Work Integrated Learning
Real-world experience for creative futures听
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) in the School of the Arts & Media (SAM) bridges the gap between academic study and professional practice. Our undergraduate and postgraduate internship programs offer hands-on experience to help you gain a foot in the door of some of Australia鈥檚 most prestigious media, culture, and creative organisations. We provide a tailored approach that reflects the School鈥檚 diverse disciplines and the wide range of career paths our students pursue.鈥痀ou鈥檒l graduate with a degree plus a CV that includes real employers, real projects, and real results.听
Career confidence in the age of AI
Employers seek graduates who can demonstrate adaptability, the ability to learn new skills on the run and a cutting-edge knowledge of emerging technologies. SAM placements provide all three. In a labour market radically transformed by digital disruption and AI, interning offers you a critical edge in terms of industry experience, networks, and the confidence to succeed.
WIL at SAM
Learn from industry connected staff
Many SAM academics have distinguished careers in journalism, film, theatre, music, PR, and digital media. They enhance our internship program by leveraging their high-level industry contacts and using their networks to help students gain opportunities in fiercely competitive fields.听听
Our students
SAM鈥檚 study areas include creative writing, English literary studies, film studies, music, theatre and performance, and media and communications (think journalism, public relations, advertising, and digital communications). The skills our students gain include writing, content creation, critical analysis, storytelling, and cultural awareness. These are highly transferable and valuable across nearly every industry. Our WIL placements provide maximum flexibility to support these diverse career paths. For example, our internship program accommodates a broad range of placements that go well beyond traditional media and arts organisations.听
Our hosts
Our students have worked with some of the most dynamic organisations in Australia and beyond, including:听
- Sydney Writers鈥 Festival
- Allen & Unwin
- FremantleMedia Australia (Heartbreak High)听
- 贰诲别濒尘补苍听
- GQ Australia听
- Marrugeku (leading intercultural dance theatre company)听
- Sydney Swans Ltd听
- M茅decins Sans Fronti猫res Australia听
- The Australian Human Rights Commission听
- Vogue Australia听
- Performance Space听
- 狈别飞蝉飞辞谤迟丑测听
- Southerly Literary Journal听
- Urban List听
- The City of Sydney (NYE fireworks)听
Testimonials from previous interns
"One of the most useful subjects you'll take at 91色情片".
鈥 A MUST before [you] graduate鈥.听听
鈥淎 great opportunity to gain experience and get your foot in the door of the industry鈥.听
鈥淚t provides an opportunity to put learned theory into practice and gain new insights into career paths鈥.
鈥淒o it! Experience is something you cannot compare to anything you do in class鈥.听
Testimonials from previous hosts听
鈥淚nterns are an asset to our agency. They help junior members of staff learn to manage team members, bring fresh insights and are a great way to connect with future graduates鈥.听听
鈥 While I am assisting [interns鈥橾 development as journalists, they have given me insights into what interests and motivates a Gen Z audience. Understanding audience is essential to the very survival of media organisations鈥.听
鈥淸Our intern] was an absolute pleasure to have on board. I couldn鈥檛 have asked for a better attitude to the work. She [was] a credit to the university. I wish her all the best for the future鈥.听
鈥淎ndrew is one of the best interns I have ever had鈥 The world needs more Andrews鈥 Clone Andrew!鈥澨
Outcomes snapshot
Our courses听
- is offered to students nearing the completion of undergraduate programs.听
- is offered to students in postgraduate coursework programs.听
Ready to dive in?听
Our undergraduate and postgraduate internship programs are offered to students nearing the completion of undergraduate programs.听
Faculty-sourced placements:听 Each term, our WIL team help place students into internships with partner organisations across public relations, advertising, journalism, film, creative writing, and the arts. The benefits? You don鈥檛 need to go hunting for your own internship: you鈥檒l receive close support through the application process, and you鈥檒l be working with a host organisation with whom 91色情片 has a strong relationship.听
Self-sourced internships: Each term, we also assist students independently seeking placements with organisations across public relations, advertising, journalism, film, creative writing, and the arts. The advantage here is that you can target the exact industry or role you want, build initiative, and gain experience by applying directly for jobs.听听
What's involved
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WIL placements require 105 hours of professional engagement, performed part-time over ten weeks. Generally, this is aligned with 91色情片鈥檚 term dates; however, we can sometimes accommodate requests for timing to align with a specific project.听
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- Host placement description submission: Advertised 4-6 weeks prior to the term.听
- Student applications: Aligned with term-specific timelines.听
Indicative term dates (2026)听
- Term 1: 16 February鈥24 April听
- Term 2: 1 June鈥7 August听
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Student Host Faculty WIL team Academic Convenor Complete 105 hours.听 Provide orientation, supervision, mentorship and resources.听 Conduct checks of student-sourced internships.听
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Monitor progress and resolve issues.听 Submit critical reflection and work evidence to course Moodle site.听 Ensure safe workplace.听 Maintain InPlace database of host organisations.听 Support academic outcomes.听 Adhere to WHS, codes of conduct and confidentiality.听 Understand students will not conduct the level of work expected of a full-time employee.听 Approve WIL agreements.听 Grade assignments. 听 听 Enrol students.听 听 听 听 Monitor progress and resolve issues.听 听 -
- Check your eligibility.听听
- Secure a professional placement: Opportunities will be advertised via the Faculty WIL team鈥檚 InPlace system. The host will interview students.听
- Submit WIL agreement for approval.听
- Enrol in ARTS3015 or MDIA5100.听
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- Check your eligibility.听听
- Secure a professional placement.听听
- Ensure placement is deemed eligible by WIL team.
- Submit WIL agreement for approval.
- Enrol in ARTS3015 or MDIA5100.
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