Our business and economics researchers are responding to big global challenges as part of a connected community of world-class academics. We’re helping drive progress in this time of economic, social and environmental upheaval.
Melbourne Business School (MBS) offers graduate researchers a rigorous and enriching experience and will prepare you for a career in academic teaching and research, or with top educational, industry and government institutions.
You will join a talented, passionate and collaborative research community of peers, researchers and supportive supervisors.
Explore our research
Research opportunities exist within each of these disciplines:
Research centres and institutes
Our 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:
Learn how we're making a difference
The University of Melbourne is a key influencer of governments, businesses and community groups, and 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 via the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (HILDA) which has been collecting powerful insights for more than 20 years.
Collaborate with other disciplines
Engaging with experts outside your field helps you reflect on the world in different ways and, as a graduate researcher, you will have the opportunity to work with researchers from other disciplines across the University.
Many of the Faculty’s research centres bring together experts from different disciplines and industries, and 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
Initiatives and institutes that relate to business and economics include:
Graduate researchers also have access to many other interdisciplinary research opportunities across the University, including PhD Programs.
Partner with an overseas institution
Our international joint PhD opportunities allow you to access expertise, training and resources from two institutions, and spend a minimum of 12 months studying overseas. Some of our joint PhD projects have included:
- A study in partnership with KU Leuven investigating new insurance pricing paradigms for emerging risks and the interplay between the valuation of insurance liabilities and the securitisation of emerging risks.
Explore more fully-funded joint PhD projects.
Work in a stimulating environment
Graduate researchers can access a vast network of resources across the Faculty and the University. This includes the specialist Giblin Eunson library, and more than 12 other individual libraries. Each has a world-class collection of books, journals, films, maps and databases.
Engage with industry
Eligible graduate researchers can apply for internships through the Australian Postgraduate Research Intern program. The program connects you with industry through short-term research projects and empowers you to thrive in a practical work environment. APR-I is the industry arm of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute and is supported by the Australian Government’s Department of Education.
Exceptional graduate researchers have gone on to forge impressive careers in Australia and internationally. Recent career placements include:
- Australian National University
- Monash University
- Nottingham University Business School
- Nuffield College, Oxford University
- Tilburg School of Management and Economics
- University of Chicago
- University of Manchester
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of Western Australia
- World Health Organization
Meet our alumni
Learn about the successful teaching and research careers forged by members of our engaged alumni community:
- Accounting: Poh Sun
- Business administration: Alyson Meister
- Finance: Yichao Zhu
- Management: Sofie Arjon Schütte
- Marketing: Rebecca Dare
Next steps
- Check if your program of interest requires you to search for a supervisor.
- Find out more about how to apply.
- Explore the Faculty of Business and Economics website to learn about research opportunities.
- Read about the latest research findings in business and economics.
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