Source an industry placement offer
Students are required to find their own industry placement to participate in the internship program.
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Internship Program
If you are enrolled in a degree in the Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning, the Internship Program gives you the opportunity to work in industry as part of your degree.
The program provides a valuable opportunity for students in the Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning to build your industry networks and utilise your skills in practical workplace settings such as leading architecture studios or design and government agencies. Current and previous partners include Atlassian, Lendlease, Architectus, ARUP and the NSW Government.
The objectives of the internship program are:
- To provide a direct link between the academic core of the course and the disciplines and methods of practice.
- To enable candidates to experience aspects of practice and provide the opportunity for them to work in areas of the field outside their specific expertise.
- To enable candidates to observe, analyse and comment on the interaction between theoretical and practical issues of their program as it is practiced.
- To establish connections between practice and the development of relevant research programs.
Eligibility
- Open to enrolled undergraduate and postgraduate students.
- Students enrolled in the Master of Architecture course are not eligible to enrol in the Internship Program.
- A minimum of 48 credit points must be completed to enrol in the program.
- The program is an elective unit of study worth 6 credit points. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have room in your degree to undertake this unit. Refer to the School Handbook for the requirements of your degree.
Time commitment
The internship placement is for 120 hours. Depending on your timetable, you can be at your placement full time in a shorter block or part time over a longer period. Internships should not exceed one semester.
Sessions
S1C and S2C as well as multiple intensive and sessions are on offer. Please check the Key Dates for session teaching dates:
DECO3666 and DESC9153 available sessions:
- Semester 1
- Semester 2
- Intensive January
- Intensive January - February
- Intensive May - June
- Intensive June - July
- Intensive October - November
- Intensive November - December
IDEA9311 available sessions:
- Semester 1
- Semester 2
Please check the current University of Sydney outlines:
Conditions
Internships can be paid or unpaid, on agreement between the host and student. Students are covered comprehensively by the University of Sydney student insurance policy.
Find out more about the Provisions of the Internship Program.
Assessment
You will be required to keep a logbook throughout your internship and submit a report which will be assessed by the academic supervisor of the unit of study. The host supervisor will sign off on your logbook, noting attendance, diligence and learning outcomes.
The logbook and report are due within two weeks of completion of your internship. You will receive more details about the assessment once enrolled in the unit and Canvas.
Steps to apply and timeline
1
2
Email the ADP Education Support Team
You have to email the ADP Education Support Team at adp.education-support@sydney.edu.au at least two weeks prior to the commencement of your internship confirming that you have an industry placement offer. You must provide the following details:
- placement dates
- semester/Intensive session you intend to enrol in.
Once this is done you will be given access to the university placement management system, Sonia. You will then receive an email with instructions to help navigate the system.
3
Submit an expression of interest form on Sonia
Follow the directions on Sonia to complete an expression of interest form. Once you submit the form it will automatically be sent for approval to the appropriate program director.
It is a requirement that you have an approved expression of interest form to be able to participate in the program. You will not be awarded credit for the program without an approved form.
4
Enrol in the relevant units in Sydney Student:
- DECO3666 for undergraduate students
- DESC9153 for postgraduate students
- IDEA9311 for MIDEA students only
When you select the unit, you'll be prompted to apply for departmental permission. As part of your application, you will need to upload a copy of your approved expression of interest form from your program director as evidence. To ensure you comply with the requirements of your degree your enrolment application will be assessed before it’s confirmed.
5
Sign the legal agreements and other compliance forms
While the enrolment is finalised, the ADP Education Support Team will process the legal agreements for your internship. Before commencing your internship, you will need to sign these legal agreements, alongside representatives from the host organisation and the University, agreeing to terms of placement and learning outcomes:
- agreement letter
- deed poll
- work, health and safety induction checklist.
What happens next
Once these steps have been followed, complete the industry placement and relevant assessments.
Last updated: 07 February 2025
