Management Consulting

Work in a student team on a real-world business challenge and build professional contacts here in Australia. This subject is available to students who have completed at least 150 credit points at commencement of the subject, and runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2.

Be part of a student consulting team and work on a strategically important challenge set by your client.

Applications for Semester 2 2024 intake will open on Monday 29 April.

Benefits of Management Consulting

MGMT30012 Management Consulting provides you with the opportunity to apply your university learning to a business challenge. You will be required to draw upon multi-disciplinary knowledge, skills, and theory acquired from your studies, working on a project specified by a client organisation.

Participants typically work with clients in a range of industries, from large Australian and multinational companies to niche agencies and not-for-profit organisations. The list of clients differs each semester depending on available projects.

By completing this subject, you will:

  • integrate and apply theoretical material acquired from your studies to a real business challenge
  • learn how to synthesise and work with unstructured and incomplete information
  • extend your knowledge through research and other forms of enquiry
  • develop your teamwork skills
  • learn how to present findings and seek and receive constructive feedback
  • learn how to operate effectively within a commercial working environment

For more information on this subject will be assessed, please refer to the 2024 Handbook.

How does Management Consulting work?

In 2024, this subject will be delivered on campus with face-to-face teaching. Client visits will depend on the individual host organisation’s requirements and work practices. This may be remote, face-to-face or a combination of the two.

Students are allocated to a team assigned to a client organisation. Students meet for four hours (remote, face-to-face or hybrid) at least once per week from Weeks 2 - 12 of the semester. During weekly meetings, teams dedicate part of this time to meeting with their client, and the remainder to continued project work. Teams explore an open-ended business challenge, which may involve interviewing stakeholders, conducting research or other activities relevant to the consulting project. Students are supported by a client facilitator and an academic supervisor.

Weekly lectures/seminars, consultations and assignments are designed to assist teams with their consulting project. Additional team meetings are conducted for meeting academic supervisors. Teams produce a professional-standard report for their client that analyses the business challenge and proposes strategies.

Key dates

Students offered a place in Management Consulting are required to participate in all listed activities. If you are unable to commit to the project period, please do not apply.

ActivitySemester 2, 2024
Applications openMonday 29 April 2024
Applications closeWednesday 15 May 2024
Information SessionThursday 7 May (time and venue to be confirmed)
Selection outcomesFriday 24 May 2024
Subject commencesMonday 22 July 2024
Project periodMonday 29 July 2024 -  Friday 18 October 2024
Final presentationMonday 14 October 2024 - Friday 18 October 2024

Eligibility

Management Consulting is only available as an elective to Bachelor of Commerce students. To be eligible to apply for this subject, you must meet the following requirements:

    • You have completed a minimum of 150 points at the commencement of the subject. Students who intend to complete Organisational Behaviour over the Summer Term will not be able to apply for the subsequent Semester 1 intake of Management Consulting.
    • You have not previously taken MGMT30017 Global Management Consulting or MGMT30012 Management Consulting. Students are not eligible to take both Management Consulting and Global Management Consulting within their degree.
    • Actuarial Students seeking to apply for Management Consulting must seek course advice from Stop 1 prior to applying.

    Due to limited spaces, entry into Management Consulting is competitive. The Selection Committee considers the following when allocating places:

    1. Academic performance
    2. Responses to application questions including a  1-2 min video statement
    3. An overall match of skills, experience and interests to the available project

    Exchange and study abroad students are welcome to apply. Please send your expression of interest to fbe-capstonestudies@unimelb.edu.au.

    "Management Consulting was transformative, challenging, and rewarding. Our expectations for the semester were exceeded, and the experiences which we gained were highly valuable. Completing this subject helped us broaden our horizons, tested our abilities and left us better prepared for our future careers."

    ADventure Consulting, Management Consulting at ANZ Innovation (Institutional).

    Read more about Cathelina and Chiraz's experience

    How to apply

    Applications for the Semester 2 2024 will open on Monday 29 April.

    • Step 1

      Login to Sonia Live using your University of Melbourne student credentials:  https://unimelb.sonialive.com/.

      Click into Faculty of Business and Economics

    • Step 2

      Click on the Placements tab on the menu bar at the top of the page and search for Management Consulting.

      Please note that Management Consulting will only appear in the Placements screen if applications are currently open for an upcoming intake. If the subject does not appear in the list, 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.

    • Step 3

      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).

    • Step 4

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

    • Step 5

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

    Information Session

    Come along to the information session to learn more about the program from the Academic Subject Coordinator of Management Consulting. You will also get to hear about the experience of a past student. Session will be held in-person on Tuesday 7th of May.

    Register now

    Frequently asked questions

    • Can I apply if I don’t have any management consulting experience?

      This subject is available to Bachelor of Commerce students regardless of major. You do not need any consulting experience to take this subject.

    • What is the selection process like?  What can I do to prepare for an interview?

      Interested students must first submit an online application including a video statement. Successful applicants will then be required to submit a CV.  Below are some resources from the Careers and Employability Studio that can help with your CV preparation.

      • Careers & Employability Studio: Get online resources, CV preparation, workshops/seminars, and individual advice.
      • Smart Resume: Preparing your resume can take time. Use Smart Resume to create/update your CV.
      • EmployMe: Get job application tools, personality and skills test, employability skills and more.
    • What should I talk about in my video statement?

      You will need to record and upload a 1-2min video outlining why you are interested in taking this subject. Video recording can be done using any recording devices/platforms including mobile phone, Zoom, or Interview360.

      Instructions on submitting your recording will be provided upon joining our online Sonia Placement Group.

    • How much does it cost?

      The tuition fee for this subject is the same as all other management subjects.

    • Is this subject challenging?

      Management Consulting is a challenging subject but students are mentored and supported through the process by the Academic Coordinator and team coach. You will face ambiguity and must operate with autonomy. However, it is a rewarding individual and team experience, and a unique opportunity to work on a real business problem with industry experts.

    • When is the timetable available?

      Timetable information for this subject is released at the same time as other subjects, however, lectures and workshops are always delivered on a Monday. There is one lecture and workshop per week. In addition, we collate each participant's availability for client visits, which occur once a week on Wednesday afternoon or Friday morning.

    • Why is the first lecture in Week 1 compulsory?

      It is essential that you attend the first lecture of the semester when consulting groups are formed and preliminary work commences with team coaches. If you are not available to attend the first lecture, please do not apply.

    • Can I choose my team, the company or project?

      Participants are not permitted to choose their team, company or project as these will be assigned to students. We consider a range of factors when allocating teams, such as diversity in background and disciplines/majors; availability for client visits; alignment of skills to projects; and areas of interest.

    • What are the assessment tasks for this subject?  

      Please refer to the subject assessment tasks in the Handbook.

    Contact us

    If you have any questions about Management Consulting, please email fbe-capstonestudies@unimelb.edu.au