Sydney Summer - Internship | IES Internships

Sydney Summer - Internship

This program is temporarily suspended for Summer 2021. Explore our other study abroad programs for 2021, as well as details on our health & safety protocols, travel guidelines, refund policy, and more.

Summer 2021

As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to cautiously assess how we can deliver safe, quality programming this summer.

While some of the details of this program may need to shift for Summer 2021—such as housing and field trips, based on changing travel/quarantine regulations—you can rest assured knowing that the essence of this program will stay the same, including the academic focus and the opportunity to learn both inside and outside the classroom.

As always, every decision we make for this term will be guided by our Students First philosophy, which puts you, your well-being, and your academic and personal growth at the forefront. Our advice? Give yourself the chance to study abroad this summer by submitting an application, and know that we’re planning for all of the what if’s so you can have a safe, healthy, and study abroad-filled summer. We and our refund policy have your back.

Why Sydney?

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. 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.

Your Internship

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 a surfing company at Bondi Beach, blogging about the best in Sydney food, art and fashion for a leading PR firm, interning for the city's film festival, coordinating events on Sydney Harbour with a cruise tour line, and working at the Sydney branch of an international 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 placements like the examples listed below. Keep in mind that this list is by no means exhaustive. We encourage students of all majors to apply.

Local surf company and surf school
World’s largest business organization representing the interest of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions in government chambers across the globe
NGO improving the employability of women in need by providing free of charge, professional clothing, a network of support, and career development tools
Subscription meal-box delivery service
University child development and psychology lab
Community pet rescue and shelter
Debt options and solutions company working with thousands of Australians on how to better deal with unmanageable debt
Production company specializing in film, video, animation, and multimedia projects
Talent agency for social media influencers providing award-winning management and brand strategy
Internationally-recognized event theming, styling, prop hire, and photographic studio providing production design and staging for various events
Creative technology agency specializing in experiential marketing, virtual reality, data visualization, and augmented reality
App that allows doctors, nurses, and allied health providers to remotely monitor progress of patients

Don’t see what you're looking for here? Just talk to your IES Internships Representative—new internships are always being added!

Daily Life

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.

$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid

We firmly believe that financial limitations should not prevent a qualified student from participating in an IES Abroad Program. This is why we commit more than $6 million to our scholarship and aid programs.

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Academics

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:

Understanding workplace culture
Improving communication
Strengthening work attitude and aptitude
Resolving conflicts
Understanding new cultures
Navigating issues, challenges, and opportunities so you can succeed on the job in Sydney and when you return home

Courses

This is a list of planned course offerings. A final list of course offerings will be made available to you in your MyIESabroad account.

Internship Seminar
Course Name	Term	Language	Credits
IN 395 - Leading Across Cultures: Internship Seminar	Summer	English	3
IN 395 - Leading Across Cultures: Internship Seminar	Summer	English	6

Field Trips & Events

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 Tour

Get up close and personal and experience the story of Sydney on a historic walking tour of The Rocks area.

Daily Life

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!

Orientation

After your arrival, you will participate in an orientation program that introduces you to the city and program, which includes:

A welcome dinner and sightseeing cruise on Sydney Harbour
Settling into your accommodations
Information sessions on professional and cultural expectations and practical tips to prepare you for life in Sydney

Housing

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.

Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events

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:

Vivid Sydney – a festival of light, music and ideas! Vivid Light transforms Sydney into a wonderland of 'light art' sculptures, innovative light installations, and grand-scale projections for all to enjoy.
The Sydney Film Festival - this festival showcases the best in cinema from across Australia and around the world, including features, documentaries, short films, retrospectives, restorations, animation, and more. One of the world's oldest film festivals, Sydney Film Festival reflects the historic development of the Australian film industry.
Winter Festival – located at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Winter Festival Sydney offers winter activities and entertainment, including a large outdoor ice skating rink.

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.

Get to Know Your New City

Visit Barangaroo

Enjoy a meal by the waterfront in this unique inner-city suburb.

Try Sydney Desserts

From lamingtons to Tim Tam slams, there's bound to be a dessert you'll love.

Stroll the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Capture magnificant views of the Opera House and Circular Quay.

Walk from Bondi to Coogee

Prepare for stunning views, beaches, parks, and cliffs on this 6 km (3.37 miles) coastal walk in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Watch a Show at the Opera House

Treat yourself to one of many spectacular performances at Sydney's most iconic venue.

Program Cost

Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.

Term: Summer 2021
Term	Tuition	Housing	Insurance	Total
Summer 2021 3 Credits	$4,640	$2,535	$135	$7,310
Summer 2021 6 Credits	$5,130	$2,535	$135	$7,800

Scholarships & Aid

Program-Specific Scholarships

Summer Need-Based Financial Aid

Up to $1,000

Open to students who apply to and attend an IES Abroad or IES Internships summer program.

Criteria reviewed to determine award:

Level of financial need as determined from infromation provided on the application. Priority is given to Pell Grant recipients.
IES Abroad program location.
IES Abroad membership status of home campus

Summer Social Impact Internship Scholarship

Up to 100% of room and board costs based on financial need + $1000 travel grant

The Summer Social Impact Internship Scholarship was initiated by the Hemera Foundation, whose mission is to foster basic human goodness in individuals and society. This Scholarship, which will be sustained through a foundation collaborative, aims to inspire students to make a social impact through summer internships within philanthropic or direct service/social service organizations.

Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs

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$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid

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Our Center

While in Sydney, we want to ensure you have every opportunity to immerse yourself in new experiences. That’s why our Center Director in Sydney is committed to providing outstanding academic and student support services. We take care of the details, so you can soak up every moment of your Sydney experience!

The IES Abroad office in Sydney is located in Surry Hills, an inner suburb within the city of Sydney, known as the Central Business District (CBD). 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. To the UNSW campus, it’s 20 minutes. The Macquarie campus is 45-55 minutes away by public transportation.

Our Staff

Kate Smart

Center Director

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.

IES Abroad Sydney Staff

Sian Viney
Internship and Student Services Coordinator

Helen O'Riordan
Program & Administration Coordinator

Health & Safety

With 70 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter what time zone you’re in.

In response to COVID-19, enhanced safety guidelines will be implemented this year—such as social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) in on-site classes, in-country field trips and travel only, and apartment or residence hall housing (no homestays) that ensures proper space should self-quarantining be necessary.

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student in denim jacket looking over shoulder and smiling

How We Support You

We plan for "what if" so that you don't have to. From international health insurance included in the cost of your program to highly-trained local staff who can connect you to English-speaking healthcare providers, we are working around the clock to ensure your health and safety while abroad.

Learn more about the support you can expect to receive on our programs, including:

International health insurance through CISI in the case you need to see a doctor or mental health professional
24/7 emergency support whether you encounter an issue while traveling or in your host city
Location-specific health and safety information presented at orienation by on-site staff
TripTracker system allowing you to share independent travel plans in case you need to be contacted swiftly in a crisis
A mandatory cell phone policy so that you can be contacted locally and receive any emergency updates via call or text
Crisis drills so that you feel prepared to respond to an emergency should one arise
And more!

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