Business and Economics

Learn how we’re making a difference

The University is a key influencer of governments, businesses and community groups.

The Melbourne Institute is Australia’s pre-eminent economic and social policy research centre. The institute collaborates with the Department of Social Services to learn about Australian households and family life. They do this via the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (HILDA). This survey has been collecting powerful insights for more than 20 years.

Our Centre for Workplace Leadership is helping to grow skilled, responsible workplace leaders. The centre has shared its research findings with more than 1000 organisations. This has led to the implementation of new evidence-based policies and programs.

The Faculty of Business and Economics engages in many interdisciplinary research projects. These projects drive positive societal change. One priority area is improving the financial wellbeing of all Australians. Economists, finance experts, neuroscientists, lawyers and computer scientists are working with industry partners. Together, they develop practical solutions to improve financial literacy, decision-making and household outcomes.

Explore our centres and networks

The faculty hosts a wide range of specialist research centres, networks and laboratories. These span the areas of accounting, finance, economics, management and marketing, and actuarial studies. They include:

• Brain, Mind and Markets Laboratory. Investigates human and machine decision-making through experimental research. It combines expertise from neurobiology, economics, finance, psychology and computer science.
• Centre for Accounting and Industry Partnerships. Acts as the interface between the University and the business sector. Our partners can draw on the knowledge and expertise of researchers and teachers.
• Centre for Asian Business and Economics.  Strengthens linkages with Asian universities, business and government. It brings together researchers in economics, accounting, finance, management, marketing and related fields. Together, they develop broader perspectives of Asian economies. And of business strategies/practices in Asia.
• Centre for Business Analytics. Investigates how data – small or big – can drive organisational success. This is through fact-based, data-driven, proactive decision-making.
• The Centre for Market Design. Uses economic design to solve problems. This drives innovation in policy, procurement and resource allocation.
• Experimental Economics Laboratory. Promotes experimental methods in economics research and policy-making.
• Experimental Research Facility. Behavioural researchers can test economic theories and develop policies. Behavioural experiments are an important tool in social sciences research. And in business and policy-making.
• International Centre for Research in Organisational Discourse, Strategy and Change. Links researchers from across the world, from a range of institutions. These researchers develop and apply discourse methods in the study of organisations. Now wider in scope, it was initially launched by four institutions:
  • University of Melbourne
  • University of Sydney
  • King's College, University of London
  • McGill University
• Melbourne Centre for Corporate Governance and Regulation. Informs and addresses issues of corporate governance and regulation. These issues face for-profit, government and not-for-profit entities.

Collaborate with experts from other disciplines

As a business and economics researcher, you will have the opportunity to work with researchers from other disciplines. Engaging with experts outside your field helps you reflect on the world in different ways. Many of the faculty’s research centres bring together experts from different disciplines and industries. You could also join one of the University’s multidisciplinary research initiatives. Depending on the topic, you might work with experts from areas including:

• health
• psychology
• science
• sociology
• law
• energy
• environment
• education.

Hallmark Research Initiatives

Current Hallmark Research Initiatives addressing the theme of business and economics include:

• Statelessness – filling knowledge gaps to inform public policy.
• Economic and Social Participation – investigating the factors that contribute to individual and community stability and wellbeing.
• Creativity and Wellbeing – exploring the intersection of creativity and wellbeing. It uses an interdisciplinary knowledge base to cultivate a network of researchers who investigate the relationship between the concepts, and the impact of creativity on wellbeing across the lifespan.

Melbourne Interdisciplinary Research Institutes

Current Melbourne Interdisciplinary Research Institutes that address the theme of business and economics include:

• Melbourne Disability Institute – improving the social and economic wellbeing of people with disability.
• Melbourne Social Equity Institute – addressing disadvantage across social life, including work.
• Melbourne Energy Institute - undertaking interdisciplinary research on sustainable energy, and on the challenges of transitioning towards a low carbon energy system.

Next steps

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our graduate researchers have temporarily transitioned to a ‘virtual campus’. We are still accepting enquiries and applications for graduate research in 2021. The University is planning a gradual, phased and safe return to our physical campus, in line with government guidelines.

• Check if your program of interest requires you to search for a supervisor.
• Find out more about international applications or domestic applications.
• Explore the Faculty of Business and Economics website to learn about research opportunities.
• Read about the latest research findings in business and economics.