SYDNEY AUSTRALIA 2012 Handbook - Boston University
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SYDNEY AUSTRALIA 2012 Handbook
BU in Sydney
1 Getting Ready to Go 15 Money Matters
Culture Shock Program Fees
Survival Tips Currency
Dear Student: Helpful Websites Cash for Move-in and the First
Recommended Reading Week
Welcome to Sydney! We hope your journey Recommended Movies Purchasing Textbooks
to this expansive continent will be the Banking
beginning of an experience unlike any other. 4 Program Administration Transferring Funds
Cash for Departure
Your decision to learn about Australia and 6 Academics
be part of its community will ensure a Faculty 17 Arrival
Libraries Arrival Day
valuable and meaningful educational
Courses Group Flights
adventure, with people, places and events to
Academic Policies and Transportation
be cherished and remembered. Procedures Check-in
Balancing Academic
Our most important goal is to offer Commitment with Travel 18 Housing
opportunities for your self-development Plans Accommodations
and personal growth. Throughout the Room Assignments
program, we will focus on this objective in 8 Sydney Internship Programs Linen
the following areas: Preparations Before You Leave Electricity
Upon your Arrival in Sydney Residential Policies
• personal commitment and reflection Benefits of Working with Smaller Securing Your Room
• educational growth
Australian Companies 20 Staying in Touch
• cultural understanding
Internship Placement Process Telephone Services
• workplace experiences
The Internship Laptops
• environmental discovery E-mail
• social interaction with Australians 11 Sydney SED Program Mail
Registration for Your Semester Faxes
You will encounter many exciting challenges Abroad
in this cosmopolitan country. With the Student Teaching Placements 22 Life in Sydney
guidance and assistance of the Sydney staff Semester Schedule Dining at Home
and faculty, we will ensure that you will Supplies Dining Out
return home with a “swag” (Aussie slang for Shopping
‘a whole bunch’) of unique experiences! 11 Sydney SMG Program Movie Theaters
Overview Museums/Galleries
Visas Beaches
— Mark Connellan,
Arrival Local Media
Sydney Program Director
Orientation Travel
and the Sydney program staff Budgeting for the Semester
The University of Sydney 24 Helpful Tips from Former
Courses Students
Grading System
27 Names and Numbers
13 What to Bring
Sydney Handbook and Student
Handbook
Documents
School Supplies
Clothing
Other Items
Prescription and Drug Store
Items
the barbie;" two expressions which are seldom used.
Getting Ready to Go Australians often expect that outsiders understand the
meaning of "arvo," "capsicum," "middie," "cossie," "brolly,"
and "whinge." These words are often strung together into
If you envision Sydney as a rustic outpost with swaggering entire conversations, which are almost incomprehensible to
cowboys, kangaroos running amok, and colorful characters an outsider. You will be surprised by how quickly you adopt
straight out of Crocodile Dundee, prepare to be pleasantly
Aussie slang and use such expressions as "daggy," "reckon,"
surprised. Sydney is a cosmopolitan city; a Pacific hub of the
"shout," "flog," "heaps," "schooner," "on ya," "muck around,"
Southern Hemisphere with world-class dining, a vibrant arts
community, and a mix of urban sophistication and surf "spot on," "no worries," and "straightaway." While you will
culture. recognize "lift," "paddock," "serviettes," and other terms
from Australia’s colonial past, some phrases have no clear
Although Sydney blends British traditions and customs with meaning.
Asian and American influences, it remains uniquely
Australian with its own sense of style and culture. During One of your goals for the semester should be to meet and
your semester in Sydney you will have the unique opportu- interact with Australians. An internship will provide some
nity to live, work, and study in one of the most culturally rich wonderful opportunities to mix and mingle with the locals.
cities in the world. As you prepare for your term in Australia, Your culture shock will fade as you become familiar with
you will undoubtedly feel a mixture of emotions: excitement, Australia’s celebrities in sports, entertainment, and politics.
anxiety, and curiosity chief among them. In the US, football, baseball, basketball, and hockey rule. In
Australia, cricket, "footy," netball, horseracing, and tennis
Whatever you may be feeling, you are probably not are center stage. In Oz, celebrities much in the news include
expecting to experience "culture shock." For many footballers like Barry Hall (AFL), Lote Tuquiri (Rugby) and
Americans, our knowledge of Australia is based on reruns of Sonny Bill Williams (NRL), cricketers Ricky Ponting and
The Crocodile Hunter or episodes of Summer Heights High on Andrew Symonds, singers Missy Higgins and Kylie Minogue,
HBO. When we think of Australia’s most well known actors Hugh Jackman, Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman and
symbols—koalas, Qantas Airways, the Sydney Opera House, Geoffrey Rush, and children’s television stars The Wiggles.
the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Ayers Rock usually come to In politics, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and opposition leader
mind. Without a clear understanding of the country, it is Tony Abbott will become familiar names to you.
common to view Australia as a vast frontier wilderness
struggling to move beyond its colonial past. On closer Australian dining has a few oddities of its own. In Oz,
examination, you will find that Australia is a young, vibrant appetizers are referred to as entrees, entrees as mains, and
country focused on its future. Reconciling these perceptions paper napkins as serviettes. Australians do not understand
with the realities of contemporary Australian society is an the American obsession with cholesterol and prefer butter,
important step in moving beyond culture shock towards a cream, and heavy yogurt to low-calorie products. Every
more genuine understanding of the culture. culture has its unique foods, which, in some cases, only the
locals can appreciate. Fruitcake, considered the worst of all
As the southernmost continent and the last stop before holiday gifts in the States, is popular with Australians,
Antarctica, you might think Australians take little interest in especially as wedding cakes and Christmas desserts. Meat
world affairs when, in fact, they are often more knowledge- pies and sausage rolls, traditional Aussie fare, are available
able about international issues than most Americans. at most take-away restaurants. Vegemite, a favorite among
Australians are intensely interested in world affairs. Like Aussie school kids, and beetroot are acquired tastes for
most nations, Australia is under increasing pressure to most Americans. For a true Aussie dessert experience try
accept large numbers of immigrants and to adopt a larger sticky date pudding (which is actually a cake), Lamingtons,
presence as peacekeeper in Indonesia and other trouble Anzac biscuits, or Pavlova.
spots. Although proud of its history of welcoming migrants
from Greece, Italy, Turkey, China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, and The seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere,
Malaysia, the country also struggles with acknowledging its which can be a bit disconcerting especially during holiday
history of treating its Aboriginal population poorly. seasons. Easter in Australia falls at the start of Autumn. If
Aboriginal land rights issues remain prominent as the you attend the Royal Easter Show, Sydney’s version of a
country wrestles with both redressing past injustices and sprawling country fair, you will find chocolate Easter eggs
planning its future. displayed next to pumpkins and other traditional Autumn
symbols. Students in the fall program might find it strange to
If you think Australians and Americans speak a similar learn that Christmas in Australia signals the start of the
language, you are in for a surprise. For most Americans, our summer holiday season and is usually celebrated at the
understanding of the Australian language is limited to the beach. Halloween, a heavily hyped US holiday, is not
curious phrases "fair dinkum" and "throw another shrimp on celebrated in Australia, nor is Thanksgiving.
www.bu.edu/abroad 1
What may seem strange initially will soon become familiar. programs, skills developed in the workplace. Responding to
In a few short weeks you will be comfortable using the the challenges and frustrations you are likely to encounter
terms mobile, kilo, surname, notes instead of dollar bills, and during your initial weeks in Australia will require flexibility, a
diary instead of appointment book. Terms, which seem odd positive attitude, persistence, and a sense of humor. If you
initially—lift, petrol, queue, and boot—will soon become part approach your study abroad experience with the attitude
of your everyday vocabulary. You will be surprised by how that cultural differences are wrong or inferior you will have a
quickly you become accustomed to traffic on the left. difficult time in Australia. If, however, you view Australia’s
Gravitating to the left whenever you climb the stairs or take unique culture as both different and interesting, you will
the escalator will also become routine. have the time of your life. We are confident that you have
the skills to handle each new challenge and encourage you
COPING WITH CULTURE SHOCK to reach out to the Sydney staff and faculty if you need
Emotional highs and lows are characteristic of the study assistance.
abroad experience and the inherent challenges of living and
studying in a new culture. Although your feelings of excite-
ment and awe are likely to stretch over the initial weeks, SURVIVAL TIPS
your mood may shift as you settle into your new surround- If you Choose to Drink Alcohol, Drink Responsibly
ings, begin coursework, and struggle with occasional Australian beer and wine are much stronger than the liquor
feelings of homesickness and loneliness. How you adjust available in the US. Even if you have a high tolerance for
and adapt to new challenges can differentiate a successful alcohol, you are likely to find that you exceed your usual
and productive experience from one fraught with illness and limit quickly. Whether you have had little experience with
disappointment. Setting goals for your semester abroad is alcohol or drink alcohol regularly, you will find that
one of the best strategies to combat the effects of "culture Australian alcohol packs a powerful punch, especially when
shock." Establish some general academic, personal, and you are jet-lagged or sleep deprived. You may feel pressured
professional goals before you leave and try to keep them in to drink to excess when socializing with your Aussie mates
mind throughout the semester. Think carefully about what or with other students in the program. Some Aussies think it
you hope to accomplish during your three months abroad is amusing to get Americans embarrassingly drunk.
and how you might achieve these goals. Although the desire to fit in may be strong, resist the
pressure to keep up with everyone else. Drinking to excess
Some simple coping strategies will help you to fend off could impair your judgment, especially when crossing
illness and maintain a positive attitude. Whether you like to Sydney’s busy streets, and jeopardize your personal safety. If
start your day with a brisk jog, a steaming cup of coffee, or you frequent Sydney’s pubs and drink to excess, your class
by checking your e-mail messages, establish routines that work is likely to suffer and you may become more suscep-
work for you. These routines will help you to regain a sense tible to illness. Most Australians have been raised to drink
of control. To manage stress, exercise and get sufficient responsibly from a young age so there is less tolerance of
sleep. Maintain a proper diet and limit your alcohol intake. loud and drunken behavior. Alcohol is not the “forbidden
Find solitary time away from your student residence for fruit” that it is for many young Americans.
relaxation and reflection. Venturing off by yourself for an
afternoon alone can help to renew your spirit. Stay in touch Obey Traffic Signals
with friends and family, but do not feel guilty if you fall Wait for the traffic signal and look right, then left, then right
behind; you will have ample time to share your adventures again before you cross the street. Never step off the curb
when you return home. Keep an open mind, cultivate a until it is safe to do so. Australian drivers hug the curb and
sense of discovery, and, above all, maintain your sense of leave little margin for error. Sydney bus drivers are trained to
humor. drive three to four inches from the curb and, because they
drive so close to the sidewalk, have been known to smash
Focusing on all that Australia has to offer, rather than what it the occasional rear view mirror against street signs.
lacks, will help in your adjustment to culture shock. In Oz, Australians have little patience for slow pedestrians and
you will not find real New York-style bagels or buffalo wings. typically slam on the gas when the traffic signal turns green.
You will find a wide variety of fresh seafood, fine wines, Whenever you step into the crosswalk, be sure to move
ballet, opera, theatre, top-ranked beaches, Tim Tams, and quickly. If you think the light may be about to turn green,
strong, delicious coffee. You will also find bus drivers who wait until the next light. In Drivers Education, every
make change, Akubra hats, Arnott’s biscuits, smoothies, and American learns that a driver should leave at least eight feet
over 200 varieties of Eucalyptus trees. between his car and the one in front of him. The safe
distance between cars is a foreign concept to most
The Sydney Program’s study abroad experience is the Australian drivers. Exercise caution when crossing the street
compilation of classroom learning, the self-confidence and and remember that pedestrians do not always have the right
personal growth that come from mastering the challenge of of way in Australia.
living and studying abroad and, in the case of the internship
2 Boston University Study Abroad Sydney
Keep a Close Eye on Your Backpack • The Sydney Morning Herald (newspaper)
Sydney’s affordable youth hostels, pubs, and Internet cafés www.smh.com.au
are popular with European backpackers and international • Time Out Sydney
students. Pickpockets frequent these gathering places as www.timeoutsydney.com.au
well as the central business district, or "CBD," in search of • Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
unsuspecting tourists. If you slip into vacation mode and www.abc.net.au
forget to exercise street smarts, you may discover that your • The University of Sydney
wallet has "gone missing." Loud conversations in pubs or www.usyd.edu.au
cafés will identify you as an American and may catch the • The Art Gallery of New South Wales
attention of a pickpocket eager to separate you from your www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au
money. A backpack or handbag left unattended is irresistible • Historic Housing Trusts: Museum of Sydney
and easy prey to a bag snatcher. To guard your possessions www.hht.net.au
and protect yourself against theft be sure to:
• Watch your possessions at all times. Do not leave your
RECOMMENDED READING
backpack or purse unattended even for a few minutes. • In a Sunburnt Country, by Bill Bryson
• Do not carry your passport or a large amount of cash. • The Timeless Land, by Eleanor Dark
• Wrap bag straps around a chair or table legs to thwart a • Asian Godfathers, by Bruce Cumings (Duke University
would-be thief. Press, 1999)
• Stay alert in crowds or queues. • Choosing Australian Wines, by Jeni Port
• In movie theatres, leave your bag or purse in your lap. • Seven Little Australians, by Ethel Turner
Bags left on the seat next to you or on the floor are • A Concise History of Australia, by Stuart Macintyre
vulnerable to theft. (Cambridge, 2004); This is a history written specifically
• Carry the Emergency Contact Card, which you will for non-Australians (perhaps one or both of the last two
receive upon arrival, in your wallet. chapters)
• The Harp in the South, by Ruth Park
This card will assist the police if your wallet is lost or stolen • Aussiewood: Australia’s leading actors and directors tell how
and later recovered. they conquered Hollywood, by Michaela Boland & Michael
Bodey (Allen & Unwin, 2004)
A Little Research Can Go A Long Way • Water Under the Bridge, by Sumner Locke Elliott (Picador,
Balancing your academics and internship requirements with 1997)
travel plans is manageable if you plan ahead. There are • 30 Days in Sydney, by Peter Carey (Bloomsbury, 2001)
dozens of travel agencies to choose from in Sydney. When • A Town Like Alice, by Neville Shute
making your travel plans, shop around and surf the Internet • Women of the Outback, by Sue Williams (Penguin Books,
for inexpensive flights. It is a smart idea to conduct some 2008)
research before you leave the US. One suggestion is to • My Place, by Sally Morgan
select two destinations and investigate airfares, hotel prices, • History of Australian Sport, by Maxwell Howell & Reet
and area attractions for each. Traditionally, students begin Howell
with a trip to the Blue Mountains, a two-hour train ride, and • A Game of Their Own, by Geoffrey Blainey
then expand their travel excursions to destinations further
away. Cairns and Ayers Rock (better known as Uluru) are
popular destinations during mid-semester break. Weekend
RECOMMENDED MOVIES
trips often include Byron Bay, Tasmania (or "Tassie"), • Baz Luhrmann’s Australia (2008)
Melbourne, and the Great Ocean Road. Fraser Island, • SBS TV - “Sideways-commercial” & “The Wine Lover’s
Darwin, and Perth often appeal to the more adventurous Guide to Australian Wines”
types. Students who choose to travel after the program ends • Phil Noyce’s Rabbit Proof Fence (2002)
often travel outside of Australia to New Zealand or Fiji. • Bliss (1985), Ray Lawrence (Director)
• Chris Lily’s Summer Heights High
• ABC’s Chaser’s War on Everything
HELPFUL WEBSITES • Heath Ledger in Two Hands or Candy or Ned Kelly
• New South Wales Official Tourism Site for Sydney • Gallipoli (1981)
www.sydney.com. • The Shiralee (1957)
• Tourism Australia • Dead Heart (1986)
www.australia.com. • The Man From Snowy River (1982)
• Department of Immigration and Citizenship • One Night the Moon (2001)
www.immi.gov.au • Shine (1996)
• Romulus, My Father (2007)
www.bu.edu/abroad 3• The Story of the Kelly Gang (1906) Daryl Mildenhall, was formerly Course Coordinator and
• Sunday Too Far Away (1975) Senior Lecturer in the Television Production degree at
• The Sum of Us (1994) Charles Sturt University. He has a Master of Arts Degree in
• Bud Greenspan’s Sydney 2000 Television Production and a Fine Art Degree (RCAE). As well
• Ten Canoes (2006) as teaching at CSU, he has taught at the University of
• Phar Lap (1983) Southern California’s School of Cinema and Television. He
has been a practicing professional in the area of film and
television production and was awarded several grants for
original work. He has worked extensively through Australia,
Program Administration New Zealand, Europe and North America and has been
awarded the Television Society of Australia Award for
excellence on two occasions, once for Best Television
Documentary Film and the other for Best Corporate Video
MARK CONNELLAN production. He has been a finalist at the American Film
Program Director; Course Coordinator: Australian Culture Festival (New York) and has represented Australia on
and Society (AN368); Coordinator: School of Education numerous occasions at international film and television
Sydney Practicum festivals including the renowned John Grierson award for
Documentary Film (New York). dmildenhall@iinet.net.au
Mark Connellan has taught the Australian Culture and
Society program since its inception in 1992. He has also
coordinated the Boston University School of Education DR. SHARON CLARKE
Sydney Practicum since 1993. Commencing in August, 2003 Associate Director (Academics); Course Coordinator for
Mark joined the Program staff as a full-time employee, Australian Literature (EN383); Program Coordinator (Travel
taking responsibility as an Associate Director of the Sydney Writing in Australia (summer only))
Internship Program with oversight of budgetary and financial
matters and also external relations. From January 1, 2004, Sharon Clarke joined the Sydney Program in 1998 to teach
he has been the Program Director. Mark is a graduate of the the Australian Literature course. She has been a member of
University of Sydney with First Class Honours and the the full-time internship placement staff as an Assistant
University Medal in Education. His research interests and Director since 2000 and was appointed to the position of
publications are in the areas of youth cultures, sports and Associate Director (Academics) in 2004. In 2007 she
leisure, gender and masculinities, and Australian identity. He introduced the summer program, Travel Writing in Australia,
has taught at the University of Sydney in Social and Policy which she continues to coordinate and teach. Sharon Clarke
studies, Human Movement and also as a guest lecturer in has a First-Class Honours Degree and received her
Gender Studies. Doctorate in English in 1996 from the University of
Wollongong where she lectured and tutored in the English
He has served on many committees at the University of Department for over 10 years. She has been a specialist
Sydney including the Faculty of Education Advisory teacher in Australian Literature, Fantasy, 20th Century
Committee, for nine years as the Executive Vice-President of Women Writers, Children’s Literature, Text and Gender,
SUSport and as Chair of the Scholarship and History Creative Arts, and Creative Writing courses. Her doctoral
Committees of SUSport. mconnellan@iinet.net.au study of Australian novelist and playwright, Sumner Locke
Elliott, was published as the critical biography Sumner Locke
Elliott: Writing Life (Allen & Unwin: Sydney, 1996) and was
DARYL MILDENHALL short-listed for Australia’s inaugural National Biography
Associate Director (Internships); Course Coordinator, Mass Award. She is also the author of eleven children’s books and
Media in Australia (CO350); Program Coordinator (Sydney numerous critical articles and creative pieces published in
Entertainment Promotion & Film Studies (summer only) academic journals. Her current projects include the memoir
of a Hitchcock writer with a focus on old Hollywood from
Daryl joined the Sydney Program staff on a full-time basis in the 1930s – 1950s; and an ongoing biographical novel based
1999. He has taught the Mass Media in Australia class since on the life of Helena Sumner Locke, mother of Sumner Locke
1995 and has held a variety of management positions Elliott. sclarke@iinet.net.au
including a two-year stint as Acting Director. He has been
the Director of Internships since 2004. Since 2005 Daryl
has also developed and co-ordinated an annual summer
program based around the Sydney Film Festival and
entertainment promotion.
4 Boston University Study Abroad SydneyCAROLINE HARTEVELT Pascal is a proud resident of the local suburb of Newtown
Assistant Director, Program Operations and Student Well- and enjoys regaling students about the bohemian charms of
being. the area. Pascal’s e-mail is: pdurr@iinet.net.au
Caroline joined the BU Sydney staff in the Fall 2009
semester. Her responsibilities with the Sydney Program
CALEB HAWK
include overseeing the operations and information manage- Communication, Events, & Marketing Manager; Program
ment of the Program; acting as the chief liaison person Assistant (Travel Writing in Australia (summer only))
between the Study Abroad office in Boston and the Sydney “Cal” joined BU Sydney in January of 2007 after having
office; and working with other BU Sydney Program staff and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Boston University’s
the Resident/Program Assistants to promote student College of Communication in May 2006 with a Bachelor of
wellbeing. Science in Advertising and Minor in Art History. He’s
designed and launched various program publications since
She has worked for Boston University since September 2005 joining the staff, and he is also responsible for the creation
- first as a coordinator for the University Professors’ and distribution of the SydneySider Quay every week. He
Program, and then, starting in May 2007, as a Program currently works on media, marketing, and managing the
Manager for the Study Abroad office in Boston. She was program events and major field trips. In addition, Cal has
responsible for managing admissions and pre-departure been assisting with the coordination of the Travel Writing in
administration of the Sydney, Auckland, and part of the Australia program during the summer session since its
London Programs in her role as Program Manager. inaugural run in 2007.
Caroline has spent the majority of her life abroad; growing Cal attended the London Liberal Arts Programme in Summer
up in the Netherlands, and also living in Singapore, Russia, 2004 and then the Sydney Internship Program in Fall 2005.
and Ireland. Caroline received an undergraduate degree in During his time in Sydney, Cal did his internship in graphic
Psychology from Wheaton College in MA; attending the design and photography with Gentil Eckersley. Since gradua-
Boston University London Internship Program (Psychology tion he has worked as a freelance graphic designer and
and Social Policy) in Fall 2001 while she was a student there. photographer for Conventures, Inc. in Boston and the New
She obtained a Master’s Degree from Boston University South Wales Department of Corrective Services at Brush
School of Education in Policy, Planning and Administration in Farm Academy. He has traveled to Great Britain, France, Fiji
May 2007. Caroline’s e-mail is: charteve@bu.edu and New Zealand during his study abroad experiences
before returning to Sydney in 2006. cahawk@iinet.net.au
PASCAL DURR
LORRAINE LEES
Residential and Property Manager
Librarian
Pascal has worked for the BU Sydney Program since late
2001, initially as an administrative assistant with special Lorraine is the newest member of staff, joining BU Sydney in
responsibility for the upkeep of the Program’s Regent Street the 1’11 semester. Lorraine’s experience as a librarian has
facility. He played a major role in the last two relocations the been gained from work in libraries in New Zealand and in
program has undergone and was responsible for the London, England. In New Zealand she worked in public, high
refurbishment and set-up of the Boston University Sydney school, and academic libraries.
Centre (BUSC).
Lorraine lived and worked in London from 2003 to 2009,
Pascal’s current role includes oversight of all matters relating spending some time travelling in Europe, in between working
to student housing as well as the Operation of the BU as a temporary librarian for a London library recruitment
Sydney Centre (BUSC). Pascal also works in Program agency. She then took up the role of Local History Librarian
Operations and Student Life and is responsible for Protocols in the Archives and History Centre of the London Borough of
relating to Emergency procedures. Islington libraries, a job which allowed her to learn much of
the fascinating history of the settlement of London. She
Pascal began his career by working and completing a four corresponded with many international researchers in the
year Apprentice Training Program with “Energy Australia”. In role, and regularly delved into the archival collections to
this high tech industry he gained valuable experience in source specific information, all the while learning and being
project management and logistics. He has since worked in a drawn into London’s history.
variety of industries, primarily in customer service roles, and
has also run his own business. Pascal worked for The The offer of a permanent position as librarian with BU in
University of Sydney Sports Union, managing a busy sports London then presented itself, and she spent 18 months
facility for 5 years. operating the library in the depths of Harrington Gardens,
her first experience working with American students. A
www.bu.edu/abroad 5move to Australia in late 2009 brought her to Sydney, and library, in addition to the hard-copy resources. The Library
again to BU, to help in planning a library for the new building will also endeavour to locate other specific sources of
and to begin work as the librarian. information where it is necessary and/or feasible.
Lorraine has a BA degree in English and History from The BU Sydney library has a quiet study area, and
Massey University of New Zealand as well as a New computers for student use for assignment purposes.
Zealand Library Studies diploma from Wellington Teachers’
College in New Zealand. In addition to the program’s small library, students are
welcome to use the library facilities at nearby Sydney
She has family scattered in several different countries, University, the City of Sydney Library and the State Library
making difficult to know where her home is, but the pull of of New South Wales. Boston University students do not
Sydney and Australia is strong. llees@iinet.net.au have borrowing privileges (except by arrangement at the
City of Sydney Library), but are welcome to use the libraries’
reference works and general collections. Information about
specialized area libraries and operating hours will be
Academics provided during the on-site orientation.
COURSES
The following information applies to students enrolled in the
internship program. Program-specific information for SED, Internship, elective classes, and AN368: Australian Culture
SMG, and ENG students appears after the section entitled and Society, the required core course* for all School of
"Sydney Internship Program." Education, School of Management, College of Engineering,
and Internship students, meet in Boston University Sydney
Academic Center. School of Management and College of
FACULTY Engineering students enroll directly in the University of
The Sydney Program faculty are drawn from Australian Sydney and attend class on the university’s main campus in
universities or are specialists in their chosen fields. You Camperdown.
should expect that your Australian professors will have
some different teaching styles to professors on your home *This does not apply to summer semester students.
campus. In the Australian classroom, students are expected
to engage in class discussions. Your professors will expect Course Requirements:
you to come prepared for class discussions and take greater Spring and Fall Internship Semesters
ownership of your learning. Students enrolled in the Sydney Internship Program must
register for three courses and an internship for a total of 16
credits. Students may not carry less than 16 credits for this
BLACKBOARD semester.
The Boston University Sydney Program uses the Blackboard
system for readings and resources for each of it's courses. During the first six weeks, students complete the required
You will need to know your BU Login Name and Kerberos Australian Culture and Society course (AN368) and one
Password to access these. If you have any difficulty in elective. The required course is designed to provide students
setting up your account or have forgotten your password, with a common base of knowledge in a Australian context
please contact Melissa Ormsbee at BU Study Abroad: and is integral to students’ preparation for the internship.
mormsbee@bu.edu.
During the final seven weeks of the program, students
LIBRARIES undertake internships four days per week while completing
The program’s reference library is open during classroom a second elective* course. During the internship there will
hours. Books may only be borrowed for short periods to also be an academic component, which students are
ensure that all students have access to the materials. required to complete.
Although the library holdings are limited, you will find a
good selection for all BU Sydney courses. *The current elective offerings include: Australian Art and
Architecture, Sports Management in Australia and the Asia
Additionally, students can access the online resources of Pacific Region, Film Production Using Video, Australian
their home library, or of the BU Library in Boston as long as Cinema, Australian Political System, Australian Social Policy,
they have their password and login details. Further online The Pacific Rim: Economic and Political Orders, Mass Media,
resources for information regarding the Australian perspec- Brand Advertising and Promotion, Australian Literature, and
tive of various subjects is available from the BU Sydney the Australia Wine Industry.
6 Boston University Study Abroad SydneyCourse Requirements: Add/Drop
Summer Semester Internship Program Subject to availability students may change courses during
Students enrolled in the Sydney Internship Summer Program the on-site brief add/drop period. Some classes may be full
must register for one course and an internship, for a total of to capacity and the Sydney Program cannot guarantee that
8 semester credits. Students may not carry less than 8 all electives will be open.
credits for this semester.
Transfer of Credits
Students must consult pre-departure material to determine Before the start of the program, please ensure that your
what electives are running. In the recent past the electives credits will transfer to your home university. Approving
have been: Australian Cinema and The Australian Political transfer credit is, ultimately, your home institution’s
System. Should numbers dictate a further course may be decision. Once in Sydney, if you are considering enrolling in
offered. Final registration takes place in Sydney. courses different from those approved by your academic
advisor, you should first obtain approval from your home
Course Requirements: campus. If you complete a course without your advisor’s
Summer Semester Film Studies and the Travel Writing approval, you run the risk of not receiving academic credit
in Australia Program for the course.
Students enrolled in the Sydney Summer Programs in Film
Studies or Travel Writing undertake two compulsory courses Dean's List
which support their respective out-of-classroom experi- Students studying abroad should be aware that differences
ences. The two courses represent a total of 8 semester in the academic calendar at Boston University and at your
credits. Students may not carry less than 8 credits for this international program site may mean that grades from your
semester. semester abroad are reported after the computations for the
Dean's List have been made. As the semester abroad may
Course Requirements: end later than the semester on the home campus, grades for
SED/ENG (Fall) and SMG/ENG (Spring) some programs may not arrive in time to be counted
Students in all of these programs will undertake the course towards the Dean's List. In this case, students are advised to
AN368. notify the office of Student Records or the Dean of Students
office in order to request that grades earned on a BU
For SED students the balance of their credits (12) will come international program be counted towards the Dean's List. It
from their 15 week practicum placement. is the student's responsibility to bring this to the attention of
the student records office.
For SMG students the other 12 credits will be gained by their
internship and direct enrolment in three approved elective
courses in their discipline at the University of Sydney. BALANCING ACADEMIC COMMITMENTS
WITH TRAVEL PLANS
For Engineering students the other 12 credits will be gained While exploring the host country is a benefit of any study
by direct enrolment in the required number of approved abroad experience, the focus of your time in Sydney should
elective courses in their discipline at the University of be on fulfilling academic requirements. You will need to
Sydney. make many decisions during your stay, chief of which is
determining the sites you can realistically visit given time
constraints. You may be surprised by the sheer distance
ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES between destinations. Australia covers a land mass roughly
You will receive more detailed information about academic equivalent to the US. Australia’s most popular attractions
policies during on-site orientation. Students are expected to are not compressed into a narrow eastern corridor, but
be familiar with Boston University regulations as outlined in spread across the continent. Some students arrive hoping to
the University’s Code of Student Responsibilities and College squeeze in trips to Uluru (Ayers Rock), Darwin, Adelaide,
of Arts and Sciences Academic Conduct Code. Perth, and Cairns during the mid-semester break and quickly
discover that this trip is not feasible. Whether you have a
Registration for Your Semester Abroad limited or substantial travel budget for the semester, you will
You will register for your courses and receive information need to make careful, informed decisions about how to
about add/drop procedures and other academic policies successfully balance your academic commitments with
during on-site orientation. You are advised to gain home travel plans.
campus advisor approval for multiple courses in case you
miss your first choice because of availability or shifting When planning your travel excursions, you are encouraged
circumstances. to cluster many of your shorter trips during the pre intern-
ship teaching period. This first teaching period is structured
to allow every student a couple of three-day weekends
www.bu.edu/abroad 7during the first six weeks of the semester. With careful refine your interests. He or she may ask that you read
planning, you should have little difficulty balancing academic information on file with the Sydney office to gain a greater
requirements with some weekend travel. Although travel understanding of a particular company or specialty area.
during the internship phase is possible, balancing full-time Students will have at least one internship meeting with a
internship requirements with academic work can be more member of the Internship Placement Team before meeting
challenging, especially around key assignment deadlines. with a prospective internship provider. During this initial
meeting, print, media, and advertising students should bring
Exploring Australia is an important goal, but one that should their portfolios or samples of their work. In choosing
not come at the expense of your academic commitments. samples, try to select those which best demonstrate your
Your travel excursions should be in strict compliance with skills and abilities. The work you select will assist the on-site
scheduled class breaks and must not conflict with your staff in identifying suitable placements. The samples will
academic requirements, required class field trips or your also assist prospective internship providers in determining
internship. You may not miss class or any mid-term or final your preparation and readiness for an internship with heavy
exams due to travel arrangements. If you miss the scheduled writing or design responsibilities.
exams due to travel arrangements you risk receiving a failing
grade for the course. There will be no exceptions to this
policy. THE BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH SMALLER
AUSTRALIAN COMPANIES
Placements with smaller Australian-owned companies often
include significantly more involvement and breadth of
Sydney Internship Program experience than widely-known corporations. If you lack the
grades, academic prerequisites, work experience, or training
to qualify for an internship with a major corporation, you
should consider obtaining the experience you seek in a
PREPARATIONS BEFORE YOU LEAVE parallel but lower profile firm. Lower profile internships in
All students are asked to submit internship questionnaires finance and journalism often provide greater responsibility
and résumés electronically. Instructions for completing the and challenge. For example, you might work with a small
on-line forms and résumés in the Australian-style are investment firm to develop such skills as analyzing
included with the pre-departure paperwork along with corporate and economic data, interpreting balance sheets,
appropriate Web and e-mail addresses. This information will reviewing and critiquing annual reports, completing on-site
assist the Sydney Placement Team in understanding your investigation of companies, and researching industry
background and experience, and serves as a guide in sectors. Journalism majors might gain greater writing
determining preliminary placements as well as advisor experience producing a newsletter for a non-profit associa-
allocation. Although the Sydney staff will review this tion than from one of Australia’s largest leading publica-
information carefully and you may have some forward tions.
contact via e-mail and telephone, the placement process
does not begin in earnest until you arrive in Sydney. If you
have not submitted the internship questionnaire or an INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT PROCESS
electronic copy of your résumé to the Sydney Office, please Trust the Placement Team:
do so immediately. Do Not Arrange an Internship on Your Own
If you have your own internship contact, please share this
While we encourage you to set ambitious goals for your information with your internship advisor so that he or she
internship abroad, please be mindful that the internship may may explore this placement on your behalf. A friend or
or may not turn out to be integral to your career plans. For family member with professional connections in Sydney may
some students, the internship experience has a profound urge you to pursue a suggested internship. Though well-
impact on their chosen career. For the vast majority of intentioned, the friend or relative is unlikely to know whether
students, however, the internship affords an opportunity to the company is within a reasonable commuting distance of
develop new skills, experience a different culture, and gain the BU student residence, is downsizing or experiencing a
greater exposure to the world beyond the classroom. difficult transition, or whether the company is reluctant to
host an intern. With their knowledge of Sydney’s changing
business climate, the Sydney Placement Team is in the best
UPON YOUR ARRIVAL IN SYDNEY position to determine whether a prospective internship will
During week one of the program, you will be required to satisfy academic requirements and provide an appropriate
meet with a member of the Internship Placement Team to level of challenge. Arranging an internship on your own is
discuss your interests and goals for the internship experi- not permitted; please follow protocol and let the Sydney
ence. The staff member will work with you to narrow and staff do what they do best. As in the US, Australian
8 Boston University Study Abroad Sydneymanagers generally prefer to discuss the arrangements with
a University representative before speaking with prospective In Short
interns. Understanding workplace priorities,
demonstrating initiative, and assisting
Although you may believe securing an internship on your wherever possible are key ingredients to a
own is a demonstration of your enthusiasm, self-confidence,
successful internship. As an intern, you may
and initiative, prospective supervisors may perceive your
feel overlooked on occasion as busy staff focus
behavior as brash and aggressive. To their chagrin and
embarrassment, some former overly-enthusiastic interns
on their work priorities. A proactive, self-
who tried to arrange internships on their own not only lost directed approach will win your supervisor’s
their desired placements, but damaged the Sydney staff’s favor and may lead to new opportunities.
rapport with area companies. Assert yourself in a positive and facilitatory
manner. Take responsibility for your internship
The Interview and volunteer for projects. Your supervisor will
The focus of the interview is to determine whether the appreciate it.
placement will be a good fit for the student and provider
alike. To prepare, research the organization and familiarize
yourself with company literature available through the information you need if you approach the brief interview
Sydney Office. Anticipate questions about your interests and relaxed and attentive with clearly defined goals and a short
experience, and, if you are nervous, role-play the interview list of questions.
with a roommate or friend. Role playing and anticipating
possible questions can help you to feel more self-confident After the Interview
and relaxed. Confirm the interview date, time, and location When considering the offer, be sure to calculate your daily
with your internship advisor. To ensure that you arrive on travel expenses and the commuting time before you accept.
time, plan your travel route and allow sufficient time for any Although the costs and time involved are important consid-
delays. Pay attention to neatness and personal grooming. erations, you should also focus on the value of the internship
Business attire is appropriate for interviews, even for those to your professional goals. Some internship placements have
who interview with companies with casual dress codes. fairly long commutes, but offer extraordinary opportunities
Although your advisor will forward a copy of your résumé to not available in a site closer to the Boston University Sydney
prospective internship providers, it is your responsibility to Academic Center. The opportunity to have significant
bring a copy with you to the interview. To help you prepare responsibility in your chosen field may outweigh concerns
for the interview, the Sydney Placement Team will provide over commuting time, travel expenses, and other practical
more detailed information about what to expect during on- considerations. Average commuting expenses are in the
site orientation. range of $30 to $45 per week.
Prospective internship providers will ask to see a copy of Finalizing Your Placement: Patience Please
your résumé and, in some cases, your portfolio. Résumés are The placement process can take as little as two weeks or up
helpful tools in ascertaining your interests, related experi- to six weeks to complete. The Sydney Placement Advisors
ence, and skill level. Most supervisors are curious to know are focused on matching your interests and skills with a
about your interests and work experience beyond the suitable placement. Placing interns in a competitive work
résumé. A prospective internship provider will want to learn environment requires both a thorough assessment of
more about why this internship is of interest to you. He or students’ interests and skills and an understanding of
she will also be curious to know how this internship relates Sydney’s changing job market. The Sydney staff ask that you
to your course of study, career plans, and interests. remain patient as they work to secure a placement that will
Additionally, the provider will want to know what you can best utilize your talents and fulfill your internship goals.
contribute to the agency or company and whether you bring
any volunteer experience, related work experience, or
special skills to the job. Striking the right balance between THE INTERNSHIP
self-promotion and inquisitiveness is key to your success. A First Weeks on the Job
nonchalant attitude and failure to ask questions may Workplace culture, habits, and attitudes in most Australian
suggest disinterest. Similarly, avoiding eye contact may be organizations can be radically different from that which you
interpreted as tentativeness and lack of confidence. A may be accustomed to in the US. Frequent coffee breaks and
"know-it-all" attitude or overusing such fillers as "um," "like," social activity—two behaviors discouraged in the US—may
and "you know" can be equally damaging. In 15-20 minutes, be acceptable at your Australian placement. Whether you
you and your prospective internship provider should be able find these differences endearing or exasperating will depend
to exchange enough information to satisfy both your needs. on your ability to accept these work values as simply
You can communicate your interests and obtain the
www.bu.edu/abroad 9different and not right or wrong. The highest success It is common for students to envision their internship
indicator in any workplace is cultural fit and no amount of placements as exciting and glamorous. Although you may
ability or intelligence can surmount the need for you to be experience moments of excitement and challenge, long
perceived as a team player and a good fit for the organiza- hours, mundane tasks, and record-keeping figure
tion’s work culture. prominently in most work settings. In addition to developing
new skills, the internship provides opportunities to learn
Meeting your internship objectives is unlikely during your about organizational dynamics and the skills needed to
first and second week on the job. Like any new job, it will succeed in busy office environments. Your internship will
take time for you to feel comfortable and confident in your provide a greater understanding of the work world and will
new role. Adjusting to the work schedule and daily commute serve you well as you move into your professional field.
may be more difficult than you imagined. You may experi-
ence moments when you feel overwhelmed or underutilized. If Problems Arise
You may discover that the work setting occasionally fails to If you are dissatisfied or unhappy in your internship
hold your interest. All of these emotions and challenges placement, your best course of action is to bring these
contribute to the learning curve during your first weeks on- concerns to your supervisor’s attention. Without feedback
the-job. With patience, flexibility, enthusiasm, and observa- from you, your supervisor may assume incorrectly that you
tion during these initial weeks, you are likely to find your are happy with your assigned tasks. If you are uncertain how
niche in the organization and receive greater challenges. to approach your supervisor, your internship advisor will be
glad to role play the conversation. If, after speaking with
Establishing a rapport with your supervisor should be one of your supervisor, you cannot resolve the issue or agree upon
your first priorities. Although your supervisor may recognize an acceptable compromise, your next step should be to
the importance of assigning meaningful work and providing speak with your internship advisor. The majority of concerns
ongoing feedback, meeting deadlines and other job priorities can be addressed by communicating clearly and appropri-
may limit his or her ability to provide coaching and support. ately as soon as they arise.
If you are accustomed to a more structured work environ-
ment, you may need to demonstrate a bit more initiative and Attendance
self-direction than you have in the past. Your supervisor is When you are absent from your internship due to illness, it
likely to recognize and appreciate your efforts to take on is your responsibility to notify your supervisor. You MUST
additional work. Finding your niche in work environments also notify your BU internship advisor by leaving a voicemail
where staff are extremely busy or overworked may require message by 9:00 a.m. Absences from your internship
some initiative on your part. Coworkers may welcome you because you are unhappy with the placement, because the
and include you in their social activities. Others may be credits do not transfer back to your home institution, or
friendly, but have little time to include you in their social because it is not what you expected are unacceptable.
activities or answer your questions. Unexcused absences will be reflected in your grade for the
course. Frequent unexcused absences may result in a failing
With downsizing and restructuring, today’s organizations grade and expulsion from the program. Evenings will be set
are often understaffed. Rolling up your sleeves and aside for seminars that reflect on various aspects of the
contributing wherever you can will win your coworkers’ trust internship and these form an important part of the academic
and support. During this introductory period, you may be component. You are also required to attend the scheduled
assigned fairly non-challenging tasks to gauge both your individual meetings with your assigned advisor. Failure to
attitude and ability to handle simple projects. Although you attend these mandatory seminars/meetings will result in a
may be disappointed to receive easy tasks—and have lower final grade for the internship course.
doubts about traveling all the way to Sydney for what
initially appears to be menial responsibilities—complete the Appropriate Attire
assignments cheerfully and with as much effort as you Standards of acceptable appearance and demeanor vary
would for more challenging projects. Successfully dramatically from country to country, and even from
completing minor projects demonstrates your competence business to business. Students seeking to participate in a
and capability and is likely to result in more challenging Boston University Internship, Community Placement, or
assignments. Teaching Practicum Program must understand that they are
emissaries of the university and the United States.
During this period, you may also find that your coworkers Enrollment constitutes an agreement that they will attempt
tease you a bit or what they describe as "taking the mickey to live and work within the framework of local custom. Some
out of you." This teasing is a form of acceptance and an personal choice of dress, hairstyle/color, body ornamenta-
indication that you are beginning to fit in. During your time tion, etc. that may be acceptable on most US campuses may
in Sydney, you will learn more about "the tall poppy make an internship placement in a foreign country difficult,
syndrome" and Australians’ aversion to status-seeking. if not impossible.
Australians’ love for nicknames and teasing carries over into
the workplace and helps to promote a collegial atmosphere.
10 Boston University Study Abroad SydneyBy enrolling in the program, students agree to make every STUDENT TEACHING PLACEMENTS
effort to adapt their personal appearance to the generally
Students enrolled in the SED Program will usually be
accepted norms of the business community of the host
assigned to one of four schools in the Sydney area: the
country, and understand that failure to do so may make
Arden Anglican School, Trinity Grammar School, Claremont
placement impossible and result in a failing grade. Where
College, or the International Grammar School. Placements
dress, hairstyle, and body ornamentation are dictated by an
are determined based on responses to placement question-
individual’s religion, race, national origin or ethnicity, every
naires, past experiences, and areas of interest. Established in
effort will be made to accommodate those needs consistent
1922, the Arden Anglican School is located in the suburb of
with our status as guests in a foreign country.
Beecroft and is a private coeducational school covering pre-
school levels to Year 6. The Trinity Grammar School founded
Since you will not know where you will be working until after
in 1913, with grade levels from pre-school up to Year 12, is a
you arrive, it is difficult to anticipate exactly what clothing
private school for Boys in Summer Hill. Claremont College
you will need for the workplace. You should dress conserva-
was founded in 1882 and has approximately 250 students
tively for your internship interview and bring business
from Kindergarten to Year 6. The International Grammar
clothing for the occasional special event. Men should bring
School is the newest of the schools that we use having been
slacks, blazers or sport coats, and several ties. Dresses,
founded in 1984 and it is non-denominational and has
skirts, and dressy trousers are fine for women. Business,
classes from pre-school up to Year 12.
marketing, and legal interns of both sexes should expect to
dress for a business setting and should bring at least one
dark suit. Arts, journalism, psychology, and advertising SEMESTER SCHEDULE
internships tend to be more casual and, as such, jeans and
Students enrolled in the School of Education’s Program
casual clothing may be suitable. Students in physical therapy
complete the four-credit core course, AN368: Australian
placements will need to bring white tops, blue bottoms to
Culture and Society, during the first six weeks of the
wear as "uniforms" as well as sensible and safe footwear.
semester while completing a 12-credit teaching practicum in
a Sydney-area school.
Sydney School of SUPPLIES
Students in the SED Program may wish to pack special
Education Program school supplies, such as Boston University pens, pencils, or
stickers, to distribute to their students. Other items you
might consider bringing are postcards or photos of your
REGISTRATION FOR YOUR SEMESTER ABROAD hometown, home state, and Boston. You might also wish to
bring a book to donate to the class or to the school library;
You will register for your courses and receive information
books with a Boston theme or about your hometown or
about add/drop procedures and other academic policies
state are especially welcome.
during on-site orientation. SED students are required to
complete a portfolio and unit assignment to fulfill the
practicum requirements, and are advised to speak with their
Boston advisors about this requirement prior to the start of
the program. SED students should contact Jennifer Bryson Sydney Management
for instructions and registration forms prior to leaving
Boston. Professor Jenkins will provide advice on course Internship Program
selections for the semester abroad and pre-registration for
the return semester.
OVERVIEW
The School of Management Program allows its students to
take full advantage of the courses and services available
"I haven’t seen such an emphasis on book work in through the University of Sydney (in Australia commonly
the USA. Here, the students have to put all of their referred to as Sydney Uni) and Boston University. The
work in subject books." program is tailored for management students who are eager
for a more comprehensive cultural immersion experience,
and have both the maturity and self-confidence to make a
— Alyssa Aferiat quick adjustment with limited support.
Arden Anglican School, SED Student
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