The Sydney Internship program combines coursework at the BU Sydney Center with professional work experience in or near Sydney. The program is offered during the Fall and Spring academic semesters. Students live in single bedrooms in fully furnished 3 or 4 bedroom suites in the BU Sydney Center. In the first seven weeks of the program, students take a required course on Australian Culture & Society and one elective course. In the final seven weeks, students enroll in a four-credit internship program while simultaneously taking a final elective course. Internship placements include arts administration, business, hospitality, and more!
BU Abroad: A Sydney Perspective
BU Abroad: A Sydney Perspective
Requirements & Considerations
- All students must enroll according to, and remain in compliance with, the Boston University Study Abroad Course Load Policy.
- All students, except those participating in the Hospitality Administration 12-credit Special Curriculum, must complete the full 16-credit program, enrolling in three academic courses and one internship course.
- Non-US citizens please review this summary of visa requirements taken from the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs prior to applying.
- Admissions requirements for all programs
Curriculum
Internship Areas
Below is a list of internship areas where students have been placed. While BU Study Abroad guarantees an internship to program participants, specific placements vary from semester to semester and may not always be available. Likewise, internship placements may be available in academic areas not listed.
Internship Areas
- Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations
- Work in marketing, product development, design, and presentation for specific advertising or public relations agencies or the public relations departments of larger organizations. Past internship placements have included Whybin TBWA, L&A Social Media, Hill + Knowlton Strategies, Chugg Entertainment, and J. Walter Thompson.
- Arts/Arts Administration
- Work in book publishing, museums, theaters, galleries, and art events. Past internship placements have included Murdoch Books, Chippendale Creative Precinct, Sydney Theatre Company, and Australian Theatre for Young People.
- Business/Economics
- Work in general business, marketing, limited accounting and finance departments of Australian corporations, with entrepreneurs and government agencies. Past internships have included but are not limited to American Chamber of Commerce, Staples, South Sydney Business Chamber and the Australian Rugby Union. Placements vary by semester and are subject to availability, no specific organization can be guaranteed.
- Film/Radio/Television
- Work in writing, research, and broadcasting for radio and television stations or film and production companies. Past internship placements have included Nine, Seven, & Ten Networks, Foxtel, Spectrum Films, Plump Films, SBS: Special Broadcasting Corporation, and ABC: Australia Broadcasting Corporation.
- Health/Human Services
- Work in therapy, education programs, social service departments, NGOs, or community care centers. We have limited psychology placements and no hospital placements. Past internships have included Lucas Gardens School, Therapies for Kids, Dreams2Live4, and Sports, Spinal & Rehab Solution. Placements vary by semester and are subject to availability, no specific organization can be guaranteed. We encourage you to chat with your Program Manager if you have very specific interests within the Health track.
- Hospitality Administration
- Work in the hospitality industry in such fields as hotel or restaurant management. Past internship placements have included The Wine Society, Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), The Conference Room, and Peterpans Adventure Travel.
- International Organizations/NGOs
- Work in social activist organizations, environmental organizations, human rights organizations, and associated government departments. Past internships have included ActionAid Australia, Greenpeace, Dreams2Live4, WWF Australia, and The Wilderness Society.
- Journalism
- Work in writing, copy editing, research, design, and production for magazines, newspapers, or publishing houses. Past internship placements have included Time Out Sydney Magazine, NewsLocal, Luxury Travel Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Murdoch Books.
- Politics/Pre-law
- Work with members of State and Federal Parliament and their staff. Study the history and practice of law in Australia and participate in the daily life of a Sydney law firm or commercial legal department. Past internships have included International Commission of Jurists and various Sydney solicitors.
Week 1–Week 7 (Academic Phase)
During the first part of the program, students take a core course and one elective. Students also meet with the program's internship advisors in order to be placed according to ability, professional goals, experience, work habits, and availability of local appointments.
Note: Syllabi are for course approval and reference only. Students will receive up-to-date syllabi when their courses begin.
Academic Phase Required Course
All students in the Internship Program take this course during the first six weeks.
- CAS AN 368 Australian Culture & Society (4 credits)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Research and Information Literacy
- Major focus on Australia’s global and national development as a multicultural nation with European roots, traditional western alliances and an imagined future in the Asia-Pacific region. The themes of continuity and change in relation to the Aboriginal population are explored in some detail.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Week 8 (Mid-Semester Break)
Week 9–Week 15 (Internship Phase)
During the final seven weeks, students enroll in a four-credit internship placement, working in organizations in and around Sydney. Students work full-time, four days per week, while also enrolling in one elective course.
Internship Courses
Students enroll in a four-credit internship placement. Course numbers depend on the field of specialization in which the students complete their internships. Placements are contingent upon the student's past experiences, professional interests, and relevant academic history, as well as the availability of opportunities in any given semester; flexibility is essential.
- CAS AH 505 Internship in the Arts/Arts Administration
- CAS EC 497 Internship in Business/Economics
- CAS PO 401 Internship in Politics
- CAS PO 405/IR 455 Internship in International Organizations
- CAS PS 495 Internship in Health/Human Services
- COM CM 471 Internship in Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations
- COM FT 493/494 Internship in Film/Television
- COM JO 411 Internship in Journalism
- COM JO 413 Internship in Broadcast Journalism
- SAR HS 405 Health Sciences Practicum
- SAR HS 410 Field Placement in Human Physiology
- SHA HF 390 Field Placement in Hospitality Administration
Internship Components
- The internship itself (evaluated by the workplace supervisor)
- Academic strand of the internship, including two written assignments and participation in internship courses
- Advisor's evaluation
- Syllabus
Elective Courses
Students choose one of the following during each phase of the semester. The schedule and course offerings vary each semester. Students will receive further information on the elective courses prior to their departure.
- CAS AH 374 Australian Art & Architecture (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Australia owns the world’s oldest continuing art tradition (indigenous Australian art) and the youngest tradition. This course focuses on key artists, in an historical and an international context, against themes of landscape, urbanism, abstraction, realism, the noble savage, and modernism.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS EC 464 The Pacific Rim: Economic and Political Orders (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Critical Thinking
- The course focuses on the origins and dynamics of the ‘miracle’ Asia/Pacific economic growth, emphasising its impact on Australia. This region was the crucible for a global shift in political, economic and strategic power from the ‘developed’ western economies to Asia/Pacific.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS EN 383 Australian Literature - From Page to Screen (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Writing-Intensive Course
- Creativity/Innovation
- This course is designed to introduce students to the literature of Australia through an eclectic collection of texts, and diverse forms and genres of writing, including the adaptation from page to screen. A major focus is "What is Australian Identity?".
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS GE 330 Sustainable Sydney - Sustainable Australia (4)
- Spring only. Course also offered on the summer Sydney Internship Program.
- Provides a thorough introduction to the challenges facing urban sustainability projects, using Sydney as the urban model. Topics studied include resource consumption, food production and management, power and energy, and models for future development. Includes guest speakers and field trips.
- Syllabus
- CAS HI 356 Sports Management in Australia and the Asia-Pacific Region (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- This course explores the cultural, economic, diplomatic, and legal developments in sport in the region as a background to building management skills. While the course has a focus on understanding these elements with a view to informing sport management, it will also interest those who want to understand the interplay of the myriad nations of the region through cultural, diplomatic, legal, political, and other areas using the sport industry as a lens. Of particular interest to those involved in internships in the sport industry, the course will have a strong sport management and sport marketing component, while those from other disciplines will gain a broader understanding of the region, which is of vital geopolitical importance to Australia and the USA. Hughes.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- CAS PO 260 The Australian Political System (4)
- An introduction to the study of Australian politics and government, focusing on basic institutions such as Federation, the Constitution, pressure groups, political parties, Parliament, and Cabinet; and the major political institutions and processes in Australia; approaches used in the study of politics; and experience and expertise in oral and written analysis. Suter.
- Syllabus
- CAS SO 308 Australian Social Policy (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Social Inquiry II
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Critical Thinking
- This is an interdisciplinary introduction to concepts and issues entailed in critically evaluating Australian social policy as a field of academic study and a site of contemporary action, including policies for health, human rights, women and work, and Indigenous Australians.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- COM CM 406 Brand Advertising and Promotion (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Oral and/or Signed Communication
- This intensive course adopts a ‘theory-into-practice’ stance to the strategic planning of brand advertising & promotional campaigns. While cognizant of the diverse aspirations and experience of Study Abroad students the course features universally applicable brand campaign planning approaches and methodologies.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- COM CO 350 Mass Media in Australia (4)
- Contemporary issues associated with Australian mass media and film. Key areas of film, television, print, advertising, and radio, plus media ownership and government legislation in Australia. The emphasis of the course will be on current Australian media and film production. Mildenhall. Syllabus
- COM FT 345 Australian Cinema (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Philosphical Inquiry & Life's Meaning
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Creativity/Innovation
- Australia produced The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906), the world’s first full-length feature film. This course follows the local industry from a national to international identity, highlighting distinctly Australian characters alongside themes of city, bush and the outback.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- COM FT 352 Motion Picture Production Using Digital Technology (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Digital/Multimedia Expression
- Teamwork/Collaboration
- Spring only.
- This course is designed to provide students with basic practical and theoretical skills to visualise factual and fictional scripted information and from this, produce a film project which demonstrates these skills and which can be used for future employment opportunities.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- SHA HF 328 The Australian Wine Industry (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Scientific Inquiry I
- Ethical Reasoning
- Critical Thinking
- This course introduces students to the Australian Wine Industry. The focus will be on the history, location, culture and development of the Australian Wine Industry, the process involved in the production of wine, the business of the Australian Wine Industry, and the basic skills of wine tasting.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Questrom MK 463 Services Marketing and Management (4)
- Fall only. Prerequisite: Questrom MK 323 Marketing Management.
- Covers topics relating to customer service management and focuses on the role of marketing in managing services. Also covered are human resource, information management, operational, and financial overlaps with marketing throughout the course.
- Syllabus
- Questrom MK 467 International Marketing Management (4)
- Fall only. Course also offered on the summer Sydney Internship Program. Prerequisite: Questrom MK 323 Marketing Management.
- Develops a critical appreciation of both the opportunities and challenges associated with the increasing globalization of markets. Students learn about the key environmental forces shaping the needs and preferences of the global consumer and the impact of foreign, political, and economic factors on the marketing mix.
- Syllabus
Hospitality Administration 12-Credit Special Curriculum (Offered Each Fall)
During the fall semester, hospitality students have the opportunity to participate in a 12-credit program featuring increased internship hours. Students who choose this option will gain valuable professional experience in the field of hospitality, completing a 400-hour internship. Boston University students will fulfill the Work Experience II requirement (SHA HF 240) and the International Experience requirement (SHA HF 440).
Week 1-Week 6
Students enroll in one required course and begin their internship placement.
Required Course
- CAS AN 368 Australian Culture & Society (4 credits)
- An analysis of Australia from historical, geographical, political, economic, and socio-cultural perspectives, with a major focus on Australia’s global and domestic development as a multicultural nation with European roots, traditional Western alliances, and a growing involvement in the Asia-Pacific region. This course requires each student to complete an extensive ethnographic research project.
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Historical Consciousness
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Research and Information Literacy
- Syllabus
Internship Placement
Students participate in an internship placement, working in organizations in and around Sydney four days per week for the entire duration of the program. Students work in the hospitality industry in fields such as hotel or restaurant management. Past internship placements have included The Wine Society, Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), The Conference Room, and Peterpans Adventure Travel. Placements are contingent upon the student's past experiences, professional interest, and available opportunities in any given semester; flexibility is essential.
Week 7-Week 14
Students take HF 328 Australian Wine Industry or a different elective course and the internship course. They also continue with their internship placement.
Elective Course
- SHA HF 328 The Australian Wine Industry (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Scientific Inquiry I
- Ethical Reasoning
- Critical Thinking
- This course introduces students to the Australian Wine Industry. The focus will be on the history, location, culture and development of the Australian Wine Industry, the process involved in the production of wine, the business of the Australian Wine Industry, and the basic skills of wine tasting.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Or students can select an elective course from the list above.
Internship Course
- SHA HF 390Field Placement in Hospitality Administration(4 credits)
Students continue their internship placement while taking the internship course.
Housing & Student Services
- Students have single, furnished rooms, in 3–4 person suites with a shared kitchen, 1.5 bathrooms, and common area with a television. They are provided with bedding, a bath towel, and wash cloth. There is a microwave in the kitchen which can also be used to bake. There is a mall a short walk away where students can purchase kitchen supplies, home goods, and groceries.
- Board is not included/no stipend
- No dining hall availability
- Library and classrooms in the same building for students to use
- 24 hr. security, a roof deck for students to hang out, a fully-stocked library with computers, classrooms in the same building
Program Dates
- Fall Semester: mid August to early December
- Spring Semester: mid January to early May
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester: March 15
- Spring Semester: September 15
Cost & Financial Considerations
- 2021/2022 Tuition & Fees: $23,998 per semester
Cost includes tuition, housing, program related activities, administrative fee, overseas medical insurance and emergency evacuation coverage. - Budget sheet, including cost of living expenses.
- Grants and Scholarships available