Outline

Overview

This unit is designed to consolidate students' knowledge and skills in science while conducting an industry placement. During the placement, students may be involved in and work on a variety of different industry and client-based projects, which will afford the opportunity to apply science skills and theories from prior learning. This will provide firsthand experience of how these skills and theories can support the solving of scientific problems in a practical and commercial context, identifying opportunities, developing strategies and designing processes, procedures and management practices in order to enable an organisation to fully realise its competitive potential. The unit is structured around four assessed tasks, which allow students to demonstrate their ability to apply and synthesise concepts in a professional setting.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Science Faculty
Credit points	2
Prerequisites ?	A WAM of 65 or greater and a minimum of 48 credit points
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Haryana Dhillon, haryana.dhillon@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 5 December 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Peer or expert observation or supervision	Placement Professional experience placement	0%	Ongoing	70 hours, 3 weeks minimum	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Portfolio or journal	Progress review Online survey	0%	Ongoing	15 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Portfolio or journal	Summary of reflective journal Reflective journal summary	0%	Week 13	500 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Post-placement seminar presentation Seminar presentation	0%	Week 13	20 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Placement: Meet reasonable attendance requirements set by the industry partner (e.g. public holidays off, but no substantial Christmas closedown period).
Progress review: Self-assessment of your progress on the placement. Serve as a first step in the summary of the reflective journal.
Summary of reflective journal: You are asked to keep a reflective journal for your 10-week placement. You should make a short entry of just one or two sentences for each working day to summarise your learning and achievements. Towards the end of the placement, you are required to write a summary indicating the main learning outcomes of the experience. This must not disclose any commercial-in-confidence information and therefore must be signed off for release in an email to the unit coordinator from your industry supervisor.
Post-placement seminar presentation: You may be asked to present an oral summary of your work for the industry partner on completion of the placement. That presentation should form the basis of a seminar presentation of your work to present to a non-specialist audience of university staff and other students in this unit. This will take place as a seminar session at the University, to be arranged as soon as possible after completion of the placement, preferably before the start of the next semester.
PDF of post-placement seminar presentation: Signed off PDF copy for release in the same email used for the summary of a reflective journal.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

A final result for the unit will be returned as a grade only - SR = satisfied requirements, or FR = failed requirements. These assessment requirements should be completed by the end of Stuvac in the current semester.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity	Learning outcomes
Ongoing	Multiple week placement with the structure determined by the industry partner. Approximate number of hours is a minimum.	Placement (70 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance to placement agreed upon with supervisor.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 2 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 40-50 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. apply scientific concepts and knowledge, possibly from a range of disciplines, to contribute to projects and/or problems for the industry partner company
LO2. find and analyse information and data necessary for a task and judge its reliability and significance
LO3. understand and apply the principles of scientific measurement necessary to gather data necessary for a task
LO4. organise and communicate scientific and technical information appropriately through day-to-day interactions and oral and written reporting
LO5. engage in team and group work in pursuing the objectives of an industry partner/company; develop and apply skills in collaboration, team work and communication
LO6. demonstrate a sense of responsibility, independence, cultural competence and ethical behaviour as a practising scientist in a work environment.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Working on reactivation of this unit to be available for students in science wanted to participate in credited WIL activities. This process requires broadening the learning outcomes to be applicable across the disciplines in science.

Additional information

Additional costs

There may be travel and/or accommodation costs to the student dependent on location of placement.

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

General Laboratory Safety Rules

No eating or drinking is allowed in any laboratory under any circumstances
A laboratory coat and closed-toe shoes are mandatory
Follow safety instructions in your manual and posted in laboratories
In case of fire, follow instructions posted outside the laboratory door
First aid kits, eye wash and fire extinguishers are located in or immediately outside each laboratory
As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that you have a current tetanus immunisation. This can be obtained from University Health Service: unihealth.usyd.edu.au/

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

WILS2001: Science WIL Experience

Intensive November - December, 2025 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links