Our lecture series features world-leading researchers from across STEM disciplines around Australia and across the globe. During the 60+ years of the ISS, we have welcomed top theorists and experimentalists, entrepreneurs and Nobel prize-winners, up-and-coming researchers and great scientific leaders – all with an inspiring story to tell. You can watch many past lectures on the ISS YouTube channel.

 You will enjoy hands-on experiments, lab tours, seminars and workshops designed to develop your skills, give your brain a workout, and get you collaborating with the other students. The program features activities from across the breadth of STEM. Past ISSs have included:

• Tours of amazing, cutting-edge science research labs at the University of Sydney, in physics, chemistry, biosciences, engineering, IT, geoscience, and much more
• Surprising hands-on experiments that take you beyond the secondary school curriculum to give your brain a workout and sharpen your skills
• A speed meet-and-greet with our finest up-and-coming young researchers to learn about their research and talk about STEM degrees and careers
• Tricky scientific moral and ethical challenges in our Ethics and Leadership Workshops
• A behind-the-scenes look at the University's museum collections to learn about preserving, presenting and communicating science in public settings
• A packed social calendar. After the science is done for the day, a swag of social events is on offer to help you all get to know one another. Past ISS events have included:
  • A BBQ dinner at Taronga Zoo!
  • Nightly social events including a trivia competition, movies and games nights
  • The traditional ISS Bush Dance (trust us, it's always great fun!)
  • The ISS Gala Reception, where ISS scholars meet our past alumni, donors and sponsors of the program, and soak up the Hogwarts-like grandeur of the University of Sydney's Great Hall
  • The ISS Talent Night. (Do you sing? Dance? Play an instrument? The ISS Talent Night needs you!)

Selection criteria for Australian students:

• If you'll be in Years 11 or 12 in 2028 at an Australian school, and you’re a citizen or permanent resident of Australia, you can apply to be an ISS scholar. We do not accept applications from Australian students attending schools overseas.
• ISS scholars are selected on academic merit, aptitude and potential. We’re looking for talented students with a passion for science, wherever you are. City or country, public school, private school or independent school ... it doesn’t matter where you come from; if you're into science you should apply.
• Attendance is free! ISS scholarships cover all expenses so students attend at no cost to themselves or their families. Scholarships are valued at around $4000 and cover travel within Australia, all food, accommodation, science events and activities.
• The ISS is fully residential. All participants – even those from Sydney – will stay together in student accommodation for the entire duration of the program (up to two weeks) to give everyone a chance to get to know the whole group of talented students from across the country and all around the world.

International students:

• The ISS is truly international. Of the ISS scholars, around two-thirds come from the states and territories of Australia. The other third attend from our ISS partner countries around the world: China, Japan, New Zealand, Thailand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the USA.
• Overseas students are selected by ISS representatives in their home country. We have selection panels in the countries listed above, and they each have their own system for selecting students to attend the ISS. We do not accept applications directly from students outside Australia.
• The ISS is still free if you’re an international student! All overseas scholars receive scholarships for the ISS program, and our overseas partners and supporters fund airfares to Sydney. 


For information about the selection criteria, see the section below.

Up to 70 students from across Australia will be selected to take part in ISS 2028. Selection panels in each state and territory will assist in the selection of students, based on the following criteria:

• Only Australian citizens or permanent residents currently attending school in Australia may use the Australian application form. We do not accept applications from Australian students studying overseas.
• Applicants must be in their  final two years of secondary school in 2028  (typically Years 11 or 12).
• As the ISS covers many different science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, applicants should be studying at least 50 per cent STEM subjects in their final two years of secondary school. We understand that different school systems have different requirements for students’ subject choices, and our selection panels will broadly consider applicants studying at least a range of STEM subjects.
• We seek  talented students with a passion for science. Applicants should achieve the highest grades in the top-level syllabuses of English and STEM subjects in their most recent formal assessments (e.g. ‘A’ grade, or > 80 per cent, or equivalent). Our selection panels will use their judgement to select from across the range of school systems and grading schemes.
• Applicants require a recommendation from their school in the form of a letter of support from the principal and/or head science teacher – typically an applicant should be assessed as one of the highest-achieving science students in the school. Preference may be given to students whose vocational interest is a career in the sciences.
• Applicants need to include a personal statement, comprising a short essay about why they wish to attend the ISS. Selection panels will be looking for clear communicators with a passion for science, who are able to represent their community, school, state and country at the ISS.

Our selection panels will make decisions based on the above criteria, as well as aiming for a balance of participants based on gender, location, school system and relative opportunity. 

All selections are final and at the discretion of the University of Sydney and organisers of the ISS program. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are under-represented in science and engineering in Australia. For this reason, the ISS organisers aim to select talented, enthusiastic Indigenous Australian students for the ISS, to develop their STEM interests, discover future careers and meet like-minded scholars from across Australia and around the globe.

The ISS Indigenous Australian Scholars Program reserves five scholarships to attend ISS2028 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants. 

The selection process for these scholarships is simple.

• Applicants are selected against the same criteria listed above and their applications are included in the general selection process. As with all applicants, if selected they are offered a place at ISS2028.
• If the applicant is unsuccessful in the general-selection round, their application is then considered by a separate selection panel for one of the five reserved Indigenous scholar places.

To apply as an Indigenous scholar, you will need to upload evidence of your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background when you apply. This can be any one of the following:

• your birth records or documentation of genealogy verified by a suitable authority; or
• a letter with 'Common Seal' signed by the Chairperson of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander incorporated organisation in which the applicant lives or has previously lived (where records are not available); or
• you can self-identify as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander with a statutory declaration that you are an Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.

More details of the Indigenous Scholars Program will be available when the applications open in January 2028.

Gathering scholars from across the globe, getting them to Sydney and settled into the accommodation, and making sure everyone is healthy, safe and having a good time is a huge job, and something we take very seriously – which is why we bring together an amazing team of staff to make it all happen.

The ISS Staffies are a dedicated team of enthusiastic, talented and highly skilled young people. They will accompany you throughout the ISS to make sure you’re happy, healthy and safe. Many of our staffies are past ISS scholars, and, in most cases, pursuing STEM degrees at university – so they’re a fantastic resource ready to answer your questions about uni studies and careers!

Our dedicated and highly experienced overnight staff team is on hand at the accommodation to keep an eye on the scholar group, provide support and care, and attend to any problems or concerns.

The ISS Leadership Team – our Director Dr Chris Stewart, the ISS Project Officer, and an amazing group of talented people in the Faculty of Science's Partner Engagement and Outreach portfolio – together throw an enormous amount of effort into making the ISS an amazing and inspiring fortnight.

All expenses for accommodation and transport related to the ISS program are for the entire duration of  the International Science School (up to two weeks), all our scholars with accompanying staff stay in boarding facilities close to the University of Sydney. This includes all scholars who live in Sydney.

Rooms:  Students will share single-sex dorm rooms with up to three other students, giving them the chance to make new friends from across Australia and around the world.

Meals: three full meals a day (and a few snacks to keep you going), catering to different tastes, needs, medical conditions, allergies and diets. Don’t worry – if you have particular dietary requirements, we can handle it!

Travel

How you get to us will depend on where you're coming from. But rest assured, unless you're walking, your travel will be covered!

Australian students: the ISS will cover your transport by plane if you live more than several hours away from Sydney, or by bus or train if you live closer to us.

International students: all scholars selected by organisations in their home country will have their airfares to Sydney paid for by those organisations. The ISS will meet overseas groups of students at Sydney International Airport and take them to their accommodation.