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Business placements, projects and study tours

Local Industry Placement Program

During the Local Industry Placement Program (IPP) you’ll be placed with a local firm in Sydney. You’ll work in an authentic business setting under the direction of a workplace supervisor on business-related work tasks/projects.

By participating in this program, you will:

  • work 210 hours (unpaid), during semester
  • receive a total of six credit points towards your degree by successfully completing the Business School elective or selective unit of study and the work experience component
  • have the opportunity to develop professional networks. 

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.

Placement hours count towards international students’ visa work restrictions.

If you're approved to participate in this program, make sure you read the student responsibilities statement to ensure you understand your responsibilities. 

This program is open to eligible Business School students.


Applying

Eligibility

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 Human Resources and Industrial Relations
  • Master of Logistics and Supply Chain Management
  • Master of Professional Accounting
  • Master of Professional Accounting and Business Performance.

You'll also need to:

  • maintain a WAM of 60 (or above)
  • have completed a minimum of 48 credit points of undergraduate business units or 24 credit points of postgraduate business units before you begin the program
  • have six credit points of available space in your degree.

How you'll be assessed

Enrolment into the Local IPP is competitive. Students will be assessed against selection criteria based on:

  • interpersonal skills
  • teamwork
  • business communication
  • resilience. 

These will be assessed through a written application, a written task and assessment centre. These activities are designed to mirror a graduate recruitment process. When you participate in the selection process you will also be eligible for the Assessment Centre Skills digital badge.

Additional requirements

If you're selected into the program, you may also be asked to participate in placement interviews and activities with our host organisations. 

Priority will be given to first time applicants and students from low socio-economic backgrounds.

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If you will complete the requirements of your degree before completing the IPP and the associated unit of study, you are not eligible to apply.

You can check whether you have six elective credit points of available space in your degree by sending us an online enquiry. Please select 'Request a degree check' from the dropdown menu and note that this process may take up to 10 working days.

How to apply

1

Online application

You will need to lodge your application through Sonia Online by the application deadline. You can find instructions in the Sonia Online application user guide (pdf, 859KB).

As part of your application you will be asked to include:

Your documents need to be submitted as a single Microsoft Word document, no larger than 12MB.

2

Assessment centre

If your application is successful, you will progress to the next stage of the selection process and will be invited to attend an assessment centre.

Assessment centres will be conducted in person and will involve an individual task and group activity.

Students undertaking an exchange program during Semester 2, 2024 will be able to participate in an online activity.

To help prepare for your assessment centre, you can access a range of resources on the Careers and Employability Office Canvas site.

Key dates

Local Industry Placement Program Semester 1, 2025
Placement duration

Week 2 to Week 10 (three days per week)

You are required to attend your placement during the mid-semester break, except for public holidays.

WIL Pop-up

Come along to our pop up to find out more about our Work-Integrated Learning programs and how to apply:

  • Week 1: Tuesday, 30 July and Thursday, 1 August, 1 - 4 pm
  • Week 2: Tuesday, 6 August and Thursday, 8 August, 1 - 4 pm
  • Week 3: Tuesday, 13 August, 1 - 4 pm

Careers Lounge, Basement Level, Abercrombie Building H70

Application deadlines

Applications open from 9 am, 5 August 2024 Sydney local time.

Applications close 12 pm, 15 August 2024 Sydney local time.

Assessment centres

9 - 26 September 2024
Written task A link for a written task will be sent on Friday, 16 August with a deadline for completion by 9 am Monday, 19 August.

Compulsory pre-placement training

First week of Semester 1, 2025 (TBC).

Placement and study requirements

Unit of study

If you’re successful in the application process and offered a placement, you’ll be enrolled in the Local IPP unit of study - BWIL2100 for undergraduate students or BWIL6100 for postgraduate students. 

To satisfy the requirements for this unit, you’ll need to complete:

  • your work placement at your local firm
  • preparatory coursework in reflective and professional practice
  • additional coursework focused on developing reflection skills, critical thinking and research methods, report writing and other professional writing skills.

Assessment tasks will focus on facilitating learning by reflecting on the placement experience.

If you are completing the program from 2023, your final grade will be recorded as Satisfied requirements (SR) or Failed requirements (FR) on your transcript. Individual assessments will also receive an SR or FR rather than a grade or mark. There is no impact on your Weighted Average Mark (WAM) as units that are assessed only as pass/fail are excluded from WAM calculations. 

Work placement

You’ll work 210 hours (unpaid) during semester with the specific hours being determined by the host organisation before you commence your placement.

You’re expected to represent the University and host organisation in a positive manner. Inappropriate behaviour or misrepresentation of the University's name and resources, either professionally or otherwise, may result in immediate termination from the program.

During your placement, you’re not permitted to seek additional placements or work arrangements.

You’ll have access to support from a leading academic from the Business School while undertaking your placement.

Placement matching

Placements are limited, competitive and cannot be guaranteed. Matching may be based on both your majors/specialisations, WAM (Weighted Average Mark), the placement outline and organisational requirements. You may be matched for positions outside of preferred areas due to limited availability in certain sectors or industries. Therefore, we encourage students to demonstrate flexibility during the matching process.


Financial information

Fees and costs

You'll need to pay tuition fees for the BWIL2100/BWIL6100 unit of study.

The fee debt will be incurred after the semester census date. 

Financial assistance

This placement is unpaid in accordance with the Fair Work Act. You may be eligible to apply for financial assistance to cover the cost of some of your 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 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.

Scholarships

If you are unable to do the Local IPP unit due to financial constraints, the University of Sydney Business School offers a limited number of scholarships that you may be eligible to apply for. The University also offers a variety of scholarships to assist students with their studies.

Priority will be given to students participating in their first work-integrated learning unit of study. If you have previously received a scholarship/funding (including Business School scholarship, NCP, Endeavour, VC Global Mobility Scholarship or Award) for any Business School work-integrated learning unit of study will only be awarded a second scholarship/funding in exceptional circumstances. 


Refunds

The University’s standard policies apply to the refund of the unit of study tuition fee if the unit is cancelled or you withdraw.


Withdrawing from the program

If you need to withdraw from the program, email business.placements@sydney.edu.au.

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 and partner organisations. You may also be invited to participate in the marketing and promotion of the placement 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 partner and host organisations.

More information

If you have any questions about the program, or wish to discuss special circumstances, you can contact us at business.placements@sydney.edu.au.

Last updated: 03 October 2024

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