Much more than a stunning location, Sydney is one of the world’s most multicultural cities - an international fusion of culture, languages, and ideas with nearly five million residents. Sydney is both energetic and engaging, a hub for innovation across a number of industries.
Spend endless hours exploring Sydney’s famous beaches and coastal walks. The sparkling waters of Sydney Harbour await, a playground for Sydneysiders and visitors alike. Bordering Sydney harbour you’ll find national parks, World Heritage sites, hidden beaches, and abundant Aboriginal heritage. At night, take in a show at the iconic Sydney Opera House, enjoy a meal at a historic Sydney pub, or delve into Sydney’s live music scene.
An IES internship develops your professional skills, your ability to communicate across cultures, and provides substantive work experience to jump-start your career in today’s competitive job market.
IES interns Down Under have been placed in an array of industries and work settings. Recent placement experiences include: Social Media Marketing for Let’s Go Surfing at Bondi beach, blogging about the best in Sydney food, art and fashion for a leading PR firm, interning at the Sydney Film Festival, coordinating events on Sydney Harbour with Captain Cook Cruises, and working at the Sydney branch of the American Chamber of Commerce
You’ll be guaranteed an unpaid internship placement at a local business or organization, where you’ll work up to 35 hours a week. We will work with you to find the closest match between your expressed preferences and professional goals with what’s available via IES Internships in Sydney.
Before you depart, we work with you to fine-tune your résumé, perfect your cover letter, and hone your communication and interview skills as we prepare you for working in a new cultural environment.
PLACEMENT EXAMPLES: Past students have interned in the fields listed below. Keep in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive. We encourage students of all majors to apply.
Don’t see your field listed here? Just talk to your IES Internships Representative—new internships are always being added!
After you are admitted, refer to the Travel Dates section of the Predeparture Information in your MyIESabroad account before booking travel.
While working in Sydney, you'll also enroll in a required 3- or 6-credit academic internship seminar with other IES interns, where you'll gain context for your internship placement by examining cultural issues in the workplace. Topics covered include:
This is a list of planned course offerings. A final list of course offerings will be made available to you in your MyIESabroad account.
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which beach to see first or discovering the best coffee in Sydney—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 housing has a community feel which inspires our students to make lifelong friendships while abroad. Our goal is that when you leave Sydney, it will feel like home.
IES Abroad housing in Sydney enables you easy access to the Central Business District and Sydney’s famous landmarks. Public transportation is close by. Commute to work via bus, train, or ferry.
Apartments - Live in a two-bedroom apartment in a multi-unit apartment building. You will share your two-bedroom apartment with 3 IES Abroad roommates, sharing one of the two bedrooms with one of those roommates. Meals are not included/provided but there is a kitchen in the apartment in which to prepare meals.
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 places off the beaten path—we’re here to support you!
After your arrival, you will participate in an orientation program that introduces you to the city and program, which includes:
Spend your free time getting to know Sydney and its surroundings through IES Internships-planned cultural events and optional field trips to places like the Blue Mountains and The Royal National Park.
June, July and August see Sydney host a number of exciting events including:
During your time in Sydney, you’ll likely want to explore what the rest of this vast country has to offer! Whether it be a weekend in Melbourne, a trip to the Great Barrier Reef, or sleeping under the stars in the Outback, the possibilities are endless. The Sydney Center staff are available to help you plan trips further afield, to maximize your Australian experience.
IES Abroad Sydney organizes a number of field trips as an integral part of its opportunities for cultural immersion in Australia. These trips explore areas of significant regional interest and are led by people who contextualize what you are witnessing and experiencing. Additional costs apply. Possible destinations include:
Featherdale and Blue Mountains 1 day Hike in the Blue Mountains and enjoy a visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park.
Royal National Park 1 day Enjoy a visit to the second-oldest national park in the world, full of fascinating plants, birds, and animals. During this day, you will canoe, bushwalk, swim, and photograph awesome sea cliffs. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about Indigenous Cultural Activities.
The Rocks Walking TourGet up close and personal and experience the story of Sydney on a historic walking tour of The Rocks area.
About the Center
The IES Abroad office is located in Surry Hills, an inner suburb of Sydney. It is immediately adjacent to the city center, known as the Central Business District, or CBD. At just a few blocks from Sydney’s central rail station, it is well connected to the rest of the city and surrounding areas. Commuting time, by bus, to the University of Sydney campus is 15 minutes and to the UNSW campus 20 minutes. The Macquarie campus is 45 minutes away by train.
Kate Smart has been the Director of the Sydney programs since 2016. Kate has over 15 years of experience in International Education, including senior Study Abroad roles at Macquarie University, the University of Sydney, and University of New South Wales.
Kate has lived and worked in the United States and studied abroad in Thailand and Jamaica. She has a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Technology, Sydney, and a Master of Education in International Education from Monash University. Kate loves sharing her knowledge of the city (and the rest of Australia) with new students, from her favorite beaches to swim at to the best place to grab a great flat white.
Internship and Student Services Coordinator
Sian Viney
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