Source an industry placement offer
Students are required to find their own industry placement to participate in the internship program.
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.
If you're enrolled in a degree program at the Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning, you may be eligible to participate in the Industry Placement Program which gives you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in your field while earning credit towards your degree. The Industry Placement Internship Program allows you to get experience in real-world settings and expand your professional networks. Placement opportunities span leading architecture studios, design firms, and government agencies. Past and current 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.
- enable candidates to experience aspects of practice and provide the opportunity for them to work in areas of the field relevant to their specific expertise.
- enable candidates to observe, analyse and comment on the interaction between theoretical and practical issues of their program as it is practiced.
- establish connections between practice and the development of relevant research programs.
Please check the outlines for the units of study that you can undertake within the program:
Eligibility
Students undertaking placements as elective units of study will need to have completed either:
- 48 credits points in an undergraduate program; or
- 24 credit points in a postgraduate coursework program.
Students enrolled in the following course are not eligible to participate in a placement:
- the Master of Architecture
- the postgraduate component of the combined Bachelor of Design in Architecture (Honours) and Master of Architecture.
The program is a self-sourced industry placement offered as an elective unit worth 6 credit points. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have sufficient space in your degree plan to undertake this unit. Refer to the School Handbook for the requirements of your degree.
Time commitment
The industry placement program requires 120 hours of completed supervised experience. Depending on your timetable, you may complete this full-time in a shorter block or part-time over a longer period. Industry placements must be completed within one semester (the semester or intensive session in which you intend to enrol) and should not exceed more than two weeks beyond the official session teaching dates
Sessions
We offer S1C and S2C sessions, as well as multiple intensive options throughout the year. For exact teaching dates and deadlines, please refer to the Key dates for session teaching dates.
DECO3666 and DESC9153 available sessions:
- Semester 1 (applications close on 6 February 2026)
- Semester 2 (applications close on 17 July 2026)
- Intensive January (available only for 2026 – closed)
- Intensive January – February (closed)
- Intensive June – July (applications close on 25 May 2026)
- Intensive November - December (applications close on 19 October 2026)
IDEA9311 available sessions:
- Semester 1
- Semester 2
Placement conditions
Placements 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 placement and submit a report which will be assessed by the academic supervisor of the unit of study. The placement supervisor will sign off on your logbook and complete a supervisor form which will confirm your attendance, diligence and completion of the placement in accordance with the 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 and from the published unit of study outline.
Steps to apply and timeline
1
2
Email the ADP Education Support Team
Once you have self-sourced a placement, please email the ADP Education Support Team at adp.education-support@sydney.edu.au at least six weeks before your placement is due to commence. In your email, include the following details:
- semester or intensive session you intend to enrol in
- placement dates – note that the start date must not be earlier than the first day of the teaching session you plan to enrol in
- a copy of your offer letter, if available or your placement site contact.
After your information has been reviewed, you will be granted access to the University’s placement management system, Sonia. Instructions will then be provided to help you navigate the system.
3
Complete the Student-Sourced Placement Form
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.
Approval from the School is required prior to participating in the placement program and receiving credit points upon completion.
Advanced standing will not be granted for industry placement units.
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 self-sourced placement 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:
- deed poll for intellectual property
- work, health and safety induction checklist.
What happens next
Once these steps have been followed, complete the industry placement and relevant assessments.
Last updated: 22 January 2026