE20001 self-sourced placement group.
3. Click on the + Join button for the relevant placement group and enrolment period your internship falls within.
4. Click on the Forms tab and select the relevant application form.
5. Complete all fields in the form and click Submit.

Important: Do not leave the placement group after submitting your application.

We will assess your eligibility and review the suitability of your internship and host organisation. If additional information is needed, we will contact you. You will receive an outcome via email once your application has been reviewed. Please check your email inbox regularly for updates during this period.

To accept your offer, complete the acceptance form in Sonia Live. Depending on your internship, you may also receive a legal agreement for your host organisation to sign.

Important: You can add this subject  to your Study Plan as 'Planned' but not 'Enroled'. Your enrolment will be processed after you complete the acceptance process.