Internships

Internship requirements

• Entry requirements

  This subject is available to Bachelor of Commerce students. You must receive permission from the subject coordinator before enrolling in the subject via an application process. You must have completed a minimum of 100 credit points of undergraduate study at the time of application.

• Internship suitability

  The following situations are not suitable placements for this subject:

  1.  Working within your family business or where a member of your immediate family (parents, step-parents, spouse, partner or sibling) will be the work placement supervisor.
  2.  Organisations with fewer than five staff employed.
  3.  Retail assistant roles.
  4.  Hospitality front-of-house roles such as bar attendants and waiters.

  Normally, a role within a workplace where you are currently employed as a part-time or full -time employee is not suitable, unless you can work on a particular project with defined learning outcomes during the enrolment period, or there is enough evidence that the placement is substantially different from your current role.

  Students that are currently in an internship that would like to gain credit for CMCE20001 are required to demonstrate that they are undertaking activities that are substantially different from the previous tasks, in order to achieve a learning outcome. You can refer to the Intended Learning Outcomes in the handbook and address them as part of your application form.

• Health and Safety requirements

  Prior to starting your internship, please read the health and safety - off-campus requirements.

• Information for international students only

  International students on student visas must ensure that they are compliant with the working hours' limitations attached to their visa.

  Work restrictions for student visa holders are capped at 48 hours per fortnight. For more information see temporary relaxation of working hours for student visa holders.

  Hours worked for internship subjects undertaken as electives will count towards your student visa work hour limits.

  Commerce Internship is an elective subject that will count towards your working hours, even if your internship is unpaid.

  For further information see the Working on a student visa webpage and the Department of Home Affairs website: Check visa details and conditions.

• Unpaid internships and the Fair Work Act

  Students seeking to take an unpaid internship in Australia must meet the guidelines set out by Fairwork Ombudsman. Please see the website for guidance.

WorkHub

An innovative, on-campus internship experience for Commerce students.

• What is WorkHub?

  WorkHub offers you the opportunity to complete a for-credit internship on campus spanning 12-weeks. WorkHub is offered through the Commerce Internship CMCE20001 subject. You will work in teams to deliver a cutting-edge project for a leading company as a client.

  You will spend one full working day (8:30am to 5pm) per week at the WorkHub office space on campus, with occasional site visits to the client throughout the semester.

• Where does WorkHub take place?

  Situated on Level 6 of The Spot, WorkHub offers a contemporary workspace equipped with open-plan workstations, meeting rooms, a boardroom, and adaptable furniture and writable walls designed for brainstorming and collaboration. It's important to note that WorkHub isn't a classroom; hours of operation align with standard business hours, and there is a 'business casual' dress code.

  While the majority of the internship will take place in the WorkHub space, occasional site visits to the client may be required throughout the semester.

• Who will be my host company in WorkHub?

  All WorkHub clients are carefully selected and vetted by the University. Each client will be a leading company, often international, who is committed to mentoring interns and collaborating with you to ensure a successful project. The clients will engage with project teams through regular meetings with company representatives, professional development opportunities, and an opportunity to present your solution at the end of the semester.

  In Semester 1, the WorkHub client was BMW Group Australia. We will partner with multiple clients for WorkHub in Semester 2.

• Who can apply for WorkHub?

  All BCom students who have completed at least 100 points at the time of application are eligible to apply for WorkHub. As a structured internship, WorkHub is a great opportunity for you to experience working in a modern office environment. Learn more about how to apply and submit your application by 5pm on Friday, 31 May 2024.

FBE Internship Studentships

We are offering a number of FBE Internship Studentships valued at up to $4,000 for eligible students* participating in unpaid internships taken through the Commerce Internship subject. These studentships are designed to help cover extra costs incurred and compensate for income lost as a result of undertaking an unpaid internship.

• Value

  The value of any studentship will be determined by a number of factors based on information provided in your FBE Internship Studentship application and will be confirmed in your offer letter if your application is successful.

  Studentships are a maximum of $4,000, paid in two parts – half before the commencement of the internship and half after the census. Please note, you will be required to immediately return the FBE Internship Studentship payment made to you if you do not complete your placement.

• How to apply

  Please submit a confidential FBE Internship Studentship application form outlining the details of your internship. It is encouraged that you provide evidence such as payslips to demonstrate loss of income to support your application.

• Eligibilty criteria

  Students must have successfully applied for and been enrolled into Commerce Internship CMCE200001 with a self-sourced, university-sourced or WorkHub internship. Students who have received National Colombo Plan (NCP) funding for International Internships are not eligible to apply.

  _{*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 categories are also eligible: disadvantaged financial background, resident of a regional or remote area, recognition as an Indigenous Australian and graduate of an underrepresented school.}

Frequently Asked Questions

• Are internships paid?

  Internships are generally paid. Under the Fair Work Act, an internship needs to be paid unless it is:
  - with a not-for-profit organisation,
  - a ‘vocational placement’ as defined in the Fair Work Act (2009) as a required and/or assessable part of your course.
  With paid internships, your employer normally provides insurance cover. The University will only provide insurance cover if the internship is an assessable part of your course.

• I've found a placement opportunity myself and am ready to apply. What do I need to do know?

  If you have secured your placement and agreed on your start and end dates, you are ready to apply. Before submitting your application, please ensure you have completed all required documents, some of which need to be completed and signed off by your host company supervisor.

  Please see the section above 'How to apply: Self-sourced internships'.

• Does my internship have to be within the teaching period of the semester?

  Yes, due to the assessments that are part of the subject, the minimum 90 hours of the nominated internship must take place within the chosen enrolment period. Any additional hours are acceptable if assessment is completed by the end of the selected enrolment period; however, this is subject to approval.

  If you have already commenced your internship, or if you will be starting your internship more than 2 weeks earlier than the start date of the teaching period, then you must effectively demonstrate you will be undertaking tasks and responsibilities that are sufficiently different to your current role in your application form. Completing higher duties or a project within the same team or business function will not qualify.

• How much does the subject cost?

  The cost of the Business and Economics Internships is a standard University subject fee.

  • Interstate/Regional/Overseas placements may also incur additional travel and/or accommodation fees and expenses
• How soon can I start my internship once enrolled into the subject?

  If your application is successful, at least five business days are required between enrolment and your internship start date, for timely completion of pre-placement modules.

• How will this subject be assessed?

  The subject will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. Please refer to the Handbook for assessment information.

• What is the time commitment?

  The estimated total time commitment is 170 hours, comprising:

  • workplace attendance: 90 hours
  • learning activities not related to assessment: 36 hours
  • assessment tasks: 44 hours
• I have previously completed an internship, can I claim credit for this?

  Commerce Internship is a for-credit university subject with associated assessment tasks. Internships that have been previously completed cannot be considered for credit or backdated.

  Students that are currently in an internship that would like to gain credit for CMCE20001 are required to demonstrate that they are undertaking activities that are substantially different from the previous tasks, in order to achieve a learning outcome. Students must also complete a minimum of 90 hours during the enrolment period. You can refer to the Intended Learning Outcomes in the handbook and address them as part of your placement proposal.

  Normally, a role within a workplace where you are currently employed as a part-time or full-time employee is not suitable, unless you can work on a particular project with defined learning outcomes during the enrolment period, or there is enough evidence that the placement is substantially different from your current role.

• Why can't I see a university-sourced opportunity on SONIA or Careers Online?

  Opportunities will only be visible on SONIA and Careers Online when the application period is open.

  Each opportunity has a maximum number of applications that can be submitted. Once an opportunity has reached this maximum, it will no longer appear for you to select in SONIA.

• Can exchange students apply?

  Unfortunately, exchange students cannot enrol in CMCE20001.

• Can I complete Commerce Internship at the same time as MGMT30017?

  As MGMT30017 Global Management Consulting is an intensive subject where students travel overseas, if your internship crosses over with the overseas travel component, it may not be possible to do both CMCE20001 and MGMT30017 at the same time.

  You can complete these subjects in different semesters.

• Do my self-sourced documents have to be submitted in English?

  Yes, your self-sourced documents need to be submitted in English. Please also submit your documents in their original language including any official company logos, seals or letterheads.