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Business placements, projects and study tours
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Business study tours and immersion programs
Philippines Study Tour
The Philippines Study Tour offers students a cultural and responsible business immersion experience in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest emerging markets, the Philippines, for two weeks during the summer break from 27 January to 9 February 2024.
This unique program will allow you to better understand Philippine culture, responsible business practices and social enterprise projects that aim to positively impact on community well-being, economics, social reform and policy. You will be fully supported for the duration of the program by an academic from the Business School.
By participating in this program, you will:
- undertake a two-week international study tour to better understand Philippine culture, responsible business practices and social enterprise projects
- receive a total of six credit points towards your degree by successfully completing the Business School elective or selective unit of study
- have the opportunity to visit a number of social enterprise companies, innovation hubs and communities as you pass through Manila, an agri-business farm and Zambales.
The program cannot count towards your major, minor or specialisation. As you’ll need to have at least six credit points of elective or selective space available to participate, we recommend planning your degree early to leave yourself room. Check your handbook for more information on how this unit can contribute towards your degree.
If you’re approved to participate in this program, make sure you read the student responsibilities statement to ensure you understand your responsibilities.
A minimum enrolment number is required for the unit to proceed. If minimum numbers are not met the unit may be cancelled.
This program is open to eligible Business School students and students from other faculties or schools with written approval from the associate dean of your faculty/school.
Eligibility
Business School
To be eligible to apply you need to be enrolled in one of the following Business School degrees:
- Bachelor of Commerce (including combined degrees)
- Master of Commerce
- Master of Commerce (Extension)
- Master of Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Master of Professional Accounting
- Master of Professional Accounting and Business Performance.
You will need to have six credit points of available space in your degree.
If you’re enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce (including combined degrees) you’ll also need:
- a minimum WAM of 50
- to have completed 24 credit points of business units before you commence the program.
Other faculties and schools
If you’re from another faculty or school, you’ll need to request written approval from the associate dean of your faculty/school to undertake this unit.
You can apply for the study tour before you receive written approval from your associate dean, however you will need to provide us with their approval before we can finalise your application.
How you'll be assessed
- Acceptance into the program is selective and is based on your online application, academic merit and equity.
- Applicants are expected to be an outstanding ambassador for the Business School. Evidence of this will be demonstrated through academic and personal achievements.
Additional requirements
Priority will be given to students who have not completed a study tour before, as well as students who are new to our Work-Intergrated Learning unit offerings.
Questions about your application
Contact business.placements@sydney.edu.au if you have any questions about the application process.
If you will complete the requirements of your degree before completing the study tour and the associated unit of study, you are not eligible to apply.
How to apply
To apply for the Philippines Study Tour you will need to submit an online application through Sonia Online by the application deadline. Please refer to the Sonia Online application user guide (pdf, 830KB) for instructions on how to submit an application.
Business School students already have access to Sonia Online.
If you are from another faculty or school you will need to contact the WIL Hub team at business.placements@sydney.edu.au to request Sonia Online access.
Online application
As part of your online application, you will be asked to include:
- a copy of your academic record printed from Sydney Student
- a supporting statement outlining your motivation for applying (no longer than 100 words).
Your documents need to be submitted as a single Microsoft Word document, no larger than 12MB.
Your application will not be accepted if it is incomplete or submitted after the deadline.
What happens next
The Business School will assess your application and contact you with the outcome. Selection for the program is based on your online application, academic merit and equity.
Business School
If your application is approved, you'll automatically be enrolled in the Philippines study tour unit of study.
Other faculties and schools
If your application is approved, you’ll need to request to be enrolled in the unit of study, as it won’t appear in your unit of study selection screen in Sydney Student. We recommend you do this as soon as enrolment for 2024 opens.
- Complete the Unit of study selection issues online form, and request to be added into the unit. As supporting documentation, you’ll need to upload your written approval from the associate dean of your faculty/school.
- Once you’ve been enrolled in the unit, send an email to business.placements@sydney.edu.au and attach a screenshot of your unit of study selection screen in Sydney Student that shows you’ve been enrolled.
Key dates
Philippines Study Tour 2024 |
|
|---|---|
Study tour duration |
2 weeks in country during the summer break from 27 January to 9 February 2024. |
Information session |
4-5 pm, 1 August 2023 Sydney local time in H70 ABS Case Study Lecture Theatre 2090. Registrations have now closed. You can watch the recording of the WIL programs information session. |
| Application deadlines | Applications open 9 am, 31 July 2023 Sydney local time. Applications close 12 pm, 8 September 2023 Sydney local time. |
| Students notified of outcome of application | 25 September 2023 |
| Students' confirmation of participation and deposit due (non-refundable unless program is cancelled by the University of Sydney) | 6 October 2023 |
| Full program fees due (non-refundable unless program is cancelled by the University of Sydney) | 3 November 2023 |
| Compulsory pre-departure workshop | 22 January 2024 |
| Arrive in Manila | 27 January 2024 |
| Depart from Manila | 9 February 2024 |
Unit of study
If you’re accepted into the program, you’ll be enrolled in the Philippines Study Tour for the Intensive February session unit of study - BWIL2260 for undergraduate students or BWIL6260 for postgraduate students.
BWIL2260/BWIL6260 is designed to consolidate students' knowledge and skills in how socio-cultural context plays in business undertakings while conducting a project/internship. The unit allows students to demonstrate their ability to apply and synthesise business concepts while engaged in practical business development. Students may be involved in a variety of projects, which afford the opportunity to apply business skills, non-technical skills and theories with practice.
The key assessments that align to the study tour experience have been purposely designed to enhance students’ employability for a rapidly changing global labour market.
Program
Forming diverse teams, you will work alongside local students and community members to help devise solutions to the social and environmental challenges you encounter. You will take inspiration from the locals you meet along the way, including organic farming communities, urban gardeners, indigenous communities, and social entrepreneurs challenging mainstream corporations to do business differently.
You will develop self-reflection, cultural competency, communication and servitude leadership skills. Prior to departure, you will develop a number of career and employability performance objectives in preparation for engaging and immersing yourself in Philippine cultural and business arenas.
You are expected to represent the University in a positive manner at all times. Inappropriate behaviour or misrepresentation of the University's name and resources, either professionally or otherwise may result in the immediate termination of the student from the program.
On return from the Philippines, students will collate their overall in-country experiences to complete a final reflective report.
Financial information
Fees and costs
| Program package fee | The program package fee is AUD$3,000 non-refundable. A deposit of AUD$1,000 is due by 9 am (Sydney local time) on Friday, 6 October 2023. The balance of the program fee is due by Friday, 3 November 2023. The fees are to be paid in Australian dollars. The fee includes:
|
| Unit of study tuition fee | You will need to pay tuition fees for the BWIL2260/BWIL6260 unit of study which is separate to the program fee. The fee debt will be incurred after the Intensive February census date (26 January 2024). |
| Additonal costs | Additional costs you’ll also need to pay include:
|
Financial assistance
You may be eligible to apply for financial assistance to cover the cost of some of your overseas travel and study expenses.
General bursary
If you think you might experience financial hardship by undertaking this program, you can apply for a general bursary through Sydney Student (go to ‘My finances’, ‘Scholarships, prizes, bursaries and loans’, then ‘Apply for financial support’). These are valued up to $3,000 and can assist with essential living and study expenses.
In your application, you’ll need to:
- state that you will be undertaking this program in 2024 and
- list the additional expenses you will incur whilst participating.
Your application will be assessed by the Student Life team.
Find out more information about general bursaries.
If you have any questions about financial support, or need help to apply, please reach out to Student Life by submitting financial support enquiry.
Business School Scholarships
The University of Sydney Business School offers a limited number of scholarships to eligible students who successfully enrol in this program. Scholarships are available under two categories: Merit & Leadership, and Equity & Merit. The number and value of each scholarship will be determined by the Business School.
You’ll need to apply at the same time as you apply for the program by completing the relevant section on the application form and providing supporting information. Late submissions will not be considered.
Eligible students who have previously received a scholarship/funding (including Business School scholarship, NCP, Endeavour, VC Global Mobility scholarship) for any Business School work-integrated learning unit of study will only be awarded a second scholarship/funding in exceptional circumstances. Priority will be given to students participating in their first work-integrated learning unit of study.
Refunds
The University will not be liable for any personal expenses incurred by students.
If you withdraw from the program after paying the deposit or the full program fee, you won’t be entitled to a refund for any of the program fee.
The University will not refund any additional or personal expenses you incur, even if the program is cancelled by us.
The University’s standard policies apply to the refund of the unit of study tuition fee if the unit is cancelled or you withdraw.
Passport and visa
You’ll need a current passport with six months validity after your date of return and a visa.
You are responsible for your own travel arrangements and obtaining a visa (if required) to and from the Philippines. We strongly advise that you don’t travel to the Philippines until you receive your visa.
Flights and transfers
You’ll need to organise your own travel to and from the Philippines, ensuring you arrive in Manila by Saturday, 27 January 2024 to attend the mandatory orientation and briefing session.
We strongly advise that you do not confirm or pay for your flights until you’ve been officially accepted into the program and the program has acquired the minimum student enrolments to proceed. We also encourage you to consider booking fully flexible airfares.
Travel insurance
You’ll be covered by the University of Sydney travel insurance for the duration of the program.
You won’t be covered for periods of extended personal travel taken before, during or after the approved University travel activity.
Accommodation
As a requirement, you must stay in the accommodation provided during the program with room allocation being at the discretion of the unit coordinator. Typical accommodation and rooms are often dormitory style, clean and comfortable with shared bathroom facilities.
If you’re concerned about twin-share accommodation, you can contact the unit of study coordinator to discuss an alternative arrangement. Additional costs apply to alternative accommodation arrangements.
In order to meet the program’s risk protocols, you won’t be able to stay with family or friends or arrange your own accommodation during your placement.
If you need accommodation before or after these dates, you’ll need to arrange this yourself at your own expense.
Withdrawing from the program
If you need to withdraw from the program, email business.placements@sydney.edu.au.
Make sure you read our information about refunds.
Media
You are expected to agree to photographs or video taken in connection to the program being used for marketing purposes by the University of Sydney Business School. You may also be invited to participate in the marketing and promotion of the program by sharing your experience.
Confidentiality
Student information as required for administering all aspects of the program will be transferred from the University of Sydney Business School to the partner.
More information
If you have any questions about the program, or wish to discuss special circumstances, you can contact us via business.placements@sydney.edu.au.
Last updated: 22 February 2024
