Pitt in Sydney - Summer

 

 

Sydney is a breathtaking, exciting, and culturally rich global city. With more than 120 nationalities living here, Sydney is one of the largest multi-cultural cities in the world. You can enjoy cuisine from around the globe and take part in annual celebrations such as Buddha's Birthday, Multicultural Festival, and Chinese New Year. 

You will take a trip across the Harbor Bridge every day as you commute from your apartment in the Waterloo neighborhood of the city to classes and your optional part-time internship. Whatever your interests and course of study, Pitt in Sydney has options for you!

The University of Pittsburgh partners with CEA CAPA Education Abroad for this program. The CEA CAPA Sydney Center will host your classes and CEA CAPA staff will be there for you to answer any questions and provide guidance. 

 

What You'll Accomplish: 
As an engaged and active participant in this program, you will have the opportunity to:
  • Explore the rich and diverse culture and history of Sydney, and Australia, and analyze current political, economic and social challenges the country is facing
  • Advance your intercultural communication skills and develop deeper understanding of opportunities and challenges that globalization brings to the academic and professional environments 
  • Acquire real-world professional skills through internship, which is a great way to enhance your classroom experience and your resume

 

Tourists come to Sydney for the Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House.  Sure, you’ll get to see these sights, and you might even hold a koala, but you will come to know Sydney for so much more.  As the economic capital of Australia, Sydney attracts people from across the globe, making it a diverse city.  You will meet your fair share of Sydney-siders, but don’t be surprised to make friends from countries far and wide.
 
Oh, and kangaroos.  We can’t forget about the kangaroos.
 
Where You'll Live: 
Part of the experience is to live like a Sydneysider. You will live in shared apartments spread across the city. While apartments are as varied as the city itself and no two residence are alike, all of them are located in safe neighborhoods and secure buildings. 
 
You can expect the following:
  • Shared bedrooms (2 or 3 students/bedroom)
  • Bedding
  • Shared bathroom
  • Shared kitchen 
  • Internet access
  • Coin operated laundry 
Please note that meals are not included in the program fee.
 
You will receive your address, roommate information, and neighborhood description about 2 weeks before your departure for Sydney.
 
We do our best to provide the most accurate information about housing and amenities but due to the nature of the locations in which we offer programs and limited availability, these items are subject to change.  Contact your program manager with any questions.
 
What You'll Study: 

The courses offered in Sydney allow you to study the subjects you need within an Australian context. Each course on Pitt in Sydney is worth 3 credits, and you have the opportunity to take 6 credits during the semester. Doing an internship? Remember that it counts as one class.

If you are seeking to count any of these courses towards a major, minor, or certificate requirement, please meet with your respective advisor to discuss the program and what the courses may fulfill for you.

 

 

International Internship - Summer (ARTSC1899)

This is a part-time internship (20 hours per week). In addition, you will attend weekly discussion-led sessions that include educational support and mentoring in a classroom environment, develop personal and professional skills, and learn to contextualize your internship experience socially and culturally. You will receive 3 credits for this course.

Writing the City - Sydney (ENGWRT1200)

This course is a creative writing workshop keyed to exploring the experience of travelling and living abroad in Sydney in either verse or prose texts. Along with the writing workshops, we will also read and discuss texts that focus on Australia in general and Sydney specifically from both native and foreign perspectives, noting particularly the literary techniques and strategies that various writers have used to express their experiences and observations. The class sessions will be divided almost equally between the reading and critical evaluation of selected texts and a written response to the stimuli. Half of our weekly time will be devoted to the examination of a text dealing with various authors’ experiences of Australia. These texts will provide us with a forum for discussing each author’s relationship to and the literary expression of place. The other half of our class time will function as a writer’s workshop in response to the set texts: each student will present his/her own work orally (accompanied by photocopies) to the group for reactions, critique, and suggestions for revision. 

People, Place, and Culture: Environmental Debates in Australia, NZ, and the Pacific (GEOL1314)

This course is offered only during the spring and summer terms.

This course explores the multi-faceted dimensions of human interaction with diverse environments in Australia , New Zealand and the Pacific to illuminate the origins of environmental concerns and current debates in these regions from pre-European contact to now. From the peopling of the Pacific to the challenge of climate change, this course is broad in its scope while concentrating selected issues such as the impact of mining, clean energy futures, our vulnerability to natural disasters and increasing urbanization. In so doing, the intersection of culture and nature is explored. The course is embedded in the environmental humanities , but uses the approaches of environmental history, as well as insights from the disciplines of science, politics, sociology and cultural studies.

Analyzing and Exploring the Global City - Sydney (URBNST1414)

This course is designed to encourage students to engage in a critical analysis of the development of modern cities, in particular Sydney. It will trace Sydney's development from a "colonial outpost" into the "thriving metropolis" it is today. The course will examine how the forces of colonization, migration, modernization and globalization have affected the city and its inhabitants. Students will gain insights into the changing dynamics and identities of its inhabitants, and will also look at the forces which have shaped Sydney's relationship with the rest of the world. The course is organized thematically, with each theme examining different aspects of the city. It begins with an introduction to the city, then a discussion of Sydney as a colonial city, moving into an analysis of its identities, impact of migration and finally its commerce, cityscape and urban future. The course ultimately intends to help students contextualize their travels and encounters in the city, and will help them develop informed interpretations of Sydney while they are here.

Experiential Learning Description: 
More than 75% of students who study abroad with Pitt in Sydney complete an internship and with good reason.  Whether your post-graduation plans include entering the workforce, going to graduate school, or pursuing a different path, professional work experience abroad will always serve you well.
 
Internships in Sydney include 20 hours of work per week, not including commuting time.  In addition to your time in the workplace, you will meet with your peers and faculty for internship seminars that will help you get the most out of your experience.  Internships are always unpaid, always for three credits, and always pass/fail.
 
You can sign up for an internship regardless of your major as a part of the application process.  Keep in mind that you will not know what your internship placement is until 14 days before departure.  While this may seem like a long time to wait, keep in mind that our partners are searching for an internship just for you. Your past experiences, coursework, and desired placements areas are all taken into account.  This kind of personalized service takes time but is well worth the wait. 
 
Please note that internships are available for students in their second semester of sophomore year or higher.  
 

Pitt runs this program in partnership with CEA CAPA Education Abroad. CEA CAPA works with institutions of higher education to build programs that meet students’ goals for learning abroad. The CEA CAPA Sydney Center is hosted at TAFE NSW Sydney Institute, in a beautiful centrally located heritage building.

 

Your Pitt Study Abroad Contacts: 

Kelsey Sobecki

Hello! I’m Kelsey, Program Manager for Arts & Sciences students. I am a native Pittsburgher and studied abroad in Rome, Italy as an undergraduate at Duquesne University, and received my Master’s degree at University College Dublin in Ireland. I have been in the field of International Education for 10 years, which includes time spent living and working on-site with study abroad students in both Rome and Dublin. I am so excited to support Pitt students in their study abroad journey! Please feel free to reach out to me at kls299@pitt.edu or make an appointment to start planning your global experience!

 

Schedule an appointment

Schedule an appointment with me using Pathways!
Having trouble or don't see a time that works for you? Just email me at kls299@pitt.edu!

Items Billed by Pitt

  In-State Out-of-State
Program Fee $9,399 $9,599
Study Abroad Fee $300 $300
Total Billed by Pitt$ $9,699 $9,899

Estimated Additional Out-of-Pocket Costs

Airfare ~$2,000
Visa ~$150
Personal Expenses $1,500 - $3,000

Remember that your lifestyle and spending choices can greatly affect the amount of money you'll need while abroad. Visit our Budgeting page for more information.

 

What's Included: 

As a part of your Pitt in Sydney program fee, the following are included in the program:

  • Tuition for 6 credits
  • Housing
  • Orientation in Sydney
  • Cultural Events and Activities
  • Excursions 
  • Health Insurance
  • Membership to the ACU Student Union