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.

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 2023 handbook.

How does Management Consulting work?

In 2023, 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 1, 2023
Applications closeSunday 23 October 2022
Selection outcomesTuesday 1 November 2022
Subject commencesMonday 27 February 2023
Project periodMonday 6 March - Friday 26 May 2023
Final presentationMonday 22 May -  Friday 26 May 2023

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:

  • Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 65% or higher. Due to limited spaces, entry into Management Consulting is competitive. The minimum WAM requirement is 65% obtained at the University of Melbourne. Grades from subjects taken at another institution will not be considered. The Selection Committee considers the following when allocating places:
  1. Academic performance
  2. Responses to application question(s)
  3. Interview performance (if an online interview is requested)
  4. An overall match of skills, experience and interests to the available project
  • You have completed a minimum of 150 points at the commencement of the subject, including MGMT20001 Organisational Behaviour. 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.

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

"Undertaking this subject provided an opportunity for us to apply prior knowledge gained from our studies throughout the development of client deliverables. For example, the ability to facilitate interviews, construct interview questions, and conduct interview coding gained from the subject ‘Market and Business Research’ helped us discover critical insights whilst conducting primary research."

Henry Gao, Management Consulting at Australian Red Cross

Read more about Henry's experience

Applications

Applications for Semester 1, 2023 intake have closed.

  • 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 vial email.

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. Applications are reviewed and if successful, applicants are invited to an interview. We provide interview preparation information, including broad topics you will be asked about. Please provide examples of your experience when answering the questions - see the Careers and Employability Studio resources.

    • 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.

    A final selection round takes place following interviews and students are notified of their application outcome.

  • Is there flexibility with the interview date if I am not available?

    Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Online interviews may be permitted due to valid reasons such as being out of the country on Exchange or an internship.

  • 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 per week from Tuesday to Friday.

  • 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