Case Competitions and Entrepreneurship

Case Competitions and Entrepreneurship

Overview

  • Apply the theory you learn in class to solve existing business challenges with the BCom Case Competition
  • Represent the University of Melbourne and compete with other student teams from across the world to solve a business case at an International Case Competition
  • Do you have a great idea for a StartUp? Pitch your idea at the UniMelb StartUp for your chance to win seed-funding to get your project off the ground

BCom Case Competition

The Bachelor of Commerce Case Competition (or BCom Case Comp) offers an opportunity to test your business case-solving skills, receive training from and network with corporate sponsors and get hands-on experience as a management consultant.

The 2020 Bcom Case Competition will be delivered online! More details are coming soon. See the 'Key dates' section to start planning for your involvement.

What could I win?

Some amazing prizes are up for grabs, including a share in $5,000 cash, a guaranteed interview for the International Case Competition program*, and a guaranteed interview for SPP's graduate/internship program.

*Interviews for the International Case Competition program and SPP's graduate/internship programs are subject to change as a result of COVID-19.

Who can apply?

Teams consist of four students enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce, second year and above including Honours.

Participation in this competition is subject to the acceptance of the competition’s Rules and Regulations. All team members must read the Rules and Regulations (available shortly), prior to registering.

“Just have a go. Even if you have no idea what you are doing, participating in BComp will be a huge learning experience. Structured thinking and the lessons learnt from working under pressure will be valuable in any career path you go down.” - Matthew Butera (pictured far left with his teammates) was part of the winning team in 2018.

How do I apply?

Registrations for the 2020 competition will open on Monday 27 July at 9am AEST. An application form will be posted here on the day.

Key dates

Monday 27 July, 9am AEST Online applications open 
Sunday 9 August, 11:59pm AEST Online applications close 
Friday 14 August (time TBC)Case launch and mini case workshop for all registered participants 
Sunday 16 August, 11:59pm AESTQ&A team question submissions due 
Tuesday 18 August, 6 - 7pm AEST Q&A session 
Thursday 20 August, 11:59pm AEST Case submissions due 
Wednesday 26 August Case results communicated
Thursday 27 August, 6 - 7pm AEST (time TBC)Crack-The-Case workshop for top 20 teams
Friday 28 August, 6 - 7pm AEST (time TBC)Presenting-To-Win workshops for top 20 teams
Monday 31 August, 9am AESTPreliminary round slide submissions due 
Monday 31 August, 1 - 8pm AESTPreliminary round finals 
Friday 4 September, 3:30 - 7:30pm AESTFinals

2020  BComp Partners

SPP logo

SPP (Principal Partner)

SPP is a high-impact consulting firm that partners with senior executives to overcome complex strategic and operational challenges. From high-growth SMEs to to some of Australia's largest businesses, SPP works closely with clients across a broad range of sectors to deliver practical results with a tangible outcome. SPP brings a customer-focused, nimble and highly skilled team with a rigorous and consistent approach to projects to help clients improve and grow. Their work ranges from strategy development, market research, business case development, and inputs to policy, through to the implementation of organisational improvements. SPP has been a longstanding partner of the University of Melbourne through sponsorship of the University Case Competition, employment of undergraduates, as well as being a leading recruiter of MBAs from Melbourne Business School.

UBS logo

UBS (Major Partner)

UBS provides financial advice and solutions to wealthy, institutional and corporate clients worldwide, as well as private clients in Switzerland. UBS' strategy is centered on our leading global wealth management business and our premier universal bank in Switzerland, enhanced by Asset Management and the Investment Bank. The bank focuses on businesses that have a strong competitive position in their targeted markets, are capital efficient, and have an attractive long-term structural growth or profitability outlook. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, UBS has offices in 52 countries, including all major financial centers, and employs approximately 60,000 people. UBS Group AG is the holding company of the UBS Group. Under Swiss company law, UBS Group AG is organized as an Aktiengesellschaft, a corporation that has issued shares of common stock to investors.

International Case Competitions

The Faculty of Business and Economics attends some of the best International Case Competitions in the world. We have sent students to dozens of exciting destinations for almost two decades, and next year it could be you!

Destinations for 2020 include Budapest, Florida, Montreal, Segovia and Vancouver.

Who can apply?

To be eligible to apply, you must:

  • be a current BCom student; and
  • have completed at least 75 credit points by the end of 2019; and
  • have at least 25 credit points remaining in your degree (including Honours) in Semester 1, 2020.

You MUST be available on Wednesday evenings and weekends for training from 23 November until the date of the competition that you are selected for.

How do I apply?

Online applications open on Monday  31 August 2020 and close at 11:59pm on Tuesday 22 September. An application form will be posted in the Apply Now section on the day.

  1. All applications will be assessed by a panel of academics and International Case Competition alumni.
  2. Results of the selection round will be communicated via email week commencing Monday 28 September 2020..
  3. Interviews will take place on Friday 16 October. You must be available all day, as interview times will be randomly allocated.

Selection process

You need only submit one application form to be considered for all competitions.

If successful, you will be placed in a team designed for one specific competition/destination according to your team's strengths.

To complete your application, you will need to provide the following:

  1. Your resume - the file name should be: FamilyName_FirstName_StudentID_resume.pdf
  2. A current photo (face) - the file name should be: FamilyName_FirstName_StudentID_photo.jpeg
  3. A statement of your results from my.unimelb - the file name should be: FamilyName_FirstName_StudentID_results.pdf
  4. A two to three minute interview stream video response to the following questions (you must access the application form for specific details for this requirement):
    • Why you would like to participate in the ICC program? (approx 30 seconds)
    • What is the strongest technical skill you bring to ICC (e.g., financial analysis, strategy development) and why you believe this? (approx. 1 minute)
    • What is the strongest soft skill you bring to ICC (e.g., public speaking, developing slide decks, team work, leadership, etc.) and why you believe this? (approx. 1 minute)
    • If you’re successful in your ICC application, what is an area (this can be a technical or soft skill) that you feel you need further development in. (approx 30 seconds)

Compulsory dates

If you are shortlisted or selected to compete in an International Case Competition, you must be available for the following dates:

  • interview day - Friday 16 October
  • orientation day - Saturday 21 November
  • a three-month training program on Wednesdays (from 6pm), Saturdays and Sundays over the summer vacation, commencing on Sunday 23 November (except the University holiday period; 19 December - 5 January)

Costs and payments

All accommodation for every competition is paid for by the Faculty of Business and Economics. Participating students also receive a bursary which covers the cost of flights and sundries.

Information sessions

Information session 1

Date: Tuesday 1 September 2020
Time: 12pm – 1pm

Venue and registration details will be posted here closer to the time

Information session 2

Date: Wednesday 16 September 2020
Time: 5.15pm – 6.16pm

Venue and registration details will be posted here closer to the time

Apply now

Applications for ICC 2021 program open on Monday 31 August 2020. An application form will be posted here on the day.

Student stories

Read about previous student experiences in the FBE Newsroom.

Contact us

If you have any questions about ICC 2020 please send an email to fbe-icc@unimelb.edu.au

UniMelb StartUp

About UniMelb StartUp

The UniMelb StartUp Pitch Competition aims to activate an entrepreneurial mindset within the University’s student community. It provides students a unique opportunity to learn to develop and test a startup idea. Team up with budding entrepreneurs from across the University and learn from experts and mentors from the startup world! There will also be prizes up for grabs!

This program is as much a competition as it is a learning experience. Whether or not you have a start-up idea in mind, we encourage all students across the University to take part in at least the program’s workshops.

You must be a current University of Melbourne student to participate and can register as a team or as an individual. Full training and support will be provided and no prior experience is required.

The 2019 competition was proudly supported and sponsored by entrepreneurship experts from the Faculty of Business and Economics, Melbourne Business School, Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship, Academy Xi and Melbourne Accelerator Program.

UniMelb StartUp 2020

We are looking at new and exciting ways to deliver our case competitions virtually this year. More information will follow in late July so stay tuned.