As a leader in the burgeoning Pacific Rim economy, Sydney has attracted a wave of immigrants that has made it a multicultural, cosmopolitan city that offers a wealth of social and cultural opportunities. Sydney has long been appreciated for its natural beauty and temperate climate, but its diversity and vitality are what make it an ideal study abroad destination.
Australia is a large country with a relatively small population of almost 18 million, with the majority of people living in the main cities along the east coast. Australians are generally friendly and informal and the safe environment and comfortable climate provide many opportunities to enjoy both the beauty of the countryside and beaches, as well as the amenities of the modern cities.
The Australian university system has a worldwide reputation for quality education and attracts students from around the world. Australia's major cities have become vibrant multicultural centers attracting immigrants from China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, South America, Africa, and the Middle East.
Visit the official Australian Government site for information on study abroad in Australia.
The Australian Internship Program offers both semester and academic-year options in the city of Sydney. The program combines an internship, university course work, and a range of housing options, giving students a comprehensive learning experience in Australian culture and society. Students normally take three courses at the university along with a 6-credit internship, and earn a total of 15 credits per semester.
The program is designed to give students both an academic and a professional experience in Australia. The internship, homestay, foundation course, and university courses provide students with opportunities to participate actively in Australian culture and society.
Students intern in a business or organization located in Sydney. Opportunities are available for most academic majors, and internships are tailored to fit the background and needs of each student.
The internship is designed to maximize a student's experience and understanding of Australian culture and society. Internships are arranged taking into account each student's previous work experience, academic background, career objectives, and interests. This individualized placement process helps to insure that each student has a successful internship experience. An orientation program helps students to prepare for the internship and integrate it into their academic and career plans.
Internship placements could be with foreign, American, or multinational companies and organizations. Students have an on-site supervisor to whom they report, as well as an internship program coordinator who arranges and monitors the internship. A Marist College faculty supervisor determines the grade based on the on-site evaluation, the student's journals, and other written assignments.
The internship involves students in substantial projects for their company or organization and yields three or more credits, depending on how many hours a student interns and how many internship credits are allowed by the student's home institution.
The program is organized in cooperation with Australian Catholic University (ACU). ACU is a public university, open to students of all faiths and backgrounds, and is funded by the Australian government as a member of the Unified National System of Higher Education. More than 9,000 students attend ACU, including international students from 35 countries. ACU has campuses in Ballaret, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, and Sydney.
The Program is administered at the ACU North Sydney campus, situated across Darling Harbor from downtown Sydney and a five-minute walk from major public transportation routes. The campus is located in an attractive, residential neighborhood close to restaurants and shops. It takes just 5 minutes to travel by train from the North Sydney campus to downtown Sydney. Liberal Arts courses are taught at the ACU Mount St. Mary Campus in Strathfield, a suburg of Sydeny, easily reached by public transportation. The Strathfield campus is about on hour from the central business district.
Students live in homestays for at least the first month of the program; thereafter, they may continue in the homestay, or if they opt out of the homestay, they will arrange their own accommodation. Meals are included for the period that students remain in homestays. Every effort is made to match students with their preferred housing choice. A detailed housing form is sent to students after they are accepted into the program, and this information is used to arrange the homestay.
The program is administered by Marist College in cooperation with Australian Catholic University. ACU organizes an on-site orientation program, advises students, and arranges internships. Internship directors and faculty at Marist monitor and evaluate the internships. A pre-departure orientation is offered by Marist College, and the Office of Marist International Programs provides ongoing support and advisement. Students apply directly to the Marist International Programs.
Students take a total of 15 credits:
The Australian Culture and Society course is a required interdisciplinary course that examines Australian culture and society through readings, lectures, and field experiences. Extensive use is made of the museums, historic sites, and environment of Sydney and environs. A weekend field trip is normally included in this course. This course runs intensively in the first weeks of the program.
The internship requires students to intern for 270 hours with a business or organization in Sydney and complete written requirements. An outline of the internship requirements is available from the Marist International Programs Office. The internship normally begins in the fifth week of the program.
Elective classes in business, environmental science, and information technology are held at the MacKillop North Sydney campus, while courses in the humanities and the social sciences are held at the Mount St. Mary Strathfield campus. Students are taught by Australian faculty, and may choose from the wide range of courses that are available to Australian students as long as prerequisites are met.
List of ACU course units and descriptions.
Fall Semester (ACU Semester 2)
Early July to mid-November
Spring Semester (ACU Semester 1)
Early February to mid-June
