Internships in Australia

Fall Semester – 12 weeks (August through November)
Summer – 12 weeks (May through August)

Sponsored by the Colleges of Arts & Letters, Communication Arts and Sciences and James Madison College

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

The program will provide students with practical internship opportunities relevant to their program of studies. The internships are simultaneously experiential and academic and will allow qualified students to work in Sydney-based companies, offices and organizations, and to experience Australian work culture. In addition to the professional and academic experiences of the workplace, cross-cultural competencies and a deepened understanding of Australia are among the objectives of this 12-week program. Students will be enrolled in courses determined by their academic major.

Eligibility for enrolling in internship credits and academic requirements of those credits will be determined by the responsible academic unit. All applicants will also be screened for eligibility for credit, academic seriousness and maturity, and records of behavior with Judicial Affairs. Preference will be given to students with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Students who do not meet this requirement may discuss their eligibility with the appropriate internship coordinator.

Where does it take place?

Sydney is the largest city in Australia, and the capital of the state of New South Wales. As the financial, business and cultural center of the country, the widest variety of internship opportunities is available. Located on the shores of Sydney Harbour, the city of 4 million people is dominated by the twin landmarks of the Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. Coastal areas of the city include Manly and Bondi beaches, and the legacy of the 2000 Olympic Games is a remarkable transportation and recreational infrastructure. Sydney’s cosmopolitanism is a reflection of its position at the intersection of aboriginal, British, European, Asian and Pacific cultures, and the city is consistently ranked among the most livable in the world.

What can I study?

All students will be enrolled in the 12-week internship course(s) appropriate to their major or college.

AL 493B	Arts & Letters Internship
COM 493	Communication Internship
CAS 492	Organizational Entry and Communication Competence
MC 400	James Madison Field Experience
MC 401	Field Experience: Analysis and Interpretation

Internship placements are arranged by CAPA’s (Center for Academic Programs Abroad) Sydney office, based on a resume and statement of internship interests prepared by the student. Once admitted to the program, all participants are guaranteed that CAPA will secure a placement suitable to their interests and academic background. Specifics of the placements will not be known until very shortly before the program begins. All placements are subject to on-site confirmation interviews shortly after arrival in Sydney.

What are the requirements?

Students must be in good academic standing, have at least junior status, a minimum 2.5 grade point average, and be approved by their College internship coordinator. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

Once approved by MSU, applicants will complete a package of CAPA application materials, including a resume and personal statement. Final versions of those materials must be approved by the relevant College coordinator before they are submitted to CAPA.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Students will share apartments with other program participants. Apartments are furnished, and are equipped with kitchens and full bath facilities

Internship sites and apartments will be accessible by public transportation. Upon arrival, program participants will take part in an orientation that will include instructions on navigating Sydney’s public bus/rail/ferry system.

Who can tell me more about this program?

For information on academic requirements or internship placements contact:

Grant Littke
James Madison College
Phone: (517) 353-6757
E-mail: littke@msu.edu

Bethany Judge
College of Arts & Letters
Phone: (517) 355-6519
E-mail: judgebe@msu.edu

Vernon Miller, Ph.D.
College of Communication Arts and Sciences
564 Communication Arts and Science Building
Phone: (517) 355-3280
E-mail: vmiller@msu.edu

For information about on-site issues such as housing or transportation, contact:

Sandy Tupper
Office of Study Abroad
Phone: (517) 432-4341
E-mail: tuppers@msu.edu

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States. If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date. If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks are usually required for processing. During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required. Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices. They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/passports.html.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose. The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early. It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.

For more information about visas visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/visas.html.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/health.html.

How much does it cost?

The program fee is not yet available but is expected to include the following:

Additional costs not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*For current MSU tuition, fees, and taxes, check http://ctlr.msu.edu/COStudentAccounts/Tuition_Fees.aspx. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate, regardless of state of residence.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee. Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses. (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid.

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing. This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university. If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/finaid/index.html

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships. Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need. Requirements are listed in the scholarship application. The deadline to apply for these scholarships is March 1st for summer and fall semester programs.

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/scholarships/index.html.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form by visiting http://studyabroad.msu.edu/applications/index.html.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer internships and by June 1 for fall internships. We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to these deadlines.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year. Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required. Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program. Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you in your acceptance packet. You can also read the handbook online at http://studyabroad.msu.edu/abcs/index.html.

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