Take advantage of your chance to live and learn in one of the most beautiful and livable cities in the world—Sydney! You’ll enjoy Sydney’s comfortable climate (warm summers and mild winters), world-renowned beaches (think: Bondi, Manly, and Coogee beaches), and iconic spots around the city (Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Royal Botanical Gardens).
Our direct enrollment program in Sydney offers you the opportunity to take all of your classes at Macquarie University—with access to a vast array of course offerings across many disciplines.
Sydney will also be your classroom. Enjoy the city’s robust music scene with a performance at the world-renowned Sydney Opera House. Visit one of the many museums, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art or the Art Gallery of New South Wales, to see some of the country’s great works of art. Soak in the beauty of Sydney’s landscape by walking the path from Coogee to Bondi Beach—or better yet, climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Welcome to study abroad!
We want you to feel at home in Sydney, so we will do everything we can to help you integrate into life in Sydney. Gain valuable work experience and immerse yourself in the culture during your time in Sydney. Field trips to iconic Aussie destinations like the Blue Mountains and the Great Barrier Reef will round out your study abroad experience.
These dates are preliminary and are subject to change. Students should not book flights according to these dates.
IES Abroad’s mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences. That is why we partnered with Macquarie University.
Macquarie Universitywww.mq.edu.au Founded in 1967, Macquarie takes pride in its commitment to innovation, hands-on learning, and community leadership. Its student body—with more than 30,000 students, including almost 9,000 international students—is one of the most diverse in Australia, and internationalization is a core component of the University’s mission.
Take advantage of Macquarie’s well-developed internship program and work at a local business or research center. Build community leadership skills through the University’s popular Global Leadership Program.
Courses Classes at Macquarie are called “units” and each unit is worth a designated number of credit points. Most Macquarie courses are worth 3 points and are equivalent to 4 IES Abroad credits. You must carry at least 16 IES Abroad credit hours, which is equal to 12 points.
Macquarie University fancies itself as Australia’s “innovative university.” The University’s commitment to innovation is reflected in many hands-on, community-based, and interdisciplinary opportunities. The University is known for research in such areas as Mathematics, Computing and Information Technology, Genes and Ecosystems, Cognitive Sciences, Management and Finance, Earth and Planetary Geosciences, Linguistics, and Social Theory. The University’s Research and Development Park has led the way in Macquarie’s strong connection with the Australian and international business communities.
The following disciplines are available to IES Abroad students. For more specific course descriptions, visit the University's handbook.
Business, Commerce, Economics, Finance, and Statistics
Computing, Engineering, and Electronics
Education
Humanities
Law (100-level Courses only)
Medical, Health, Speech & Hearing, and Chiropractic Studies
Sciences
Society, Culture, Media, and Philosophy
Global Leadership Program In addition to course work and internships, you can participate in Macquarie University’s Global Leadership Program (GLP). This non-credit-bearing program helps you build leadership skills, gain cross-cultural experience, and enhance your resume. The program is also a great way to form meaningful friendships with Australian students.
In order to complete the certificate program, you must attend five colloquia (lectures) throughout your time in Australia (from a choice of 25–30 offered each semester). Some topics include:
Once the 5 colloquia are successfully completed, you will receive a certificate, a reference letter, and a GLP transcript detailing each of the colloquia attended.
Committing to the program also makes you eligible to participate in the Global Leadership Symposiums (Learning Tours), which usually run twice a semester.
In the past, GLP students have travelled to locations such as Canberra (Australia’s capital city) and various regions throughout Asia. Pleasem note that these symposiums may clash with the optional IES Abroad mid-semester field trip to the Great Barrier Reef, and are not paid for by IES Abroad. For more information on the global leadership Progra (GLP), please visit www.international.mq.edu.au/GLP.
Location Located 11 miles from central Sydney, Macquarie University gives you access to big-city culture and a self-contained campus environment. Set within spacious, beautifully-landscaped parklands, the campus has a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere. A new train system enables you to get to the heart of downtown Sydney in 30 minutes. Macquarie is also near many of Australia’s most successful businesses—some of which are located in the University’s research park—allowing for great internship opportunities.
For more information about the Macquarie internship program, visit www.international.mq.edu.au/enhanc/internships.
Volunteer Work Macquarie also offers a range of volunteer opportunities for study abroad students that will allow you to get further involved in the local culture while making a difference to the community in which you live. The volunteer program has opportunities for involvement with environmental groups, indigenous Australians, and community services. Details of these opportunities are available on the Volunteer Program website.
Even though you’re directly enrolling in one of our partner universities, there’s something IES Abroad wants you to know: we’re here for you if you need us.
Advising Choosing and directly enrolling in courses abroad can be confusing and overwhelming. This is why we offer you predeparture advising that’s specific to your needs. Our goal is to provide support and guidance throughout your application and enrollment process.
But our advising services don’t stop there. While you’re in Sydney, our staff is available to help you transition into your new home.
Support The support services we offer IES Abroad direct enrollment students are specifically designed to help you achieve your study abroad goals as effectively and smoothly as possible. We know studying abroad is an adventure, and, at times, you may need help or just someone to talk to—that’s why our staff will be there for you.
On-Site Staff Whether you have questions about academic requirements, housing, or well-being and safety, our Sydney-based IES Abroad staff is available to fully support you. Because of our close relationship with the universities in Sydney, IES Abroad is also able to offer you unique academic, social, and cultural opportunities. Our staff in Sydney will accompany you throughout orientation, as well as at the IES Abroad field trips and cultural events.
Our job is to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding what landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Sydney, it will feel like home.
As part of IES Abroad’s direct enrollment services, we offer well-located, comfortable housing for all students because securing housing independently can be challenging. IES Abroad’s housing options meet our safety and security standards.
Dunmore Lang Residential College – Dunmore Lang is home to about 130 students (co-ed), both Aussie and international, and is located on Macquarie’s campus. You live in a furnished single bedroom, including a study desk and wardrobe, with shared bathroom facilities.
The college offers free wireless Internet access, a computer room with printing facilities, a dining hall where you enjoy a full meal plan (three meals per day), student lounges and common rooms, a reading/study room, access to RAs and tutors, as well as full gym membership for all residents. Located just one block away from the train station, the college is also near a shopping center with cafés, fashion stores, restaurants, movie theaters, an ice-skating rink, and more.
Dunmore Lang offers a unique residential, academic, and social community, with senior staff who oversee student life. Past IES Abroad students have expressed a deep appreciation for the cultural immersion and sense of community at the college. Residents at the college should want to be a part of the college community and participate in college life and traditions. For more information, visit www.dunmorelangcollege.nsw.edu.au.
Macquarie University Village - Macquarie University Village (MUV) is located on the university’s main campus. Constructed in 2000, MUV was not only built to house students, but also Olympians for the 2000 Olympics. There are three different styles of apartments and townhouses (890 rooms total) that are divided into the East and West sides of the village. Five-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments are common living spaces.
Each apartment has a private porch or balcony, a kitchen, bathrooms, and single bedrooms that are lockable. Space is limited, and if given a space in MUV, you will likely have a single bedroom in a five-bedroom apartment, shared with other international students and Australian students.
MUV also has a driving range, food court, and bar, and is near the Macquarie University Sports Association Gym & Pool and Macquarie Centre, which has an ice rink, movie cinema, and shops. For further information about MUV, visit www.macquarieuv.com.au.
Part of making you feel at home in Sydney is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it is an orientation program that makes you feel prepared, housing that is well-located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to exciting destinations—we’re all about our student services. This is just one of the things we’re known for.
IES Abroad Orientation Our orientation program is a dynamic, hands-on introduction to living in Sydney and Australian culture. Orientation includes sessions on academic transition, safety and security, and cultural adjustment.
Past highlights have also included a Bondi-to-Coogee Beach walk and a boat cruise in Sydney Bay, all while discovering how to make the most of your time in Sydney. This is followed by a day-long hiking trip to the Blue Mountains, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Blue Mountains are well-known for their canyons, rock formations, rainforests, and aboriginal communities.
Additionally, CORE™, IES Abroad’s Comprehensive Orientation & Re-entry Experience, begins during orientation and continues throughout the semester with activities focusing on cultural adjustment, goal achievement, and preparing for the return home.
University Orientation In addition to the IES Abroad orientation, you take part in the international student orientation at Macquarie University. This program provides official academic orientation that further introduces you to the facilities and offerings at Macquarie. You finalize your enrollments and also have the opportunity to discuss course offerings one-on-one with a university advisor.
Redefine the way you live and learn in Sydney through our cultural events, such as:
University Clubs & Events While you’re in Sydney, joining a social or sports club is a great way to meet local students. Integrate into the local student culture through full access to university clubs, recreational facilities, and events that Macquarie University has to offer.
For a list of student groups you can join, visit the Students At Macquarie website. For information on sports opportunities, visit the SAM Active page.
Although your adventure begins in Sydney, our field trip to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef provide contrast and context for what you are learning in Sydney. The cost of this trip is subsidized by IES Abroad, and you are responsible for a portion of the cost.
CAIRNS AND THE GREAT BARRIER REEF 5-6 Days In addition to the orientation trip to the Blue Mountains, we organize a mid-semester trip to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef. One day of the field trip will be spent at sea on a privately chartered motor cruiser. Onboard instructors explain the spectacular ecosystem of the reef, which you explore while snorkeling. Hike through the ancient Daintree rainforest with an aboriginal tracker and zip line through the oldest rainforest in the world.
Ready to choose the Sydney study abroad program that’s right for you? Browse our partner universities and their many offerings to make sure you get the most out of your study abroad experience with IES Abroad.
Thais OsoIES Abroad Program Manager Thais Oso, the IES Abroad Sydney Program Coordinator, has been a part of the IES Abroad team since January 2010. She was born in Brazil and spent four years of her childhood in the US. She graduated from ULBRA (Brazil) with a Bachelor of Psychology. During her undergraduate studies she worked with the poor community within the Brazilian favelas (slums) and also as a group therapist at a rehabilitation centre focused on teenagers and young adults.
Thais has been working in international education since 2005, when she arrived in Australia. She started her career in education as the manager of an international students agency called Information Planet. Most recently, she was responsible for the international exchange program at UNSW’s AGSM MBA, working as their Exchange Coordinator. In addition to her work experience, within the past five years she has also completed a Diploma in Business, a Certificate IV in Training and Assessing, and is currently pursuing an MBA at AGSM/UNSW.
Faculty IES Abroad students are taught by the faculty of Macquarie University, the University of New South Wales, or the University of Sydney.
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