Management Consulting
IMPORTANT MESSAGE:
Due to the evolving impacts and uncertainty as a result of the global pandemic (COVID-19) we will be reviewing and updating our offerings and key dates on a rolling basis as the situation progresses. This page will be updated with new information when available and updates will be announced in the BCom Newsletter. Your understanding is appreciated during this time.
Changes to the subject:
- The delivery of Management Consulting will be conducted remotely for Semester 1, 2022.
- Selection process for entry into the subject will only be based on Weighted Average Mark (WAM), responses to application questions while also giving consideration to diversity requirements.
- Applicants may also be asked to participate in an interview as part of the selection process
"Management Consulting is a challenging but rewarding subject that allows Commerce students to draw on their prior knowledge to resolve real-world business issues. This experiential subject enabled me to improve my problem-solving skills while providing an incredible opportunity to enhance my teamwork and communication skills within a professional setting."
Shiyi Cai (Cathy), Management Consulting at Monitor Deloitte
Introduction
Be part of a student consulting team in a real business environment and work on a strategically important challenge set by your client.
MGMT30012 Management Consulting is a unique subject offered in both semesters that provides you with the opportunity to apply your university learning in a real business environment and engage in a business challenge of genuine strategic importance to a client organisation.
You will be required to draw upon multi-disciplinary knowledge, skills and theory acquired from your previous studies, working in a student consulting team on a project specified by the client organisation.
Students have worked with clients in a range of industries and organisations, from large Australian and multinational companies to niche agencies and not-for-profit organisations. The list of clients is different each semester depending on available projects.
By completing this subject, you will:
- integrate and apply theoretical material 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 team-work skills
- learn how to present findings and seek and receive constructive feedback
- learn how to operate effectively within a commercial working environment
View this subject in the handbook.
How does Management Consulting work?
The delivery of Management Consulting has changed due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Students will be allocated to teams and each team assigned to a client organisation. Students will meet together online for four hours via Zoom at least once per week from Week 2 to Week 12 of the semester. Within this weekly four-hour meeting, the team will dedicate part of this time to meeting with the client and the remainder to continued project work. Teams will explore and evaluate an open-ended business challenge, which may involve interviewing stakeholders, conducting research or other activities required for successful completion of the consulting project. Students are supported online by a client facilitator at the client organisation and an academic supervisor.
Weekly lectures/seminars, consultations and assignments are designed to assist teams in completing the consulting project. Lectures will be conducted via Zoom each week. Seminars (workshops) will be hosted via Zoom. Additional team meetings will be arranged for each team to meet with their academic supervisor (coach). The final output is a professional-standard team report that analyses the business challenge and proposes recommended courses of action for the client's consideration.
Key dates
Students offered a place in the Management Consulting are required to participate in all listed activities. If you are unable to commit to one or more of these dates, please do not apply.
| Activity | Key dates |
|---|---|
| Applications open | Monday 13 September 2021 |
| Applications close | Extended to 11:59pm AEDT, Sunday 24 October 2021 |
| Selection outcomes | Monday 1 November 2021 |
| Business project | Monday 28 February - Friday 27 May 2022 |
| Final presentation | Monday 23 May - Friday 27 May 2022 |
Selection Criteria
Management Consulting is only available as an elective to all Bachelor of Commerce students . To be eligible to apply for this subject, you must meet the following requirements:
- Your Weighted Average Mark (WAM) is 65% or higher. Due to limited spaces, entry into Management Consulting is competitive. The minimum average grade requirement is 65% and the Selection Committee considers the following when allocating places:
- Academic Performance
- Responses to application question(s)
- Interview performance if an online interview is requested
- An overall match of skills, experience and interests to the available project
For current University of Melbourne students: the WAM is an average of all subjects completed in the BCom plus the grades from any subjects credited towards the BCom as a result of transferring from another University of Melbourne course. The grades from subjects taken at another institution (for example, from transferring from another university, or from exchange), will not be considered.
- You have completed a minimum of 150 points at the commencement of the subject, including MGMT20001 Organisational Behaviour. Students who intend to complete MGMT20001 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
Preparing your application
The University of Melbourne offers a range of tools, resources, workshops and information sessions to assist you with preparing a quality CV, strengthening your interview skills and much more.
Careers & Employability Studio
Get online resources, CV preparation, workshops/seminars, individual advice.
Smart Resume
Preparing your resume can take time. Use Smart Resume to create/update your CV. Great feedback helps improve your confidence and your success.
EmployMe
Get job application tools, personality and skills test, employability skills and more.
Information sessions
Watch the video below by Academic Subject Coordinator, Kris Young, to learn more about the delivery of this subject in Semester 1 2022.
Watch our Live Q&A session recording
If you have missed the live Q&A session held on Tuesday 28 September, you can now watch the recording of the session below.
Apply now
Applications for Semester 1 2022 intake have closed.
The Faculty of Business and Economics uses SONIA to manage the application and selection process for MGMT30012 Management Consulting. Please follow the steps below to apply.
Note: When you join a placement group, you will have access to submit an application form (instructions are outlined in the steps below). If you leave the placement group, we will assume that you are no longer interested in partaking in the Management Consulting subject.
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Step 1
Login to Sonia Live using your University of Melbourne student credentials: https://unimelb.sonialive.com/.
Click into Faculty of Business and Economics
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Step 2
Click on the Placements tab on the menu bar at the top of the page and search for the subject and offering you’re interested in applying for.
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.
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Step 3
Next, 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).
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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.
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Step 5
After the subject application closing date, applications will then go through a shortlisting process and students will be emailed an outcome by the specified date.
Contact us
If you have any questions about Management Consulting, please email fbe-capstonestudies@unimelb.edu.au
Frequently asked questions
Applying, Fees and Enrolment
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Is this subject difficult?
Management Consulting is a challenging subject and unlike any other coursework subject you may have taken in the past. You will be faced with ambiguity and must operate with a great deal of autonomy. However, it is an exceptionally rewarding individual and team experience, and a unique opportunity to work on a real business problem with industry experts.
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What if I am not majoring in management?
You do not need to be majoring in management to take this subject. In fact, we try to ensure there is a mix of disciplines in order to cover the various needs of the projects. However, you must be enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce.
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What is the selection process like?
Interested students must first submit an online application. Applications are reviewed and students may be asked to participate in an interview, which is used to address the relevant selection criteria. After the interview, a second round of selection takes place before students are offered a place.
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Students are shortlisted for an interview based on their academic average. What is the minimum academic average required?
The minimum average required from all students taking part in FBE consulting subjects is 65%. However, as we have a fixed number of students that we interview for each program, the minimum academic average changes for every application intake (depending on applications received) and is often higher than 65%. We encourage you to apply for the program if you have an academic average of 65% or higher.
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Must I provide my CV?
Students who successfully make it through the selection process and receive an official offer for the Management Consulting will be requested to submit an up-to-date CV as part of the acceptance requirements. Although we do not assess your CV as part of the selection process, it is important to submit a professional CV as we provide this to the client. It is also used in team allocation as we take any special interest you may have listed on this into consideration when possible.
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What are you looking for in the interview? What can I do to prepare in advance?
We will provide you with specific interview preparation information when we confirm your interview registration, including the broad topic of each of the questions you will be asked. There are many resources to assist you on our website.
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Is there any flexibility with the interview date? Is there an alternative process if I am not available?
We will consider this on a case by case basis at the time. If there are valid reasons such as being out of the country on an exchange or an internship for example, we can consider a skype interview. If you are just away on holidays, we would not consider this a good enough reason.
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Are the questions that are asked in the interview all behavioural questions?
Generally, we want you to give us examples of your experience when answering the questions.
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How much does it cost?
The tuition fee for this subject is the same as all other management subjects. This subject requires each student team to submit a comprehensive report that is professionally printed and bound. The cost of printing and binding is the responsibility of each team. Students should plan to contribute $20 - $30 each, towards these costs.
* Please check with Subject Coordinator for any changes required for Semester 1 2022 -
Can I enrol myself into this subject using the online student system?
No, as this is a quota subject, you will be unable to select this subject online. Once selection has taken place, Stop 1 will be advised and they will enrol all students into the subject.
Timetable, Projects and Assessment
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When is the timetable information available?
Timetable information for this subject is released at the same time as other subjects, however lectures and workshops are always on a Monday. We ask for your availability for client visits, which occur once per week during the morning or afternoon from Tuesday to Friday.
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Are there multiple streams?
No, there is only the one lecture and workshop as the subject is capped at 60 students.
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Do I have to attend the first lecture in Week 1 of the semester?
Yes, it is a requirement of the subject to attend the first lecture in Week 1 of the semester. Vital information is given at this first lecture, the consulting groups are formed, and preliminary work is started with the team coaches. If you know you will not be available for the first lecture, please do not apply.
* Please check with Subject Coordinator for any changes required for Semester 1 2022 -
Can I choose my team mates? Can I choose the company or project?
No, you will be allocated to your team and the company with a specific project. We consider a range of factors when allocating teams, such as a balance of disciplines/majors and gender within a team; student availability for client visits; alignment of specific skills to projects and if you have indicated a specific area of interest.
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What happens if my team can’t meet the client’s expectations?
You are mentored through the entire process by the Academic Coordinator and your team “coach”. The level of support you receive in Management Consulting is to a much greater level than you will have experienced in your degree so far.
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What are the assessment tasks for this subject? Will I have to provide feedback on my team mates?
Subject assessment tasks are outlined in the Handbook. No, you will not be required to give personal feedback on your team mates.