When you study a business or economics degree at UQ, you’ll have access to modern facilities. You’ll also benefit from practical learning opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom.
At UQ, there are many opportunities to enhance your studies and prepare for your future career. These include connecting with industry leaders at events, completing work‑integrated learning courses, joining student clubs aligned with your interests, and gaining hands‑on experience in your field of study.
We had a behind-the-scenes tour of The Emporium Hotel. I spoke with staff and visited rooms that are off-limits to the public. This valuable opportunity provided insight into how the inner workings of such a facility creates exceptional guest experiences.
Let’s dive deeper into some of the exciting opportunities you can explore as a business or economics student that will enhance your classroom learning.
If you’re interested in finance, accounting and investing…
Check out: the Student Managed Investment Fund and Bloomberg Trading Lab
Step into the fast-paced world of global finance in UQ’s Bloomberg Trading Lab. This dynamic trading environment gives you access to the same financial data and analytics used by professionals across global markets. Sharpen your decision-making and analytical skills, explore investment strategies, and gain practical experience that will set you apart in the finance industry.
The UQ Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) lets students manage a live equity portfolio using real money in real time. As an aspiring analyst, you can gain investing experience and exposure to asset management, from portfolio construction to performance monitoring and reporting.
What makes UQ distinctive is how it links theory to practice – from access to Bloomberg terminals and Student Work Experience Programs, to industry-linked capstones with leading firms. Sourcing company data by using Bloomberg terminals and linking it to theory gave me insights I still draw on today in internships and equity research work.
After an initial investment of $200,000 in 2018, this fund has grown to over $550,000. It has been so successful that the income now funds a scholarship supporting students to study business at UQ.
If you’re interested in marketing, communications and PR…
Check out: Newish Communications
Gain practical experience working on advertising, PR, creative, social media and marketing projects for real industry clients at Newish, Australia’s first student-run agency. Under the guidance of faculty advisers and industry mentors, you'll be in the driver's seat while learning how to apply strategic thinking to make key decisions, handle project planning and delivery, negotiate with clients, and manage finances.
Newish gave me the opportunity to gain real industry experience, find my creative voice and grow confident in my own abilities. I would recommend Newish to anyone considering a career within marketing and communications, as it gives you the opportunity to explore your passions in a safe space, while also pushing you to grow and develop professionally.
Nicole Petzer launched her own social media agency while studying at UQ. Read her story.
If you’re interested in using technology to create change…
Check out: Tech4Change: Asia–Pacific ICT Innovation Challenge
Compete against other UQ students in teams to design technology-driven solutions for digital inclusion in the Asia–Pacific. Over 3 days, you’ll build your creativity, teamwork and problem‑solving skills. You’ll also produce a diverse portfolio of innovative solutions focused on social impact. Supported by academic mentors and with competition judges from academia, government and industry, this interactive bootcamp simulates real-life collaboration and will help you connect your learning to real, meaningful outcomes. Previous hackathon solutions included AI-enabled platforms to support sustainable farming, a storytelling app to reduce loneliness among the elderly, and a smart device to help vulnerable Australians overcome digital barriers.
I had the privilege of competing in the Map the System Global Final, hosted by the Skoll Centre at Oxford University. I travelled with a group of classmates and our dedicated course lecturer, whose guidance was invaluable throughout the journey. Our project focused on addressing the systemic factors driving the persistence of problem gambling in Australia. Through rigorous research and collaboration, we were proud to receive the Commendation of Excellent Systems Mapping award. This experience, along with the meaningful relationships I built along the way, is something I will carry with me for a lifetime.
There are several other digital hackathons you can participate in as a UQ student, including Map the System, HackAIthon, a 5-week in-class hackathon with Microsoft for postgraduate students, and more.
Joining hackathons has been one of the most exciting parts of my UQ experience. Collaborating with teams to brainstorm and build innovative solutions in just a weekend showed me the power of creativity and teamwork. Winning the UQ SIC Hackathon and receiving funding from UQ Ventures Validate were proud moments.
If you’re interested in economics and solving real problems…
Check out: Borderless
Collaborate online with economics students from universities around the world to win cash prizes in the Borderless competition series. You’ll work in teams with students from other countries over a semester to create a video submission tackling an economics issue. Judged by a panel of international experts, you’ll develop employability skills such as:
- collaborating to achieve a common outcome
- communicating economic analysis through written, spoken, and digital modes
- solving problems and providing workable, realistic solutions
- working in a globally connected, culturally diverse environment.
If you’re interested in innovation and entrepreneurship…
Check out: UQ Ventures
UQ is home to a flourishing startup community, and Ventures offers support for students at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey. Whether you want to flex your creative muscles and develop transferable innovation skills or launch your own business or social enterprise, you can access a range of introductory, intermediate and advanced programs, networking events, mentoring from successful entrepreneurs, and more.
While most Ventures programs are extracurricular (in addition to your degree), you can gain credit for others, like Startup AdVentures, as part of your degree (terms and conditions apply).
My experience with UQ Ventures' Startup AdVentures further exposed me to the world of entrepreneurship as I got to meet and work with brilliant startup founders in Singapore who are contributing to solving problems around the world. Connecting with and learning from these brilliant minds has been an amazing opportunity.
Discover what's it really like to launch a startup at UQ, according to business graduates Laura and Tom.
If you’re interested in understanding human behaviour and decision-making…
Check out: the Behavioural Science Lab
Explore how people think, decide and act in UQ’s Behavioural Science Lab. This facility combines advanced research technology with the expertise of leading behavioural scientists to investigate consumer behaviour, product design, and decision-making processes. As a UQ student, you’ll have a front-row seat to the intersection of research and industry impact, gaining access to evidence-based insights that help shape the design and adoption of future products.
Student clubs and societies
There’s also a diverse range of industry-relevant student clubs and societies at UQ for business and economics students, providing you with the opportunity to explore your area of interest, make new connections, and access exclusive benefits like industry events or discounts. Some of these clubs and societies include:
- Business Analytics Networking Association
- Financial Management Association of Australia
- UQ Innovation & Entrepreneurship Society
- UQ Economics Society
- UQ Marketing & Advertising Society
- UQ Women in Business, Economics and Law Society
- UQ Business Association
- UQ Tourism, Hospitality and Events Society.
Ready to learn more about how UQ can prepare you for a rewarding career?
