Internships at Sydney University

Last Updated on Friday, 19 March 2010 03:46 Written by Andrew Lai Thursday, 24 September 2009 04:02

In today's competitive job market every bit of experience counts and the University of Sydney (USYD) internship programs allows you to gain practical work experience, strengthen your resume and receive an insider's look at your host country.

The internships combine academic opportunities of international study with practical work experience that can make your semester or year abroad even more rewarding and may continue to benefit you long after your return home. Internships are offered at many of our Universities including the Australian National University, Macquarie University, University of Melbourne, University of New South Wales and University of Tasmania and a more recent addition is the University of Sydney which offers 30 places per semester with a wide range of employers.

Give your future career a boost by combining study abroad with an internship

The USYD internship program is now open to International students and competition is intense, 50 students applied this semester and of those 31 were accepted.

The program runs for 15 days throughout the semester and as part of the program students must write a reflective journal during and an essay on completion. They must also complete a series of professional development workshops which provide information on the Australian workplace, including; Australian business etiquette, communication skills and networking and mentoring. These workshops help to set apart the experience of interns over and above any other theoretical subject.

"These professional development workshops helps students to be up to speed on the communication techniques and approaches to work that we commonly see in Australia and is often different to those that might be commonplace in their home country," Fiona Tschaut Internship program coordinator for USYD.

During Semester 2 2009 IFSA-Butler students were successful at gaining an Internship with USYD placed several students:

Hailey Carroll - Sleep and Chronobiology research at the Brain & Mind Research Institute
Robert D’Amico - Environment Campaigns at the NSW Nature Conservation Council
Meghan Donnelly - USYD Student tutoring program
Katherine Judson - USYD International Student Engagement program
Katherine Oberwager - Marketing and PR intern at the United States Study Center
Nguyen Vu - Funding Models and Finance research for the USU Clubs & Societies Program
John Stewart and Daniel Bloomstine - Strategic Readiness project at the Center for English Teaching.

Meghan also said of her industry placement,
 “I get to work with Australians, to learn more about their routines. It’s really flexible and allows me to do the placement in a time that suits my university lectures.  I’m looking to get more internships before Graduate School and now I can study abroad and do an internship”

Undertaking and internship in an Australian workplace is a wonderful opportunity for our students.

"While a student learns the practicalities of the role and has an enhanced sense of belonging, the workplace is being exposed to new ways of doing things and often benefiting from different cultural attitudes," Fiona Tschaut

As the University's Internship Program coordinator, Fiona Tschaut has developed over 40 partnerships with organization such as the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the City of Sydney, GetUp, Save the Children and Splash Consulting. And she is working on developing partnerships with other companies to offer a greater diversity to our students.

Application Details:

• Applications for Semester 1, 2010 close on 31 December 2009
• Course Code ARTS2600 – Internship 1
• Students need to submit a resume and cover letter
• Shortlisted applicants will be sent an Internship Portfolio and need to nominate their three preferences
• Upon their arrival they will be interviewed by their employer and an appropriate Internship selected
• Program advisor: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• University Enrollment: 45,000
• Required GPA: 3.2 (4.0 scale)
• University of Sydney
• Internships