Australia: Internship and Study Semester in Asia Pacific

The Internship and Study Semester in Asia Pacific (ISSAP) program combines global business courses with a hands-on international internship experience. On this program, you will take 3 Business courses in Sydney, Australia during the equivalent of Mod 3 followed by an 8-week credit-bearing internship in a location of your choice within the Asia Pacific region (Auckland, Singapore, or Sydney).

The ISSAP program takes students to Australia where they are able to study the business sphere of the region before traveling to another location for the internship, thus being able to compare business management techniques of the two locations.

This program is run through our long-standing partner, Global Academic Ventures, who provides housing, course instruction, internship matching, extracurricular programming, and 24/7 on-site support. Kenan-Flagler students will study, live, and intern alongside other students from peer U.S. institutions.

On this transformative, business-focused study and work abroad program, you will take courses through Global Academic Ventures in Sydney, the largest city in Australia with over 4.5 million people. Sydney is a vibrant metropolis with an important financial sector and lively cultural and tourist industries. Australia is located in the southern hemisphere, so during the UNC spring semester you’ll find summer-like temperatures. Concurrent with your studies, Global Academic Ventures will work with you to match your internship goals with a host company in the internship destination of your choice (Auckland, Singapore, or Sydney).

Following spring break, students travel to their internship destination and begin the internship component of the ISSAP program where they will work full-time and complete the required internship course.

Quick Facts & Links

GPA Requirement: 3.00
Program Options: Direct Enroll
- Direct Enroll programs charge varying tuition rates that are not based on UNC tuition. Please thoroughly review the “program cost” section below for specific information. For additional information about program types, click here.
Language of Instruction: English
Program Dates:
- Spring: January 13 – May 9, 2025
  - Arrival: January 12, 2025
  - Departure: May 10, 2025
- Fall: late August – mid-December
  - Fall 2024 dates: August 23 – December 21, 2024
Visit the Global Academic Ventures webpage for more information
Meet program alumni
Accessibility Resources

Application Information

	This Program’s Level of Competitiveness = 1 Level of Competitiveness (1 = least, 3 = most)
1	Chance of acceptance is probable if students meet the minimum requirements.
2	Most students are typically accepted.
3	This is one of the most competitive programs. We recommend having a back-up option in mind.

Apply for a Kenan-Flagler Global Program and Global Programs scholarship through the same application system using your Kenan-Flagler credentials. Click the Apply Now button below to learn more about application deadlines, requirements, and to start your application!

Please note that you must meet with a UBP Global Programs Advisor and/or attend a program-specific information session in order for your application to be considered for this program.

Apply Now

Program Logistics

Academics

Orientation: Sunday, January 8

Block 1 Classes: January 9 – February 5

Block 2 Classes: February 6 – March 3

Spring Break: March 4 – 10 (note that students are responsible for independent housing during this time)

Internship: Arrive to internship location (Auckland, Singapore, or Sydney) by March 11 with internship orientation on March 12. Work begins on March 13 and runs through May 5.

Please visit Global Academic Procedures for detailed credit and other academic information.

You will take four courses on this program, which includes the required 3-credit hour internship course.

Courses taken on this program will transfer back to UNC Pass (grade of C and above)/Fail (grade below C). Pass grades do not affect your UNC GPA. Fail grades transfer back to UNC as Fs, which will affect your UNC GPA. Though transfer credit for this program is Pass/Fail, future employers and graduate schools will also look at your study abroad transcript, so grades are important.

You will transfer back 3.0 UNC credits for every 3-credit course on this program, and are expected to take four courses worth 3.0 credits each during the semester. Therefore, a student who earns a C/Pass or above in all courses will receive a total of 12 UNC credits for their semester abroad. View the ‘Credit Hour Conversions’ accordion on the ‘Academics Procedures‘ page for more information on credit hour conversion from ISSAP to UNC.

This program also fulfills the Experiential Education requirement or the High Impact Experience requirement (if you are under the new IDEAs curriculum). Full-time enrollment in this program is defined as a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Program Provider

This program is run through a third-party provider, Global Academic Ventures. Global Academic Ventures’ services include:

12 credit hours of Business course enrollment, which includes the 3-credit hour internship course
Internship matching in a professional practice internship (internship matching begins during the fall semester and is confirmed in early January)
Fully trained local staff provided to manage program logistics, assist with on-site emergencies, and provide information as needed
24/7 student support
Professional resume revision
Interview preparation and coaching
Cultural exploration activities program
Housing in student residences

Global Academic Ventures’ regional offices (Auckland, Singapore, Sydney) provide management and support to students for the duration of the program. Fully trained local staff will be the principal contact for the program and will provide information as needed.

Global Academic Ventures also arranges social and professional development programs for interns, included in the fees for this program.

Housing

Shared accommodation will be organized by Global Academic Ventures during the class and internship components of the program. Housing during the class component is located close to Darling Harbour, adjacent to the Sydney city center, and is within a 30-minute walk from classes.

Note that students are responsible for independent housing during spring break regardless of their internship location.

Program Cost

Here, you will find a list and links to costs related to this program.

We suggest you create your global program budget using our budget worksheet (xlsx) to help you think about your costs on this program:

Populate the figures from the tables below into the left side costs of attendance
Input your financial resources on the right

Your customized budget sheet can help determine your current financial status, and help you understand what additional funding you may need to help make this an affordable program option.

Cashier Billed Expenses*
Expense	Estimated Amount
Program Tuition and Fees	$17,995
Fee UG Business Major/Minor	Based on major/minor enrollment
Global Programs Administrative Fee	$700
GeoBlue International Medical Insurance	$200

*Cashier Billed Expenses are those charges billed directly to your UNC ConnectCarolina account.

Out of Pocket Estimates**
Expense	Estimated Amount
Housing	$0 – included in program tuition
International Airfare	$4,000
Meals	$2,000
Immigration Visa/Residence Permit	$500
Health Insurance***	$200
Passport Application Fee	$165
Course Materials	$275
International Cell Phone Plan	$350

Personal Expenses
Travel Insurance	$400
Local Transportation	$400
Personal Travel	$1,500
Incidentals (ex. Laundry)	$650

Other Personal Expenses****
Total Estimated Expenses (Direct Enroll):	$30,335

Withdrawal Policy: Once a student accepts their offer/enrolls on a study abroad program, the spot will be considered filled and will not be offered to another student. Students who withdraw from UBP Global are responsible for non-recoverable costs including the Global Programs Administrative Fee. Your student account will be assessed charges to cover any/all amounts that Kenan-Flagler UBP Global programs has committed or paid on your behalf and are non-recoverable at the time of withdrawal. Such costs include, housing, meals, transportation and any expenses that may be associated with faculty and support participation on your program (if applicable).

**Out of Pocket Estimates are based on the cost of the program, which is determined by combining the average costs our previous students have spent in each of these categories, along with the costs our partner provides to us as their averages. These estimates are subject to change based on exchange rate fluctuations, bank fees, and individual variances in costs of living.

***Health Insurance Policy approved by the Australian government (OSHC) and to be purchased prior to submitting visa application. This insurance is in addition to the University’s required GeoBlue Health Insurance. UNSW will provide guidance on purchasing OSHC upon enrollment to the program.

****Other Expenses: our budget worksheet (xlsx) also has a place for you to input other expenses outside of the out-of-pocket estimates that you may incur, such as attending concerts or sporting events.

Funding your global program

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Travel Documents

Do you have a valid passport? If yes, check your passport’s expiration date to ensure that your passport is valid at least 6 months after your program’s scheduled end date. If not, you’ll need to submit a passport renewal application.

Do you need to apply for a passport (first time or renew)? If yes, we recommend that you get started on your passport application right away as you’ll need time to collect documents like your birth certificate to include as part of your application. For complete instructions click here.

Will I need immigration documents? If you are accepted into this program you will need to obtain a visa permitting you to study in Australia. For your visa application, you will need your passport along with other documentation from our office and the host program. Global Academic Ventures will provide guidance on required visa documentation for this program.

Meet with an Advisor

UBP students can schedule a meeting to learn more about this and other programs by clicking on the “Schedule Appointment” link below.

Schedule Appointment

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