Quick Info

  • SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
  • Spring, Fall
  • : Panther Program
  • : Anthropology and Archaeology, Communication and Rhetoric, English Literature, English Writing, Film and Media Studies, History, Urban Studies
  • : Spring 2019: January 16 - April 20, 2019 / Fall 2019: TBD
  • : Spring 2019: $16,999 in-state, $22,438 out-of-state / Fall 2019: TBD
  • : Spring 2019: October 7, 2018 / Fall 2019: March 24, 2019
  • : 2.75 GPA (2.5 for engineers), Pitt Students: Must have completed 24 credits on a Pitt campus, Clear Judicial Record

Academics

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 12-18 credits during the semester.  Doing an internship?  Remember that it counts as one class.

General Education Requirements: Need to fulfill a general education requirement?  We've got courses for that!  Take a look below:

Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences:

This program satisfies the 3 foreign culture requirements.  It also fulfills the non-Western requirement.

×Are you a Pitt Business student?  You'll want to check out the Global Business Institute: Sydney for more information

ARTSC 1899 - International Internship

3 credit course for students who elect to have a part-time internship for credit.

COMMRC 1170 - Cross-Cultural Communication

This course will increase the understanding of basic concepts and principles regarding communication between people from different racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds within Australia, including Aboriginal, and immigrant populations. The course will use theory and research in the area of intercultural communication, and will help you develop this knowledge in understanding and improving human interaction in both the study abroad environment and international contexts. It will develop effective intercultural communication skills for learning abroad in Australia, and focus on a study of the social, structural and historical dimensions of relations between and among racial, ethnic and gender groups in contemporary Australian society. This course is designed to increase student’s awareness and appreciation for the complexity of intercultural communication skills in everyday situations. It offers a critical perspective on current theory and research in intercultural communication. The primary objective of the course is to develop cultural relativist attitude.

ENGFLM 1391 - Australian Cinema

This course examines contemporary Australian cinema and its attempt to describe a uniquely Australian identity. The course thus has two interrelated points of inquiry. First, we will attempt to appreciate the context of Australian cinema – from modes of production to distribution. Second, the course will investigate the notion of an Australian identity as it is expressed in some of the most significant films in the Australian tradition. We will look at Australian genre cinema, the 70s Renaissance and recent transformations in the Australian film industry. The course will focus specifically on the theme of national identity and the growing debates around what constitutes a national cinema. Indeed, a question to be explored is the extent to which Australian films have reflected or determined Australian values. Comparisons with appropriate U.S. values and films are encouraged.

ENGLIT 1360 - Australian, Asian, and Pacific Literature

This course covers a wealth of literature from the Australian, Asian and South Pacific region, from Australia’s earliest colonial outback and horsemen stories to the city-focused cosmopolitanism of the 1980s, to the aboriginal literature of the 1990s, and in the 2000s, the contemporary Torres Strait and Polynesian literatures’ reformulations of place that respond to both contemporary and traditional understandings of islands, archipelagoes, and identity.

ENGCMP 1200 - Writing the City - Sydney

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.

HIST 1005 - Australian History - Aboriginal History to Colonization

Using contemporary issues in Australia - race, immigration, culture, environment, politics and foreign policy - the course explains the historical origins of issues & provides critical analysis.This course begins in 2010 and looks back into Australia’s past, asking and answering a series of questions to explain contemporary attitudes and events, as part of an ongoing dialogue between the present and the past. What aspects of our colonial history help explain Australia early in the twenty-first century? What aspects of twentieth-century history will guide Australia in the twenty-first century? What is black armband history? Why do Indigenous Australians remain a disadvantaged group in society? What is the history of class, race and ethnicity in Australian society? What type of immigrants should we encourage? Why have refugees become such an important issue? Why is gender parity and sexual liberation important? What is popular culture and how does it change? How do governments decide on foreign policy, overseas trade policy and foreign aid? What are our obligations and expectations in time of war? What is the place of nationalism in Australia? We ask these and other contemporary questions, and provide historical answers based on an Aboriginal history that dates back 60,000 years and a recent history beginning in 1788.

URBNST 1414 - Analyzing and Exploring the Global City: Sydney

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.

PS 1345 - Politics of Oceania

This course examines the government and politics of Australia and Australian engagement in Asia. It will do so by surveying similarities with and differences from the North American democratic model and by examining Australia’s substantial and abiding interests in the Asian region. By the end of the course, students will be aware of the magnitude of the influence that the Asia Pacific region has had on Australian foreign policy. Comparisons with the United States of America will be encouraged.

Experiential Learning

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.  

On-Site Faculty And Staff

CAPA International Education

CAPA Pitt’s Sydney partner, has a full-time support staff who are there to help you with whatever you might need during your stay.  Whether it’s housing, academics, or just recommendations on where to take your parents when they visit, the CAPA staff is there for you.  

 

Housing

Spend your time in Sydney living with students from the US and across the globe at the Urbanest Central Sydney, an apartment comunity designed with students in mind.  Groups of 6-8 students will share an apartment, with two students sharing a bedroom and bathroom.  Modern furniture and an equipped kitchen makes the Urbanest a comfortable place to stay.  Remember that meals aren't included.

As a student community, the Urbanest provides a 24/7 front-desk staff, community events, and a convient location in the city.  Laundry facilities are available and are pay-per-load.

Pricing And Dates

 

In-State Fee Out-of-State Fee
$16,999 $22,438
Arrive in Sydney Depart Sydney
January 16, 2019 April 20, 2019

In-State Fee Out-of-State Fee
TBD TBD
Arrive in Sydney Depart Sydney
TBD TBD

 

Keep in mind that dates change.  You shouldn't book airfare until given confirmation from your program manager. 

Additionally,

All students are required to attend the mandatory Pre-Departure Bash.  This afternoon long event will cover important topics relevant to study abroad like health, safety, security, and more.  Plus, it will give you the chance to meet other students studying abroad on your programs!  Alumni and staff will also be present to help you start thinking about your goals for the program.

The Pre-Departure Bash for the spring 2019 program will be on October 19, 2018 from 6-8pm. Your program manager will follow up with more information once you begin your application!

The Pre-Departure Bash for the fall 2019 program will be on March 29, 2019.

Inclusions & Exclusions

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

  • Tuition for 12-18 credits
  • Housing
  • Orientation in Sydney
  • Cultural Events and Activities
  • An Unlimited Transit Pass
  • Excursions to Blue Mountains and Australia Walkabout Park
  • Health Insurance
  • Membership to the ACU Student Union

While your program fee will cover most of your expenses, keep in mind that you are also responsible for the following:

  • Program Deposit ($350, to be credited to your program bill)
  • Pitt Administrative Fee ($400)
  • Visa Fee (~$125)
  • Textbooks ($200)
  • Airfare ($1800-$2200)
  • Personal Expenses and Meals ($3000-$5000)
  • Airport Transfers ($40-$100)
  • Local Cell Phone ($100)

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.

Ready to get started on your application?  

Program Staff

Nazir Noori

Walk-In Advising Hours: MWF 2-4 PM

Salam! I’m Nazir and I am a Program Manager at the Study Abroad Office. I was born and raised abroad and went to school in Afghanistan, Iran, and the U.S. I also took classes in India and United Arab Emirates. I worked for the U.S. Department of State, USAID, and German Foreign Office for over ten years before moving to Pittsburgh in 2014. At the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, I assisted Afghan students to study in the U.S., and now I am glad I have the opportunity to help American students study abroad. Stop by the office during my walk-in hours (Mon, Wed, and Fri, 2-4pm) or get in touch with me at nazir.noori@pitt.edu or 412-383-4827 to discuss the study abroad options.