While universities worldwide navigate artificial intelligence and online learning, the University of Sydney is demonstrating the enduring value of learning in person – on the sidelines of a rugby match, in the surf at our local beaches, or courtside at a basketball game.

“Sport offers a compelling snapshot of modern Australian society,” said Dr Steve Georgakis, who has coordinated the unit Sport and Learning in Australian Culture since 2004.  
 
Running four times a year – twice as an intensive 3 weeks and twice as a full semester, the popular unit of study attracts up to 800 visiting exchange students a year.

“Students don’t just read about Australian culture, they experience it firsthand, from meeting players at professional basketball games to trying surf lifesaving at one of Sydney’s famous beaches. These are experiences they simply can’t get anywhere else,” Dr Georgakis said.
 
Chancellor David Thodey welcomed the visiting exchange students personally at the start of Semester 2. 
 
“Sport is a big part of Australian life and culture, and this program gives students a unique opportunity to experience that firsthand,” said Chancellor David Thodey.

“Australians love the outdoors and we will play any sport. From surf lifesaving and cricket to rugby and Australian football, students can immerse themselves in the traditions, communities and experiences that make Australia unique. It’s a great way to have fun, meet people and get the most out of their time studying in Sydney.”

Visiting Sydney for one semester or a full year, the record number of students are taking part in the Study Abroad program and represent universities across the USA, UK, Canada, Ireland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Spain, Italy, as well as Japan, South Korea and Singapore.

Now in its 22nd year, EDUH4058: Sport and Learning in Australian Culture combines lectures and readings with field trips to live sporting events. Since 2004, more than 10,000 international students have completed the program, consistently ranking it among the University’s highest-rated units for enjoyment and learning outcomes. 
 
Students begin with the Sydney Colonial Sporting Walk, exploring 15 historic sites over three hours using an orienteering app to highlight Australia’s colonial sporting history. They then attend events such as Sydney Kings basketball games, meeting league sponsor Jack Cowin, and observe the commercialisation and globalisation of professional sport firsthand. 

Surf lifesaving activities at Sydney’s beaches, rugby with the NSW Waratahs, and visits to Sydney FC and the Australian Turf Club provide further immersive experiences.

“We have students choosing Sydney over programs in London and Madrid to come here,” Dr Georgakis said. “They want something they can’t get from a textbook or a screen. They want to understand what makes Australian culture unique, and sport gives them that lens. For them, Australia represents a paradise of sport.” 
 
“This unit isn’t just about watching games, it’s about using sport to understand society,” Dr Georgakis said. “Students explore identity, community and the broader role of sport in Australia, gaining insights that go well beyond the field, and that they take away with them back to their home countries, long after their exchange and studies conclude.” 

Students can choose from the following field trips in 2026:

• Sydney Colonial Sporting Walk: A three-hour lecture walking through Sydney’s sporting history.

• NRLW and NRL Men’s Sydney Roosters versus West Tigers

• Sydney Swans versus North Melbourne   

• Sydney Kings basketball match: plus a tour of ACCOR Stadium, Aquatic Centre and Netball NSW Headquarters at Sydney Olympic Park.

• Bondi Beach Surf Lifesaving Sydney: practical surf lifesaving activities and guest speakers. 

• Sydney FC soccer (women’s and men’s): Lecture inside the historic Sydney Cricket Ground, meeting W-League and A-League players. (no Sydney FC)

• NSW Waratahs rugby: Guided tour of Rugby Australia headquarters with player meet-and-greet post-match. (non NSW Waratahs  

• Australian Turf Club: Tour of the Australian Turf Club Museum, presentation by animal rights advocates examining ethical dimensions of horseracing and guided tour of Randwick Racecourse.

• Women’s cricket match: Sydney Cricket Ground (No cricket mathc

Students can also choose workshops in Indigenous games, Australian dance, cricket, surfing, or the University’s Foster Care program, giving them tailored, hands-on experiences. Past groups have attended ANZAC Day dawn services, waved NSW Waratahs flags at big matches, and even had family members join a field trip.  

Co-developed more than 22 years ago by University of Sydney sports studies expert Dr Steve Georgakis, the unit reflects his long-standing research, teaching and involvement in sport. His commitment to high-quality teaching and student engagement underpins the extensive network of sporting partners that enrich the learning experience. 
 
Students come from a wide range of disciplines and receive credit toward their home degrees. Many arrive with limited knowledge of Australia and leave as ambassadors for its culture.

Chanel Matsumoto, from Hawaii in the United States, completed the course in Semester 1, 2026.  
 
“I came to Australia to experience something uniquely Australian and I wasn’t disappointed,” said Matsumoto, a Political Science and Human Rights student from Columbia University in New York.  
 
She said the field trip model was the unit’s defining strength. “Every week the learning happened inside the experience rather than being applied to it afterwards – we arrived at the Roosters vs Rabbitohs match knowing the class geography behind the rivalry, and walking the Cronulla Esplanade understanding the 2005 riots before setting foot on the beach, meant the trips consistently exceeded what I expected from a university course. Steve’s preparation and energy made each one feel like a genuine event rather than a scheduled obligation. My favourite field trip was the Matildas match.”

Dr Georgakis believes the unit’s model is increasingly relevant as universities explore how to differentiate learning in a digital era.

“Students leave with memories, understanding and connections that last far beyond the semester,” he said. “In an era where information is instant and AI can write essays, universities need to ask: what can we offer that technology cannot? For us, the answer is clear – genuine human experience, cultural immersion and learning that only happens when you’re there.”