“I chose IFSA for the comfort and security of knowing there are staff members there to help. I was impressed and surprised by the amount of support we had at orientation and throughout the semester and the opportunities the IFSA staff provided!“
Sydney, Australia
University of Sydney Partnership






- ABOUT
- ACADEMICS
- EXCURSIONS
- DAY-TO-DAY-EXPERIENCE
- DATES AND FEES
About University of Sydney Partnership

Australia's first university is located in one of the most exciting areas of Sydney, with the quirky, offbeat suburbs of Newtown and Glebe stretched around it. An enormous, urban campus, University of Sydney is modeled after Oxford and Cambridge in England, and it is perfect for students that love coffee, live music and the arts, bookshops, and libraries. The business school is the only one in Australia to have AACSB accreditation for both Accounting and Finance. With more than 100 teaching departments organized into 16 faculties you are sure to find the courses you need!
Academics at University of Sydney Partnership
Looking for specific classes? Explore CHART, our exclusive class database — if the University of Sydney Program is pre-approved at your institution, you’ll find classes recently taken by other IFSA students.
Use Sydney’s Unit of Study Tools to view all available courses (called “units of study”) for study abroad students. You can either open the master list for all undergraduate units (linked on page 2) to browse all available units or you can open thematic lists or faculty/department lists that have been organized by area of study.
The number of courses you take abroad depends on the credit value of the courses you select. At the University of Sydney, a full course load consists of 24 Sydney credits per semester or 48 Sydney credits per year for a total of 15 U.S. semester credit hours per semester.
3 USY points = 2 U.S. semester credit hours
6 USY points = 4 U.S. semester credit hours
12 USY points = 8 U.S. semester credit hours
Please review all your syllabi and course materials when you are registering for classes (both pre-arrival and on-site). Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee that is disclosed in the syllabus or first meeting of class. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.
Early Start / Early Depart
Application Deadline: September 15
IFSA students studying at University of Sydney for the spring term can opt to arrive early and leave early (also called the "Spring Friendly Semester") in order to align their study abroad dates with a U.S. calendar. Many students find this helpful in order to participate in summer internship opportunities in the U.S. that require them to be back for the month of June. Students arrive early and begin their semester with a single, intensively taught course in Sydney's summer term (January-February), then take three courses during semester 1. These are chosen from a curated list of courses that either do not have exams, or from a special list of business units where arrangements have been made for students to take their exams early (available here).
Please read below for more information regarding a number of restrictions or additional requirements at the University of Sydney:
ARCHITECTURE
You must submit a portfolio with the following information:
- Photographs representative of your previous study
- Resume
- Short piece in a cultural area of academic writing
- Short piece in a technical area of academic writing. You will meet with architecture staff upon arrival at University of Sydney to discuss the courses for which you are best suited. It's easier to take architecture courses if you study abroad during semester 1.
ART WORKSHOPS / ART STUDIO
These subjects are introductory art units (including ceramics, photography, sculpture) that do not require previous experience. The units are listed under the AWSS or DESA codes. These subjects have limited space due to quotas, and you will have to wait until you arrive to try to enroll in these units. Be prepared to choose other courses.
COMPUTER SCIENCE
These courses are available under a number of different faculties. The Faculty of Science and department of computer science will have courses in computer science listed under COMP, SOFT and NETS.
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
These courses are listed under INFO and ISYS, and the Faculty of Economics and Business offers them in the information systems department as INFS.
ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS
Please make sure you have met all the prerequisites if you choose a 3000-level unit. About 15 percent of IFSA students regularly fail economics and business courses because they have chosen a unit that is too much of a stretch for them, given their experience in that discipline. Choose carefully!
EDUCATION
All education units of study require special approval, which means you should be prepared to wait a few extra weeks for a decision.
FINE OR VISUAL ARTS
If you are a fine or visual arts major, you will probably want to take courses at the Sydney College of the Arts, located at the Rozelle Campus. This campus is a 40-minute bus ride from the main campus where you will be living. The cost of commuting is your responsibility. If you are admitted, you will be allowed to work in a studio in your chosen field while also studying studio theory and techniques. You must include a portfolio with your Class Interest Form. The portfolio may be presented in one of the following formats: VHF video, photographic, CD or DVD ROM. Should consist of 10 pieces maximum. Items should be relevant and representative of your abilities and interest. Items do not need to be directly relevant to the area which you would like to study at Sydney.
HEALTH SCIENCES, NURSING, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
These courses have limited space and require students to provide descriptions of previous courses with their Class Interest Form. The courses in this faculty are on the Cumberland campus, which is about an hour by public transportation from the main campus. If you are going to take courses at Cumberland, we suggest that you try to take all of your courses on this campus rather than trying to commute between the City and Cumberland campuses. The cost of commuting is your responsibility.
LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY
It is difficult for most U.S. undergraduates to qualify to take law and criminology courses at Sydney. While the courses are technically available, they will require special approval, which means you should be prepared to wait a few extra weeks for a decision. Please check to make sure you meet any prerequisites.
MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY
Study abroad students may not take courses in either of these two faculties. There are courses available to study abroad students in anatomy and histology, immunology, pathology, pharmacology and physiology as long as prerequisites are met and previous course work is included along with the Class Interest Form. The above mentioned courses are found in the Faculty of Science.
MUSIC
Students may take courses in music in two different ways at the University of Sydney Conservatorium of Music. The Conservatorium is located about 20 minutes from the main campus by public transport. The cost of commuting is your responsibility. Non-performance courses Coursework in music history, theory and composition is offered under the course code MUSC. Students who are music majors may also take courses under MCGY.
PERFORMANCE COURSES
Because you will be in the United States at the time of application, you will not be able to participate in a live audition. You will need to submit an audition either via videotape (in PAL format) or DVD, which includes a statement signed by both you and your teacher certifying that it is a true recording. To find out more details on the audition requirements and submission requirements for composition and musicology applicants, see the University of Sydney website. Additional fees will be charged to your bill once you have officially signed up for courses in instrument, voice, composition or musicology. Students may not study more than one instrument or area of principal study during a semester, and it may not be possible to take one-on-one instruction. The additional fees may be as high as US$500, but we will not know exactly how much this extra fee will be until you have arrived in Sydney and started your courses. This fee will be sent to your billing address approximately two months after your arrival in Sydney.
SCIENCES
Students taking science courses (especially those that have a lab component) may be charged a supplemental tuition fee, as IFSA's tuition fees are based on the arts and social science tuition fee.
VETERINARY SCIENCE
There are numerous restrictions on study abroad students in this faculty. If you wish to take courses in this faculty, you must submit descriptions of previously completed work when you return the Class Interest Form.
INTERNSHIP
The University of Sydney offers a highly competitive internship program. Interns must have a strong academic background and achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale. Prospective interns must also successfully complete an interview process upon arrival in Sydney. Interns will spend at least 15 days working on a specialized project with one of the University of Sydney's host organizations. Students will be awarded a letter grade for participating in the internship program, which will appear on their Butler University transcript. The internship is worth 4 Butler University U.S. credit hours.
Internships are available in the following areas:
- Accounting
- Film and television production
- Visual arts
- Graphic design
- Sports management
- Architecture
- Marine biology
- Environmental science
- Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Medical research
- Government and policy
- Not for profits
- Information technology
- Human resource management
- Operations
- Communications and media
- Special events and public relations
- Marketing
- Banking and finance
Research placements (juniors and seniors only; please contact your IFSA program advisor for assistance selecting an available area from within the university's faculties/departments).
After you return to the U.S., IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. credit system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects courses taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost.
Excursions

Day-To-Day Experience
Self-catering
Students can choose to live in self-catered, off campus apartments or one of three on campus residential colleges. Students who choose to live off campus are housed in Urbanest apartments, about a 20 minute walk to campus. All apartments house eight IFSA students in four double, en-suite bedrooms. Each apartment has a kitchen and living space and all meals are self catered.
MOST MEALS INCLUDED OPTION
Students who choose to apply to a residential college may choose one of the following:
- Wesley College
- Mandelbaum House
- Sancta Sophia College
Dates and Fees




Placement in housing other than the housing including in the program will result in an additional fee.




Placement in housing other than the housing including in the program will result in an additional fee.




Placement in housing other than the housing including in the program will result in an additional fee.
Application Date: September 15
Start Date: Early January 2022
End Date: Late June 2022
Students enrolled in the Early Start program will incur a supplemental fee of $(Coming Soon) for tuition and housing. They should also expect an additional $(Coming Soon) in personal costs.




This program may have supplemental fees. Please check with your IFSA Program Advisor.
Meet Your Program Advisor

What Our Students Say

Claire Birk
Student, Australia
Grace Smith
Student, Australia
“IFSA simplified the process with stories from previous students, help with the application and class selection process. From the first information pamphlet, to the lifelong friends, and the comforting knowledge that there was always support available, IFSA was a gift to my time abroad.“

Jackson Cannon
Student, Australia
“The biggest thing I learned is the value of immersing oneself in a culture unlike that which you come from. Even though Australia speaks English, the culture has taught me to relax and take everything one step at a time.”
Unpacked: Student Stories
Contact the IFSA Office at 800.858.0229 or 317.940.9336 Ask for a Health and Safety team member.
Contact the Butler University Police Department at 317.940.9999 The officer on duty will contact the appropriate IFSA personnel.