Sydney, Australia

IFSA Summer Internships in Sydney

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Program Overview

SIX WEEKS IN A CITY FULL OF CULTURAL TREASURES

Where else but Sydney can you combine valuable professional experience with an introduction to First Nations culture, Aussie rules football, and the iconic Sydney Opera House?  

IFSA will help you find an ideal match for your goals and interests. Opportunities typically include business, finance, healthcare, education, marketing/communications, and technology/innovation. You might help draft campaign plans at a PR firm. Contribute to research and trendspotting at an industry association. Or help create prototypes or analyze research data for a UX design team.  

Regardless of your placement, you’ll gain global and intercultural work experience and build marketable skills.  

Keep in mind that summertime in the U.S. is wintertime in Australia. Despite this, temps in Sydney average 49° to 62.5°F this time of year—relatively mild for many parts of the U.S. This quieter tourist season also makes it easy to try Sydney’s icons and restaurants without crowds. And with a little travel, your summer in Australia could even include skiing or snowboarding.

This is an exclusive IFSA-Designed Program. Learn more about these affordable programs here.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

Summer: March 15

Minimum GPA

2.00

Credit load

3

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option

Instruction language

English

Language prerequisites

None

Visa required?

Yes. Learn more.

Apply Now

Academics

Enhance your learning and develop marketable skills with a six-week summer internship in Sydney.

International Internship Seminar
All internships include participation in the International Internship Seminar, which covers 15 hours of online asynchronous Canvas modules to provide structured opportunities to reflect on the practical experience of the internship, learn more about your host country’s business culture, and further develop the professional skills needed for a successful transition from undergraduate coursework into a career or graduate school. Plus, you will engage with an online global cohort of IFSA internship participants, gaining exposure to business cultures around the world. Seminar is taught in English. (3 U.S. semester credit hours)

“I was super satisfied with my placement and felt like it was such a great match for me. I will really value this experience for the rest of my life.”
– Rosie, 2021 Intern

INTERNSHIPS
IFSA internships include real-world work experience, along with developing intercultural skills and experiences that are key to personal, academic, and professional success. Expect to devote a total of 120 hours working with your host organization, with supervision from your seminar instructor, coordinated by on-site IFSA team members. In addition, interns complete the International Internship Seminar for 3 U.S. semester credit hours. Internships are not remunerated.

Students will interned at galleries and museums, business incubators, development agencies, religiously affiliated non-profits, marketing firms, and human rights advocacy groups in Sydney.

Your goals are carefully considered, tailoring the placement process to ensure the best possible fit. Keep in mind that final placements depend on your skills, prior experience, and availability. Although every effort is made to match your placement with your preferred field or area of business, it can’t be guaranteed.

Application. After you submit your application, resume, and IFSA Internship Interest Form, an IFSA Enrollment Counselor and an on-site IFSA Team member will work with you to identify your professional strengths, review your goals, and refine your internship interests to establish a match. From there, you’ll have an interview with your potential internship host. You will be provided with tips and resources to prepare for your interview.

Sample Placements. Opportunities can vary due to such factors as market and economic trends. Common industry sectors for internships include, but are not limited to:

  • Business and Finance: professional services, auditing, recruitment support, consulting, and trade associations.
  • Healthcare and Education: healthcare management, research, education, children’s services support, fitness, and policy.
  • Marketing and Communications: public relations, social media development, content creation, post-production support, and brand management.
  • Technology and Innovation: EdTech, innovation hubs, start-up accelerators, UX design, and venture capital funding.

Examples of past GCC internship placements in Sydney have included:

  • Public Relations Firm: writing press releases, creating pitch documents, drafting campaign plans and strategies, communicating with clients, and creating and scheduling social media content.
  • Financial Planning and Wealth Management Company: conducting industry research, analyzing and organizing data, performing due diligence, and conducting business valuations.
  • Industry Association: surveying local companies, identifying trends for expansion plans, and researching priority or regions.
  • Arts and Culture Nonprofit: assisting with planning for events and lecture series, creating email newsletters, researching funding opportunities, administration and reporting.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

  • You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
  • You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
  • You must have completed at least one (1) full-time semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.

Recommendation Letter
Not required. An internship site may request a reference letter before placement is finalized.

 

TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.

Excursions

Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.

Below are a selection of activities and excursions from previous terms; options may vary for your program. Due to the seasonal nature of many of program activities, we cannot guarantee a specific activity or excursion will be available in a given term or program.

Activities

  • Indigenous Australians Cultural Education: Learn about the religious, social, and cultural practices of Australia’s First Nations People from award-winning indigenous Australian educators. Includes opportunity for questions and discussion.
  • Bike Tour of Sydney: The perfect way to get oriented and see some of Sydney’s most famous sites. The tour includes riding across iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.
  • Opera House Experience: Did you know that if all the sails of the Opera House were combined, they would create a perfect sphere? Visit the structure that transformed Australia’s cultural image—named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007—for a live show.

Excursions

  • Blue Mountains Day Trip: An important historical site, the Blue Mountains are a rugged and mountainous region west of Sydney. Soak up dramatic scenery and discover an immense range of flora and fauna. There will also be a stop at Featherdale Wildlife Park to feed the kangaroos and take photos with koloas!

Housing and Meals

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option

Meals

Self-Catering

Details

You will live on the University of New South Wales campus in apartment-style housing with six to eight other university students. You will have a single bedroom and shared bathrooms, as well as a common dining area and kitchen with a microwave, refrigerator, oven, and stovetop. No meal plan is included. You will purchase your meals or cook for yourself.

Sample housing 

Explore UNSW Village to see what your Sydney home might be like: 

  • Location: On campus.  
  • Living space: Furnished apartments for six to eight students with individual bedrooms and two or three bathrooms. Each student room has a desk, bed, and storage. Complete bedding and towel set provided. Kitchen includes stove and refrigerator; basic kitchen wares provided.   
  • Meals: No meal plan. Students prepare meals in their apartment kitchens or eat out. Used to a dining hall? Apartment mates tell us cooking together is a fun, social part of the day.  
  • Other details: Internet included. 24-hour security. Resident assistants on call 24 hours. On-site laundry facilities. Common room with pool table, industrial kitchen, and study room. Social events like cooking classes and trivia night. 
  • Nearby: Coogee Beach, Centennial Park, Bondi Junction, Royal Randwick Racecourse, bus and light rail service to more Sydney highlights. 

Dates and Fees

Term
Term begins
Term ends
Program costs
Application deadline
Summer 2025
Late May 2025
Early July 2025
$7,995 (estimated)
March 15, 2025

Get Started

Danielle Jones

Enrollment Counselor