Undergraduate placements
To meet the career-ready placement requirements of your program, you will need to complete one of the following courses:
- BUSN3002 Industry Placement
- BUSN3004 Career-ready Industry Led Project Lab
- BUSN3500 International Work Placement in Business
BUSN3002 Industry Placement
Placements are an effective way to stand out in a competitive job market. Prospective employers seek graduates who can easily transition into the workplace, making the practical experience gained through workplace experience invaluable.
Through BUSN3002, you will complete a 140-hour supervised placement. During your placement you will apply theories learned throughout your studies and build your understanding of contemporary business practices.
There are opportunities to acquire a placement in sectors related to your area of study. These opportunities are available through private businesses, government, not-for-profit organisations, small and medium-sized enterprises, and start-ups.
Please note that every effort will be made to assist you with sourcing an appropriate placement. However, placements are not guaranteed. If you do not source a placement aligned to BUSN3002, it is strongly recommended that you enrol in BUSN3004 instead.
There are three ways to organise your placement:
Students must secure a placement by applying for available roles through CareerHub. This process
provides an opportunity to gain professional experience in an organisation that aligns with their degree
and specialisation.
1. Log in to CareerHub using your Student ID.
2. Search for ‘BUSN3002’ in the ‘Jobs’ menu to find relevant placement opportunities.
3. Submit applications as required, including your resume, cover letter, and any other requested
documents. For assistance, refer to the ‘Apply for a Job’ resources.
4. Monitor your email for updates on your application. Some roles may require an interview or additional
steps as part of the selection process.
5. If successful in securing a placement, either directly with the host organisation or the NBS WIL team
you are required to immediately notify the Business School via workplacement-nbs@newcastle.edu.au so
your placement can be logged in the SONIA system and the placement position can be filled (removed
from Career Hub)
6. Once confirmed, you will receive a notification from the SONIA placement system, complete all required
approvals through SONIA before commencing your placement.
Use Your Current Employer
This pathway enables students to use their current employer for placement, provided they undertake tasks
that differ from their usual responsibilities and align with their specialisation.
1. The student emails workplacement-nbs@newcastle.edu.au to express their intent to use their employer, providing:
- The organisation name
- An organisation contact name and email
- Brief description of the work and how it aligns with student’s specialisation
2. The NBS Director of Work Integrated Learning conducts a preliminary assessment to determine if the work qualifies for placement.
This pathway allows students to secure their own placement with a host organisation, ensuring it aligns
with their degree and specialisation.
1. Identify a potential host organisation that aligns with your specialisation.
2. Email workplacement-nbs@newcastle.edu.au with the following details:
- Intended host’s contact name
- Host’s website
- Specialisation area you intend to target
- Your name and student number
- A 100-word description of your desired job and goals
3. Students will attend a short interview with the school to confirm suitability for the role and
organisation.
4. Await approval from the Business School before contacting the host.
5. Upon approval, you will receive a host pack. Do not approach the host without this pack.
Students who have already worked in a job related to their specialisation can apply for a waiver of the 140
placement hours. Note: This waiver applies only to the placement hours; all other course components and
assessments must still be completed.
1. Email workplacement-nbs@newcastle.edu.au to request application for a waiver.
2. School Placement Team will enrol applicant in BUSN3002.
3. Submit the waiver application in SONIA by providing details of
Note: This waiver applies only to the placement hours; all other course components and assessments must still be completed. All waivers or partial waivers must be fully approved before Census date.
BUSN3004 Career-ready Industry Led Project Lab
BUSN3004 provides you the opportunity to put your studies into practice and help solve real-world business problems. In this course, you will work in small groups to solve real-world business problems, enhancing your skills and business acumen, and preparing you for a professional career.
The course includes hands-on experience, expert-led workshops, career-development sessions, industry mentoring, and company site visits. Real-world projects will be provided by industry partners. Each project accommodates up to 30 students, with groups ranging from 4-6 members.
Throughout the course, students may have the opportunity to take part in hands-on learning experiences, attend expert-led workshops, engage in career development sessions, connect with industry mentors, and visit leading companies. Real-world projects will be provided by industry partners. Each project accommodates up to 30 students, with groups ranging from 4-6 members.
BUSN3500 International Work Placement in Business
Global placements are a great way to gain professional experience and increase your employability in both the domestic and global job market.
BUSN3500 allows you to undertake a supervised international placement of 140 hours. We work with trusted Third-Party Providers to organise placements, accommodation, orientation, events, networking opportunities, and on-the-ground support in locations such as Japan, China, Indonesia, Spain, South Africa, the UK, and Vietnam.
During the supervised placement, you will apply your knowledge and skills, acquire new knowledge, and develop professional networks to support your work readiness. You will observe and engage in various work practices with the host organisation.
There are three streams for overseas placement through BUSN3500.
- International students can go back to their home country during the summer or winter break for placement through one of our approved Third-Party Providers.
- Domestic students can apply for a group trip led by an academic from the Newcastle Business School over the summer or winter break.
- Domestic students can apply for an individual trip through one of our approved Third-Party Providers over the summer or winter break.
To apply for an International Placement opportunity, log into SONIA here. Go to the FORMS tab and ADD+ the “International Placement Application” form from the drop-down box. Click EDIT to open the form and complete the required fields. Applicants will also have to submit an application to their nominated Third-Party Provider or Newcastle Business School academic. More details on how to apply for the different streams can be found HERE. Students should allow a 2-6-month lead time to apply for a placement through SONIA and through a Third-Party Provider/academic lead.
Please note: Domestic students may access an OS-HELP loan to cover their travel expenses once they are approved. International students must pay travel expenses out of pocket in full. Students will be enrolled in BUSN3500 and therefore must also pay tuition fees for this course.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.